“SYLLABUS”

(The word syllabus is in quotations because we are still in the middle of a global pandemic, and I want to be very mindful of that. Everything in life is subject to change, so that also means anything related to our class can change too)

DRIVING QUESTIONS FOR THE YEAR:

What is COMMUNITY?

What is CULTURE?

In English IV we will explore what it means to be a member of Oakland's community.

We will utilize different methods of research skills, and consider what is “community” and what is “culture” and how the two intersect.

In this class we’ll read different types of texts (novels, poetry, essays, etc.), and we will also study film, music, and art to examine the concepts of community and culture.

Students will be expected to write weekly journal entries, make in-class (or virtual) presentations, and engage with classmates (all of this will be made available under the "schedule" tab and in google classroom).

List of Possible Texts, Films, Music, Podcasts, and Art that we will study in this class (remember, this is subject to change)

Novel: "Purple Hibiscus" -Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Non-fiction Excerpts: "Women without Class" – Julie Bettie

Poetry: Various poets – Tongo Eisen Martin, Allen Ginsberg, Claudia Rankin, Langston Hughes, etc.

Visual Album: "Lemonade" -Beyonce

Netflix Miniseries: "Unorthodox"

HBO Docuseries: "15: A Quinceañera Story"

Music: Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday, Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Bettie Davis, Tupac, Beyonce, etc.

Podcast: "Ear Hustle" – Earlonne Woods

Visual Art: Frida Kahlo

RESEARCH PROJECT:

(don't worry, this will come WAAAAAAAY later)

"Unfamiliar" Genre Project

Driving Question

How do I write (eg. College essays, menus, short fiction, cover letters, sonnets, resumes, etc), and how can I find out? (Can I?)

Enduring Understanding

Writing is a process that involves production and procrastination, finding the right relationship between form and content, reading and thinking, choice and rationale. I can do it. It can be fun, and I can feel smart and/or creative.