USA Test Prep Care Cycle 1 (Day 1 & 2)

All English classes are required to have their students complete “Care Cycles,” which are reading/grammar practices typically completed on USAtestprep.com.  There’s usually one per month.  Ordinarily these practices are fairly short (1-2 passages), except for the first practice (this one) and the very last one.

The first one is supposed to be given in class, over two periods, each taking approximately 30 minutes.  I’m going to ask you to complete these two practices on your own, so we can use those 30 minutes for valuable things in our class (namely, discussing Beowulf or reviewing for your Beowulf test).

In return for you taking your own time to complete these practices, they will each count as additional “A’s” in your grades (10 points for each 30 minute practice; there are two).

Please do not Christmas tree the practice–try your best.  But don’t get too stressed over not knowing something–it is a diagnostic, after all, and it is designed to show how much you know so far.

To complete the practices, log in to http://www.usatestprep.com.  You should already have an account.  You’ll need to enter “Everglades35” for account ID, then your username and password.  In most cases, both user-ID and password are your student number.

E-mail me if you have any problems logging in.  Out of respect for your time, I’ll give you until Wednesday to complete it.  The sooner you finish and e-mail me a picture of your score, the sooner I will enter it into Pinnacle as a free “A.”

Once you’ve logged into usatestprep.com, there should be a way to “join a class.”  Basically select the appropriate period you have me for English.  Then you should have a “My Work” or “My Assignments” tab, and these two practices should be there (they are labeled “Day 1” and “Day 2” respectively).   Each practice should take about 20-30 minutes.  Feel free to do them on different days.  The codes for each practice are listed below, but I’m not sure you’ll need them.

GOPANOCOKE

JOYAGEKEXA

Thank you again for completing this on your own.  If time is really short for you this weekend, be sure to do your reading and study for your notes quiz before doing this.  You can even work on one of these after the notes quiz in class on Monday or Tuesday.

— Mr. Horowitz

If you never made an account, you can create a new one.  When you select this option, you’ll need to use the school code again (“everglades35”) and “stu9387” for the Activation Code.

If you are having trouble logging in, try your student number for name and password without the first “0” in it.

Quarter 1 Look Ahead (first five weeks)

Print this guide to stay current or get ahead of the class.

Note “S” refers to “Silver” days, “B” for “Black.”

Honors “Look Ahead” for 1^st 9 weeks

 Week 1 (8/14-8/16):

Wed. 8/14 (S):  First day ?’s, introduce self/course/webpage, collect summer work.  Distribute/introduce Beowulf.   HW:  Update journal, p. 3-33.  Print syllabus page.

Thurs. 8/15 (B):  First day ?’s, introduce self/course/webpage, collect summer work.  Distribute/introduce Beowulf.

Fri. 8/16 (S):  Check p. 3-33 journal.  Collect signed syllabus.  Copy voc. 1 list (test Thurs., 8/22).  Finish background notes (if needed).  Quiz Mon. 8/26.  Discuss reading, work on p. 3-50 ?’s.  HW:  Read p. 33-48, update journal, finish questions, define vocabulary.

 

Week 2 (8/19-9/23):

Mon. 8/19 (B):  Check p. 33-journal.  Collect signed syllabus.  Copy voc. 1 list.  Test Fri. 8/23.  Finish background notes (if needed).  Quiz Tues. 8/27.   Discuss reading, work on p. 3-50 ?’s.  HW:  Read p. 33-48, update journal, finish questions, define vocabulary.

Tues. 8/20 (S):  Check p. 33-48 journal, voc. 1 definitions and p. 3-50 ?’s.  Go over vocabulary and ?’s   Discuss reading.  Write rough draft heroism essay.  Collect essays at end of class.  HW:  Study vocabulary for Thurs., read p. 48-77, update journal.

Wed. 8/21 (B):  Check p. 38-48 journal, voc. 1 definitions and p. 3-50 ?’s.  Go over vocabulary and questions.   Discuss reading.  Write rough draft heroism essay.  Collect essays at the end of class.  HW:  Study vocabulary for Fri., read p. 48-77, update journal.

