British Literature Course Syllabus

2010-2011

Madison High School

Miss Bedillion
804-878-5349

MISSION STATEMENT
Madison High School English Department is committed to helping students firmly g
rasp grammar, writing, critical analysis, rhetorical skills, and literary skills
analysis, based on the Virginia state standards.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students read an overview of British literature from the Medieval period to the
Modern, integrating a study of history to better supply a context for an appreci
ation and understanding of the literature, with emphasis on a variety of prose a
nd poetic genres. Students write critical and argumentative essays, complete a r
esearch paper, engage in creative writing projects, and make technology-assisted
oral presentations. Students prepare for the ACT, SAT, and college entrance exa
ms.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
Textbook: Glencoe’s Literature
Three-ring binder or spiral notebook

TEXTS
Beowulf
The Canterbury Tale
Morte d’ Arthur
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Hamlet
Oedipus
Macbeth
The Taming of the Shrew
“A Modest Proposal”
Selections from Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Keats
“The Lady of Shallot”
The Brownings-Selected poems
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Victorian era novels
An Academy for Women” (Defoe)
Vindication of the Rights of Woman (Wollstonecraft)
“A Modest Proposal” (Swift)
The Importance of Being Earnest (Wilde)

RESEARCHED TERM PAPER: Literary Criticism

An analysis of an approved British novel taking a chosen formal critical stance
and with a specific thesis stated simply and backed up with quotations from the
text and professional criticism on the chosen novel. This project will be an on
-going one throughout the fall semester.

COURSE POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Assignments are due on the assigned due date. No exceptions unless due to an ex
cused absence.
Food: No food, drink, gum or candy is allowed in the classroom.
Electronic Devices: Use of cellular phones or other electronics is prohibited du
ring class.

GRADING SCALE
A= 93-100
B= 92-85
C= 84-77
D= 76-70
F= 69 and Below

GRADING POLICY
Essays/ Research Paper= 30%
Class work= 10%
Homework= 20%
Quizzes= 20%
Tests= 20%