Grade 11 IB HL English Syllabus
Syllabus: IB HL English 11
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
Mr. Johnson
Room 315
[email protected]
Website: johnsongrade10&11english.weebly.com
Welcome!
I’m thrilled to begin the adventure of the mind we are about to undertake. I strive to create an environment where students can take responsibility for their learning and experience the feeling of authentic success. I have high expectations for myself as a teacher, and I have high expectations for you as a student. You will be accountable on a daily basis to do your work, be present for your fellow classmates, and contribute to the collective insight of our class.
Background
I was a daily newspaper reporter for five years, and I worked for more than 11 years in corporate communications, including time as a director of public relations for an agency in Boston, MA. I taught freshman composition for two years at Clemson University in South Carolina. I’ve been teaching in the Minneapolis School District for four years. I’m married and have two children, ages 12 and 14. I read a lot, run, and play hockey.
Course Description
Honor English 11 is designed to fulfill the requirements of the first phase of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in English. It is a two-year program to be finished in your senior year.
This year-long course provides exposure to the genres of the short story, the novel, short essay, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. The emphasis is on language learning in context, language acquisition, literature, and communication through writing and speaking.
This class provides skill development in the use of language as a vehicle for thought, creativity, reflection, learning, self-expression, and social interaction; listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and presenting in a variety of contexts; and the development of critical, creative, and personal approaches to studying and analyzing literature.
Expectations
HL IB English 11 students will be expected to write and speak using complete and correct sentences. Students will be responsible for outside of class readings and other homework. Every student will be required to use a variety of technologies available, and each student will be responsible for having access to a computer outside of class time when necessary.
Policies: Grades are determined primarily by the degree to which a student masters the skills of composition and literary interpretation. Students must write with understanding, clarity, and support their claims with evidence from the text.
Missing assignments will impact the grade when mastery cannot be determined from the amount of work submitted. MISSING ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE GRADED AND COUNT AS A “ZERO,” SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERING OVERALL GRADE AVERAGES.
Daily writing, mastery of writing tasks, and strong participation in formal class discussion is essential to receiving an A. Writing tasks in the Formal Writing category will follow the writing process for best results - brainstorming, organizing, and revision. Students must prepare extensively for designated formal class discussions. Students who complete writing assignments before deadlines will have the opportunity for feedback from the instructor before final submission. Take advantage of this opportunity for best grade results.
Always be prepared for class by reading assigned material, and be ready to comment in class. Every person's comments are valuable and add perspective for all members of the class (including the teacher), so being prepared for class by completing homework, reading in a timely manner, and preparing personal reflections is essential and will be reflected in the final grade each quarter.
Late assignments result in reduced grades - Points will be subtracted each day the assignment is late. Occasionally, there are legitimate reasons for late work. The best way to negotiate this is by advance notice, or by conference with the instructor.
Attendance is taken at the beginning of class. A student who is tardy may be marked absent. Attendance must be corrected in the main office. When absent, the student is responsible for getting missed notes and assignments.
Behavior in class is always based on courtesy and mutual respect -- respect for people and the classroom environment. Respect for various points of view. Practice professional behavior in class in terms of language, dress, conduct, and by stowing electronics during class.
IMPORTANT! Phones must be put away BEFORE WALKING INTO THE CLASSROOM. Phones out during class are subject to immediate confiscation. Parents will be contacted for in-class phone use.
Members of this class should observe strict policies of academic honesty. Any instances in which cheating, including plagiarism and unauthorized use of copyrighted materials, computer accounts, or someone else’s work is determined, will be referred to Student Services and will be investigated to its full extent. Refer to page 10 of the Southwest Handbook. Consequences range from a zero on the assignment to an F for the quarter grade. Be mindful of this and do original work.
Supplies needed for this class: Composition notebooks. If it is possible, purchase the texts listed so that books may be marked with personal annotation. This is not required, however, and we’ll discuss alternative ways to annotate in class. What follows is a list of potential readings for the year. This list is subject to change. We will also be reading short stories, poetry, and some world literature selections which I will provide.
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Poetry of Langston Hughes
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, by Dai Sijie
Chronicle of a Death Foretold, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Antigone, by Sophocles
Class outline (subject to change)
September: Short stories, Writing: short fiction
October: Gatsby; Writing: Literary Analysis
November: Poetry of Langston Hughes
December: Oral Exams
Quarter Three: Chronicle of a Death Foretold & Balzac and the Little Chinese
Quarter Four: Antigone, Writing: World Lit. Paper
If you are a concurrent enrollment students working to receive college credit for this course:
English 1110 (MCTC concurrent enrollment)
In order to receive college credit for this class, all major papers must be completed and submitted on time, attendance must be excellent, and course work should be a C or higher.
