Week Twenty
Monday, 12/15/25
Finish watching Animal Farm.
Finish reading Lord of the Flies Ch. 6-12, as necessary.
If finished, begin working on exam review questions.
Tuesday, 12/16/25
Quiz and scholarly readings: The Lord of the Flies, Ch. 6-12.
Continue working on exam review questions.
Wednesday, 12/17/25
Oral review for the final exam.
Friday, 12/19/25
Final exam.
Week Nineteen
Tuesday, 12/9/25
Quiz and scholarly readings: Animal Farm.
Collect copies of Animal Farm.
Finish reading Lord of the Flies Ch. 1-5 by tomorrow.
Wednesday, 12/10/25
Quiz: The Lord of the Flies, Ch. 1-5.
Read Ch. 6-12 by next Tuesday.
Read Eliot, Mirrors & Windows pp. 735-745.
Thursday, 12/11/25
Begin watching Animal Farm.
Continue reading Lord of the Flies.
Friday, 12/12/25
Continue reading Lord of the Flies; reminder: Ch. 6-12 due Tuesday.
Week Eighteen
Monday, 12/1/25
Slideshow and worksheet: Introduction to the Modern & Postmodern Periods.
Slideshow and worksheet: Introduction to Animal Farm.
Begin reading Animal Farm; chapters 1-10 due Friday.
Tuesday, 12/2/25
Quiz on the introduction to the Modern & Postmodern Periods.
Read Orwell, Mirrors & Windows pp. 785-792; answer questions 1-5 (A & B) on p. 793.
When finished, continue reading Animal Farm.
Wednesday, 12/3/25
Review and collect Orwell questions.
Read Joyce, Mirrors & Windows pp. 711-716; answer questions 1-5 (A & B) on p. 717.
When finished, continue reading Animal Farm.
Thursday, 12/4/25
Review and collect Joyce questions.
Read Woolf, Mirrors & Windows pp. 721-732.
Reminder: if we are out for snow, we will stick to the reading quiz schedule on our return:
Animal Farm due Friday, 12/5.
Lord of the Flies Ch. 1-5 due Tuesday, 12/9.
Lord of the Flies Ch. 6-12 due Tuesday, 12/16.
Week Seventeen
Monday, 11/24/25
Senior meeting in the library.
DC course evaluations.
Quiz & selected readings, A Tale of Two Cities Book III, Ch.8-15.
Collect copies of A Tale of Two Cities.
Review for Unit Test: The Victorian Period.
Tuesday, 11/25/25
Unit Test: The Victorian Period.
Read the introductions to the Modern and Postmodern Periods, Mirrors & Windows pp. 671-676 and 779-784.
Distribute copies of Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies.
Week Sixteen
Monday, 11/17/25
Reminder:
Progress grades reflect the current nine weeks. To see your current semester average, check the Canvas grade total.
Vocabulary Quiz Eleven.
Quiz & selected readings, A Tale of Two Cities Book III, Ch.1-7.
Assignment: finish Book III, Ch. 8-15, by next Monday.
Tuesday, 11/18/25
Read Hopkins, Norton pp. 878-883.
Collect copies of The Norton Anthology.
When finished, work on A Tale of Two Cities reading.
Wednesday, 11/19/25
Continue reading A Tale of Two Cities.
Club Day Meetings, Block One.
Thursday, 11/20/25
Read Housman, Mirrors & Windows pp. 650-652.
Begin watching Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
Friday, 11/21/25
Finish watching Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
Reminder: final quiz on A Tale of Two Cities scheduled for Monday.
Week Fifteen
Monday, 11/10/25
Vocabulary List Eleven.
Return scansion exercises and review extra examples. Closed-note scansion quiz on Thursday.
Video: Charles Dickens Biography.
Continue reading A Tale of Two Cities.
Tuesday, 11/11/25
Continue reading A Tale of Two Cities.
Reminder: Book II, Ch. 14-24 due tomorrow.
Wednesday, 11/12/25
Quiz and selected readings, A Tale of Two Cities Book II, Ch. 14-24.
