Syllabus
English IV College Prep Syllabus
2023-2024
Contact Information
Teacher- Kendall Johnson
Email- kjohnson@greenville.k12.sc.us
Phone- 864-355-0158
Syllabus
Course Description
Unit Credit 1
Placement recommendations: Completion of English 3 CP
English 4 introduces literary and informational texts reflecting a broad range of writing. The course is designed to prepare students for the rigor of the South Carolina State Standards for College and Career Readiness. Note: this course carries CP GPA weighting.
Instructional Philosophy
This course will prepare students to be life-long learners by building communication skills required for college and the workforce. The course will be organized for students to participate in English language arts instruction, including literature circles, performance, the reading and writing process, and student presentations. Students will be expected to complete all assignments both in class and out of class on time. Being a part of the classroom community means participating in discussion and sharing insights and interpretations with classmates and the teacher. Both teacher and students will strive to build community, comprehend and create text, then reflect on that process.
Course Goals and Power Standards:
Inquiry: SCCCR Standard 1: Formulate relevant, self-generated questions based on interests and/or needs that can be investigated.
Reading Literary Texts: SCCCR Standard 4: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
Reading Informational Texts: Standard 4: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
Writing: Standard 4: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Communication: Standard 1: Interact with others to explore ideas and concepts, communicate meaning, and develop logical interpretations through collaborative conversations; build upon the ideas of others to clearly express one’s own views while respecting diverse perspectives
Grading Scale:
90-100...........................A
80-89.............................B
70-79.............................C
60-69.............................D
59 & below.................... F
Grade Distribution:
Major Assignments 60%
Tests, essays, projects, etc.
Minor Assignments 40 %
HW, Quizzes, etc.
Late Work Policy
Minor Grades
(homework and classwork)
Quizzes & Tests
Major Assessments
(not tests)
A zero will be put in the gradebook as a placeholder until the assignment is completed and turned in.The teacher may deduct for lateness:
Up to 10 % for assignments turned in before the unit assessment
Up to 40 % for assignments turned in after the unit assessment.
All late work must be turned in before the end of the grading period.
If a quiz or test is missing, a student is expected to make it up.A zero will be used as a placeholder until the quiz or test is completed.
All late work must be turned in before the end of the grading period.
Teacher rubrics will include due dates and expectations for completion.The teacher may deduct for lateness:
Up to 10 % for projects turned in before the next major grade
Up to 30 % for projects turned in after the next major grade
All late work must be turned in before the end of the grading period.
Missed work/Make up work
If you have an absence, you have 5 days from the day you returned to school to make up late work. The student is responsible for obtaining makeup work. If you miss a scheduled quiz or an announced test, it is your responsibility to schedule the missed assessment with the teacher.
Required and Recommended Reading
Collections 12th (textbook)
Beowulf - This early Anglo-Saxon poem tells the epic tale of a young Scandinavian swordsman as he saves cities, and kills dragons.Records of this work survived into the modern age from as long ago as the early 800’s AD. It is one of the first written stories in the English language. The profound influence that Beowulf has had western literature cannot be overstated enough.
Othello - The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the short story Un Capitano Moro ("A Moorish Captain") by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565. The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his beloved wife, Desdemona; his loyal lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted but unfaithful ensign, Iago. Because of its varied and current themes of racism, love, jealousy, betrayal, revenge and repentance, Othello is still often performed in professional and community theatres alike and has been the basis for numerous operatic, film, and literary adaptations.
Animal Farm - Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution -- an account of the bold struggle, initiated by the animals, that transforms Mr. Jones's Manor Farm into Animal Farm--a wholly democratic society built on the credo that All Animals Are Created Equal. But are they?
Major Assignments and Projects
Essays (Narrative, Literary Analysis, Research)
Research Project/Presentation(s)
Unit Tests
Classroom Expectations
Course Pacing Guide
Week 1-2 Short Stories/Literary Review
Power Standards: Standard 4- Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. Standard 4: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Week 3-7 Satire/Propaganda (Animal Farm)
Power Standards: Standard 8: Interpret and analyze the author’s use of words, phrases, text features, conventions, and structures and how their relationships shape meaning and tone in print and multi-media text. Standard 8: Analyze characters, settings, events, and ideas as they develop and interact within a particular context.
Week 8-11 Taking Risks/Narrative (Beowulf)
Power Standards: Standard 4- Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
Week 12-15 Seeking Justice/Drama/TDA (Othello)
Power Standards: Standard 8: Analyze characters, setting, events and ideas as they develop and interact within a particular context. Standard 1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Week 16-19 Career Readiness Project
Power Standards: SCCCR Standard 1: Formulate relevant, self-generated questions based on interests and/or needs that can be investigated. Standard 4: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.