English 1A

Welcome to English 1A, a course designed to challenge you in many different ways while simultaneously improving your Language Arts and Reading skills: reading comprehension, critical thinking skills, figurative language identification and usage, writing, editing, oral communication, and project management. Of course, there are many other skills involved in successfully completing English 1A, but you should be prepared to focus on cultivating the previously mentioned skills.

Please use this syllabus to guide your efforts while enrolled in English 1A. All of the assignments (readings, worksheets, projects, etc.) must be completed by each student. I will not compromise about individual assignments. Why? Each assignment in this syllabus has been chosen to complement Greenville ISD's academic objectives. I've put a lot of time, effort, and energy into choosing grade-appropriate assignments that will prove both challenging and enjoyable, though students should be aware that not all assignments will be fun. If you have any questions about the syllabus, feel free to email me or visit with me after class - unless your question needs immediate attention during class.

Unit 1

Short Story Elements

"Harrison Bergeron"

1. Read "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut.

2. Complete the "Harrison Bergeron" Study Guide that accompanies the short story. (Note: This is a Word document - Upload)

3. Write a two-paragraph response to "Harrison Bergeron". Focus specifically on irony and how it is used in the short story. Each paragraph should contain 4-6 complete sentences. Your response should be uploaded onto your blog, or written directly on your blog. After writing your response, students are required to share blog posts with one other student, helping to proofread and edit submitted blog posts. So, you receive three grades: writing a response, reading another student's blog, and assisting another student with the editing process.

"The Flowers"

1. Read "The Flowers"Alice Walker.

2. Create an illustration that describes the story. Be sure to include the setting (time and location), characters, plot events, and any imagery used in the story. Once you've illustrated the story, please identify the following elements in your illustration: protagonist and antagonist, theme, climax, metaphor, simile, personification, onomatopoeia, and setting. Feel free to use map pencils and/or markers.

3. Complete "The Flowers" Study Guide Word document. You must answer all of the questions.

4. Write a two-paragraph response to "The Flowers", explaining why tone, imagery, and character transformation are important short story elements. Upload your answers onto your blog, or write your response on your blog.

Short Stories Test 1 1. Complete the test at your own pace. However, you may not use the Internet to assist you while taking the test. You may use your stories, previous assignments, and dictionaries for assistance. Each essay question must be answered with complete sentences. If you choose to submit short answers to essay questions, you will not earn any credit for answering the questions. 2. You must score an 80 or better on the test before you can proceed to the next chapter. If you score lower than an 80, you will be required to complete an additional short story assignment, correct your test, and take a second test.