August 19, 2015 AS YOU COME INTO CLASS: Sit in the seat with your popsicle name stick. Make a name tag by folding construction paper into thirds and writing your first name and last initial.

As we stand in a circle, we are going to play a simple Q&A game. STEP ONE: Ask a question. STEP TWO: Toss the ball (GENTLY) to a classmate. STEP THREE: The classmate answers the question and can repeat the question or ask a new (school appropriate) question. STEP FOUR: Repeat the process. THE CATCH: It must be done in your best British accent. ICEBREAKER FOR BRITISH LITERATURE

While you listen to the song, think about these questions: Why are we listening to this song? What do the lyrics of this song mean? What does this have to do with our class? DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING?

Why did the people build a barricade? How long should you stay in a barricade? What is the symbolism of a barricade? BUILD A BARRICADE! Do we need any barricades in our modern life? If so, what for? What are some barricades in your life? How can we make sure we have a safe British Literature community? SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

COURSE EXPECTATIONS You have five minutes to complete the following: You do not have to do these tasks in order. 1.Sign the Social Contract 2.Pick up a syllabus for “Western Literature” 3.Read the syllabus.

UNITS OF STUDY Old English Period Beowulf (Burton Raffel translation) Middle English / Medieval Period Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Burton Raffel translation) Renaissance Period William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Restoration Period Essays and criticism Romantic Period Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights Romantic British Poetry Victorian Period Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities Modern Period James Joyce’s Dubliners

COURSE POLICIES GRADING POLICY This class follows the traditional grading scale: A= B = C = D = F = 59 & Below MISSING & LATE WORK POLICY Each day an assignment is late, it drops 10%. After 5 days, no late work will be accepted and it will be recorded as a zero. MAKE-UP WORK POLICY If you are absent, check my website to see what you missed. You must stay up to date on readings and homework assignments. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed, make up your work, and advocate for yourself if you have any questions. You have two days for each excused absence to make up your work for full credit. FOR MISSING, LATE, OR MAKE-UP WORK YOU MUST COMPLETE A PINK SUBMISSION SLIP.

COURSE POLICIES ACADEMIC DISHONESTY This class requires you to do your own thinking. Any time you use another source and claim it as your own, it is considered academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is taking another’s work or ideas and claiming them as your own—even if you change some of the wording. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in an automatic zero on the assignment. SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST Binder: You will be required to keep an organized binder! Notebook: A college-ruled journal (spiral or bound) Sticky Notes: You will need these to annotate. Writing Utensils: pens, pencils, highlighters Always bring the book we are reading to class!

COURSE POLICIES HONORS COURSEWORK The Honors coursework is not a separate book or project, but rather a modification of the assignments the entire class completes. Honors students will have a higher level of analysis expected on assignments, tests, and essays. Separate essay prompts, tests, and projects Facilitation of Socratic discussions The Honors coursework is not intended to add more work but instead require deeper critical thinking on whole class assignments.

MY CLASS WEBSITE wacademy Whenever you are absent, check my website PRIOR to coming to class!

WHAT IS CLASSICAL EDUCATION? AS YOU COME INTO CLASS: Sit with your groups from yesterday. Pick up a hand out called “The Purpose of Education.”

We are going to watch the beginning of a TED Talk featuring John Green as he discusses the relationship between cartography (maps) and learning. As we watch, think about these questions: Why do you go to school? Why do you go to school? Why do you PERSONALLY learn? Why do you PERSONALLY learn? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION?

the liberal artsthe intellectual and moral development of individuals The ancient Greeks separated the arts into the practical arts, which prepared one for craftsmanship and trade, and the liberal arts, which were focused on the intellectual and moral development of individuals. CLASSICAL EDUCATION

Liber comes from the Latin word for “free.” Liber comes from the Latin word for “free.” Hence, an education in the liberal arts was designed to prepare people to be free thinkers in contrast with a vocational education which prepares individuals to be skilled workers in a particular, specialized trade. Schools and families who pursue classical education today are working to revive a clear understanding of these liberal arts. CLASSICAL EDUCATION

Classical education is comprised of the seven liberal arts which are divided into the Trivium and the Quadrivium. The Trivium subjects are grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric while the Quadrivium includes arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. CLASSICAL EDUCATION

THE TRIVIUM There are three stages comprising the Trivium: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. At SVA, our primary, elementary, and middle schools are focusing on the learning philosophies listed below in the Grammar and Logic stages through the use of the Core Knowledge sequence and related curriculum. In SVA's High School, you will see a clear focus in teaching philosophy in every subject and elective that is aimed at developing the Rhetoric stage. Rhetoric Stage: High School – students develop and refine the ability to think critically, solve problems creatively, and communicate clearly.

Read and annotate STEP ONE: Read and annotate Matt Bianco’s “The Purpose of Education.” What questions do you have? What reactions do you have? What connections can you make? What are your opinions on the topic? Answer the questions STEP TWO: Answer the questions on the back of the article. Honors may replace one of three standard questions to complete the Honors-specific question. “THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION”