English II CP Syllabus
Kathleen Kreycik, BA, MFA
(818) 222-7177 x 52324
2024-2025 school year
Support available by appointment
Course Details: English II College Prep.
Course Description: This course examines literature with a primary focus on theme, including a unit on Macbeth by William Shakespeare, one on Lord of the Flies by William Golding, one on Dracula by Bram Stoker, and one on If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth. Writing instruction includes expository, narrative, and argumentative writing, as well as research methods and strategies, digital information and media literacy. Vocabulary development includes Greek and Latin roots in semester one and high frequency SAT vocabulary in semester two, as well as Academic Vocabulary review from freshmen year. Outside reading will focus on our diversity, equity and inclusion works from the CHS library.
Attendance: After the first three days of class, attendance will be taken by seating chart. For this reason, you
need to be in your assigned seat (not any seat at your group table, and not anywhere else). If you come tardy,
which is by the time you need to be in class, not by the bell (which is frequently inaccurate) you need to write you name in on the tardy sheet or you will remain marked absent. Students come and go continually during the period; it is not my job to watch for stragglers when I'm in the middle of instruction or to try and recall the names of the five students who came tardy and record it when there is a break in active instruction. If you want to be marked present, add your name to the tardy list when tardy and be in your assigned seat when class is supposed to begin.
Objectives: as a result of this course you will be able to:
Locate and Identify appropriate academic research sources.
Evaluate the credibility of sources.
Integrate academic sources into a cohesive argument.
Complete sustained research projects.
Effectively format a variety of writing including expository, narrative, and argumentative essays.
Effectively craft a logical thesis and series of supporting arguments.
Smoothly Integrate sources, both quoted and paraphrased, into your writing.
Develop claims and counterclaims fairly and logically.
Utilize transitions effectively to link areas of text.
Establish appropriate style and tone for audience and purpose.
Write conclusions that articulate implications and significance.
Use a disciplinary style guide (MLA).
Determine theme and central ideas of texts.
Analyze complex characters, their development, and their advancement of theme.
Compare and contrast works in different mediums.
Use analytical techniques to analyze literature and discover meaning.
Recognize Greek and Latin roots and their meanings, and use them to help determine meaning.
Recognize in reading and use in writing a wider vocabulary.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English.
Required Texts and Resources:
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. http://www.shakespeare-
online.com/plays/macbethscenes.html. Accessed August 2021.
Macbeth. Performances by Patrick Stewart, Kate Fleetwood.
2011.
Shakespeare, William. Sonnets. http://shakespeare.mit.edu/Poetry/sonnets.html.
Accessed August 2021.
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies.
http://kkoworld.com/kitablar/uilyam_qoldinq_milchekler_krali-eng.pdf. Accessed
August 2021.
Lord of the Flies. Directed by Harry Hook, performances by Balthazar Getty, Chris Furrh, 1990.
Stoker, Bram. Dracula. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/345/345-h/345-h.htm. Accessed
August 2021.
Dracula. Directed by Francis Ford Copolla, performances by Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, and
Anthony Hopkins, 1992.
Gansworth, Eric. If I Ever Get Out of Here. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013.
Ahmed, Saladin. “Dr. Diablo Goes Through the Motions.” Strange Horizons.
http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/doctor-diablo-goes-through-the-motions/. Accessed
August 2021.
Bear, Elizabeth. “Tideline.” https://bobson.ludost.net/hugoawardnominees/2008/tideline.html
Accessed August 2021.
Butler, Octavia. “Bloodchild.” Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/bloodchi.htm. Accessed August 2021.
Chiang, Ted. “The Great Silence.” Electric Literature. https://electricliterature.com/the-great-
silence-by-ted-chiang/. Accessed August 2021.
Jemison, N. K. “Valedictorian.” Lightspeed Magazine.
https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/valedictorian/. Accessed August 2021.
Jones, Stephen Graham. “Brushdogs.” Nightmare Magazine. http://www.nightmare-
magazine.com/fiction/brushdogs/. Accessed August 2021.
Liu, Ted. “Good Hunting, (part 1).” Strange Horizons. http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/good-
hunting-part-1-of-2/. Accessed August 2021.
Liu, Ted. “Good Hunting, (part 2).” Strange Horizons. http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/good-
hunting-part-2-of-2/. Accessed August 2021.
Roanhorse, Rebecca. “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience.” Apex Magazine.
https://apex-magazine.com/welcome-to-your-authentic-indian-experience/. Accessed
August 2021.
Royce, Eden. “Every Goodbye Ain’t Gone.” Strange Horizons.
http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/every-good-bye-aint-gone/. Accessed August 2021.
Sharma, Priya. “Crow Palace.” The Dark Magazine. https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/the-
crow-palace/. Accessed August 2021.
Turnull, Cadwell. “Jump.” Lightspeed Magazine.
https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/jump/. Accessed August 2021.
Vonnegut, Kurt. “Harrison Bergeron.” http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/harrison.html.
Accessed August 2021.
Harrison Bergeron. Directed by Bruce Pittman, performances by Sean Astin, Christopher
Plummer, Howie Mandel, 1995. Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBcpuBRUdNs. Accessed August 2021.
Yang, JY Neon. “Auspicium Melioris Aevi.” Uncanny.
https://uncannymagazine.com/article/auspicium-melioris-aevi/. Accessed August 2021.
Course Calendar:
August-September:
Media and Digital Literacy
Essay—researched argumentative
Lord of the Flies
Greek and Latin Roots/Vocabulary
October
Media and Digital Literacy
Greek and Latin Roots/Vocabulary
November
Essay--expository
Media and Digital Literacy
If I Ever Get Out of Here
Greek and Latin Roots
December
Media and Digital Literacy
Greek and Latin Roots
Outside reading: DEI Fiction, selection must be approved
January
Essay--narrative
Media and Digital Literacy
Dracula
Greek and Latin Roots
February
Media and Digital Literacy
High Frequency SAT Vocabulary
March
Essay—research/argumentative
Media and Digital Literacy
High Frequency SAT Vocabulary
April
Media and Digital Literacy
Macbeth
High Frequency SAT Vocabulary
May
Essay--expository
Media and Digital Literacy
High Frequency SAT Vocabulary
Outside Reading: DEI non-fiction
June
Media and Digital Literacy
High Frequency SAT Vocabulary
Exams: Expect an exam for each unit of study that will include quote identification, literary analysis, and author background.
Final exams each semester will include an essay component and a vocabulary component.