Thurs. 8/22 (S):  Check p. 48-77 journal.  Vocabulary 1 test.  Discuss reading if time.  HW:  Read p. 77-104.  Update journal, notes quiz Monday.

Fri. 8/23 (B):   Check p. 48-77 journal.  Vocabulary 1 test.  Discuss reading if time.  HW:  Read p. 77-104.  Update journal, notes quiz Tuesday.

 Week 3 (8/26):

 Mon. 8/26 (S):   Check. 77-104 journal.  Beowulf notes quiz.  Return and go over “Heroism” essay (typed copy due next Wed. 9/4).  Receive final questions.  HW:   Finish novel and final questions.  Update journal.  Test Friday.

Tues. 8/27 (B):  Check 77-104 journal.  Beowulf notes quiz.  Return and go over “Heroism” essay (typed copy due Tuesday, 9/3).  Receive final questions.  HW:   Finish novel and final questions.  Update journal.  Test next Tuesday.

Wed. 8/28 (S):  Check final questions.  Go over reading and questions.  Review for test.  Receive Canterbury Tales.  HW:  Typed “Heroism” essay with RD stapled to it due 9/4.  Read “Prologue” for Wed. (p. 3-31, notes on characters).

Thurs. 8/29 (B):  Check final questions.  Go over reading and questions.  Review for test.  Receive Canterbury Tales.   HW:  Typed essays w/ RD stapled to it due Tuesday.  Test Tuesday.  Beowulf journals due Tuesday with overall impression.  Read “Prologue” (p. 3-31, taking notes on characters) for Thurs.

Fri. 8/30 (S):   Collect Beowulf journals (must have overall impression).  Beowulf test.

Week 4 (9/3-9/6): (Mon. holiday)

Tues. 9/3 (B):  Collect typed “Heroism” essays (RD stapled to back).  Collect Beowulf journals (must have impression).  Beowulf test.  HW:   Finish “Prologue” for Thursday.

Wed. 9/4 (S):  Collect typed “Heroism” essays (RD stapled to back).   Check “Prologue” journal (p. 3-31).  Copy voc. 2 list.  Discuss “Prologue.”  Begin Chaucer notes.  Read “The Knight’s Tale”  parts 1-3 (P. 32-84) for Friday.  Update journal, define vocabulary.

Thurs. 9/5 (B):  Check “Prologue” (p. 3-31).  Copy voc. 2 list.   Discuss “Prologue.”  Begin Chaucer notes.  Read “The Knight’s Tale” parts 1-3 for Monday.  Update journal, define vocabulary 2.

Fri. 9/6 (S):   Check voc. 2 list and p. 32-84 journal.  Go over vocabulary 2.  Finish Chaucer notes (new notes on website, quiz next Thurs. 9/12).   Discuss reading, finish “Knight’s Tale” in class (p. 85-104).  HW:  Rate “The Knight’s Tale.”  Read “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” (p. 105-125).  Update journal, rate story.  Study vocabulary 2.

Week 5 (9/9-9/13):

Mon. 9/9 (B):  Check voc. 2.  Check p. 32-84 journal.  Go over vocabulary 2.  Finish Chaucer notes (quiz Friday).  Finish “Knight’s Tale” in class (p. 85-104).  Finish Chaucer notes (new notes online).   Notes quiz Friday.  HW:  Read “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” (p. 105-125).  Update journal, rate story.  Study vocabulary.

Tues. 9/10 (S):  Check p. 105-125 journal.  Vocabulary 2 test.  Discuss story if time.  HW:  Read “The Pardoner’s Tale” (p. 126-147).  Journal and rate story.  Review notes for Thurs. quiz.

Wed. 9/11 (B):  Check p. 105-125 journal.  Vocabulary 2 test.  Discuss “Nun’s Priest’s Tale” if time permits.  HW:  Read “The Pardoner’s Tale” (p. 126-147). Update journal, rate story.  Review notes for quiz Friday.

