Topic outline

  • Course Information

    English 12 Q1

    “To be or not to be?” Is it the “best of times” or the “worst of times”? Explore these famous questions and more in English 12. This course focuses on British literature in all of its genres: drama, poetry, the novel, short story, and nonfiction literary and informational texts. Students will also apply timeless conversations to our modern world through scholarly research and writing about current issues. Critical reading, analysis, writing, and speaking will cover the core curriculum requirements. In addition to mastering the standard core, our students will employ the latest technological tools to communicate and collaborate, and create professional, creative projects. Emphasis will be placed on skills that will be critical to a successful transition to college and beyond.


    Creative Commons License
    English 12 course materials created by the Open High School of Utah are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. This course contains open educational resources produced by other organizations which may use a different open license. Please confirm the license status of these third-party resources before reusing them. See OpenCourseWare for additional information about licensing.

    • English 12 Q1 Common Cartridge 1.1 Course File
    • English 12 Q1 Moodle Course File

  • Week 1

    • Welcome to English 12

    • CLASS GLOSSARY: Key Terms
    • PRINT: The Merchant of Venice Page

    • Important Course Information

    • How to Succeed in English 12

    • WATCH: How to Succeed in English 12 URL

    • Get Ready to Read!

    • Any Questions?

  • Week 2

    • Introduction to Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice: Act 1


      From the Folger Shakespeare Collection: http://luna.folger.edu/luna/servlet/detail/FOLGERCM1~6~6~352552~129655?sort=Call_Number%2CAuthor%2CCD_Title%2CImprint&qvq=q:merchant%2Bof%2Bvenice;sort:Call_Number%2CAuthor%2CCD_Title%2CImprint;lc:FOLGERCM1~6~6&mi=14&trs=1129

    • Before you Read The Merchant of Venice

    • Begin Reading The Merchant of Venice

    • READ: Context for Merchant of Venice Page
    • WATCH: Plot of Merchant of Venice Page
    • PRACTICE QUIZ: Plot of Merchant of Venice Page

    • Writing About Literature Review and Quiz

    • PRINT: Writing About Literature File

    • Fun with Shakespearean Language and Grammar/Usage Review

    • WATCH: Grammar Review: Subjects and Verbs URL
    • WATCH: Usage Review: There, Their, They're URL

    • Week 2 Quiz

  • Week 3

    • Images, Assumptions, Anti-Semitism: Acts 2-3 of The Merchant of Venice

      Folger Shakespeare Library ART Box B919 no. 16

    • Journal and Reading/Listening

    • Themes in The Merchant of Venice

    • READ: Themes in Merchant of Venice Page

    • Shylock and Anti-Semitism

    • VIEW and READ: Images of Shylock Page
    • READ: "The Historie of Foure-footed Beasts" Page

    • Responding to Essay Prompts

    • WATCH: A Focused Response To Literature URL
    • ANSWER: Presentation Questionnaire Page

    • Grammar Review and Week 3 Quiz

    • WATCH: Grammar Review: Subject/Verb Agreement URL
    • PRINT: Thesis Statement Checklist URL

  • Week 4

    • Portia and Poetic Meter: Act 4 of The Merchant of Venice


      From Folger Shakespeare Collection: ART Box W951.5 no. 6

    • Journal and Reading

    • Poetic Meter

    • WATCH: Poetic Meter URL

    • Portia and Shylock Reading and Discussion

    • READ: "Portia and Shylock: Outsiders of Venice" URL

    • Grammar and Writing Review and Weekly Quiz

    • WATCH: Grammar Review--Verb Shifts URL
    • WATCH: Usage Review: Its/It's/Your/You're URL

    • Shakespeare Performance Assignment

  • Week 5

    • Shakespeare on the Big Screen: Comparing Film Versions of The Merchant of Venice


      From the Folger Shakespeare Collection: "The Graphic Gallery of Shakespeare's Heroines." 1896. Call # ART Flat a24

    • Journal

    • Reading, Review, and Merchant of Venice Quiz

    • LISTEN and READ: The Merchant of Venice Act 5 Page
    • READ: Analysis of Scene V URL
    • READ: Plot Review of Merchant of Venice Page
    • READ: Dramatic Effects in Merchant of Venice Page
    • PRACTICE QUIZ: Dramatic Effect in Merchant of Venice Page
    • QUESTIONNAIRE: Overall Opinion of The Merchant of Venice Page

    • Film Comparison Background, Forum, and Assignment

    • READ BEFORE YOU WATCH: Background on Film Comparison Page

  • Week 6

    • Writing About The Merchant of Venice


      Droeshout, Martin, b. 1601, …[Portrait of Shakespeare]1632ART Box D783 no. 2

    • Journal and Comedy vs. Tragedy Discussion

    • WATCH: Comedy or Tragedy? URL

    • Introduction to Essay Assignment and Thesis

    • READ and COMPLETE: Essay Assignment Worksheet Page
    • READ: Resource on Argumentative Thesis Statements Page

    • Essay Outline

    • RESOURCE: Creating an Effective Outline Page

    • Grammar Review

    • WATCH: Run-on Sentences URL
    • PRACTICE: Comma Splices and Run-on Sentences Page

  • Week 7

    • Wrap Up Your Writing: Revise and Submit Your Shakespeare Essay

    • Essay Instruction, Drafting, and Essay Self-Evaluation

    • WATCH: How to Write an Essay URL
    • ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS: Formatting your Essay Page
    • RESOURCE: Transitions Handout Page

    • Peer Editing

    • Final Essay and Unit Evaluation

    • PARTICIPATE: Class KWL for The Merchant of Venice Page

  • Week 8

    • Early Arguments for Equality: Mary Wollstonecraft and A Vindication of the Rights of Women

    • Introduction to Denotation, Connotation, and the Importance of Language

    • Fairy Tale Women and Gender Roles

    • WATCH: Snow White Page

    • Mary Wollstonecraft and A Vindication of the Rights of Women

    • WATCH: Mary Wollstonecraft and A Vindication of the Rights of Women Page
    • READ: Excerpts from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Page

    • Gender Roles Discussion

    • Language Review

    • WATCH: Slang and Cliche URL
    • WATCH: Fixing Sentence Fragments URL
    • PRACTICE QUIZ: Sentence Fragments Page

  • Week 9

    • Pride and Prejudice: A Look at Argumentation in this "Novel of Manners"

    • Survey and Journal

    • PEER EDITING SURVEY Page

    • Introduction to Pride and Prejudice

    • READ: Context of Pride and Prejudice URL
    • WATCH: Plot of Pride and Prejudice URL
    • READ: Themes in Pride and Prejudice URL

    • Pride and Prejudice Reading and Assignment

    • READ: Pride and Predjudice Chapters I and IVX Page
    • WATCH: Opening Scene of Pride and Prejudice Page
    • WATCH: Mr. Collins' Proposal Page

    • Preparation for the Final Essay Exam

    • READ: How to Write a Compare/Contrast Essay URL

  • Week 10

    • Comparing Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft

    • Final Essay: Comparing Mary Wollstonecraft and Jane Austen

    • REVIEW: Compare/Contrast Essays URL