Guardians of Society: High School English Language Arts & Composition (Semester)

*This is a full curriculum ELA course aligned with common core standards. This course includes homework and a grade is provided.
**Three optional 20-minute 1:1 sessions are included.

It is easy to identify a problem. Real heroes solve them. This class is a lot more than just reading about superheroes. It is more than just doing an in-depth study of a graphic novel. Students will use graphic novels and superheroes as a vehicle to understanding society as a whole.  Yes, we will read graphic novels and analyze them through a literary lens, but we will also examine philosophy, history, and social values. Students will engage in active discussions as we explore individual roles within society, common perception, the power of media, and the nature of government.  Students will address current problems within society as they collaborate to form arguments and write persuasive essays and speeches that present causal argumentation combined with a proposed solution.   

This full curriculum ELA course offers an alternative to traditional English courses.  Students will read three graphic novels along with additional supplemental sources to develop a higher understanding of literary analysis and society as a whole. Students will learn and explore typical literary techniques such as plot development, characterization, setting, theme, symbolism, motif, and other literary devices; however, there learning experience will go far beyond basic literary analysis. Students will also learn and explore history as they develop an understanding of Moore’s alternate history found in the text. Students will examine artistic concepts, juxtaposition and allusion, and how these literary devices add greater meaning to the work as a whole.  Students will learn about personal and political philosophies as they examine and question the roles of individuals within society as well as the role of government. This will be enhanced even further through in-depth studies of a variety of philosophical theories, ethical questions, and an exploration of gender roles race, stereotypes as students examine elements within the text, history, and modern societal conventions. 

While "The Watchmen" will serve as our primary source, we will also read two other graphic novels, "Superman Birthright" and "The Killing Joke," watch episodes of "The West Wing" and "The Newsroom," watch the films "Superman," "V. for Venetta," and "The Fountainhead," and incorporate addition smaller sources from essays, speeches, poetry, and more. 

This class will blend short lectures with in-depth discussion as students will synthesize information from a variety of sources to formulate, plan, and complete an extensive and persuasive essay on a social issue of their choice.  Essays will identify a major problem in contemporary society, identify its causes, then promote a solution.   

This course will include a variety of subjective viewpoints and opinions; however, it is not the role of the teacher to promote any viewpoint or opinion as truth, nor in any way better than any other.  The teacher’s role is to provide information and facilitate discussion so that students may formulate and support their own opinions.  The teacher will serve to help illustrate and explain the views of the authors read, but this does not mean that the author’s views are the most ideal. At times the teacher will serve as devil’s advocate, arguing for the other side, but this is done to promote discussion and thought, allowing students to see all sides of an argument, and is in no way an attempt to convey belief or persuade students into a particular line of thinking.

Students will be provided with a writing module packet that will be completed throughout the course.  Assignments and tasks within the packet will be completed both in class and for homework.  The purpose of this packet is to provide students with source material and independent analysis to prepare for their final essay.


Sources
Given the depth and wide encompassing nature of The Watchmen, it will serve as our primary source and vehicle for this course; however, this course will also include additional source material, including, but not limited to: excerpts from nonfiction documents, philosophical theory, and film, quotations, poetry, music, and more.

Required
Superman Birthright, Mark Waid (a graphic novel)
Superman (1978 Film)
The Watchmen, Alan Moore
The Fountainhead (1948 film or 1943 Novel by Ayn Rand)
V For Vendetta (2005 Film)
The West Wing (1999-2006 television series, at least the first 2 episodes)
The Newsroom (2012-2014 HBO television series, at least the first 2 episodes)

Also Suggested
Watchmen (2019 HBO television series)
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964 Film)
The Hunt for Red October (1990 film)
M*A*S*H*(1972-1983 television series)


Writing
In this course, students will complete a variety of short writing tasks as they complete their writing module.  Students will also be asked to complete three “MADE” writing tasks each week. In addition, students will write and submit four essays, with the final essay being presented as a speech. 

MADEs
Students will be provided a quotation.  Students will copy the quotation by hand.  They will then explain what the quotation means in their own word (M), whether they agree or disagree and why (A/D), and provide evidence and examples to support their opinion (E). These should be done as daily practice and not all completed on the same day.  Students are encouraged to find additional quotations so that they can do one MADE every day.


