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Course Description:
In this course, we will engage in a survey of British covering both early English and contemporary texts. We will explore and expand our own preconceptions about what defines a text by making connections between the literature covered in class and the world around us, including personal experiences, oral narratives, film, music and advertising. As we study these texts, we will apply various lenses, exploring alternative perspectives, to aid our analysis and interpretation. Through this experience, you will not only expand your knowledge and appreciation of literature as well as sharpen your writing and communication skills, but you will also learn to think critically about the world around you, a skill that will prove indispensable whatever path you choose to follow after graduation.
Required Materials:
Required Texts:
Classroom Procedures:
Grading Scale:
§ Essays/writing assignments – 25%
§ Participation – 20%
§ Research projects – 15%
§ Tests/quizzes – 10%
§ Homework – 10%
§ Midterm/Final Exams – 20%
Essays:
Essays must be typed in Microsoft Word using 12-point Times New Roman or Calibri, double-spaced with one-inch margins, and saved in Compatibility mode. All essays should be submitted via e-mail to [email protected] by midnight of the date the assignment is due. A late assignment will result in a lower grade. You will also receive your graded essay with teacher comments via e-mail. Hard copies of essays will not be accepted.
Homework:
Students are expected to participate in the class’ online discussion forum hosted at http://m0.smic-school.cn:8090/moodle/. Questions related to assigned readings will be posted by the teacher each day that class is held. Students are expected to post a minimum of one original response per week. When more than one question is posted by the instructor in a given week, students may choose to which of the questions they respond. Students are also expected to comment on at least one other student’s response to the question. Although these are the minimum requirements for the homework grade, students are encouraged to engage in further discussion with their classmates using the forum since this will be factored into their participation grade.
All responses will be graded on content, organization and grammar.
Participation:
You have an opportunity to receive 5 participation points each day. Coming to class on-time and prepared - e.g. with required text, notebooks, pen, etc. - will result in two points. Contributing at least twice to small-group or whole-class discussions - e.g. asking or responding to questions, sharing reactions to your peers' ideas or the text - will result in an additional three points.
However, you may also lose points:
If you choose not to speak during a given class period, you can make-up a maximum of two points by making additional posts to the Discussion Board section of this page.
Absences:
[1] Please note that electronic copies of the works included in this textbook can be found for free online. Students are encouraged to bring E-readers, iPads or laptops to class, if they prefer this to carrying around the textbook. However, they are required to have their own copy of the assigned text in class every day.
In this course, we will engage in a survey of British covering both early English and contemporary texts. We will explore and expand our own preconceptions about what defines a text by making connections between the literature covered in class and the world around us, including personal experiences, oral narratives, film, music and advertising. As we study these texts, we will apply various lenses, exploring alternative perspectives, to aid our analysis and interpretation. Through this experience, you will not only expand your knowledge and appreciation of literature as well as sharpen your writing and communication skills, but you will also learn to think critically about the world around you, a skill that will prove indispensable whatever path you choose to follow after graduation.
Required Materials:
- Blue or black ink pens – no pencils
- One A4 notebook
- One A4 sized folder with pockets, which will serve as your personal writing portfolio
- The assigned text
Required Texts:
- Holt McDougal Literature ©2012, Common Core Edition 12[1] [9780547618425]
- Writer's, Inc. [0669529958]
- The Castle of Otranto [Any edition]
- A Christmas Carol [Any edition]
- 1984 [0451524934]
- Heart of Darkness [Any edition]
Classroom Procedures:
- Be on time and prepared
- Be respectful to your classmates and your teacher
- Eating and drinking are not allowed with the exception of water bottles
- Do not leave anything in the room when you leave class
- Please leave the classroom neater than you found it
- Electronic devices – cell phones, mp3 players, etc. should not be seen in class unless you wish to relinquish ownership; E-readers and laptops are acceptable when used as a substitute for the textbook only
Grading Scale:
§ Essays/writing assignments – 25%
§ Participation – 20%
§ Research projects – 15%
§ Tests/quizzes – 10%
§ Homework – 10%
§ Midterm/Final Exams – 20%
Essays:
Essays must be typed in Microsoft Word using 12-point Times New Roman or Calibri, double-spaced with one-inch margins, and saved in Compatibility mode. All essays should be submitted via e-mail to [email protected] by midnight of the date the assignment is due. A late assignment will result in a lower grade. You will also receive your graded essay with teacher comments via e-mail. Hard copies of essays will not be accepted.
Homework:
Students are expected to participate in the class’ online discussion forum hosted at http://m0.smic-school.cn:8090/moodle/. Questions related to assigned readings will be posted by the teacher each day that class is held. Students are expected to post a minimum of one original response per week. When more than one question is posted by the instructor in a given week, students may choose to which of the questions they respond. Students are also expected to comment on at least one other student’s response to the question. Although these are the minimum requirements for the homework grade, students are encouraged to engage in further discussion with their classmates using the forum since this will be factored into their participation grade.
All responses will be graded on content, organization and grammar.
Participation:
You have an opportunity to receive 5 participation points each day. Coming to class on-time and prepared - e.g. with required text, notebooks, pen, etc. - will result in two points. Contributing at least twice to small-group or whole-class discussions - e.g. asking or responding to questions, sharing reactions to your peers' ideas or the text - will result in an additional three points.
However, you may also lose points:
- Speaking out of turn, or otherwise showing disrespect for your classmates (-1 point)
- Engaging in side conversations/whispering to neighbor (-1 point)
- Use of unapproved electronic devices (-2 points)
- Violating the SMIC dress-code policy (-3 points)
- Doing homework for another class (-5 points)
- Using your desk as a pillow (-5 points)
- Eating in the classroom (-5 points)
If you choose not to speak during a given class period, you can make-up a maximum of two points by making additional posts to the Discussion Board section of this page.
Absences:
- If you are excused for your absence, all work must be made up for-credit according to SMIC policy (1 day excused = 2 days to make up the work).
- If you are excused for your absence, IT IS UP TO YOU to make up all missed quizzes, tests, or in-class for-credit work. I will not come to you to remind you.
- Any work missed by a student due to an unexcused absence may not be made up. A student will fail the class for a quarter if he or she accumulates 3 or more unexcused absences.
[1] Please note that electronic copies of the works included in this textbook can be found for free online. Students are encouraged to bring E-readers, iPads or laptops to class, if they prefer this to carrying around the textbook. However, they are required to have their own copy of the assigned text in class every day.