Assignment: Read Book III, Ch. 1-7, by next Monday.
Reminder: scansion quiz tomorrow.
Club Day Meetings, Block One.
Thursday, 11/13/25
Scansion quiz (closed note).
Vocabulary Exercise Eleven.
Read Rossetti, Norton pp. 862-874.
Friday, 11/14/25
Continue reading A Tale of Two Cities.
Reminder: Book III, Ch. 1-7 due Monday.
Week Fourteen
Wednesday, 11/5/25
Reminder: Research Paper Two due by the end of the day.
Quiz and selected readings, A Tale of Two Cities Book II, Ch. 1-13.
Begin reading A Tale of Two Cities Book II, Ch. 14-24, due next Wednesday.
Club day meetings, Block One.
Thursday, 11/6/25
Read E.B. Browning, Norton pp. 582-589.
Read R. Browning, Norton pp. 774-775.
Begin scansion exercises.
Friday, 11/7/25
Read Arnold, Norton pp. 823-824.
Finish scansion exercises, as necessary.
Reminder: A Tale of Two Cities Book II, Ch. 14-24, due on Wednesday.
Week Thirteen
Monday, 10/27/25
YPF field trip.
Reminder: Research Paper Two annotations due today.
Tuesday, 10/28/25
Share YPF feedback forms.
Vocabulary List Ten.
Annotations check w/ Mr. Burns.
Read A Tale of Two Cities Book I, Ch. 5-6.
Work on Research Paper Two drafting.
Wednesday, 10/29/25
Quiz, A Tale of Two Cities, Book I.
Review selected readings from Book I, Ch. 3-6.
Assignment: Read A Tale of Two Cities, Book II, Ch. 1-13, by next Wednesday.
Thursday, 10/30/25
Vocabulary Exercise Ten.
Read Tennyson, Norton pp. 618-620 and 678-679.
Continue reading A Tale of Two Cities and/or Research Paper Two drafting.
Friday, 10/31/25
Vocabulary Quiz Ten.
Reminders:
A Tale of Two Cities Book II, Ch. 1-13, due Wednesday at class time.
Research Paper Two due Wednesday by the end of the day.
Week Twelve
Monday, 10/20/25
Distribute YPF field trip forms (due Friday).
Vocabulary List Nine.
Review highlights from Frankenstein, Ch. 16-20.
Read Frankenstein Ch. 21-22.
When finished, work on Research Paper Two annotations and drafting.
Tuesday, 10/21/25
Slideshow & Worksheet: Introduction to the Victorian Period.
Review highlights from Frankenstein, Ch. 22.
Read Frankenstein Ch. 23-24.
When finished, work on Research Paper Two annotations and drafting.
Wednesday, 10/22/25
Vocabulary Exercise Nine.
Collect copies of Frankenstein and distribute copies of A Tale of Two Cities.
Quiz, Frankenstein Ch. 19-24.
Review Frankenstein Ch. 24 and quiz answers.
Review for Unit Test: The Romantics.
Club Day meetings, Block One.
Thursday, 10/23/25
Reminder: YPF field trip forms due.
Unit Test: The Romantics.
Read biography of Charles Dickens.
Read A Tale of Two Cities Book I, Ch. 1-2.
Friday, 10/24/25
YPF field trip forms due.
Vocabulary Quiz Nine.
Historical context videos: The French Revolution (Parts I & II).
Read A Tale of Two Cities Book I, Ch. 3-4 by Tuesday.
Reminder: Research Paper Two annotations due Monday; paper due one week from Wednesday.
Week Eleven
Monday, 10/13/25
Reminder: VHCC withdrawal date is 10/29.
Reminder: Macbeth Analysis Paper due today.
Vocabulary List Eight.
Quiz, Frankenstein Ch. 10-12.
Read Byron, Norton pp. 341, 343, and "Growing Old" from Don Juan (online).
Read Frankenstein Ch. 13-14.
Tuesday, 10/14/25
Assign Research Paper Two: Romantic / Victorian Writer Biography.
Annotations due Monday, 10/27.
