English IV Syllabus

English IV: Goals and Course Outline

TEXTBOOKS: (Title, Author, Publisher, Edition)

Vocabulary for Achievement, (Sixth Course) Richek, McRae, Weiler, Houghton Mifflin, 2006.

      Elements of Language, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2001.

      Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Vintage Books, 1991.

      Ordinary People, Judith Guest. Penguin Books, 1976.

      A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen. Penguin Books, 1965.

      The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan. Ballentine Books, 1989.

      Death Be Not Proud, John Gunther. Harper and Row, 1949.

      The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde. Penguin books, 1983.

      Oedipus the King, Sophocles. Trans. By Paul Roche, Penguin Books, 1996.

      Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller. Penguin Books, 1976.

 Goals: Literature

1. To understand the universality of themes in literature.
2. To understand how the genre affects the conveyance of theme.
3. To analyze literature for theme and literary devices.
4. To relate knowledge of the author and his/her background to the work.
5. To understand the relationship between the literature and the time period.
6. To relate the themes and values contained in literary works to the human condition and to Christian values.
7. To identify various forms of literary theory.

The course goals relating to grammar, vocabulary and writing are program (entire English Curriculum) wide and identified under the heading Skills Proficiencies.

CONTENT OF COURSE:

QUARTER I

Literature: The Theme of Awareness

Ordinary People or Gift from the Sea

A Doll’s House

“The Bear”

“The Sled”

“Beginning My Studies”

“Blue Girls”

“Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood”.

Vocabulary

Chapters 1-8

Writing

College essay.

Analytical essay.

Personal journals.

Grammar

SAT review

QUARTER II

Literature

1. “Why Do We Need Celebrities”
2. “Are You the New Person Drawn Towards Me?”
3. “Ulysses”
4. “Speaking: The Hero”
5. “Heroes Don’t Need Zip Codes”
6. “The Man in the Water”
7.  “Those Winter Sundays”
8. “The Worn Path”
9. “Heroes”
10. The Joy Luck Club
11. Death Be Not Proud

Vocabulary

Chapters 9-16

Writing/multi media

The analytical essay and/or an analytical PowerPoint presentation

QUARTER III

Literature

1. Ordinary People and/or
2. The Picture of Dorian Gray
3. Oedipus Rex
4. Death of a Salesman

Vocabulary

Chapters 17-24

Writing

Analytical essay

Grammar

Parallelism

QUARTER IV

Literature

Death of a Salesman

Film

1. 12 Angry Men
2. Judgment at Nuremberg
3. Les Miserables
4. The Count of Monte Cristo

Vocabulary

Chapters 25-30

Writing

1. Double entry logs.
2. Reaction essay.

English IV Unit Proficiencies

Students will be able to…

Quarter I

Literature

Unit I: Awareness

1. Read and analyze a variety of works from different time periods on the theme of awareness.
2. Identify the point of awareness in each of the selections.
3. Identify the theme of loss and gain within the theme of awareness.
4. Discuss the connection between introspection and the maturing process.
5. Examine how different genres express the theme of awareness.
6. Evaluate the way in which a work can be interpreted in two different mediums.
7. Explain how the author’s literary techniques contribute to the theme of awareness.

Writing

1.      Draft, edit, polish and proofread the college essay.

2.      Draft, edit, polish and proofread the analytical essay.

Grammar

Demonstrate a mastery of correct usage.

Quarter II

Literature

Unit II: Heroism               

1. Read and analyze a variety of works on the theme of heroism.
2. Distinguish between the celebrity and the true hero.
3. Differentiate between cultural and universal perspective.
4. Understand the connection between the hero and his/her time period.
5. Evaluate the way in which a work can be interpreted in two different mediums.
6. Articulate the connection between the themes of awareness and heroism.     

Writing

1.      Draft, edit, polish and proofread the analytical essay.

2.      Draft, edit, polish, and present orally a PowerPoint presentation.

.

Quarter III

Literature

Unit III: Tragedy

1. Read and analyze a variety of works on the theme of tragedy.
2. Examine the meaning of the term tragedy.
3. Identify the tragic flaws in the characters central to the works.
4. Evaluate the way in which the characters respond to the tragedies.
5. Evaluate the way in which a work can be interpreted in two different mediums.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of tragedy in the human condition.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the connection between tragedy and personal growth.
8. Articulate the connection between and among the themes of awareness, heroism and tragedy.

Writing               

Draft, edit, polish and proofread the analytical essay.

Grammar

1. Demonstrate mastery in the use of parallelism.
2. Demonstrate mastery in the use of clear reference.

Quarter IV

Literature

Unit IV: Justice

1. View and analyze films on the theme of justice.
2. Recognize, evaluate, and critique elements of film such as camera angles, body language, lighting, staging, etc.  
3. Examine the effect of personal prejudice in achieving justice.
4. Examine the impact of the Holocaust and the concept of “crimes against humanity.”
5. Examine the distinction between “the letter of the law” and “the spirit of the law.”
6. Examine the difference between revenge and justice.
7. Examine the connection between personal responsibility and social justice.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the connection between the need to be just and personal growth.
9. Articulate the connection between and among the themes of awareness, heroism and tragedy and justice.

Writing

1.      Draft, edit, polish, and proofread the analytical essay.

2.      Draft, edit, polish, and proofread the reaction essay.

Grammar

Demonstrate mastery of usage and mechanics.

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