English Literature 12

Course Outline
Duncan Christian School                                                                                       
 We confess that Christ is Lord of all and He calls us, in community, to equip students for a life of discipleship as stewards of His creation
Grade: 12      Subject: English Literature     Year: Fall, 2005           
Teacher: James M. Nelson
Email: nelson@cowichan.com phone: (250) 416-0428

Introduction:

“All that is gold does not glitter,
            Not all those who wander are lost…”
                            -J.R.R. Tolkien,
The Fellowship of the Ring

Welcome to English Literature12. Let us look at this course as a journey we are all about to embark upon. Now, as with any journey, a map is an essential guide that provides direction. This outline, then, becomes our map.

As with any map, there are many places you can go, many options to explore. The journey you set out on often changes as you encounter new roads and exotic locations to explore. So, too, our journey through the topics and themes of Lit. 12 will present many different directions for us to go. Let us keep in mind the quote above as we approach this course: “Not all those who wander are lost” (Tolkien). In order to prepare you for success in the provincial exam, this course is designed to cover SPECIFIC texts that have been mandated by the BC government. Although this restricts our explorations somewhat, we should be open to wandering or lingering in certain texts or areas for a while if we choose to do so. So, with that in mind, lets relax and enjoy this journey!
The texts, themes, and activities we experience in this course are intended to challenge and inspire us all to be lifelong learners. Our focus will be on reading, exploring, and interpreting texts and attempting to place them within the context of the times and cultures they are a product of. We will also focus on writing.

In order for us to achieve success in this class, we must depend on each other and work together to make this the best course possible. It is a journey, but it will be over sooner than you know. Lets enjoy it while we can!

Topics and Themes:
Intro to English lit.12                                 September
Anglo-Saxon & Medieval Lit.                 Sept.-Oct.
Renaissance and 17c. Lit.                        Nov.
17c. Cont’d: Hamlet                                   Nov.-Dec.
18th Century and Romantic Period             Jan-Feb.
Victorian Lit.                                 Feb-Mar.
20th Century Lit.                              Mar.-Apr.
Exam Prep May-June

Evaluation:
Literature 12 will run for the entire year. Your final grade will be comprised of 60% of your DCS mark plus the Literature 12 Provincial Exam which will make up the final 40%. Evaluation for coursework will include the following:
Papers                                         40%
Assignments/ Projects                    30%
Quizzes and Tests                          30%

Expectations:
My expectations are very high for this course as it is being approached and delivered as an introductory university course. My goal is to help reinforce your existing English skills as we explore and experience the texts we encounter and the cultures/ eras they represent. Please stick to the school rules and guidelines so we can avoid any problems.

A few pointers:
I will be on time for this class, and I expect you to do the same. It is a sign of respect towards me and your classmates.
Be ready. Come to class having read the required materials and being ready to discuss/explore them. Bring needed materials to the class.
Be respectful. This class should be a safe environment for learning and expressing our ideas.
Have a positive attitude. This class will be fun if you allow it to be! Lets enjoy exploring these themes and issues together.
The due date is not negotiable. Having said that, life happens. If you require an extension on an assignment, please talk with me ASAP (Not on the day the assignment is due)!

 Items of importance:
The class website is under construction, but here is the address:
http://dcsenglish.edublogs.org
Please bookmark it and visit it often as assignments and updates will be posted frequently. If you miss a class it is YOUR responsibility to check the website, email me, or talk to a classmate in order to gather any information/assignments you missed.

Office Hours:
Please do not hesitate to come and talk to me if you are having troubles, have any questions, or need help. I am more than willing to spend time with you. My goal is to help you succeed, and I will do everything I can in order to help you. The best ways to reach me are to talk to me before or after class. You can also email me (no spamming or forwards please) or call me at home. My semi-permanent office space for this semester is the former photocopy room upstairs. Please stop by anytime you need to talk or want to chat about the texts we are exploring or the complexities of life. I am here to help.