Course Description (college catalog): This course provides instruction and practice in writing essays for a variety of purposes and audiences. You will receive instruction and help in developing ideas, thinking critically, organizing your writing, using databases, and revising and editing sentences. By approaching writing as a process involving prewriting, drafting, online and face-to-face peer response, revising, and editing, you will write more clearly, fully and gracefully. Prerequisite: Placement score into Engl.1110 or completion of Engl.900 or ENGA900 or ESOL 0051
You will be exploring several different kinds of writing this semester, with the results hopefully leading to the core outcomes below. Reading and writing are reciprocal acts: the more you read, the better you become at writing, and the more you write, the better you become at reading. I would add to this that the more you critique (look closely at) other writing – student drafts, essays in our text – the better you become at critiquing your own writing.
Course Outcomes:
Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing:
• analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating what you read and write;
• recognizing the connections among context, audience, and purpose in texts and media;
• compare/contrast multiple perspectives;
• articulate an understanding of how race, class and gender affect one’s perceptions
Writing Process:
• reflect on and develop ideas;
• identify the strengths and weaknesses of your writing process and respond accordingly;
• use drafts to serve particular purposes, including brainstorming for a thesis, thinking through a project, incorporating research, revising, and proofreading;
Social Responsibility:
• use reading and writing as tools for personal and social action;
• act as a responsible member of a writing community – give and receive feedback from others to help you experience writing as a collaboration and contribution to the community.
Writing Conventions: By the end of 1110, your writing will demonstrate a proficiency in how to use writing conventions appropriate for the context of the writing, including:
• showing control over grammar, punctuation, and organization in various writing situations;
• showing focus and flow from the thesis to the conclusion, with each paragraph expressing its own focus and contribution to the essay;
• employing proper citation and documentation when sources are used.
POLICIES:
Attendance: This course is highly participatory, so your presence is essential. You automatically fail the course at 18 absences through December 16, the end of the concurrent semester at MCTC. You will also fail the class if you are not passing with a C, regardless of excuse, or if you have not completed all the major written assignments. You will be advised to withdraw to avoid an F on your record. The last day to officially withdraw is November 23, 2016.
MCTC recognizes this connection between attendance and learning; as a result, the college has instituted an attendance policy that says you may be dropped administratively (LDA’d) from a course if
*You do not attend class during the first two weeks the course meets and do not contact the instructor.
*You miss all scheduled meetings of the class within a two-week time frame without contacting the instructor.
Academic Honesty & Plagiarism: The work you turn in must be your own – original to this course (not from another course), and written by you. Using the ideas or words of other writers, collaborators, or any other outside source will often strengthen your own work; however, you must always appropriately use and give credit to the ideas and words of others. If you copy information word for word (even 3 words) without using quotations, this is plagiarism, even if you cite at the end of passage. If you take and paraphrase an idea from an article and do not cite at the end of the par. containing those thoughts, it is plagiarism. Acts of academic dishonesty will require a complete rewrite of the paper in question. Your grade may also be docked. Repeating the offense will result in failing the course. For more details on how to avoid plagiarism, refer to the MCTC student handbook. Plagiarism offenses must be reported by the instructor to the Office of Students Rights & Responsibilities.
Conduct: We are here to learn from each other and to benefit from each other’s experiences and differences. This classroom will be a place where we will listen to each other. Differences of opinion are welcome as long as they are expressed with respect. If your classroom behavior is disruptive to other students or compromises the learning process of the class, student conduct policies will be enforced. Please refer to MCTC policy.
Services: Click on Student Services on the MCTC website toolbar, then scroll to Support Services.
If you need accommodation due to a disability to participate in this class, please contact Disability Services (DS) in T2400 (612-659-6730) to schedule a confidential intake appointment. Once you are registered with DS, I encourage you to contact me early on in the semester to discuss your accommodation letter. Debilitating anxiety or depression that adversely affects your schoolwork, counts as a disability.
MCTC has a Learning Center (T4300) that is a great resource (see D2L Announcements for more). This is not a grammar course and I expect that your papers will be relatively error free. You will need to take the responsibility to clear up spelling, grammar, or mechanical issues in your writing by studying your errors and eliminating them.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
Mr. Johnson
Room 315
[email protected]
Website: johnsongrade10&11english.weebly.com
Welcome!
