Ms Lee Voon
lvoon@daltonschool.kr
Ms Lee Voon
lvoon@daltonschool.kr
The Literature and Composition 1 course focuses on laying the groundwork for a successful high school English experience!
Writing strong analytical essays focused on formal language and tone.
Reading fictional and non-fictional texts to develop the skills to infer, interpret, and analyze.
Discussion and Socratic Seminars to encourage communication of ideas, opinions, and thoughts in an accurate and comprehensible manner.
In this student-centered class, students will begin with a foundational focus on developing writing skills. Writing skills will focus largely on grammar, syntax, sentence composition, paragraphs, source citation, and essays, using various steps of the writing process to build on communicating ideas through informal and formal tone. Classes will have a literary focus, with students delving into an in-depth study of two novels in addition to a number of canonical shorts stories and a play. Throughout the year, students will also work towards initiating and participating effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, such as Socratic Seminars, and build their ability to pose and respond to higher-order thinking questions that encourage making connections and challenging ideas.
(August 15 - October 6 )
How can a writer craft a story that engages the reader while revealing a universal truth?
In the first unit, students will read a collection of short stories and poetry to analyze, interpret and develop understandings of different cultures, traditions and beliefs.
In this class, will explore the different perspectives and experiences of narrators and speakers in the short stories and poems we read. A strong focus will be placed on our interpretations of literary techniques and elements the author uses to convey his/her message. Students will be encouraged to have dialogue and discussion as a class, in groups, and in Socratic Seminars. By focusing on a close reading of our texts, what can we discover about the characters, the plot, the message, and from where these stories emerged.
In Unit 1, students will:
Collaborate in Socratic Seminar discussions
Write CEC paragraphs (Claim, Evidence, and Commentary) with clearly identified textual evidence.
(October 10 - January 20)
What if humans were born to behave in certain ways?
This term, we’ll delve into William’s Golding’s classic 1983 Nobel prize-winning novel Lord of the Flies (LOTF). A group of young boys are stranded on a remote island and must survive without the guidance of any adults. They create their own mini-society, but things begin to unravel nearly as soon as they establish a sense of order. The novel is exciting and the novel has rich themes and symbolism that will enliven class discussions and seminars.
What if our nature is determined at birth, and we don't get much of a say in whether we end up on the naughty or the nice list—or whether we're in Slytherin or Gryffindor? In this class, we'll be digging into human nature as we read William Golding's infamous novel, Lord of the Flies. We'll consider the group of boys stranded on a desert island and decide whether they are good people who are driven to evil by their environment or whether they're just little devils by nature.
In Unit 2, students will:
Collaborate in Socratic Seminar discussions
Write a literary analysis with a clear thesis statement, introduction and conclusion.
(Duration)
How can we achieve fairness and justice in our world?
John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ is a classic American story about two friends who are ‘down and out’, struggling to make their dream of a better life come true. We will use the text as a way of exploring the socio-historical context of the novel (depression-era California), particularly focusing on social justice issues such as the exploitation of the working class. Through reading the novel, we will learn how literature, through emotive engagement, can help raise awareness and promote action on social issues. After reading the novel we will also explore other text types, such as news reporting.
Even though some of the controversial issues in Of Mice and Men may not seem as controversial today as they were in the 1930s, students still need to be prepared for what they will encounter in the classroom. Through class discussions, reading of documents, and some small group work, students should be well-equipped to read and understand Of Mice and Men.
In Unit 3, students will:
Collaborate in Socratic Seminar discussions
Infer and evaluate characters, concepts, and thematic ideas from the novel in a series of written responses.
RUBRICS
Unit 3 - Research Paper
Unit 3 - Socratic Seminar
(Duration)
How can we build a sense of responsibility in our community?
“We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. “ —Inspector Goole, An Inspector Calls
'An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley, is a British play written at the height of the First World War. Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls, is one of the most iconic 20th century plays taught in English lessons that address themes including social responsibility, age, gender and class. It focuses on an upper-class family, who have used their social status and economic prowess to grow powerful in their social circle. On one fateful night, their treatment of a young working-class woman who went to each of them to seek help and support but was turned away will be put into question.
Through reading the play, we will consider how our actions, no matter big or small, positive or negative, has an impact on those around us, whether we consider it or not. Despite having been written over seventy years ago, its focus on social responsibility and its message that we are ‘members of one body’ remain relevant, particularly in the light of the polarised politics and divisive rhetoric of current global trends.
In Unit 4, students will:
Pull their knowledge on essay writing in a final in class essay based on the themes of the play
Consider and evaluate characters by completing a piece of creative text-type.
RUBRICS
Unit 4 - In Class Essay
Unit 4 - Creative Writing
Students are expected to...
Respect each other's boundaries and space
Participate and share opinions and thoughts in groups and as a class
Encourage one another during group work, whole class discussions, and Socratic Seminars
Communicate any issues or concerns with Ms Voon through email and by making lab appointments.
All work is expected to be submitted on the day it is due. In the event a student does not submit a summative assessment on the day it is due, that student will…
Be given an opportunity to submit their work up to two weeks after the original due date/time without penalty.
Forfeit their opportunity to be reassessed.
Special considerations may be made for students with extended absences because of sickness, family problems, or family tragedy.
Extra credit assignments will not be provided.
When reassessment is offered, students must meet the following requirements:
complete the original task or assessment (summative) by the specified due date
complete all required assignments (formative assessments) leading up to the summative
complete the reassessment form provided by the teacher
complete a mini-conference with the teacher
The highest summative assessment score is what is entered into Powerschool.
There is a threshold to the reassessments to which students are entitled:
Summative Reassessment Threshold: You are able to reassess ONCE given you satisfy the requirements above. If there is a plan to reassess the same learning outcome, then no additional reassessment is necessary.
Formative Reassessment Threshold: You are provided with UNLIMITED formative reassessments as these types of assessments are solely meant for feedback and improving your skills and abilities in English.
** The following final measures of learning may not be reassessed: end-of-course or end-of-semester exams; culminating projects/performances/papers.
Students can expect the following from the teacher concerning the following:
GOOGLE CLASSROOM - All assignments will be posted in Google Classroom. If you are having trouble locating it, contact the teacher.
RUBRICS AND POLICIES - Once posted here they will not change. However, if a chance is necessary the teacher will inform students well in advance and will clearly mark the changes.