Think carefully about the issue presented in the following quotations and assignment below.
“The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy mischance after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper.”
~Aristotle
"Villains are undone by what is worst in them, heroes by what is best. "
~Voltaire
"The hero is strangely akin to those who die young. "
~Rainer Maria Rilke
I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom. "
~Bob Dylan
"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."
~Arthur Ashe
In-Class Assignment: What makes a hero? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on the issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Take-Home Assignment: Create a hero that embodies the definition from your essay. You may do so narratively, artistically, or by using a combination of modes. Be prepared to present and defend your hero in class on Monday, September 18th.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Course Syllabus
Course Syllabus
Scholars English
Mr. Lawless
Welcome to Scholars English!
Throughout the year we will be exploring and exercising the power of language. This power should not be underestimated or taken for granted. Language is the primary means by which we create and convey ideas, learn from and persuade other, reflect and shape culture, and entertain each other. Unlike other English courses you may have taken, Scholars has been specifically designed to bridge the gaps between all areas of human understanding. We will explore the interrelation of science, art, literature, politics, philosophy, and culture as they compete, correlate, overlap, and diverge through history. Strap in, it’s going to be a trip. While it would be foolhardy to try and list everything we will do this year, here are some general objectives. We will:
• Read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary genres.
• Integrate new vocabulary in verbal expression.
• Demonstrate knowledge and use of literary terms.
• Demonstrate comprehension of cultural and historical perspectives in art and literature.
• Apply the writing traits to form coherent essays.
• Comprehend and apply delivery techniques in oral presentations.
• Develop sophisticated logical arguments using evidence and reason.
• Demonstrate literal, inferential, evaluative, and comparative comprehension skills.
• Extend and deepen comprehension by relating texts, experiences, issues, and events.
• Explore how literature records, reflects, communicates, and influences human events.
• Read and respond to literary works from the cradle of civilization through the Renaissance.
• Evaluate how literature is influenced by historical, cultural, social, and biographical factors.
• Use writing as a tool to learn, reflect, and communicate.
• Write and speak in a variety of modes and forms appropriate to audience and purpose.
• Create and perfect CIM work samples of the Expository Speech and the Expository Essay.
• Learn from each other’s successes, challenges, and experiences.
• Have fun.
Whew! It seems like a lot, I know. Imagine if I had listed the dozens of different opportunities you will have to accomplish each of these goals. In general, though, these opportunities to demonstrate your skill, expertise, and improvement will fall into four major categories.
• Portfolio of formal written work such as essays, stories, poems, etc.
• Tests and Quizzes, both written and oral, on specific skills, concepts, and information.
• Projects that demonstrate applied textual and conceptual understanding
• Homework and Participation: in class assignments and essentially just keeping up
Your performance and improvement in each of these categories will be judged separately and then added together with equal weight (25% each) to comprise your final grade for this course.
Scholars English
Mr. Lawless
Welcome to Scholars English!
Throughout the year we will be exploring and exercising the power of language. This power should not be underestimated or taken for granted. Language is the primary means by which we create and convey ideas, learn from and persuade other, reflect and shape culture, and entertain each other. Unlike other English courses you may have taken, Scholars has been specifically designed to bridge the gaps between all areas of human understanding. We will explore the interrelation of science, art, literature, politics, philosophy, and culture as they compete, correlate, overlap, and diverge through history. Strap in, it’s going to be a trip. While it would be foolhardy to try and list everything we will do this year, here are some general objectives. We will:
• Read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary genres.
• Integrate new vocabulary in verbal expression.
• Demonstrate knowledge and use of literary terms.
• Demonstrate comprehension of cultural and historical perspectives in art and literature.
• Apply the writing traits to form coherent essays.
• Comprehend and apply delivery techniques in oral presentations.
• Develop sophisticated logical arguments using evidence and reason.
• Demonstrate literal, inferential, evaluative, and comparative comprehension skills.
• Extend and deepen comprehension by relating texts, experiences, issues, and events.
• Explore how literature records, reflects, communicates, and influences human events.
• Read and respond to literary works from the cradle of civilization through the Renaissance.
• Evaluate how literature is influenced by historical, cultural, social, and biographical factors.
• Use writing as a tool to learn, reflect, and communicate.
• Write and speak in a variety of modes and forms appropriate to audience and purpose.
• Create and perfect CIM work samples of the Expository Speech and the Expository Essay.
• Learn from each other’s successes, challenges, and experiences.
• Have fun.
Whew! It seems like a lot, I know. Imagine if I had listed the dozens of different opportunities you will have to accomplish each of these goals. In general, though, these opportunities to demonstrate your skill, expertise, and improvement will fall into four major categories.
• Portfolio of formal written work such as essays, stories, poems, etc.
• Tests and Quizzes, both written and oral, on specific skills, concepts, and information.
• Projects that demonstrate applied textual and conceptual understanding
• Homework and Participation: in class assignments and essentially just keeping up
Your performance and improvement in each of these categories will be judged separately and then added together with equal weight (25% each) to comprise your final grade for this course.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Course Expectations
Course Expectations
Your grade will consist of four equal parts, the first three being primarily connected to your academic performance. It is the “HPA” portion of your grade, however, that tends to cause the greatest stress and confusion among students. Simply put, homework, participation, and attendance aren’t graded but they DO IMPACT YOUR GRADE!
For instance, I will not pore over your homework assignments and rigorously proofread every sentence, but I will check to see that you’ve done it. Likewise, I will not give you a reading quiz to hold you accountable for every night of assigned reading but I will expect that you keep up and may check on you in creative and unexpected ways.