I’m thrilled to begin the adventure of the mind we are about to undertake. I strive to create an environment where students can take responsibility for their learning and experience the feeling of authentic success. I have high expectations for myself as a teacher, and I have high expectations for you as a student. You will be accountable on a daily basis to do your work, be present for your fellow classmates, and contribute to the collective insight of our class.
Background
I was a daily newspaper reporter for five years, and I worked for more than 11 years in corporate communications, including time as a director of public relations for an agency in Boston, MA. I taught freshman composition for two years at Clemson University in South Carolina. I’ve been teaching in the Minneapolis School District for four years. I’m married and have two children, ages 12 and 14. I read a lot, run, and play hockey.
Course Description
Honor English 11 is designed to fulfill the requirements of the first phase of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in English. It is a two-year program to be finished in your senior year.
This year-long course provides exposure to the genres of the short story, the novel, short essay, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. The emphasis is on language learning in context, language acquisition, literature, and communication through writing and speaking.
This class provides skill development in the use of language as a vehicle for thought, creativity, reflection, learning, self-expression, and social interaction; listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and presenting in a variety of contexts; and the development of critical, creative, and personal approaches to studying and analyzing literature.
Expectations
HL IB English 11 students will be expected to write and speak using complete and correct sentences. Students will be responsible for outside of class readings and other homework. Every student will be required to use a variety of technologies available, and each student will be responsible for having access to a computer outside of class time when necessary.
Policies: Grades are determined primarily by the degree to which a student masters the skills of composition and literary interpretation. Students must write with understanding, clarity, and support their claims with evidence from the text.
Missing assignments will impact the grade when mastery cannot be determined from the amount of work submitted. MISSING ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE GRADED AND COUNT AS A “ZERO,” SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERING OVERALL GRADE AVERAGES.
Daily writing, mastery of writing tasks, and strong participation in formal class discussion is essential to receiving an A. Writing tasks in the Formal Writing category will follow the writing process for best results - brainstorming, organizing, and revision. Students must prepare extensively for designated formal class discussions. Students who complete writing assignments before deadlines will have the opportunity for feedback from the instructor before final submission. Take advantage of this opportunity for best grade results.
Always be prepared for class by reading assigned material, and be ready to comment in class. Every person's comments are valuable and add perspective for all members of the class (including the teacher), so being prepared for class by completing homework, reading in a timely manner, and preparing personal reflections is essential and will be reflected in the final grade each quarter.
Late assignments result in reduced grades - Points will be subtracted each day the assignment is late. Occasionally, there are legitimate reasons for late work. The best way to negotiate this is by advance notice, or by conference with the instructor.
Attendance is taken at the beginning of class. A student who is tardy may be marked absent. Attendance must be corrected in the main office. When absent, the student is responsible for getting missed notes and assignments.
Behavior in class is always based on courtesy and mutual respect -- respect for people and the classroom environment. Respect for various points of view. Practice professional behavior in class in terms of language, dress, conduct, and by stowing electronics during class.
IMPORTANT! Phones must be put away BEFORE WALKING INTO THE CLASSROOM. Phones out during class are subject to immediate confiscation. Parents will be contacted for in-class phone use.
Members of this class should observe strict policies of academic honesty. Any instances in which cheating, including plagiarism and unauthorized use of copyrighted materials, computer accounts, or someone else’s work is determined, will be referred to Student Services and will be investigated to its full extent. Refer to page 10 of the Southwest Handbook. Consequences range from a zero on the assignment to an F for the quarter grade. Be mindful of this and do original work.
Supplies needed for this class: Composition notebooks. If it is possible, purchase the texts listed so that books may be marked with personal annotation. This is not required, however, and we’ll discuss alternative ways to annotate in class. What follows is a list of potential readings for the year. This list is subject to change. We will also be reading short stories, poetry, and some world literature selections which I will provide.
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Poetry of Langston Hughes
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, by Dai Sijie
Chronicle of a Death Foretold, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Antigone, by Sophocles
Class outline (subject to change)
September: Short stories, Writing: short fiction
October: Gatsby; Writing: Literary Analysis
November: Poetry of Langston Hughes
December: Oral Exams
Quarter Three: Chronicle of a Death Foretold & Balzac and the Little Chinese
Quarter Four: Antigone, Writing: World Lit. Paper
If you are a concurrent enrollment students working to receive college credit for this course:
English 1110 (MCTC concurrent enrollment)
In order to receive college credit for this class, all major papers must be completed and submitted on time, attendance must be excellent, and course work should be a C or higher.