Thurs. 9/12 (S):  Check p. 126-147 journal.  Chaucer notes quiz.  Go over “Create Your Own Prologue” assignment (due 10/1).  Discuss “Pardoner’s Tale.”  HW:  Read “Wife of Bath’s Tale” (p. 168-181).  Journal and rate story.

Fri. 9/13 (B):  Check p. 126-147 journal.  Chaucer notes quiz.  Go over “Create Your Own Prologue” (due 10/2).  HW:  Read “Wife of Bath’s Tale” (p. 168-181).  Journal and rate.

 

 

Vocabulary 1 List

These words were given out today for Silver classes, to be defined for next class.  Black classes don’t need to define these until Monday for Wednesday’s homework.  Include parts of speech along with definitions.

Vocabulary 1 List:

amity

assuage

bereft

brethren

burnish

dire

lament

loathsome

prowess

sunder

sundry

throng

vestige

whet

writhe

Beowulf p. 3-50 Questions

These questions were given out today for Silver classes.  They are not officially assigned for Black classes until Monday.  Black classes don’t need to work on them now unless you want to get ahead.

Answer each as completely as possible, either on separate paper or near the end of your journal (not in the middle of it). Put a “*” by any questions you want to go over in class.

Beowulf Analysis Questions, p. 3-50

1. What advice does the Beowulf poet give to young rulers during peace-time? (3-4)

2. What does the Poet foreshadow will happen to Herot, and why? (6, end-notes)

3. Why would merry-making and tales of creation waken and annoy Grendel?

4. How is the Poet alluding to wergild, in lines 152-158? Why is this particularly
troubling for Hrothgar?

5. Who does the Poet chastise, and why? (9)

6. Explain the importance of omens in Geat culture. (11)

7. What does the way the Danish watchman asks Beowulf to identify himself tell you
about the culture of this era? (12)

8. What’s Beowulf and Edgetho’s connection to the family line of Higlac, his king? (17)

9. How is Beowulf superhuman qualities a perfect match for Grendel? (10, 17, 19, 33)

10. What is special about Beowulf’s armor? (20, end-notes)

11. What special obligation does Beowulf have to help Hrothgar? (20-21)

12. Why does Unferth bring up the tale of Brecca at the mead hall? (22-23)

13. How does Beowulf put Unferth in his place? (25-26)

14. How, according to the Poet, was Hermod an ignominious ruler? (37-38, end notes)

15. What’s ironic about the Hrothgar toasting Hrothulf, and the Poet’s line, “none of the
Danes was plotting, then…”? (41-42, end-notes) Also later Welthow’s praise that
Hrothulf will shelter the King’s sons after his death in his “gracious protection.”
(47-48, end-notes)

16. How was Finn treacherous to the Danish people? (44-45, end-notes)

17. Why does Finn make a peace offering to Hengest, Hnaf’s Danish successor? (44)
Why is accepting this offer particularly difficult for Hengest? (45)

18. In giving the history of the necklace given to Beowulf, the Poet reveals a bit of
the future. What will happen to Higlac, Beowulf’s lord, and the necklace? (49)

First Day Questions

First Day Questions for Brit. Lit. Honors

 

Turn these in to me if you missed the first day (they were given in class).

 

Directions:   Write your name (first then last) and period in the upper right hand corner of your paper. Answer each question using complete sentences as needed for understanding.

1. Write your home phone number, parents’ names and contact numbers (cell, work, home, etc.).  Please include e-mail contact for parents as well.
2. Copy your schedule.   Include period, subject, teacher name (if you know it), and room #.

3. What did you read this summer? What was good or bad about it?

4. Why did you choose Honors over regular or AP?

5. What would you like to learn in your final English class in high school? Be as specific as possible.

6. What are some of your favorite novels or stories?   What makes them your favorite?

7. Set at least one goal for yourself in this course. Identify the goal and what it will take to achieve it.

8. Tell me something (surprising) about yourself.
9. List anything else you think I need to know here.

Honors Syllabus 2019-2020

Mr. Horowitz’s British Literature Honors 2019-2020

Course Syllabus & Class Overview

Course rules:

1. The golden rule:  be respectful.
2. No food is allowed in the classroom.
3. Electronic devices may not be used unless permission is given for a particular assignment.
4. Plagiarism or cheating will not be tolerated.

