Monday, August 25, 2008

Tabs for Notebook

Use the following as tabs for your notebook:

1. Literature
2. Vocabulary
3. Composition
4. Notes
5. Projects

These are also listed on your syllabus.

Notebook

Notebooks will be graded on Friday of this week.

Please have the appropriate sections (listed on the blog), and place your syllabus and class rules behind the title page.

Center the following information for your title page:


Your Name


English IV - (your class period)



J. Smith


Room 121

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Anglo Saxon Notes

Anglo Saxon England

405 – 1066 AD

Early History
England’s first inhabitants unknown
Left Stonehenge
Early History
 Perhaps Druids created Stonehenge.
 First recorded history of England by Greeks.
 Romans significantly impacted England’s development and history.

Romans
 Julius Caesar 55 BC
 Claudius 43 AD
 Overcame Celts
 Established Roman rule
 Remained in England for 400 years
 Intermarried with Britons, built towns and roads, Hadrian’s Wall
 Roman Empire collapsed 5th century

Invasions
 Scots and Picts invaded England from the North.
 Angles, Saxons, Jutes
 Raided Briton
 Became the Vikings

Angles and Saxons

 Settled in Northumbria, Wessex
 Anglo Saxon society
– Agricultural, semi-nomadic people
– Tribal classes
– Earls – kin to nobility
– Churls – tribe captives

Anglo Saxon Society
• Concept of a strong, wise leader
• Warrior – very important part of society
• King – usually a warrior
• Women – unimportant, unless royal
• Art – Sutton Hoo burial ship
• Significant artifacts showing heroic society rich in gold and craftsmanship
• Evidence of trade with the Far East

Religion
• Pagan
• Pope Gregory sent Augustine to convert king
• Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury
• Pagan traditions
• Yule log, Christmas tree

Anglo Saxon Characteristics

 Germanic people pushed west by tribes like the Huns.
 Worship Odin, god of war
 Faithful, brave, fearless, revered the hero-warrior
 Governed by war councils
 Entertainment in the mead hall
 Craftsmen – weapons, swords, helmets, mead halls
 Women were generally thought of as servants/possessions.
 Males dominated the society.
 Loyalty to the king from the thanes was a necessity.(A thane is a royal warrior)
 Disloyalty to the king meant death.

Fate
 Predetermined a person’s life/events
 Destiny without choice/free will
 Very different from Christian beliefs

Literature
► Most important work is Beowulf
► Story revolves around a great pagan warrior known for his strength and courage.
► Considered the national epic of England.
► Author unknown.


Beowulf
 Part of the oral tradition in ancient literature.
 Emphasis on prowess in battle.
 Concept of Fate/destiny.
 References to Christian ideas and Latin classics.
 Reflects the juxtaposition of church and pagan elements.


Anglo Saxon Terms
 Scop – professional entertainer for the king
 Folkmoot – town meeting of elders
 Wyrd – Anglo Saxon sense of Fate
 Thane – warrior
 Mead – fermented drink of honey and water
 Mead Hall – place of entertainment/story telling/bragging about battles
 Lair – den or hiding place
 Witan – council of elders who ruled when the king was absent
Anglo Saxon Terms
 Freya – Goddess of love and marriage (Friday)
 Odin – wisest God
 Wodin – Wednesday
 Ever present danger of death by accident or warfare caused a grim view of death by people
 Fatalistic attitude – Because of belief in Fate
 Words are very literal, concrete.

Epic hero notes

Epic and Epic Hero

Epic: long narrative poem in elevated style about a hero and his heroic deeds which are important to the history of a nation or a race

Characteristics of the epic:

► Hero is a figure of national importance.
► Setting is vast in scope, covering great nations.
► Action consists of deeds of valor.
► Supernatural forces play a role in the epic: gods, angels, and demons.
► Style of sustained elevation.
► Narrative opens in medias res (in the middle of the action)
 Epic catalog: information about warriors, ships, armies.
 Extended formal speeches by the main characters.
 Invocation of a Muse for inspiration.

Epic Hero
 Superior in degree to other men and to his environment: virtuous.
 Actions are larger than life, but he is definitely human.
 Capable of error.
 Ordinary laws of nature are suspended for him: enchanted weapons, talking animals, terrifying monsters, superhuman courage.
 Not immune to death.
 Vulnerable to physical wounds.
 Strives for honor and fame.
 Possesses Christian characteristics of kindness, gentleness, valor, loyalty.
 When an epic hero dies, funeral pyres and lamentations are typical.

