Syllabus

**  Linguistics, 19th and 20th Century Literature   ** **  Mr. Simmins   ** **  942-2999 Ext. 512  **     **  Web Sites Email Address  ** www.fairfieldcityschools.com simmins_c@fairfield-city.k12.oh.us     ** Parental/Student Introduction: **What would you say to a guy who has studied the literature of London at King’s College University, read poetry in John Keats’ living room, swam in the English Channel and Irish Sea, climbed Scotland’s legendary Arthur’s Seat mountain three times, followed in the footsteps of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, stood where Horatio Nelson was shot on HMS Victory and wept at his grave, scaled to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral dome, saw the opening performance in Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, partook in a street performance at Covent Garden, hiked in the Highlands of Scotland, traveled to the sight of William Wallace’s “freedom” speech from __Braveheart__, was personally invited by British troops to attend the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, explored Bunratty, Blarney, Caernarfon, Edinburgh, Tower of London, and Warwick castles, ate a pound of Haggis (sheep guts) just to show off, climbed Irish mountains in the Ring of Kerry and Glendalough, argued politics with unsavory British citizens, marched in 4th of July parades waving a British flag, boated up and down the Avon river in Stratford (the birthplace of Shakespeare), biked through the hills of Ireland, understands the rules of Cricket, cheers for England during the World Cup, new who Eddie the Eagle was, made one of Queen Elizabeth’s “silent” Royal Guards speak, “slam-danced” in the famed “Hippodrome” night club, demanded to get into Buckingham Palace to have tea with the queen only to be denied by two Bobbies, visited the graves of British soldiers killed at the Battle of Concord, and has dedicated his life to the acquisition of all knowledge that pertains to the empire that at one time the sun never set upon! Well, some may say, “you are a madman, obsessed and deranged Anglophile.” Many, I hope, wish to be taught. Others may ask, have you seen anything in the United States? Well, I have stood in the World Trade Centers and on the edge of its rubble, I have been to the crash site of Flight 93, our nation’s capital twice, and I have walked the deck of the USS Constitution. I have hiked from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the bottom and out the other side (a feat not accomplished by many). I have seen the Red Sox play at Fenway Park, ate pizza in Chicago, and sushi on the beach in New Jersey. I once traveled fifteen hours one way to Biloxi Mississippi to watch a minor league hockey game because the arena was on the beach-unfortunately hurricane Katrina destroyed it. I once drove 3,300 miles because I was depressed and didn’t want to teach anymore; however, after standing on a 14,000 foot mountain peak and talking to God, I came back to finish my work. After training on Tennessee’s 6,593 foot Mount LeConte, I have conquered Colorado’s Mount Elbert (14,433), Mount Bedford (14,197), La Plata (14,336), K2 on Capital Peak (13,800) and Long’s Peak (14,255). I have celebrated Canada Day in Halifax, Nova Scotia, bought a hockey jersey in Quebec City, seen the hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and am proud to be one of the few Americans that can find New Brunswick on a map. I pride myself on eating in bizarre greasy spoon restaurants on back road travels and can brag on navigating my way through a dinner for eleven at an all- French speaking restaurant that had a pile of manure at the front door. In the course of traveling to 37 of our 50 states, I have talked to many people, ate a myriad of food, driven 40,000 plus miles, touched innumerable historic sites, and learned a plethora of life shaping material. I have actually been to a city called St. Louis du Ha! Ha! And in the edited immortal words of John Paul Jones, “I have not yet begun to travel.” Oh, and I have lived in Texas! That means something to some people. ** Parental/Student Warning: **Being the world’s first Litorian, along with trying to become the smartest man on the planet-not to mention the Greatest Teacher since Aristotle, I hope to expose your child to more information in one ninety-minute period than he or she has been previously exposed to in his or her life. Many times my students go home and discuss for the first time with their parents issues that are political, sociological, philosophical, psychological, and literological. Parents often fear the worst-drugs, the occult, or alien abduction. However, fear not, if your child comes home and sounds intelligent, they are. It is all part of my plan. ** Course Description: ** This Literature class is a high-powered, energized, non-stop ride from the world of teenage nebula hopefully to teenage enlightenment. It is impossible to pass this class without an extreme amount of activity. Each student will be expected to maintain the pace set by the instructor. Students will be exposed to a rigorous campaign of linguistics, vocabulary, writing, and literature (which includes philosophy, history, psychology and sociology). If your student at any time