Syllabus/Curriculum Paper

Course Description/Goals

International Baccalaureate English IV aims to develop your powers of expression and your appreciation of literature through the critical analysis of selected literary works. Frequent practice will be provided in essay writing, discussion, and oral presentations so that students may improve oral and written fluency. Studies in varied literature will expose you to perspectives that differ from your own, ultimately leading you to a deeper understanding not only of literature, but of humanity. The literary selections are chosen in accordance with the guidelines of the International Baccalaureate Programme, and one assignment in particular–- the IB Formal Oral Commentary—satisfy specific IB course requirements. (See the tab above called "IB Components Explained" for more info.)

Course Outline/Educational Materials

Semester I

· Selected poetry by Sylvia Plath

· Shakespeare’s Hamlet

· Selected essays by George Orwell

· Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God

· IB Individual Oral Commentary (November-December)

Semester II

· Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness

· Willa Cather's O Pioneers!

· Ian McEwan’s Atonement

· Written IB English Exam (May)

NOTE: While the school will provide texts, it is highly recommended that you purchase your own copies so that you can mark in them.

Student Evaluations

Evaluation of written and oral work is based on IB descriptors. The exact percentage of the final grade any assignment makes up can vary from quarter to quarter, depending upon the work assigned. Students will be evaluated on the following types of assignments:

· Writing Assignments

· Exams/Quizzes

· Literary Essays

· Class Participation

· Oral Presentations

Grading Scale: A= 90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=59 and below.

Homework and Class Participation Policy

Significant time outside of class needs to be budgeted to complete assigned reading and essays. Students will be asked to contribute to as well as to lead class discussions and to prepare for class presentations. Students must be alert, cooperative, and respectful; all students are expected to listen attentively to the teacher and to others.

Format/Supplies

Keep in mind that writing formats are rhetorical decisions, but that papers must be typed, using black ink, double-spaced, on one side of the paper only, with approximately one inch margins on all sides. No odd fonts, please. Make sure that you have writing utensils (pens, pencils, and colored pencils), a notebook, and paper.

IB Evaluation/Major Projects

The English component of the International Baccalaureate Programme is comprised of the following assessments during the student’s junior and senior years; some parts are externally assessed (by IB graders) and some are internally assessed (by Dr. Busse, in alignment with IB rubrics and guidelines, and moderated by IB):

External Assessment: 70%

• 45% comes from the Written Exam (Papers 1 & 2) in May of senior year

· Paper #1: A commentary on one of two unseen passages—20 marks. (1.5 hours—20%)

· Paper #2: A comparative essay based on works read in Part III of the IB syllabus. See novels listed under semester II of senior year—25 marks. (1.5 hours—25%)

• The other 25%: comes from Works in Translation Written Portfolio (junior year)

Internal Assessment: 30%

• Formal Individual Oral Commentary—30 marks: completed in senior year (15%).
• Individual Oral Presentation: junior year—30 marks (15%).

Make-up Policy

The student handbook grants one day for each day of any excused absence as a grace period for make-up work. Please consult a classmate for the missed assignment, and seek clarification, if needed, from Dr. Busse. Having been absent the class period before is NOT an excuse for coming to class unprepared.

Keep in mind that assignments are due at the beginning of each class period. Assignments received after the beginning of the period on the date they are due will be docked one full letter grade. Assignments turned in by the next class are only worth up to 50% credit. Students who turn in assignments more than one class period late will not receive credit for their work. If you are on a TLE, you should arrange to have a classmate drop the assignment off on the due date.

NOTE: Long term assignments with pre-set due dates are due on the assigned date whether you are in class or not.

School Rules and Code of Student Conduct

School policies and procedures will be enforced at all times. In the Suncoast Agenda/Planner please read the attendance policy, the make-up work policy, the cell phone policy, the cheating/plagiarism policy, and the school-wide rules including the tardy policy (note that many changes have been made in these policies). Your ability to work within the guidelines of Suncoast will insure both your education and safety. Note that cell phones should not be visible during school hours except during lunch—including in the halls—per District School Rules. Note also that any cheating and/or plagiarism will be pursued according to the stated policy in the Agenda Planner.

Your instructor has a list of authorized and acceptable websites that directly correspond with the course material. Academic integrity may be compromised if unauthorized sites or materials are used.

The School District of Palm Beach County promotes the following Universal Guidelines and Behavioral Expectations:

• Be Safe
• Be Respectful
• Be Responsible

Students and parents are encouraged to read the complete Code of Student Conduct at the following web site:

http://www.palmbeachschools.org/Parents/documents/SecondaryStudentcodeofconductFY14.pdf .

One More Point

This course depends to a great extent on the energy you bring to it, which means you need to make a real commitment to the work and to your peers in the classroom. Interesting discourse happens within communities: we will be conversing about writing and reading from many perspectives, and your ideas count. Although the amount of time you spend on outside assignments will vary from week to week, the quality of your performance is closely related to the amount of time you put in.