Class Rules and Routines

English Class Rules and Routines

You will be expected to adhere to the following:
1. Be on time to class, with your own completed homework, paper, pen, and notebook (and other special items such as research supplies when needed).
2. CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF AND OUT OF SIGHT. I will not tolerate pursuing a phone in pockets, or purses, or other student objects. Do not pull your phone out to check the time, or show pictures, etc.
3. Do not ask to leave the room for personal errands such as: restroom, counseling office, locker, etc. Take care of these matters between classes only.
4. Raise your hand before speaking; be respectful of others who are contributing to a class discussion. Do not interrupt the teacher or student presenters.
5. Be respectful of everyone in the class, and be patient, kind, and aware of what you say so that others will not be hurt or offended by your words and deeds.
6. Stay on task; do not work on assignments for other classes. Also, do not bring distracting items such as periodicals, unless needed for my classroom work.
7. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. Do not invade someone else’s space.
8. Use the pencil sharpener during non-instructional time.
9. Pick up after yourself; keep biological issues private.
10. When completing cooperative learning, involve yourself and allow all group members to contribute to the task.
11. Do not write on desks, class sets of books, or any objects that are community property.
12. You are responsible for obtaining notes/handouts from days when you are absent. Please ask for these at the end of the period, not as the teacher is beginning classes.
13. Movies are used for instructional purposes. You can expect a quiz on each one. No sitting or reclining on the floor, no sharing of seats.
14. All school rules will be enforced in this classroom, including dress code.
15. NO GUM CHEWING! Violators will serve a 45 minute detention with the teacher. Do not bring food or drinks to class. There will be no warning or one time forgiveness.
16. Makeup work will be offered during tutorials only. Please do not ask to come to one of my other class periods to complete the work. Schedule makeup work with me, and no shows will receive a zero for the work. The work must be completed in 3 days or less, or zeroes will be recorded.
17. If the class takes a quiz at the beginning of the period, students who are tardy will be considered unexcused absences (unless arriving with an excused note from the office), and therefore, a zero. I do not accept passes from other teachers for students who are late to class because they did not complete work on time, nor do I give passes for students who wish to linger in my class.
18. Do not use inappropriate language, and be sure to avoid any expressions or acronyms that may even hint at profane or insulting words.
19. All work in the class will be completed in scholarly, academic language. I will not allow instant message language or words from the pop culture of slang.
20. Write essays in third person formal, avoid contractions, document properly, and remember to use integrity and honesty in discussing class activities with other students. Cheating is a heinous crime and will be punished accordingly.

English IV Syllabus

English IV Course Guidelines and Syllabus


English IV is a study of literary works from Great Britain whose culture still impacts American life. Some works from classic world authors and contemporary writers will also be a part of this curriculum.

This class focuses on the many types of communication that were vital in ancient through modern times and their relationship to today’s cultures. Because of that, it is essential that each student use academic language in all classroom endeavors. This means that any inappropriate comments about a person, their culture, appearance or lifestyle will result in immediate disciplinary action by the teacher. Students may not use slang or derogatory terms that one might hear in music or television/internet sites. Each student will speak properly in class, and translate that into any written or presentation assignment. Students who cannot abide by this requirement for cultural sensitivity will serve a 45 minute detention with the instructor, and write a 500 word essay.

Students must be attentive in class, and are required to be in their assigned seats when the tardy bell rings. Students must also stay in assigned seats until the end of the period dismissal by the instructor. Remember to leave electronic items out of sight, and stay focused on the day’s academic task

Makeup work is completed during tutorial sessions only, which are before school or after school any day that the instructor does not have meetings or duty. You are responsible for arranging your own makeup work in a timely fashion.

Notebook: You are required to bring your own notebook and supplies each day. Notebook checks are unannounced.

Title Page and 5 Dividers:

1. Literature
2. Vocabulary
3. Composition
4. Notes
5. Projects

Grades:
Daily 50% (Quizzes/Homework)
Note: Quizzes count twice.
Major Unit Tests/Compositions/Projects 30%
Six Weeks Unit Test 20%





Curriculum Overview

1st 6 Weeks:
Goals Essay
Anglo Saxon literature
Beowulf, an epic
Senior Vita
Compare/contrast literary essay

2nd 6 Weeks

Medieval Literature
Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
Presentations
Literary analysis essay


3rd 6 Weeks

Renaissance Literature
Film Study – Hamlet
Shakespeare’s Macbeth

4th 6 Weeks

Research Paper – Literary Criticism
Illustrated Book Report

5th 6 Weeks

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Romantic/ Victorian Periods
Metaphysical Works

6th 6 Weeks

Poetry Notebook
Propaganda Unit

I am looking forward to a delightful year with the class of 2009!

Welcome to Senior English with Ms. J. Smith

Dear Class of 09,

I will use this blog to post my syllabus, rules, and assignment updates. Please check the blog frequently so you can access notes, and selected handouts.

Go Wildcats!