Course Outline | Freshman Advanced English

Course Syllabus, Copyright © 2009

Clenece Hills, instructor (fairplay@sunflower.com)

 

Posted 20 Aug 2009

 

 

Topic:  Course Outline

 

Categories:  Thinking, Vocabulary, Reading, Grammar and Writing, Research

 

Bloom’s Taxonomy: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation

 

 

Freshman Advanced English, a contract course, has high academic requirements.  Students who do well in the course:

  • attend regularly
  • take notes
  • raise questions
  • discuss ideas and procedures
  • follow directions
  • apply the writing guidelines
  • meet deadlines
  • seek help from the instructor.

 

Students and parents who wish to receive weekly homework assignments, instructions for outside papers, and other pertinent information should provide email addresses to the instructor.  Please send your email address to fairplay@sunflower.com

 

Grades in Freshman Advanced English

 

25% Participation –includes attending class,  discussing in class, raising questions, offering ideas, presenting research, reading aloud.

 

25%  Daily Work – includes  taking notes, writing in class, studying grammar, learning vocabulary

 

50%  Formal Writing and Reading - includes writing literature based writing assignments and producing the research paper.

 

In class, use three ring wide-lined notebook paper (no spiral) and a black ballpoint pen.

 

Outside of class, type,  double-space, and include a cover sheet.  No folders, please.

 

First Quarter

Receive course syllabus.  Learn How to Take Notes and How to Use Notes. Receive Writing Guidelines.  Receive instructions for first book review.  Check out grammar and literature books.

Begin daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Benchmark in class writing assignment.  Identify novel for first book review

Bloom’s Taxonomy – Learning How to Think and How to Ask Questions 

Notes collected

Three weeks grades

 

Learn how to talk about language.  Learn elements of Grammar – Learn  to think and write with Clarity, Fluency, Eloquence. Formal writing.  Eliminate the passive voice and linking verbs.  Study Writing Guidelines.

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Review Elements of Fiction – Review and Reinforcement while reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens – a common classroom experience

Learn to write a Statement of Theme that reflects the interaction between the writer and the reader.(Synthesis)  Write several short in class essays.

Submit book review of a novel of Lexile 1100 or higher.

Notes collected

Six weeks grades

 

Notes collected

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Continue reading Great Expectations.

Write in class essay over  Great Expectations  

Notes collected

First quarter grades

 

Second Quarter

(In the event of weather cancellations, each date will be moved to the next class meeting date)

Continue daily work in grammar in grammar and vocabulary.

Begin The Research Process

               Write weekly progress reports

               Brainstorm topics

               Select topics

               Share and support topics

               Recognize and use resources

               Write a contract using Bloom’s Taxonomy

               Research topics

               Begin a bibliography

               Produce an outline using parallel construction

               Write the first 1000 words.  Use precise vocabulary.  Use MLA documentation.  Integrate quotes according to guidelines.

               Design the oral presentation using Bloom’s Taxonomy

               Respond to oral presentations through the cognitive and affective domains

Timeline:

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Select Research Topic

Research Progress Report #1 and Resource Sharing

Outside of class assignment.  A National Book Award Author – Book review of novel

Research Progress Report # 2 including Resource Sharing and Initial bibliography of at least 10 sources

Three weeks grades

 

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Research Progress Report #3 including Resource Sharing and draft of research contract

Research Progress Report #4 including Resource Sharing and draft of outline, using parallel construction

Outside of class assignment. Book review related to the research topic (may be fiction or non-fiction)

Six weeks grades

 

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Research Progress Report #5 including Resource Sharing and  First 1000 words of Research Paper

Preliminary Research Packet: Contract, outline, bibliography and first 1000 words of research assignment and 5 progress reports.  Proof read in class.

Draw for oral presentation dates.

In class essay test over the research process

 

Second Quarter/Semester Grades

 

Third Quarter

(In the event of weather cancellations, each date will be moved to the next class meeting date)

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Learn how to participate in each oral presentation by asking appropriate questions according to Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Learn how to evaluate each oral presentation according to the cognitive and affective domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Approve books for next book review.

In class essay.

Three weeks grades

 

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Read The Time Machine by H.G. Welles outside of class; complete daily assignments.

Oral presentations of the Research Project.  Each presenter will make a 20 – 25 minute presentation, and will field questions for 10 – 15 minutes following his or her presentation.

Fine tune writing through sentence variety and word precision  Clarity.  Fluency.  Eloquence.  Create a title for written work. 

Book review (book must be approved by instructor)

Six weeks grades

 

Original contract and any approved revisions

Preliminary research including outline, first 1000 words, bibliography

Final outline, research paper, bibliography

Final formal research paper

Essay test over research presentations.

Attach to the test all notes taken during oral presentations.

Third quarter grades

 

Fourth Quarter

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Integrate thought and action through an appreciation of language and content in the classic works of Homer and Shakespeare

Recognize the art of language through poetry, drama, and prose

Identify allusions and their sources

Emphasize integrating quotes into formal writing.

Read together The Odyssey by Homer, especially noting allusions reflected in other works.  See film of The Odyssey.

Present The Odyssey Memory Assignment.

Write essay in class.

Three weeks grades

 

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Read together Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, noting passages that “stand alone” in their beauty and their meaning

Identify Shakespeare Memory Assignment.

Present Shakespeare Memory Assignment

Read, Write, and Illustrate Poetry

Poetry Portfolio due.

Six weeks grades

 

Continue daily work in grammar and vocabulary.

Review student poetry portfolios.

Write Literary Bibliography.

Write final essay.

See film of Romeo and Juliet.

MAP test

Fourth quarter/Second Semester grades