Honors English II – Course Syllabus

Spring 2006

Marianne Leek, Instructor

Semester Theme: Journeys

1^st Six Weeks:

Introduce It’s a Small World writing keepsake guidelines and determine due date

Literary Terms Test – Friday, January 7^th

Unit One: Physical and Emotional Journeys

Short Story Unit

“The Bet” by Anton Chekhov

“How Much Land Does a Man Need?” by Leo Tolstoy

“What Men Live By” by Leo Tolstoy or “The Overcoat” by Nikolai Gogol

Test

Unit Project: Short Story Shield

Unit Two: Psychological Journey: Facing Adversity and Oppression

Memoir – Night by Elie Wiesel

Test

Unit Projects: Imaging project, My Book of Others, Butterflies/Holocaust poetry, character or plot wheel

Unit Three: Emotional Journey

Greek Tragedy/Drama - Oedipus by Sophocles

Test

Unit Project: Oedipus mask/collage

Vocabulary tests will be every Thursday or Friday.

Writing assignments for 1^st six weeks: Auto-bio poem, When I was a Child poem or choice, It’s a New Year journal, original parable, 2 Journey journals, Three Questions journal, other journal assignments, transformation essay, character essay, CNN essay, wisdom essay, My Book of Others, apology or bitterness poem, memory poem.

Honors Students: Summer Reading Portfolios will be due on Monday, January 10^th. There will be a test on Things Fall Apart on Monday, January 10^th. Imaging projects on summer reading will be due on Tuesday, January 11^th. Students will take a test on their third book on Tuesday, January 11^th. Students will also sign up for a unit introduction project.

2^nd Six Weeks:

Unit One: Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Journeys – The Quest

Novel – Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Novel – The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Album

Test

Unit project: Life map and writings or autobiographical CD case and essay, character memory box

Unit Two: Emotional Journeys – Growth and Change

Drama – A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

Test

Short Stories

“Lay of the Werewolf” by Marie De France

“Federigo’s Falcon” from The Decameron

“Pyramus and Thisbe” by Ovid

“False Gems” by Guy de Maupaussant

Test

Unit Three: Academic Journeys and Life Choices

Film as Literature: The Emperors’ Club w/viewing guide

Vocabulary tests will be on each Thursday or Friday.

Writing assignments for 2^nd six weeks: Life map or CD case and essay, self-portrait poem, 2 journey journals, partner essay, two expository essays, information based essays, five influential people essay.

3^rd Six Weeks:

Unit One: Academic Journeys

Novel The Wave

Research Project – All students will be required to research a topic of interest and write a 5-7 page research paper. Students will learn how to parenthetically cite their sources and how to correctly use MLA format to document the works cited within their paper.

They will also create a display of what they have learned and will give a six to eight minute presentation.

It’s a Small World writing keepsake will be due on May ____. Students will be given time in the library to finish this assignment.

Vocabulary tests will be each week on Thursday or Friday as time allows.

Unit Two: Novel Choice – Contemporary novel study

Novel study groups and museum project: Students will work in groups of 3 or 4 and will read and discuss a novel within their literature discussion groups. They will also complete the Museum of Living Literature project.

Drama – to be announced.

If time allows, students will create a class literary terms quilt.

Writing assignments for 3^rd six weeks: “Oh the places you’ll go” essay, research paper

Note: This syllabus is subject to change due to weather or time constraints. Major tests and unit projects are listed on the syllabus, but quizzes, homework, and smaller projects relating to literature will also be required. Students are expected to turn all work in on the assigned date. If a student is absent, he/she must make up assignments within two days. All students are expected to attend class, participate, and approach assignments and discussions with a positive attitude. All students should expect to do well in this class. Most assignments for the writing keepsake and most essays about literature will be completed during class.