English 521 Course Outline: 2016-17

Instructor: Krista ONeill

Classroom: 257

E-Mail: kdoneill@edu.pe.ca
Blog: kdoneill.weebly.com

Course Description
English 521 explores the major genres: narrative pieces, essays, poetry, and drama. You
are expected to build upon the skills you have learned to improve your abilities in all three
strands of language arts. We will spend part of each class independently reading and
writing. In addition, we will work together with novels, plays, short pieces of fiction and
non-fiction, visual texts, as well as writing, research, and grammar.
Topics/Timeline
Students can expect to cover the following, week to week in English 521. Of course, the
schedule is tentative and flexible. Students will be informed about changes in delivery and
assessment in advance.
Sept 6-9 (4) Autobiography
Sept 12-16 (5) Book Club

Nov 7-10 (3) Multi-genre study

Nov 14-17 (4) Multi-genre study/Merchant of

Sept 19-22 (4) Book Club

Sept 26-30 (5) Book Club
Oct 3-7 (5) Book Club/Literary Essay
Oct 11-14 (4) Literary Essay/SCO2
Oct 17-21 (5) Create a Defense for a critical audience
Oct 24-26 (3) Non-fiction
Oct 31-Nov 4 (5) Non-fiction

Venice
Nov 21-25 (5) Merchant of Venice
Nov 28-Dec 1 (4) Merchant of Venice
Dec 5-9 (5) Merchant of Venice
Dec 12-16 (5) Merchant of Venice
Dec 19-22 (4) Merchant of Venice
Jan 4-13 (8) Poetry/Socratic Seminar
Jan 16-20 (5) Multi-genre collection

Evaluation
This course is graded cumulatively, and studies the three strands in language arts. You will
know in advance which strand each activity addresses.

Speaking and Listening (S&L)

Reading and Viewing (R&V)
Writing and Representing (W&R)
Major Assessments (Final Exam)

16%
32%
32%
20%

Students and parents are encouraged to keep track of progress in

SAS as we move through the semester.

Due Dates/Late Policy

1. If you do not meet a required due date for an assignment/test/presentation the
resulting mark will be zero.
2. If you cannot meet a due date for an assignment/test/presentation, you may:
a. Ask Ms. ONeill prior to the due date for an extension. The must happen NO
LATER than one day before the due date. An extension is not a right.
Extensions are granted at Ms. ONeills discretion.
b. Extensions may be REQUESTED via email, phone or in person.
c. If the extension is granted, a mutually agreed upon deadline will be assigned.
d. If the extended due date is not met, the result is a zero.
3. If you are absent for a test or a presentation, you must follow the following procedure:
a. provide a note (beyond the note for your homeroom teacher) or a phone call or
email from a parent which acknowledges they are aware that you have
missed a
test/presentation and explaining your absence (illness, etc.).
b. if the above is done, you will write the test or present UPON YOUR RETURN TO
CLASS.
c. if the absence is unexplained, the resulting mark is zero.
Completion of Major Assignments
You are required to complete all of the major assessments given in this course. Failure to
complete any major assignment will result in an incomplete for the entire course. You will
be informed in advance which assignments are considered to be major.
There will be a whole school deadline for submission of major assignments near the end of
the semester, before exams. Outstanding assignments must be submitted by this final
deadline in order for you to be eligible for the credit. You will not, however, receive any
marks for the assignment as it would be considered overdue (from the original due date).
Google Classroom
We will use the school cloud and your student google classroom accounts on major pieces
of writing and major projects. If the work is assigned on google classroom, you are
required to create the piece and submit in google classroom. Work done with pen and
paper, on your personal google account or another word processing program will not be
accepted for major assignments.
Work at Home
We have a lot of curriculum outcomes to master in a short period of time. It is expected
that you will commit time outside of English class to read, prepare for class discussion, and
complete assigned work. Students not willing to put in this time and effort are in real
jeopardy of not getting the credit. Please keep in mind that extra help/quiet study space
is available in my classroom every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.