Homework:   Reading assignments will be limited to 20 pages a night.   Quizzes should be expected after any night’s reading, or after notes are given in class.  Vocabulary will be given on Mondays and tested on Fridays.

Journal:  Any assigned homework reading must be done with a journal, where you take notes and record your thoughts and questions as you read.  Page numbers must be included to show you did the actual reading.   Journals will be collected at the end of each assigned novel or play.  You must also include an overall reflection at the end of the book, writing in one page or more what you liked and learned from the selection.

Make-up:   Any missing work must be completed within two days of an excused absence.  Missed tests must be completed after school, within 1 week of the test being given.   All missed assignments and handouts can be found at the make-up station located in the back of the room by the computers.   It is the student’s responsibility, not the teacher’s, to find out what was missed when absent.

Recommendations:  You may privately request a letter of recommendation if you earn a “B” or higher in the class, after the 4^th week of school.  I will also happily assist you in improving your college essays.

Supplies:   You will need plenty of college ruled notebook paper.  You should have several pens, two pencils, highlighters, and a composition or spiral notebook for a journal.

Textbook:  This course is novel driven.   Novels will be provie

Grading:   I use a point system, where one point typically equates to getting one question correct on a test.  Weekly vocabulary tests are worth 30 points, typical daily quizzes are worth 5, longer novel tests are worth around 50.   Independent projects (usually one per quarter) are worth 100.   All this information will be posted regularly on Pinnacle.   A small amount of extra credit will usually be awarded to the best of the independent 9-week projects.  Thursdays we will practice SAT/ACT difficult passages for improved reading comprehension and test scores.

Contact info:  You can e-mail me at adam.horowitz@browardschools.com.

First quarter overview:

First two weeks:   Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon history

Weeks 3-5:   Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales (life in the Middle Ages)

Weeks 6-8:   Shakespeare (background and a live reading of Macbeth)

Additional stories will be used to supplement these time periods.

First 9-week project:  Creating your own Prologue.

Second quarter overview:

Weeks 1-4:  An examination of satire, from Gulliver’s Travels to “A Modest Proposal”

Weeks 5-7:   The roots of horror:   the gothic novel.   Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Weeks 8-9:  Modern short fiction.

We will also read and analyze a variety of poems.

Third and fourth quarter will include a study of several modern novels as well as writing a research paper in preparation for college.  More information will be given regarding these terms further in the year.

While not as intensive as AP, the Honors version of this course will require students to put in independent time reading, analyzing, and reflecting on the assignments given.   Successful completion of this course should help students improve significantly in their SAT/ACT scores, reading comprehension, and overall college readiness.

Looking forward to a great year.   Please sign the bottom of this page, which indicates that you have read the syllabus, understood its contents, and shared the information with your parents.

__________________________________

Student name, neatly printed

__________________________________

Student Signature                               Date

__________________________________     __________

Parent Signature                                 Date

 

How to Read Beowulf (Tips)

How to Read Beowulf (Tips)

1. Read to learn about both the Anglo-Saxon culture (pagan) and Christian values of the Beowulf Make notes on each, as well as what’s meaningful to you.
2. Keep track of who belongs to what major culture. The three biggest are the Danes, the Geats, and the Swedes.  Note that “Beo” (mentioned in the first few pages) isn’t Beowulf, he’s a Dane!
3. Identify ancient archetypes: many ideas from modern fantasy comes from this story.  Tolkien himself was a Beowulf  Archetypes are universal patterns like the suffering mother, the loyal dog, sibling rivalries, jealous girlfriends, etc.
4. Note pages next to your comments in your journal. If you want to see what Old English looked like, search the web for “Old English” and “+Beowulf” to see the ancient manuscript.  Also check out “Sutton Hoo” for some awesome pictures of what may be some artifacts from the story itself.

 

Beowulf Notes

Here are all the notes covered in class.

