Honors Survey of British Literature

Course Expectations

 

Mr. Lister

Winchester H.S.

2009-2010

 

A little learning is a dangerous thing;

Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:

There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,

And drinking largely sobers us again.

                        --Alexander Pope, “Essay on Criticism” (1709)

 

This course is a taste test of literatures produced in Britain or by British writers throughout its cultural history.  Although we will drink deeply of a number of texts this semester, the spring of British literature is too voluminous to imbibe at one sitting.  Because of these time constraints, the texts that we read can only offer a representative sample of what you will encounter in your studies at the college level.  It is my hope that you will become so intoxicated with the literature that you will choose to read widely on your own and to share your experiences with the whole class. As always, extra reading is encouraged and I am always willing to make suggestions and to loan materials.

 

In addition to introducing you to British Literature, a major goal of this course is to ready each of you for the rigors of college study.  This course will teach the close-reading skills, the writing techniques and many of the study practices that will enable success at highly selective universities.  The pace in this class is rapid and workload formidable. Please take a moment to make sure that you are prepared to accept this challenge. Each year there are talented students who struggle. If you feel anxious about this possibility, please talk to me so that we can evaluate if this is the correct course for you.   

 

Daily Materials:

 

1.  Three-ring binder to contain notes and handouts.

2.  Pen or Pencil.

3.  Electronic storage media. 

4. Elements of Style, by Strunk and White (Owning a copy is a good idea. Although it is available free online!)    

5.  An open mind.

 

Responsibilities:

 

1.  Please finish assigned readings before the date for which they are assigned.

2.  Please be in your seat working on the warm-up exercise prior to the tardy bell.

3.  Please engage in the learning process and in class discussions.  Personal responsibility is the name of the game.

4.  If you miss a class or a portion of a class, please get your make-up work after the instructional period on your own time.  .

5.  If you miss a class prior to an off day in the schedule, it is your responsibility to get the assignment on your first day back—not on the next day you have this class. You will only receive as much make-up time as you missed.  Work from unexcused absences (cuts) cannot be made up.

 

6.  I reserve the right to subtract the equivalent of 1/3 of a letter grade for each day an assignment is late.  Missing class on the day a major assignment is due does not excuse one from handing in the assignment on time. 

 

 

As a final note, I am willing to put as much time into this class as you are.  If you consistently burn the midnight oil, I will be honored to check your progress and help you to refine your drafts.  However, the closer a due date looms, the less inclined I am to extend extra help.  The key to success is proper planning and time management.  An unnecessary “emergency” on your part does not necessarily justify panic on my part.