Essay 1
The first essay is due on the first day of class or within 48 hours of the first session.  Students will be provided with three essay topics to choose from.  Students will be expected to time themselves, and complete a handwritten essay on the topic of their choice.  Students are expected to complete the essay within 60 minutes.  If a student is unable to complete the essay within that time, they should submit what they have written, regardless of completion.  This first writing essay is evaluated as an assessment.  The teacher is not concerned with perfection or completion, but rather is looking to assess individual students’ writing ability.  This essay will also serve as a comparison point at the end of the course to evaluate student progression.

Essay 2: Literary analysis
Students will be provided with instruction and guidance on how to write a literary analysis essay.  This essay will be assigned as homework and once again, students are expected to time themselves and write their essay by hand. 

Essay 3: value essay
Students will learn how to write an essay based on values. This essay will be typed and submitted as a final draft, 4-5 pages, double spaced.

Essay 4: persuasive speech
The final essay is an extensive writing project in final draft form.  Essays will be presented as a speech of 7-10 minutes long, and will include a typed submission. This is the culminating writing project of the course.  This is what the writing module is preparing students to accomplish. At the conclusion of the speech, students will face their peers, as they are challenged with questions and need to defend their position.

Homework
The primary homework of this course will be reading the graphic novels and watching the designated films.  The four essays will also be assigned as homework; however, the first essay should be written before the course begins or within 48 hours. In addition, students will be asked to complete tasks within the writing module.

Grading:
All students will receive a grade in this course. Grades will be done using the 5-point system. Essays will be graded based of the AP Rubric, then converted to a 5-point score. Assignments will be weighted differently. Detailed information will be provided explaining the grading system at the beginning of the course.


Course Outline

Typical lesson structure: lessons will consist of a combination of mini lecture and discussion on the designated topic identified below.  Students will then complete tasks within the writing module under guidance from the teacher.  These tasks will consist of exercises that relate to the graphic novel directly, the class discussion, and/or a specific writing skill.  This is a tentative outline and is subject to change.

Before the first class: 
Complete and submit timed essay.

Lesson 1
An introduction to graphic novels
How to read graphic novels
Close reading and annotation 
Course expectations
The Traditional Hero: 
HW: Read "Superman Birthright"
Watch "Superman"

Lesson 2
Discussion and analysis of "Superman Birthright"
HW: Read "The Killing Joke"

Lesson 3
Discussion and analysis of "The Killing Joke"
Homework: Independent research on the Cold War, World War II, and the Vietnam Conflict

Lesson 4
About Alan Moore
Pre-reading discussion and anticipation questions
Review the Cold War
HW: Begin Reading The Watchmen
Essay 2

Lesson 5
Allusion and music in The Watchmen
Homework: Continue reading

Lesson 6
Artistic concepts and visual symbolism
Discussion of archetypes
Homework: continue Reading

Lesson 7
Juxtaposition
The Comic within the comic
Multimedia
Homework: Finish reading
Watch "The Fountainhead"

Lesson 8
Discussion of Philosophy: individual vs society, social contracts, objectivism
Homework: watch "The West Wing"

Lesson 9
The role of the government
Watch "The Newsroom"

Lesson 10
The media in modern society
HW: Essay 3

Lesson 11
Gender and race in The Watchmen, history, and modern society
Homework: read "The Question"

Lesson 12
Superheroes vs law enforcement
Individual vs Government
Homework: watch "V fo Vendetta"

Lesson 13
Discussion and Analysis : "V for Vendetta"

Lesson 14
Understand revolution
How to start a movement

Lesson 15
Final essay planning and organization
Homework: Major synthesis and persuasive essay (persuasive speaking/ original oratory)

Lesson 16
Final presentations


Office hours
The teacher will always be available via messaging and will typically respond within 24 hours. Please note that Sunday and Monday PST are my designated days off and this could delay a response.  Regular office hours (1:1 sessions) will be posted and scheduled at the beginning of the course. This course includes 3 optional 1:1, 20-minute sessions at no additional cost (one session during weeks 1-4, 4-6, and 6-8), during scheduled hours. Additional times may be made at mutual convenience if available.