Paper due Wednesday, 11/5.
Create template copies for RP Two & Annotations.
Discuss how to cite a work from an anthology, a full-text book, and an online source.
Read Shelley, Norton pp. 395-398.
Review highlights from Frankenstein, Ch. 14.
Read Frankenstein, Ch. 15 as a class; Ch. 16 on your own.
When finished, choose RP Two topic and begin research.
Wednesday, 10/15/25
Vocab Exercise Eight.
Read Keats, Norton pp. 478, 485, and 503-505.
Read Frankenstein, Ch. 17-18.
Club Day meetings, Block One.
Thursday, 10/16/25
Vocabulary Quiz Eight.
Quiz, Frankenstein Ch. 13-18.
Read Frankenstein Ch. 19-20 by Monday.
Week Ten
Monday, 10/6/25
YPF final drafts due by the end of the day.
Open-note quiz: Frankenstein, Ch. 3-4.
Read Frankenstein Ch. 5-6.
Continue Macbeth Analysis Paper drafting.
Tuesday, 10/7/25
Midterm exam review.
Update: Macbeth Analysis Paper now due Monday.
Senior picture retakes & Club Day meetings, Block One.
Wednesday, 10/8/25
Midterm exam.
Read Frankenstein Ch. 7.
When finished, work on Macbeth Analysis Paper.
Thursday, 10/9/25
Read Wordsworth, Norton pp. 188-191.
Read Frankenstein Ch. 8-9.
When finished, work on Macbeth Analysis Paper.
Friday, 10/10/25
Open-note quiz: Frankenstein, Ch. 5-9.
Read Coleridge, Norton pp. 275-276 and 258-274.
Read Frankenstein, Ch. 10-12, by Monday.
Reminder: Macbeth Analysis Paper due Monday.
Week Nine
Monday, 9/29/25
Vocabulary List Seven.
Discuss the Voice of Democracy contest.
Reminder: Introduction to Unit Five, Norton Volume II pp. 3-27, is due tomorrow.
Macbeth Annotations are due by the end of the day.
Tuesday, 9/30/25
Quiz, Unit Five Introduction.
Create Macbeth paper file and import works cited entries.
Distribute copies of Frankenstein.
Read a biography of Mary Shelley and watch the "Frankenstein turns 200" video.
Read Frankenstein, Letter 1.
Wednesday, 10/1/25
Reminder: speech is meeting during fourth block.
Vocabulary Exercise Seven.
Read Frankenstein, Letters 2-4 & Ch. 1.
Club Day Meetings, Block One.
Thursday, 10/2/25
Read Frankenstein, Ch. 2.
Open-note quiz, Frankenstein Letters 1-4 & Ch. 1-2.
Terms worksheet: Metrical feet, iamb, trochee, spondee, dactyl, anapest, monosyllabic foot, meters, monometer, dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, heptameter, and octameter.
Read Frankenstein, Ch. 3.
Friday, 10/3/25
Vocabulary Quiz Seven.
Read Frankenstein, Ch. 4.
Begin scansion exercises.
Reminders:
YPF final draft due Monday.
Macbeth Analysis Paper due Wednesday.
Week Eight
Monday, 9/22/25
Reminder: YPF drafts due to Canvas by the end of the day.
Vocabulary List Six.
Open-note quiz on the introduction to Unit Four.
Read Swift, Mirrors & Windows pp. 407-420.
Tuesday, 9/23/25
Begin reading YPF drafts x 1.
Read Pope, Mirrors & Windows pp. 431-440.
Read Gray, Norton pp. 1466-1469.
Exchange Norton Volume I for Volume II.
Wednesday, 9/24/25
Reminder: scholastic bowl is meeting during fourth block.
Senior meeting after announcements.
Vocabulary Exercise Six.
Review for Unit Test Four, The Restoration & the 18th Century.
Continue reading YPF drafts x 1.
Club Day Meetings, Block One.
Thursday, 9/25/25
Unit Test Four.
Slides and worksheet: Introduction to Unit Five: The Romantic Period.
Continue reading YPF drafts x 1.
