Class Description

Class Description

English 12: Mythology Focus

OReilly

 

Welcome to Intensive English 12. Let me tell you of my plans. I want this to be a creative class. I want this class to be about you, the students, learning to think and create for yourselves, but at the same time, I want this class to prepare you for college. So I think that means that you need to learn three rudimentary skills: how to structure an MLA formatted essay; how to write articulate, properly punctuated sentences that flow like  rivers to the sea;  and how to use classic themes and literary devices to express yourself.

 

To that end, the majority of the written assignments in here will be creative. Assignments will include writing the following: self-created myths, one-act plays, poetry, narratives, Power Points, and web based presentations.

 

In addition, I will ask that you write a perfected research paper on Hamlet. This research paper will be a persuasive literature response, refuting a public document, written with a fluent grasp of conventions; thus, this assignment will fulfill all five district portfolio requirements in one fell swoop, and it will also prepare you to write the kind of essays that will be demanded of you in college.

 

Here are the texts I am planning to read (we may not read all of them):

 

Parallel Myths, Berlein

Hamlet, Shakespeare

Oedipus Rex, Sophocles

Iliad, Homer

When The Legends Die, Borland

Power of One, Bryce

The Kite Runner, Hoisseini

1000 Splendid Suns, Hoisseini

Ramayana, Valmiki

Poetry by assorted writers

 

Late work: You might not realize this, but late work is an enormous pain in the neck for teachers. So here's my late work plan: I will accept late work for full credit for excused absences, and I will allow the same number of days to complete the assignment as were missed. I will allow work one day late for a penalty of one letter grade. I will accept work turned in later than one day late for half credit. I will not accept work from previous grading periods or after my turn-in cut off point, which is usually about a week before the end of a grading period. If I receive too much late work, and it becomes a bookkeeping nightmare, I will stop accepting late work.

 

Absences and tardies: Re-teaching an entire lesson to students who miss a class is also an enormous pain in the neck. In college, students never expect their teachers to re-create a class. So figuring out what you missed is UP TO YOU! Ask your friends, Facebook them, text them, stalk them, I don't care how you secure the information, as long as you do not ask me. As far as i am concerned, you can set up a video or tape recorder in my class and tape my lesson or send in a spy. You get the idea. For your convenience all assignments will be posted on my blog at http://oreillyenglish122010.blogspot.com/  

 

Which brings me to my next point...New this year: As of this writing, the site administration has stated that, next year, we will not have copiers or paper, so as a  strategy for handling this crisis, I have created a blog at http://oreillyenglish122010.blogspot.com/ . I plan to post all my assignments on my blog instead of handing out paper assignments.This class description can be found at my blog under the label "Class Description." If it turns out we have copiers, I would still like to limit my use of paper by having you use my blog instead of paper assignments.

 

Grade percentages:
Writing/essays/poetry              40%

Projects: Power Points, Plays    20%

Tests/Quizzes                        20%

Participation/homework            20%

This is important!!!

I always employ the use of a rubric to grade your project. You can always find the rubric on the project assignment sheet, which I will either hand-out to you or post on my blog. When you turn in the assignment, staple a copy of the rubric, either handwritten, typed, or downloaded, to THE TOP of your written work or LIGHTLY TAPED to the back of a poster or project. Always staple your first drafts TO THE BACK of your final draft of a written project. So here's the order from top to bottom. All rubrics on top, final draft in the middle, first drafts on the bottom.

The journals: Please bring to class an object which I refer to as "the journal." The journal is really just an organized location for your notes. You can use a spiral notebook or a dedicated section of your binder. In this journal, you will take notes on my lectures: my lectures on grammar, literary devices, textual interpretations, and other trenchant topics. ALWAYS BRING YOUR JOURNAL TO CLASS. I will randomly quiz you from your journals. Tests, on the other hand, will always be planned; you will not be allowed to use your journals on tests.  

 

Success, in my humble opinion, is comprised (roughly) of 33.3% brains and skill, 33.3% hard work, 33% ethical behaviour, and getting along with others (being polite and politically sensitive), and .3% chocolate. So let's develop our minds, work hard, and be nice. And the whole time, let's eat chocolate and drink tea. Please feel free to bring up any issues with me. After class is best for that. Confronting me during class or siccing your parents on me might not work as well as talking to me nicely after class. Sometimes I am crabby, impatient, and tired, but I will always do my best to be reasonable and admit my own mistakes, and I would hope for the same from you.