Week 1 Syllabus: June 10-14
THIS COURSE WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF SKILLS and approaches to help students hit the ground running this Fall. In week one, I will cover lots of basics: what to expect from your English teachers, how to read and write like a scholar, where to get help and how to approach your teachers. Because students will not have iPads or id cards in the first week, we will start mostly using pen and paper in class. However, as soon as you have an iPad and your id, you should bring it. We will use both in the library to research some mythology topics, check out materials, research library databases. Also, the Library will be a key resource for printing, as NT does not have computer labs or printer stations for drop-in student use. Finally, plan on purchasing I am the Cheese from the NT bookstore by Wednesday, and pick up your summer reading before class next Monday (we will do some reading and annotating in class next week).
MONDAY, JUNE 10
Overview of English at New Trier and the level system.
Introductory survey.
Seeking help from teachers, and a short tour of NW corner of Winnetka Campus.
Reading through a sample course expectations that teachers will review in August.
Reading and circling vocabulary words in a short story
TOMORROW: We will pick up with “The Man in the Well,” sharing your words-circled list and adding the reader’s questions about meaning. We will also practice the Great Books format of discussing literature.
TUESDAY, JUNE 11
Reviewing our syllabus.
How to get into groups, share names, complete a task (reviewing your words-circled from “The Man in the Well”)
Great Books method of shared inquiry for above story.
After short break, returning to small groups and completing comprehension questions.
Ending with a reading of “The Monkey’s Paw”
TOMORROW: Our first writing assignment, review of using direct and indirect quotations in literary responses.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
Welcoming new scholars, and re-reviewing classroom activities to date.
Writing first short essay, responding to question on “The Man in the Well”
Reading “The Monkey’s Paw” and working on crossword.
TOMORROW: We will begin reading I am the Cheese by Robert Cormier. I will review in more detail other annotation techniques used by NT English teachers, as well as my own.
THURSDAY, JUNE 13
Starting with a 5 part learning style assessment, to better understand learning preferences.
Typing and posting paragraphs about “The Man in the Well” into Squarespace, using NT email addresses.
Lecture on Killer Kane and a revision-mindset.
Annotation technique: questions, opening signals, last-looks, patterns, contrasts and connections.
We will practice annotation using Corimer’s novel I am the Cheese.
FRIDAY, JUNE 14
Frame narration and 1,001 Nights.
Introduction to literary analysis and narrative technique.
Reading through and including page 27 in IATC.
Lecture on argumentative terms (claim, reason, evidence) and structure (cheeseburger paragraphs).
NEXT WEEK: We will revise posted paragraphs, tackling some typical, stylistic issues that aggravate NT English teachers, and get into study habits (of mind) and our novel. We will also read and annotate two more short stories.