This course is designed to help you become skilled viewers, listeners, and speakers; skilled readers of poetry, short stories, essays, articles, plays and novels written in a variety of periods, disciplines and rhetorical contexts; and skilled writers who can compose for a variety of purposes. Through your writing and reading in this course, you should become aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effective writing. The course will also prepare you for the English 12 Provincial Exam, which accounts for 40% of your total grade.
I. ONGOING – GRAMMAR AND PARTS OF SENTENCES REVIEW
Review of grammatical terminology and analysis of sentence structure not only for the purpose of clarity in terms of coherent writing, but also for a common reference language for teacher and student.
Materials:
1. Notes and handouts from instructor
Evaluation:
1. Quizzes on Terminology and Application
2. Application to Written Assignments
II. ESSAYS AND SHORT STORIES
Review of the elements of the short story and application to various selections.
Review a number of essay formats.
Materials:
1. Notes and handouts from instructor
2. Imprints 12
3. The Act of Writing
Evaluation:
1. Quizzes on Terminology and Application
2. Short Story Test (including an in-class literary essay)
3. Essay (expository, narrative, descriptive, comparison or contrast, and persuasive)
4. Literature Discussion Groups
5. Reading Journals
III. NOVEL
Review of the elements of the novel and application to several novels.
Formal Novel Study
Oryx and Crake – Margaret Atwood
Student Selected Novel
Independent reading: In addition to the assigned readings, an important part of this course is the minimum requirement of one other title.
Evaluation:
1. Literary Essay
2. Literature Discussion Groups
3. Reading Journals
4. Novel Study Assignment
IV. POETRY
Review of rhetorical and figurative devices and application to various selections.
Materials:
1. Notes and handouts from instructor
2. Imprints 12
Evaluation:
1. Quizzes on Terminology and Application
2. Poetry Test (including an in-class literary paragraph)
3. Presentation
4. Reading Journals
5. Literature Discussion Groups
V. PLAY
As plays were written to be performed, the experience will be performance based.
Materials:
1. Notes and handouts from instructor
2. Hamlet
3. Hamlet(Video)
Evaluation:
1. Exam
2. Presentation/Project
3. Literature Discussion Groups
4. Reading Journals
VI. EXAM PREPARATION
ASSESSMENT
• Assignments (Essays, Journals, Projects and Presentations) 70%
• Tests and Quizzes 30%
Materials and Supplies
Please bring the following materials to class:
• pens (blue, black and red)
• eraser/whiteout
• a binder
• dividers (5)
• plenty of lined paper
• novel/textbook
• agenda (or use the sheet provided in class)
• post-it notes
Classroom Expectations
You are expected to be in class on time and to be prepared with appropriate texts, writing materials and assignments completed. Surprise quizzes and homework checks happen at the start of class. If you are late, you may receive a zero. If you do arrive late, knock once on the door and then wait outside on the bench. I will let you in when it is least disruptive to the rest of the class. During class you should be on task and respectful. Emphasis is placed on participation and enthusiasm.
No cell-phones, i-pods (or similar devices) are permitted in the classroom.
Assignment Expectations
All assignments are to be handed in on time, unless some prior arrangement has been made with me. There will be a 10% penalty per day (including weekends) for late work. A 50% grade is the best that can be earned for work handed in more than three days late. You will be given at least one week’s notice for any significant test or project. If you miss a test, a note or phone call will be required in order to rewrite the test, otherwise you will receive a zero. It is essential that you complete assigned readings to comprehend this course. Additionally, keeping an organized and complete set of notes will be your passport to success on assignments and tests. Of course, regular attendance is required. If you should miss class for a legitimate reason, it is your responsibility to find out about missed class work or assignments. This information will be regularly updated on the blog: mrscorman.edublogs.org.
Extra Help
I am usually available in Room 204 (or in the library) before and after school, or at lunch. However, if you encounter difficulties with this course, you should arrange a specific time with me so as not to be disappointed.
Whenever possible, we will follow a thematic approach. Most of our reading, viewing, listening, speaking and writing will help us to explore two important questions: Who are we? and Who am I?
Today we will go over the course outline. We will pick up our texts from the library: Imprints 12 and Oryx and Crake. In groups, we will begin to review plot. Notes on plot can be found in the prose section of this blog.
HOMEWORK
You’ve found my blog. That’s the first step.
Now, for the really exciting part! You are going to create your own blog. Go to wordpress.com. Click on Sign Up Now! For a username, please use your name “fredsmith”. If there is already a blog with your name, you can always add the last two digits in the year you were born: “fredsmith86. Then, select a password. Make sure that it is something you will remember. Use your email address, agree to the terms of service, and select Gimme a blog! Uncheck the privacy box. Click on Signup. Congratulations! You have a blog. Go to choose your template and personalize your blog.
You’ll have many opportunities to explore blogging this semester. However, there are a couple of more things I’d like to take care of today. Go to your Dashboard. Go to Options. Go to Privacy. Select the third option, which allows you to choose who will be able to see your blog. Add me to your user list: hcorman. You will need to add at least two more classmates. Make sure to use their wordpress usernames. You can get this information tomorrow.
Click on Write. Click on Write Post. Your title will be “Introduction”. Take a little time to introduce yourself. What are you hoping to get out of the course? What are your strength? What are your challenges? Click Publish when you are done. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.
“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” Dr. Seuss

http://www.amazon.com/Oryx-Crake-Margaret-Atwood/dp/0385721676/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265039740&sr=8-1