Beowulf Notes (Part I)

England’s oldest surviving epic story.

epic: Long narrative poem, tells the adventures of a hero
Epics teach values of a particular culture
Amalgam (mix) of fantasy and history

Anglo-Saxon history:

Germanic-speaking tribes invaded isle of Britain in 5th century from Denmark, northern Germany, and Holland.

Invaders mostly Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. Pushed native Celtic-speaking inhabitants off central portion of island (England).

Angles first to achieve cultural dominance, then Saxons next. Whole period/culture referred to as “Anglo-Saxon.”

Eventually the warlike Anglo-Saxons were converted by England’s Christianity, and became more peaceful & agricultural. Beowulf’s author is Christian, but the events told in story occur before these tribes were Christianized.

Beowulf was a Geat, from Geatland (now known as Sweden). In the story, he sails to Denmark to help the Danes with their troubles.

Originally written in Old English (or Anglo-Saxon). You can access it online. Just type “Beowulf” in any search engine.

Few Anglo-Saxons could read or write, so most Old English literature was passed down orally. Some medieval scholars tried recording it—usually monks in monestaries—these were handwritten manuscripts, which needed recopying over and over to preserve them.
Some historical concepts:

wergild: Germanic leaders were bound to avenge the death of a
faithful follower unless compensatory payment was made
(called wergild). Killing of one’s own close relative was
particularly heinous, and wergild was banned in such cases.

Higlac: Beowulf’s uncle (usually spelled Hygelac), an actual
proven historical king of the Geats who died in the early
520s on a raid. Used to date Beowulf and its events.

Sutton Hoo: 1939, archeologists discovered an early Anglo-
Saxon burial site at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England. Burial
was probably an Anglo-Saxon king from 650-700, made
in a ship (Germanic custom). Deceased buried with
carved buckle, ceremonial drinking horns, sword, shield,
helmet. Hrothgar’s helmet gift to Beowulf is similar to
what was discovered. Could it be Beowulf?

New lit. terms for understading Beowulf:

caesura: pause in the middle of Old English poetry, helped poets
remember their lines (show example, p. 28)

alliteration: Common in Old English poetry, aided poets in
remembering lines

epithet: identifying expression placed along side or in place of
the names of people, places, or objects. Beowulf
is often called “Edgetho’s son,” “Higlac’s follower,” etc.

kenning: like an epithet, except it is a metaphor which takes
place of simple nouns, like the sea “the whale-road,”
or the sun “heaven’s candle”

Beowulf Notes Part II

1 copy of Beowulf has survived, dated to the year 1000 AD.
Rescued from destruction several times, now housed in the British Library in London.

Interesting dinnertime trivia moment: Earliest known owner of manuscript was early Anglo-Saxon scholar Laurence Nowell, Dean of Lichfield. Sometime later it entered in the collection of Robert Bruce Cotton (1571-1631) and was shelved under a bust of Roman Emperor Aulus Vitellius shelf A, position 15, hence the name of the manuscript: Cotton Vitellius A. xv.

Scholars date the story being written well before that. Beowulf himself, if he was real, existed in the 6th century AD (historical figures mentioned in the poem date to that time).

Writer of the London manuscript probably an Angle from northern England. The Beowulf Poet, as he was called, was an educated Christian, familiar with the Bible. Most likely infused story with his own religious beliefs.

Spelling in the story has been simplified phonetically (it reads as it is pronounced). Other texts spell names differently.

More important terms/Old English ideas:

wyrd = one’s fate or destiny, believed to be death by
warmongering invading tribes. Fame could temporarily
stave off one’s wyrd, and help achieve immortality. Also
by amassing great wealth.

mead = alcoholic drink made from fermented honey

ring-giver = followers who swore allegiance to a king would be
given a golden ring by the king to symbolize their bond

elegy = poems which mourn a death or other great loss, common
in Old English as a poetry subject. Examples of elegiac
verse can be found in Beowulf.

runes = ancient Germanic alphabet (runic alphabet)

named weapons = ancestral weapons were so important they were
given names, like Unferth’s sword, Hrunting.

In your lit journal, look for:

What does the story or setting teach us about these ancient cultures?

