English Literature, Ms. George
4ème Honors mgeorge@lfny.org
Course Description
In this class, we will use literature – novels, short stories, poetry, fables, and a play – as a tool to deepen your skills in creative and analytical writing, reading, and thinking.
Readings
*Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
*Lynch, The Highest Tide
*Zusak, The Book Thief
Orwell, Animal Farm
Golding, Lord of the Flies
Beah, A Long Way Gone
Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Selected poems, short stories and essays
* Summer reading option
Supplies
You will need a binder for class notes, reader responses, essays and creative writing. Please create separate sections for literature, vocabulary/grammar and essay drafts. You will also need a folder in which you keep all graded work at home.
Writing Assignments
Formal -- essays based on close reading and analysis of our texts as well as personal experience. All essays will include at least two drafts.
Informal -- including reader responses, as well as other at home and in-class writing.
Creative Writing -- poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
Quizzes and Tests
You will have regular quizzes and tests each trimester related to writing, critical reading, grammar and vocabulary.
Class Participation
Please come to class on time, prepared to work and discuss the material for that day. If you know that you will be absent, please speak to me or email me before the class you will miss. All late assignments will lose two points per day. On the third day, the work will receive a zero (though the assignment must still be completed). All work must be submitted on paper, not as an email, unless I give you special permission.
Plagiarism
All of your work in the class MUST BE YOUR OWN. That is to say, the language and ideas must come from you, not from a source, including friends, parents, tutors or the internet. Acts of plagiarism are taken very seriously at LFNY. Please refer to the “Plagiarism Consequences” in this year’s Student Handbook. If you ever have questions about using secondary sources, you can always ask me.
Communication
Please feel free to speak with me before or after class, during a free period or during one of the Dialogue hours. I can also be reached by email at mgeorge@lfny.org. If you need an extension on an assignment, are having trouble in class or with an assignment, or need to let me know about an absence, please be in touch.
Also, we have a class blog: http://www.4emehonorsenglishgeorge.blogspot.com/
Stay tuned for more information on how we will use the blog!