tells you that he/she has no homework, please have them rethink his/her statement. There will be either a book, or project, quiz, or a test on the horizon. ** Material Needed: ** It is recommended that each student have a three-ring binder with pockets for this class. Each student must keep all material graded and returned to them until the end of semester. This serves two purposes: first, it is proof of grade in case of computer glitch or clerical error on instructor’s part. Secondly, every item discussed in class over the course of the semester is on the final exam. I am not particular on a notebook/folder; however, note taking is a weekly event and work is constant. ** Grading System: **The class has a simple point system, which ranges from 25 points to 500 points. Homework and participation grades are worth 25, quizzes 50, test between 200-300 points, and finally projects-ranging from 100-500 points depending on workload. Students will receive 4-6 grades per week; attendance is vital. ** Parents! ** Your student will have his/her grades posted on-line daily. You can follow his/her progress constantly. Feel free to email me anytime concerning anything. ** Field Trip Policy: ** If failing, no permission shall be granted to attend. ** Discipline: ** I should not have to discipline these soon to be adults. Since they are only a few weeks away from graduation and adulthood and possibly college, now would be a good time to start being responsible. ** School Agenda: ** This is your tax dollars at work. All of my students will be required to have their agendas for class, and they will NOT be allowed outside of my room without it. They need to use the agenda for it prepares them for our hectic American Capitalistic Way of life. If they want to herd reindeer in Siberia for a career the agenda use may be superfluous. Use it! I give three passes a semester with extra credit granted on exam day for any that is not used. By possessing the brain the size of a planet and delivering fountains of life saving information for ninety minutes every class all with my charming, irreverent humor, I am befuddled why anyone would want to leave my class, but sometimes it happens. ** Parental Contact: ** I have an email address and a web page. I answer email once, if not twice a day. If you are concerned about your child I encourage email, and if the Internet is unavailable feel free to send a note or give me a phone call. Email is the most convenient, for both parties do not have to be available at the same time to communicate. My students always know their grades. I believe the parent and the student should always know where they stand. ** Scope of Material: ** This is a college preparatory class. Your child will learn the history of the English language. Along with the subject of linguistics, your student will be exposed to the evolution of language and writing. The literature that will be covered will span the annals of time. It will range from the language of // Beowulf and Canterbury Tales // all the way up to 20th Century Science Fiction. Along with these studies, students will be exposed and expected to imitate various forms of writing. And, just when I think they are about to snap under the strain of this educational typhoon, I will unleash a research project. Though I have high expectations, all students can pass this course with diligent effort. The main focus outside linguistics will be the late 19th century and early 20th century literature. For my students that are not planning on college, all the material involved including the literature has been picked for relevance in the “real” world. ** Classroom Procedures: **From the time class begins until the final bell rings students will get 90 straight minutes of instruction. There is no “free time” or “study hall” or my favorite request “free day.” I will talk or guide or instruct the entire class, and many times I will follow them out of the room shouting some bit of information until they are out of sight. I am just that crazy. ** Novels Pool-all books read will need to be purchased:  ** 19th Century __Dracula__ by Bram Stoker – possible __Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde__ by Robert Louis Stevenson __Time Machine__ by H.G. Wells __Around the World in 80 Days__ by Jules Verne __The Sleeper Awakes__ by H.G. Wells 20th Century __Brave New World__ by Aldous Huxley __Fahrenheit 451__ by Ray Bradbury __I, Robot__ by Isaac Asimov __Starship Troopers__ by Robert A Heinlein __Ender’s Game__ by Orson Scott Card __Earth Abides__ by George R Stewart __Flowers for Algernon__ by Daniel Keyes ** Warning ** In the process of developing literature’s greatest class, saving the world, solving Earth’s problems, becoming a mountain climber and pseudo astronomer, and maintaining my secret identity, I sometimes have a mental lapse between my frontal lobe and typing hand. Any typo must be construed as purposeful, a faux pas, or God’s will. I am partial to the latter. __________________________________________________________________ (Student Signature) __________________________________________________________________(Parent Signature) ** I hope you enjoyed the read; it was meant for levity. **
 * Futuristic Literature and Linguistics  **