Changes made by the Beowulf Poet to the story? (note examples where the author most likely Christianized it.)

Themes? Archetypes upon which other fantasy literature/movies were based (i.e. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc)

Include page #s and line #s.

Updated Obligation List (includes BNW), as of 5/23

Obligations for 2018-2019 Honors English IV

P5:

 

Gloria, Milla                       Canterbury Tales #120, Catcher #6

Glover, Jade                       Hamlet #6 (replacing)

Plummer, Neale                Canterbury Tales #118

 

P8:

Imafidon, Sesa                  Canterbury Tales #55

 

Please return or replace these books as soon as possible.

Study Guide for Final (2018-2019 4th Quarter)

Your exam will consist of an essay (one half of your genre story grade) plus the Brave New World test.  Here’s a study guide, culled from your 5 sets of analysis questions, to help you do well on the test.

Study Guide for BNW Test (Honors Final):

1. # of copies that can be made from a single Bokanovskified egg?
2. Define freemartin.
3. How does Lenina make her points in an argument?
4. What tragedy happened to the Director during his trip to a savage reservation?
5. Why can’t the Warden gross Lenina out during his introductory tour?
6. Why is Linda so easily addicted to mescal?
7. Why does John call his mother by her first name?
8. Who is John’s main source of education/teaching?
9. What crime is Bernard being accused of, that is, according to the DHC, worse than murder?
10. What are the three main progressions of tone for how John uses the Miranda quote, “O brave new world….”?
11. When does death conditioning begin in this society?
12. What is a “feely?”
13. What are the main events where Bernard breaks down to take soma?
14. How does Bernard revenge himself against his friends?
15. What reason does John confess to Lenina why he’s delaying them being intimate together?
16. What darkly comic tragedy results from Lenina’s preoccupation with John?
17. What are the main goals of the World State?
18. What’s John’s real (subconscious, even) worry about getting close to Lenina?
19. Why won’t John show himself to Bernard and the people at his party?
20. Why do savage reservations even exist?
21. Why does the DHC end up going on a permanent soma holiday?
22. Who does John compare Lenina to?
23. Why does Linda get whipped by the women of Malpais?
24. How does BNW’s society treat abortion?
25. What do Lenina and Bernard find so shocking about the Indian climbing down the ladder?
26. What makes Bernard actually stand taller after the DHC threatens him?
27. Why does Lenina find the emptiness of the night so frightening?
28. What is one of the main distinctions of the different castes, at the embryonic level?
29. What does the DHC mean by “Unforeseen wastages are promptly made good?”
30. What does “viviparous” mean?
31. After waking up from sleep, what horrible thing(s) does John realize he’s done at the novel’s end?
32. What creature does Huxley compare the swarms of people around John to, at the novel’s end?
33. What does John see in the night sky in England, in the shape of the skyscrapers, that no one else can see?
34. What does John claim for himself on behalf of mankind to Mustapha Mond?
35. What does Mustapha reveal, rather flippantly, to have been Bernard, John, and Helmholtz’s fate if the world didn’t have so many islands?
36. What was Mustapha before he became a World Controller?
37. What three things were sacrificed to create happiness, according to Mustapha?
38. What’s John’s main reason for wanting to free the Deltas from soma?
39. What are the two main reasons John gets so angry during Linda’s final moments?
40. What are some of the things John observes in Brave New World society, that are different from his own?
41. What question does John ask the nurse at the Hospital for the Dying that shocks her?
42. What creature are the Deltas likened to, that swarm all over Linda’s hospital room?
43. During the massive brawl between John and the Deltas, Bernard’s actions suggest what about his character?
44. Why isn’t everyone an Alpha plus?
45. How were the Simple Lifers persuaded to give up their ideas of returning to the old ways of doing things?
46. Why did everyone want to see science regulated after the 9-Year-War?
47. What’s G-d’s manifestation, according to Mustapha, during present time?
48. How does John attempt to purge his own body of sin?
49. What’s Darwin Bonaparte’s profession?
50. What’s the main catalyst to John’s moral collapse at the end of the novel?