Welcome to English!

Welcome to English!  

NOTE: AS OF THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR, THIS WEBSITE IS NO LONGER BEING USED OR UPDATED.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONSULT THE SITE FOR RESOURCES IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

Queen Elizabeth I

  Hi!       

 This website is intended to be a major resource to all my students in either Modern Literature or English Literature. Want to know what we’re reading or what we’re discussing? Your first stop should be the homepage for your particular class: Modern or English. If you’re curious about the course policies — that is, how much the final will be worth, what happens if you’re absent, whether I give extra credit — please check out the course expectations for your Modern Literature or English Literature class.        

How can I find out what we’re reading in your class?   
 
 In both classes, we’re going (basically) in chronological order, though this is more important for English literature, which covers a much wider time span. Wonder what we’re reading? Well, that’s pretty easy to find out. From my homepage, click the drop-down menu for your particular class and click on the unit title — for example, Old English , the first unit for English literature, or Early Modern Poetry, our first unit for modern literature.     

  I understand there will be independent reading and memorization?    Yes, indeedy!      

Do I really have to read all of that?
Well, yes and no.  It depends.  In each unit, I’ve given a list of background readings, literature readings, independent reading, and resources. Basically, unless I have specifically designated a background reading, literature reading, independent reading, or resource as “optional,” please do assume that you are responsible for reading the work, seeing the video, trying the interactive thingamabob, or using the resource (depending on the activity or resource in question). Please don’t say, in a moment of desperation, “But Ms. Burke, you never said I had to read the background, analyze the poem, or watch the video!” Yo. I just now did. ;-).  The very worst, most dreadful thing that can  happen to you if you DO end up watching/reading/using a resource I didn’t specifically require is that (gasp!) you end up with more knowledge! 😀     

What else is there?          

Explore around — you’ll find not only a breakdown of all your reading assignments by unit, but also a host of other useful resources including a list of all literary terms and helpful writing tips. The site is constantly being developed, so please check back frequently.         

  Hey, here are some helpful links for you to the pretests for English Literature and Modern Literature.  VERY helpful to look at before the midterm and final!     

 Just for fun, check out some of the cool videos on the Vodpod links! See a five-year-old beat a senior in spelling, a modern scop recite the opening lines to Beowulf, or check out what happens to our perception of meaning when you completely change an author’s tone…and more.          I have a question…          

 If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at burkerv@interact.ccsd.net or at burke@inbox.com !    Please include your email in the body of the message.