3 M 8 Course Overview
Reading
Reading
is challenging and will serve to develop your understanding of
British&American literature and culture, as well as to strengthen
your comprehension, analysis, and interpretation. This year will
focus on essay writing. Topics and issues from the studied works will
enable you to write essays in which you will show your analytical
skills.
We
will start with The Bluest Eye1
by Nobel Prize African-American writer Toni Morrison, one among the
first black women to teach at University in America in the 70's. In
this brilliant novel, a favourite of mine, Toni Morrison questions
the ideal of beauty through the story of two black families, whose
fates are intertwined in the most subtle jigsaw-like narrative, the
puzzle is yours to solve. This work will enable you to do some
research work on the background of the US just after WWII and address
the major social and racial issues of these times. The film “Rosa
Parks' story” will introduce you to the context of the Civil Rights
Movement in the US.
Introducing Shakespeare with Shakespeare in Love : watch the trailer
We
will go on with Shakespeare's
Macbeth2
: by way of introduction, we will study some of the most famous
Shakespearian sonnets so that you get familiar with his language. The
tragedy of Macbeth will allow you to practice close text analysis and
spot figures of speech by the scores. Acting out several scenes of
Macbeth will guarantee us more than our share of fun in class. The
edition chosen, No
Fear Shakespeare, gives you the complete text of Macbeth on
the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand
translation on the right.
Polanski's excellent film will highlight the power of this
masterpiece.
Speaking
Oral
expression is worth a good deal of the exam, therefore a strong
priority will be given to oral presentations to the class, grammar or
vocabulary topic-based role-plays or other research work. We will
spend most of our half-class periods analysing and commenting
newspaper and magazine articles, as well as literary extracts, either
individually, in pairs or in groups, debate-style when appropriate .
These
practice exercises will prepare you for your individual
oral exam, which will
last 15 minutes (10 minutes presentation, 5 minutes conversation with
teacher/expert). You
will be given 30 minutes preparation. You will deal with an unknown
text, similar to the ones practised all year long, either a literary
extract or a newspaper article, it's up to you, but you must make up
your mind a few weeks before the exam.
Writing
Your
skills will be evaluated in all essays including passage analysis (
~half grammar/half contents) as well as in the proficiency of your
argumentative writing, which you will practice in relation with the
main issues the novels deal with. Of course most routine assignments
are also ways for you to master and improve your ability to compose
insightful, articulate and quality texts.
The
written literary exam will consist of an essay based on
topics chosen from the books we will have read by June 2015. You will
be allowed to choose one topic out of two and will dispose of 2 1/2
hours to do it. A minimum of 500
words is expected.
Take
every opportunity to express your writing skills during the regular
assignments I give you in parallel with the reading work.
Grammar3
Your
third year in high school will be mostly devoted to revisions, as we
have already covered most of the grammar topics you should master for
the written grammar exam. ( MCQ).
If
there's anything you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask
questions, even elementary ones especially when revising ! I'll
always be ready to explain again.
Vocabulary4
Your
proficiency in English during the written as well as the oral
activities will rely greatly on you mastering the words of the
Bescherelle vocabulary book. On top of the final chapters to be
covered (33-50), emphasis will be given on phrasal and irregular
verbs
- you can't do without them, so be prepared !
- you can't do without them, so be prepared !
Listening
Expect
quite a few listening exercises and tests , for instance from the
BBC, during this school year as a listening comprehension will be
included in your final exam. Your listening comprehension exam will
take place in early June. Watching films like Rosa Parks' story,
“Shakespeare in Love” which will introduce you to the Elizabethan
era, and R. Polanski’s “Macbeth” in their original version
will challenge your listening and understanding skills. Mind you, the
oral comprehension exam will be audio only.
Reading
Comprehension will be tested in
your final exam, on one or
two unknown text (~2000
words) on social issues. It is worth 40% of the written exam and is
made up of True/False questions, titles to give, short answers to
provide, a,s.o, similar to the ones done in class.
Tests
and marks
Vocabulary
tests will be grouped in a pack of 9 and their average multiplied
by 3 will give you 3 full marks, each one equivalent to any other
mark you will get in grammar, reading comprehension, ... . As you
will have at least one more test than the 9 required ones, you will
be allowed to leave out the worst mark at the end of the school
year, provided you have attended all tests. If you miss one
vocabulary test, every mark will count. If you miss more than one
test, then you will have to redo it in class, provided your excuse
has been accepted as valid.
In
addition to the vocabulary tests mentioned above, expect about 2-3
tests in each skill (use of English/Grammar,
reading comprehension, writing, speaking and listening).
Internet.
Most
of major documents or
assignments are to be found on my personal website5
or on the English
Department's6
for instance if you are looking for
exams guidelines, a “séjour
linguistique” , an exchange program for next year, a gap year in
Australia or more general help (grammar exercises, on line listening
activities …). Besides
you always have the
opportunity to contact me by e-maill7.
Teacher’s
word
Please
be sure to come to class prepared (which means with exercises done
and chapters read), with your notebooks, books, cell phones off and
an open mind.
If
you find yourself in trouble, academically or otherwise, please come
and see me sooner rather than later. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
I will make time to see you one-on-one.
I
hope this year will bring you a most fulfilling time and lead you
to successful exams!
Martine
Guignard
1
Toni Morrison: The Bluest Eye, Vintage Books, 2007
2
No Fear Shakespeare:
Macbeth, April 2003
3
T.Spencer: The Golden Grammar Book, third edition (2004)
4
Bescherelle anglais: le vocabulaire, edition Hatier, juin 2008
www. bescherelle.com
5
http://mguignardwebsite.blogspot.ch click on Documents to access important files
7
martine.guignardschneider@vd.educanet2.ch
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