Read the Introduction to Unit Five, Norton Volume II pp. 3-27, by Tuesday.
Friday, 9/26/25
Vocabulary Quiz Six.
Read Blake, Norton Volume II, pp. 48-64
Read Burns Norton Volume II, pp. 81-84 and 93-94.
Finish reading YPF drafts x 1.
Reminders:
Macbeth annotations due on Monday.
Introduction to Unit Five, Norton Volume II pp. 3-27, due by Tuesday.
YPF final drafts due Monday, 10/6.
Week Seven
Monday, 9/15/25
Reminder: YPF drafts due next Monday; Macbeth annotations due in two weeks.
Vocabulary List Five.
Read Donne, Mirrors & Windows pp. 224-228.
Read Suckling, Mirrors & Windows pp. 369-370.
Read Herrick & Marvell, Mirrors & Windows pp. 379-382.
Tuesday, 9/16/25
Work on YPF drafts and/or Macbeth Analysis Paper research and drafting.
Wednesday, 9/17/25
Vocabulary Exercise Five.
Read Milton, Norton pp. 793, 818-819, 823-829, and 952-953.
Club Day Meetings, Block One.
Thursday, 9/18/25
Review for Unit Test Three: The Early 17th Century.
Slides and worksheet: Introduction to Unit Four, The Restoration & the 18th Century.
Read the Unit Four Introduction, Norton pp. 955-983, by Monday.
Friday, 9/19/25
Vocabulary Quiz Five.
Unit Test Three: The Early 17th Century.
Homework:
Finish the Unit Four Introduction, Norton pp. 955-983, by class time on Monday.
Turn in YPF draft into Canvas by the end of the day on Monday.
Week Six
Monday, 9/8/25
Vocabulary List Four.
Continue reading Macbeth, I.v-II.iv, with summary notes.
Reminder: YPF drafts due two weeks from today.
Tuesday, 9/9/25
Continue reading Macbeth, III.i-III.vi, with summary notes.
Wednesday, 9/10/25
Vocabulary Exercise Four.
Continue reading Macbeth, IV.i-IV.iii, with summary notes.
Thursday, 9/11/25
Finish reading Macbeth, V.i-V.ix, with summary notes.
Article: "Themes and Construction: Macbeth."
Assign Essay One: Macbeth Analysis Essay.
Research annotations due Monday, 9/29.
Final paper due Wednesday, 10/8.
Friday, 9/12/25
Vocabulary Quiz Four.
Quiz and summary notes due: Macbeth.
Discussion: how to create an annotation and how to cite verse drama.
Week Five
Tuesday, 9/2/25
Pastoral Poetry, Norton pp. 502 and 513.
Review for Unit Test Two (The Sixteenth Century).
Slideshow & worksheet: Introduction to Unit Three (The Early Seventeenth Century).
Reading assignment, due Friday: Introduction to Unit Three, Norton pp. 655-681.
Wednesday, 9/3/25
Senior formal portraits.
Finish reading the introduction to Unit Three and/or work on YPF drafting.
Thursday, 9/4/25
Unit Test Two.
Slides & worksheet: Introduction to Shakespeare.
Begin reading Macbeth, I.i-I.ii, with summary notes.
Friday, 9/5/25
Open-note quiz: Introduction to Unit Three.
Continue reading Macbeth, I.iii-I.iv, with summary notes.
Week Four
Monday, 8/25/25
Reminder: The Canvas course page is now available. All long-form writing assignments, such as research papers, will be submitted there.
Distribute "Expectations for College Writing."
Vocabulary List Three.
Open-note quiz and summary notes due: Chaucer.
Read folk ballads, Mirrors & Windows pp. 85-91.
Terms worksheet: ballad, slant rhyme, refrain, repetition, dialogue, and mood.
Tuesday 8/26/25
Review for Unit Test One (The Middle Ages).
Unit Two Introduction slides and worksheet.
Read the Introduction to Unit Two, Norton pp. 359-389, by Thursday.
Wednesday, 8/27/25
Vocabulary Exercise Three.
