Welcome Senior class of 2013:
First and foremost, I want to tell you how proud I am of you all. I have watched you grow from ambitious 9th graders into intelligent, determined young women and men.
Second, please stay focused on your high school duties and responsibilities this year. Obstacles will come your way -- forces beyond your control will try to lead you astray. Make sure that you rise to meet any challenges presented to you.
Last, please make sure that you take time to enjoy this last year of high school. Many Seniors have returned to HHS, post-graduation, with regret about their lack of appreciation, reflection and understanding of the importance of their Senior year.
Make this year the best school year ever!!
**For your convenience, I have placed your Senior Memory Book form on the Senior documents page. Remember: you are responsible for all of the 12 essays in this project. Also, remember what I told you about the illustrations -- although they are NOT due with the rough draft, you must begin collecting these pictures asap. DO NOT forget your deadlines!
***Also, make sure that you check out the English IV document webpage for any useful documents you may need.
English IV:
First semester, 1st Nine Weeks...................
The first unit is on England's Anglo Saxon period. This includes: the epic poem Beowulf, the epic poem The Iliad, and the movie The Vikings. Students will begin their Senior Project by writing Essay #1 and Essay #2.
The second unit is on the Medieval period. This includes: the story excerpts "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," and the movie A Knight's Tale. Both Beowulf and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" will have companion non-fiction acticles. Students will also write Essay # 3, and Essay # 4 for their Senior Memory scrapbook.
First Semester, 2nd Nine Weeks...................
The second unit on the Medieval period will conclude during the beginning of this 9 1/2 week period. Students will finish the unit by reading three writings from The Canterbury Tales.
The third unit is on the Renaissance period. This includes: the
poem "Passionate Shepherd to His Love," the poem "The Nymph's Response to the Passionate Shepherd," and Shakespearean sonnets 29, 73, 116, and 160. All three poetic units will have companion non-fiction articles. Students will also write Essay #5, # 6, #7 and #8 for their Senior Memory Scrapbook. Then, the students will begin the study of Shakespeare's famous play, Macbeth. Students will read, analyze and discuss Act I, Act II, Act III, Act IV and Act V. Students will review for their midterm examination; English IV midterm exam date is TBA.
Second Semester, 1st Nine Weeks...................
The fourth unit is on later 17th century literature. This includes: the poetry of John Donne, the poetry of Ben Jonson, the poetry of John Milton and excerpts from Milton's Paradise Lost. We will focus on the study of allusions during the study of Milton's epic poem. Students will type Senior essay # 8 and write and type essay #9 for their Senior Memory Scrapbook.
The fifth unit is on 18th century literature. This includes: Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock," Daniel Defoe's "A Journal of the Plague Year," and an excerpt from Mary Wollstoncraft's A Vindication for the Rights of Women. Both "A Modest Proposal" and A Vindication for the Rights of Women will have companion non-fiction reading selections. Students will write and type Senior essay # 10 and # 11.
The sixth unit is on the Romantic period. This includes: the poetry of William Blake, of William Wordsworth, and of Percy Shelley . Both Wordsorth's and Shelley's poetic units will have companion non-fiction reading selections. Students will also write and type Senior essay # 12 and #13. The seventh unit is on the Victorian period. This includes: the poetry of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Second Semester, 2nd Nine Weeks...................
The seventh unit on the Victorian period will continue during this nine weeks. This includes: Rudyard Kipling's "Mark of the Beast" and the poetry of Robert Browning. Students will also write and type Senior essay #14 and #15, if applicable. The completed Senior Memory Books with essays and appropriate illustrations are due on a date TBA.
The eighth and last unit on the Twentieth Century will begin during this nine weeks. This includes: Graham Greene's "The Destructors," the autobiographical excerpt from the book "Hiroshima," the short story "The Sniper," the non-fiction story "In the Shadow of War," and the short story "The Demon Lovers." Students will create a research paper on a future career choice. Last, the students will review for their final examination. The English final examination is on a date TBA.
HAVE A GREAT SENIOR YEAR!!!!
Ms. D. Ray