Ms. Casey Briskin: Room 217
Office Hours: 8:00-8:30
3:00-4:00
Voicemail: 668-7428
Syllabus for 12th Grade World Literature
Course Description: Students will read and study a variety of literature from around the world and examine themes of cross cultural understanding, identity, and social justice. This class will:
· Increase your knowledge, appreciation and respect for multicultural literature.
· Stimulate your awareness of the way literature reflects diverse cultures around the world.
· Encourage you to look at the cultural context in a work of literature.
· Challenge you to reflect and discuss the issues surrounding racism, social justice, and the exploitation of children and women.
Skills:
Students will be able to read and communicate effectively through writing, literary analysis and critical thinking as they:
• Explore concepts related to literature from many cultures and traditions, both fiction and nonfiction in a variety of genres, purposes and styles
• Develop and expand skills of media literacy by critically analyzing information found in electronic and print media, and use a variety of these sources to learn about a topic and represent ideas
• Explore, expand and reflect on their learning with the study of philosophy through a literary lens (journeys or rites of passage, feminist lens, etc.)
• Deepening mastery of various types of writing including the use of poetry, personal narrative, persuasive, and literary analysis.
• Students will engage in meaningful discussion of texts through
careful reading and rereading of text and through analysis of historical and cultural context
· Students will learn how to write academic papers with an emphasis on structure, clarity of ideas, insightful commentary, and concise language.
Units of Study
1st Quarter: Memoir
This I Believe: The college essay
Graphic Novel: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Assessment: creation of a comic based on personal experience
Novel: A Long Way Gone; Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
Written assignment on theme in ALWG
Assessment: Essay on how music saved your life
Weekly Vocabulary tests grammar activities throughout the year.
2nd Quarter: Poetry
Poetry Unit: Students will analyze and create poetry that demonstrates understanding of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, structure, and tone.
Assessment: Poetry portfolio and video poem
Novel: Sold by Patricia McCormic
Assessment: comparison paper on the novel and the movie Born into Brothel.
Or, creation of vignettes based on children from movie.
3rd Quarter: Narrative
Students will write narratives based on imagined or true events. They will demonstrate knowledge of rising action, conflict, epiphany and resolution in stories. They will also understand the significance of cultural context as it informs the narrative.
Short Stories from around the world:
Bats by Chitra Banerjee Divaakruni
Journey of Love by Nahid Rachlin
Lipstick by Wang Ping
Selections from Something to Declare by Julia Alvarez
Orbiting by Bharti Mukherjee
Tears of Autumn by Yoshhiko Uchida
Mixed Media Project: Crossing Borders
Novel: Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
Assessment: Creation of an original short story.
4th Quarter:
Drama and Scene Writing: Same/Difference
Media Literacy
Creation of original T.V. commercial
Expectations and Policies
Welcome to class! I expect students to work hard both in class and at home. Dedication is essential to success. Please let me know if you are going through an emergency or crisis. I am here to help you.
Classroom behavior: I expect all students to be respectful at all times. Bullying, teasing and unkind remarks will not be tolerated, and I will ask any student who is disrespectul to leave the classroom. If a student continues to be disruptive, I will arrange for a conference with parents and the appropriate assistant principal. I take learning seriously, and expect that you will too.
Tardies: Students are expected to be in their seat and ready to start when the bell rings. Tardy students will lose five points each day they are late, unless they have a pink pass. Chronic lateness will result in a call home and a referral to the assistant principal.
Homework Policy: Expect homework. I expect all students to read the assinged reading the night before it is due. Homework will receive full credit on the day it is due; thereafter, it drops a grade each day it is late. I will not accept homework or assignments after four days. If, however, you have an excused absence the day homework was due, the assignment will be given full credit upon your return to class. If you skip class during a quiz or test, you will receive an automatic F on that test.
Papers and Projects: Papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font. Papers are due on time or they will drop a grade each day they are late. I do not accept e-mailed papers. If a printing problem arises, you are responsible for e-mailing it to yourself and then printing it in the media center before school or during lunch -- not during class. I will not give you a pass to the media center during class. Be responsible for your work.
Honor Before Grades: Cheating and turning in work that isn’t your own will result in an F for the assignment/test/essay. I will also call home and inform your parents/guardians.
Electronic Devices: CELL PHONE and IPOD USE ARE NOT ALLOWED unless lesson plan involves the use of electronic media. Cell phones and iPods will be conviscated by me, and given back after class. Second time the device is seen I will give it to your friendly Assistant Principal.
Supplies: Please bring a notebook for notes, a folder for handouts and either a pen or pencil.
Parents, if possible, please donate a box of tissue to the classroom.