Course Description (college catalog): This course provides instruction and practice in writing essays for a variety of purposes and audiences. You will receive instruction and help in developing ideas, thinking critically, organizing your writing, using databases, and revising and editing sentences. By approaching writing as a process involving prewriting, drafting, online and face-to-face peer response, revising, and editing, you will write more clearly, fully and gracefully. Prerequisite: Placement score into Engl.1110 or completion of Engl.900 or ENGA900 or ESOL 0051
You will be exploring several different kinds of writing this semester, with the results hopefully leading to the core outcomes below. Reading and writing are reciprocal acts: the more you read, the better you become at writing, and the more you write, the better you become at reading. I would add to this that the more you critique (look closely at) other writing – student drafts, essays in our text – the better you become at critiquing your own writing.
Course Outcomes:
Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing:
• analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating what you read and write;
• recognizing the connections among context, audience, and purpose in texts and media;
• compare/contrast multiple perspectives;
• articulate an understanding of how race, class and gender affect one’s perceptions
Writing Process:
• reflect on and develop ideas;
• identify the strengths and weaknesses of your writing process and respond accordingly;
• use drafts to serve particular purposes, including brainstorming for a thesis, thinking through a project, incorporating research, revising, and proofreading;
Social Responsibility:
• use reading and writing as tools for personal and social action;
• act as a responsible member of a writing community – give and receive feedback from others to help you experience writing as a collaboration and contribution to the community.
Writing Conventions: By the end of 1110, your writing will demonstrate a proficiency in how to use writing conventions appropriate for the context of the writing, including:
• showing control over grammar, punctuation, and organization in various writing situations;
• showing focus and flow from the thesis to the conclusion, with each paragraph expressing its own focus and contribution to the essay;
• employing proper citation and documentation when sources are used.
POLICIES:
Attendance: This course is highly participatory, so your presence is essential. You automatically fail the course at 18 absences through December 16, the end of the concurrent semester at MCTC. You will also fail the class if you are not passing with a C, regardless of excuse, or if you have not completed all the major written assignments. You will be advised to withdraw to avoid an F on your record. The last day to officially withdraw is November 23, 2016.
MCTC recognizes this connection between attendance and learning; as a result, the college has instituted an attendance policy that says you may be dropped administratively (LDA’d) from a course if
*You do not attend class during the first two weeks the course meets and do not contact the instructor.
*You miss all scheduled meetings of the class within a two-week time frame without contacting the instructor.
Academic Honesty & Plagiarism: The work you turn in must be your own – original to this course (not from another course), and written by you. Using the ideas or words of other writers, collaborators, or any other outside source will often strengthen your own work; however, you must always appropriately use and give credit to the ideas and words of others. If you copy information word for word (even 3 words) without using quotations, this is plagiarism, even if you cite at the end of passage. If you take and paraphrase an idea from an article and do not cite at the end of the par. containing those thoughts, it is plagiarism. Acts of academic dishonesty will require a complete rewrite of the paper in question. Your grade may also be docked. Repeating the offense will result in failing the course. For more details on how to avoid plagiarism, refer to the MCTC student handbook. Plagiarism offenses must be reported by the instructor to the Office of Students Rights & Responsibilities.
Conduct: We are here to learn from each other and to benefit from each other’s experiences and differences. This classroom will be a place where we will listen to each other. Differences of opinion are welcome as long as they are expressed with respect. If your classroom behavior is disruptive to other students or compromises the learning process of the class, student conduct policies will be enforced. Please refer to MCTC policy.
Services: Click on Student Services on the MCTC website toolbar, then scroll to Support Services.
If you need accommodation due to a disability to participate in this class, please contact Disability Services (DS) in T2400 (612-659-6730) to schedule a confidential intake appointment. Once you are registered with DS, I encourage you to contact me early on in the semester to discuss your accommodation letter. Debilitating anxiety or depression that adversely affects your schoolwork, counts as a disability.
MCTC has a Learning Center (T4300) that is a great resource (see D2L Announcements for more). This is not a grammar course and I expect that your papers will be relatively error free. You will need to take the responsibility to clear up spelling, grammar, or mechanical issues in your writing by studying your errors and eliminating them.