English 12: Rethinking our World and Roles as Global Citizens



English 12: Rethinking our World and our Global Citizenship

Curriculum Overview

Unit 1 (6 weeks)

Theme = Voices from the Middle: Embracing new perspectives, values, and compassion.

Essential Questions: How can we define the Flat World? What are the implications of globalization on the world – and more specifically the Middle East? What is my role in understanding the current conflict in the Middle East? In what ways am I connected to the Flat World community?

Non-fiction Literature: Selections from The World is Flat by Friedman

• Chapter One: While I was Sleeping

• “11/9 vs. 9/11: The Curse of Oil” (626-629)

• “The Unflat World: Too Frustrated” (555-570)

• “Flattener #2: The New Age of Connectivity: When the Web Went Around and Netscape Went Public” (60-77)

• “Flattener #4: Uploading: Harnessing the Power of Communities” (93-126)

• “Flattener #9: In-Forming Goodle, Yahoo!, MSN Web Search

“Colonialism: The Building Blocks”

“The Coming of the Pink Cheeks” by Chief Kabongo

Baghdad Burning by Riverbend

Student-selected current events

Poetry: Student-selected poetry, centering on the theme of voices from the Middle East

Fiction: Student-selected novels – voices from the Middle East; excerpts from Contemporary Iraqi Fiction

Developed Writings: Autobiographical blog-writing; one polished autobiographical piece; literary letter / book review; editorial.

Writing Skills: A variety of mini-lessons focusing on grammar and punctuation (colons, semi-colons, end punctuation…etc). The study and use of abstract vs. concrete language; parallel structure; five brushstrokes; Bear Words.

Technology Component: Website navigation; Website and Blog: creation and navigation; Pod-casting (Listening and Creating)

Teacher Resources: Teaching Literature of Today’s Middle East by Allen Webb; Image Grammar by Noden; Literature and the Web by Allen Webb; Contemporary Iraqi Fiction; Rethinking Globalization: Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World edited by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson

Unit 2 (12 Weeks)

Theme = My Flat World Dream: Embracing integrity, innovation, and individualism.

Essential Questions: What leadership qualities will I need to take with me from high school? What qualities define a good world citizen? How can I create the world I want to live in? How can I use my talents to create new opportunities for myself and for others? How do I know if I am developing the academic skills that I will need in my future life? How do I become “untouchable?’

Genre Study: The Art of Fiction

Non-Fiction Literature: Selections from the World is Flat

• “Flattener 5: Outsourcing”

• “The Untouchables: Finding the New Middle” (276-308)

• “The Right Stuff: Tubas and Test Tubes” (308-336)

Donald Murray’s Why I Write.

Fiction Literature: The Metamorphosis, Kafka; Selections of Sudden Fiction; Selections of short stories from India and China; Student-selected novels within a subgenre of fiction.

Poetry: Selections of poetry centering on the themes of individuality and community, such as Richard Wilbur’s The Writer; Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s Constantly Risking Absurdity; Yevtushenko’s People

Film: Clips from 2 Million Minutes

Developed Writings: Multi-genre portfolio: One drafted novella; process essay; 3-4 polished poems; multi-media component.

Writing Skills: The study and use of specific poetic devices and techniques (enjambment, juxtaposition / reversal / epiphany/ alliteration / repetition for effect); Developing a scene (character’s goal, conflict, dilemma); the study of and practice using the elements of fiction (plot, sub plot, exposition, rising action, climax, falling action); development of protagonist and antagonist (external and internal); creation of mood and tone.

Technology Component: Website navigation (uploading, networking, blogging, finding information – NaNoWriMo); movie-making technology (Animoto / I-movie)

Unit 3 (9 Weeks)

Theme = Shared Leadership: The Responsibility of the Electorate and The Resilience against Apathy

Essential Questions: How do I stay an informed citizen? What are my responsibilities as a governing person? How does globalization affect culture and values? How do I define my culture? How do I become an activist for change?

Genre Study: Literary Non-Fiction and documentary film.

Non-Fiction Literature: Selections from The World is Flat by Friedman

• “Globalization of the Local: The Cultural Revolution is About to Begin” (477-488)

• “If It’s Not Happening, It’s Because You’re Not Doing It” (489-514)

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser; related articles from Rethinking Globalization: Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World.

Fiction: The Jungle Upton Sinclair

Film: Clips from Capitalism: A Love Story; Super Size Me; Food Inc.

Projects: The Introduction of the Senior Service Project

Developed Writings: Collaborative Analysis of rhetorical devices in documentary film; 2-3-page research paper (as a form of inquiry through literary non-fiction); drafted and revised Senior Service Project proposals; 1-2 drafted and revised business letters.

Writing Skills: Studying and using the formalities of technical writing (useful phrases/ transitions, / specificity / specific organization); In-text citations in MLA format; studying and writing with effective rhetorical devices (ethos, pathos, logos); development of an argument (organizational patterns of literary non-fiction); crating voice-filled introductions, body, and conclusions in expository writing.

Technology Component: Reading Literature in digital form; collaborative writing on Google Documents; Presentation tools (Prezi, Glogster..etc); Video Conferencing.

Unit 4 (9 Weeks)

Theme = Social Responsibility: Redefining the American Dream in a Global Context

Essential Questions: What responsibilities do I have to society? How can I effectively articulate my opinions and perspectives? What leadership qualities have I developed? How can I create the world I want to live in? How can I make an important contribution to the world? How do I now understand our world in the 21st century?

Non-Fiction Literature: Selections from The World is Flat

• “Developing Countries and the Flat World” (403 – 437)

Selected Articles from Rethinking Globalization: Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World.

Literature: Multi-genre literature circles: student-selected literature in the form of novels, poems, short stories, and non-fiction that complement the theme of the quarter (Third World Literature and Social Justice) and their project; suggested titles by the teacher for Third World literature.

Film: The Invisible Children

Speaking: A Formal Presentation for the Senior Service Projects

Developed Writings / Projects: Seniors will complete a Senior Service Project, incorporating the developed writings from the previous quarter in addition to writing in presentation format; drafted, revised, polished and published website, displaying the Senior Service Project and the complementary literature (Review of self-selected literature…etc.); Students will display their literature circle formal completion.

Writing Skills: Please see the list from quarter 3; continued focus on individualized grammar and mechanics issues.

Technology Component: Quality Research using credible websites and databases; blogging; classroom instant chatting; podcasting; website creation as portfolio; recursive use of other technologies presented in past units.

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