|
Contact Information E-Mail: bennettr@fultonschools.org
(best method of contact) Johns 770-521-7600 ext. 324 |
Contemporary Literature and
Composition: In 2004 the
Georgia Department of Education adopted new Georgia Performance Standards for
grades 9-12. Consistent with state curriculum, the Fulton County Schools
English language arts curriculum implementation aligns with state standards.
The content standards for twelfth grade courses are clustered by strands: Reading and Literature, Reading Across the Curriculum, Conventions, Writing, and Listening/Speaking/Viewing.
Twelfth
graders will continue to build on the reading and language curriculum
established in grades 9-11. Throughout this one-semester course, students
will have opportunities to develop and expand their knowledge of contemporary
culture and its influence on the literature of modern times. Students will
demonstrate mastery level of new learning through performance tasks and
assessments. Students will
read, analyze, and apply their knowledge of the structures, themes, and
elements of contemporary fiction and nonfiction as well as multimedia text such
as film. They will deepen their understanding of media literacy by relating
themes across genres to their contemporary context or political, social, or
economic perspective. Through extensive reading, students will acquire new
vocabulary specific to the study of contemporary literature and apply that
knowledge in their writing. To encourage
students to become life long readers, the curriculum includes standards that
address both academic and personal habits of reading. Students will read
approximately one million words per year from a variety of subject
disciplines including language arts. In the English language arts classroom,
students will learn the vocabulary of literature, writing, and listening,
speaking, and viewing. Writing Expository writing is the focus for twelfth grade; however,
students will continue to produce a wide range of writings including polished
narratives, persuasive pieces and technical documents. Students will practice
both timed and process writing to develop compositions that demonstrate an
understanding of tone, point of view, style, organization, author’s
purpose, and audience. Students will continue to use research and technology
to support reading and writing. A research paper is a requirement of the
course. Conventions Students will demonstrate an understanding of proper English
usage and control of grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, diction, and
syntax. They will apply their knowledge of the conventions of language in
reading, writing, and speaking and focus on the correct use of clauses,
phrases, and the mechanics punctuation. Sentence construction and usage will
continue to be a focus for twelfth grade. Students will apply their knowledge
of the conventions of format when producing expository writing. Listening/Speaking/Viewing Students will
continue to develop their critical listening skills. Through presentations and interactions
with the teacher and other students, they will apply effective speaking
techniques in small and large group settings. The viewing standards will
enable students to develop media literacy skills through the careful
examination of contemporary texts including television, radio, film
productions, and electronic media. |
Mrs.
Bennett’s Addendum to the State’s Definition Contemporary Literature is “a lone reed waving
proudly in the sands of [education].” I say this not lightly, but with the
sincere belief that this course offers something special to those who have endeavored
to take it. Very rarely do students encounter literature of
immediate relevance—literature that speaks
to them about themselves and their ideas without reservation. Contemporary
Literature offers such an opportunity.
During the course of this semester we will study issues of class,
male-female communicative patterns, modern racial perceptions, divorce, fraternal
bonds, contemporary social ideology, adultery (or moral sense), and media
(including film terminology, purpose, bias, and the like). Much of our course will consist of class
discussion. Our forum is built on
the respect of others and their ideas.
At no time can the ideas of another be belittled, though we will learn
to question ideas in a manner that is thought provoking and facilitative of
mature deliberation. Students are offered the opportunity to tell me, in
writing, at the beginning of the semester if there are any issues which they
feel uncomfortable discussing.
Once we arrive at those topics, alternative assignments may be
given—though I strongly urge students to brave what is uncomfortable
for the sake of learning, and for the purpose of helping others to see
contemporary issues. |