Unit Test One (The Middle Ages).
Read excerpts from the English Bible, Norton pp. 399-403.
Read Elizabeth I, Norton pp. 403-404 & 407-408.
Thursday 8/28/25
Open-note quiz on the Introduction to Unit Two slides and reading.
Terms worksheet: sonnet, Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet, Shakespearean (English) sonnet, sonnet sequence, rhyme scheme, octave, sestet, quatrain, couplet, metaphor, meter, iambic pentameter, iambs, and scansion.
Read sonnets, Mirrors & Windows pp. 195-207.
Friday, 8/29/25
Vocabulary Quiz Three.
Write a sonnet as a class.
Assignment: hand-write an original sonnet.
When finished, work on YPF drafting.
Week Three
Monday, 8/18/25
Vocabulary List Two.
Quiz: Beowulf; summary notes due.
Read "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and “Morte d’Arthur,” Mirror & Windows pp. 140-162, with summary notes.
Tuesday 8/19/25
Distribute amended syllabus.
Finish "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and “Morte d’Arthur,” Mirror & Windows pp. 140-162, with summary notes.
Quiz, Arthurian Legends; summary notes due.
Assign the playwrighting project for Barter Theatre's Young Playwrights' Festival.
Drafts due for workshop on Monday, 9/22.
Final plays due Monday, 10/6.
YPF RESOURCES:
Wednesday, 8/20/25
Vocabulary Exercise Two.
Begin reading "The Canterbury Tales Prologue," Mirrors & Windows, pp. 96-105, with summary notes.
Homework: work on YPF drafting.
Thursday 8/21/25
Finish reading "The Canterbury Tales Prologue," Mirrors & Windows, pp. 105-116, with summary notes.
Homework: work on YPF drafting.
Friday, 8/22/25
Vocabulary Quiz Two.
Read “The Pardoner’s Tale” and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” Mirrors & Windows, pp. 119-133, with summary notes.
Chaucer quiz and summary notes due on Monday.
Homework: work on YPF drafting.
Week Two
Monday, 8/11/25
Complete Vocabulary List One.
Read “Seafarer" and “The Wife’s Lament,” Mirror & Windows pp. 55-63.
Read Bede, Norton pp. 30-37.
Finish reading the Introduction to Unit One, Norton, pp. 4-26.
Tuesday 8/12/25
Read "Understanding Literary Forms, Poetry," Mirrors & Windows pp. 15-17.
Read "Introduction to Beowulf," Mirrors & Windows pp. 18-19.
"Social and Cultural Change; Medieval Period," Mirrors & Windows pp. 79-84.
"Introduction to Beowulf," Norton pp. 37-42.
Open-note quiz tomorrow on the Introduction to Unit One, Exeter Book Readings, Bede, and the Introduction to Beowulf.
Wednesday, 8/13/25
Vocabulary Exercise One.
Open-note quiz: Introduction to Unit One, Exeter Book Readings, Bede, and the Introduction to Beowulf.
Begin reading "Beowulf," Norton pp. 42-50, with summary notes.
Thursday 8/14/25
Senior meeting.
Vocabulary Quiz One.
Continue reading "Beowulf," Norton pp. 50-TBD, with summary notes.
Friday, 8/15/25
Finish "Beowulf," Norton pp. TBD-109 by Monday.
Beowulf summary notes due and quiz scheduled for Monday.
If finished early, students may begin reading "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and “Morte d’Arthur,” Mirror & Windows pp. 140-162.
Week One
Thursday, 8/7/25
Distribution and review of the English 245 course syllabus and Norton, Volume I.
Register students in EMC Textbook Portal (Mirrors & Windows) & Canvas.
Senior meeting @ 9:15.
Read "Heroes and Kings; Anglo-Saxon Period 499-1066," Mirrors & Windows pp. 1-6.
Friday, 8/8/25
Review the VHCC Plagiarism Guide.
Slideshow & Worksheet: Unit One, The Middle Ages (to ca. 1485).
Begin reading the Introduction to Unit One, Norton, pp. 3-TBD.