1. Written homework assignments will typically be given as a preparatory exercise for what’s coming up, so it will often help you understand what will happen the following day.
2. Homework will only be turned in when I ask for it.
3. I will not always tell you in advance whether or not an assignment will be collected.
4. Most of your homework, however, will not be written. You will be given sizable reading and research assignments throughout the year so that we don’t need to spend class time on things we could perhaps do more effectively elsewhere.
5. FOR EACH INCOMPLETE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT YOU WILL LOSE ONE OF YOUR 25 HPA POINTS FOR THE QUARTER.
Moreover, I will not assign you a B+ of some other grade for each decent comment during class discussion, but I will keep track of how often and how appropriately you engage in classroom activities day to day and week to week.
6. FOR EACH DAY OF OFF TASK OR NON-PARTICIPATORY BEHAVIOR YOU WILL LOSE ONE OF YOUR 25 HPA POINTS FOR THE QUARTER.
Additionally, I will not pester you for excuses for each of your absences or for every time you are tardy to class, but I will be keeping track of your attendance habits and applying them to your grade. If you are not in class it is impossible for you to participate in class, regardless of the reason for your absence. While this is a pretty rigid guideline, there are occasionally situations (such as required academic or athletic activities) for which I will make exceptions. However, just because a parent or the office “excused” or “prearranged” an absence does not mean that I will. Vacations that keep you out of school, for example, might be “excused” by a parent but will not alleviate your responsibility to this class and will be treated accordingly. Therefore, plan them accordingly and choose wisely.
7. FOR EACH ABSENCE YOU WILL LOSE ONE OF YOUR 25 HPA POINTS.
8. FOR EACH TARDY YOU WILL LOSE ONE THIRD OF ONE HPA POINT.
Finally, there are some specific items I must mention here so that there will be no confusion later.
9. COME PREPARED TO CLASS. If you don’t, you will be sent out to prepare yourself and marked tardy upon your return.
10. DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD OR DRINK TO CLASS OTHER THAN H2O.
11. DO NOT BRING NUISANCE ITEMS. EACH STRIKE WILL COST ONE HPA POINT.
o 1st strike: It’s mine until 3:00 PM the next school day.
o 2nd strike: It’s mine until 3:00 PM the following Monday.
o 3rd strike: It’s mine for seven days, then a parent can retrieve it in person, by appointment.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of these expectations, please feel free to discuss them with me during class today, individually by appointment, or via email: heisquitemad@hotmail.com
Your grade will consist of four equal parts, the first three being primarily connected to your academic performance. It is the “HPA” portion of your grade, however, that tends to cause the greatest stress and confusion among students. Simply put, homework, participation, and attendance aren’t graded but they DO IMPACT YOUR GRADE!
For instance, I will not pore over your homework assignments and rigorously proofread every sentence, but I will check to see that you’ve done it. Likewise, I will not give you a reading quiz to hold you accountable for every night of assigned reading but I will expect that you keep up and may check on you in creative and unexpected ways.
1. Written homework assignments will typically be given as a preparatory exercise for what’s coming up, so it will often help you understand what will happen the following day.
2. Homework will only be turned in when I ask for it.
3. I will not always tell you in advance whether or not an assignment will be collected.
4. Most of your homework, however, will not be written. You will be given sizable reading and research assignments throughout the year so that we don’t need to spend class time on things we could perhaps do more effectively elsewhere.
5. FOR EACH INCOMPLETE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT YOU WILL LOSE ONE OF YOUR 25 HPA POINTS FOR THE QUARTER.
Moreover, I will not assign you a B+ of some other grade for each decent comment during class discussion, but I will keep track of how often and how appropriately you engage in classroom activities day to day and week to week.
6. FOR EACH DAY OF OFF TASK OR NON-PARTICIPATORY BEHAVIOR YOU WILL LOSE ONE OF YOUR 25 HPA POINTS FOR THE QUARTER.
Additionally, I will not pester you for excuses for each of your absences or for every time you are tardy to class, but I will be keeping track of your attendance habits and applying them to your grade. If you are not in class it is impossible for you to participate in class, regardless of the reason for your absence. While this is a pretty rigid guideline, there are occasionally situations (such as required academic or athletic activities) for which I will make exceptions. However, just because a parent or the office “excused” or “prearranged” an absence does not mean that I will. Vacations that keep you out of school, for example, might be “excused” by a parent but will not alleviate your responsibility to this class and will be treated accordingly. Therefore, plan them accordingly and choose wisely.
7. FOR EACH ABSENCE YOU WILL LOSE ONE OF YOUR 25 HPA POINTS.
8. FOR EACH TARDY YOU WILL LOSE ONE THIRD OF ONE HPA POINT.
Finally, there are some specific items I must mention here so that there will be no confusion later.
9. COME PREPARED TO CLASS. If you don’t, you will be sent out to prepare yourself and marked tardy upon your return.
10. DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD OR DRINK TO CLASS OTHER THAN H2O.
11. DO NOT BRING NUISANCE ITEMS. EACH STRIKE WILL COST ONE HPA POINT.
o 1st strike: It’s mine until 3:00 PM the next school day.
o 2nd strike: It’s mine until 3:00 PM the following Monday.
o 3rd strike: It’s mine for seven days, then a parent can retrieve it in person, by appointment.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of these expectations, please feel free to discuss them with me during class today, individually by appointment, or via email: heisquitemad@hotmail.com
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