Mr. Brian Murphy is a member of the St. John's English Studies Department. He is also the Head Varsity Hockey Coach. Mr. Murphy started teaching and coaching at Saint John's in 1982.He graduated from Merrimack College in 1978 with a Political Science Degree and was the captain of the 1978 NCAA Div.II ice hockey champions. Mr. Murphy earned a Masters Degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English from Worcester State College in 1988. Mr. Murphy lives in Rochdale with his wife Eileen and his 3 children , Jack SJ '11, daughter Nora and son Vincent SJ' 16
Courses taught:
St. John’s High School English I Syllabus
Instructor : Mr. Murphy
Textbooks : Holt Handbook- Grammar (Purple)
Prentice-Hall Literature (Green)
Vocabulary for the college student (Green)
Outside Readings : The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Materials : Separate English notebook *(grouped according to discipline)
*Grammar w/ Grammar, Literature w/Literature etc.
Notes should be taken in pen
Ruler Red Pen Hi-liter
Homework : English homework will be assigned approximately 9 out of 10 evenings.
Usually 1 night off every 2 weeks.
Assignments will usually take up to 30 minutes per evening
Assignments will consist of written work and study materials from the textbooks, written assignments from the teacher, reviewing of relevant materials , vocabulary study (5words per evening Monday thru Thursday)
Weekly Schedule : Monday : New vocabulary is introduced & work is assigned
(20 words per week from Vocabulary book)
New material will be introduced
Tuesday: Work is assigned from grammar,literature or outside readings
Wednesday : English Test day (relevant to current study)
*Timely corrections can usually be made to improve score
Thursday : Work assigned from grammar,literature , or outside readings
Friday : Weekly vocabulary quiz (matching 10 words) & work is assigned
Quarterly Schedule :
Quarter 1 : Summer Reading Review
Introduction to Grammar Chapters 1-4 in Holt
Vocabulary study 20 words on Mon. Quiz on Fri.
Quarter 2 : Introduction to Literature – Short Stories
Continuation of Grammar study Chapters 5-8 in Holt
Outside Reading – The Moon is Down
Vocabulary study 20 words on Mon. Quiz on Fri.
Quarter 3 : Introduction to Poetry
Outside Reading – The Old Man and the Sea
Introduction to The Odyssey
Vocabulary Study 20 words on Mon. Quiz on Fri.
Quarter 4 : Introduction to Drama - “The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet”
Introduction to the Novel – Great Expectations
Vocabulary Study 20 words on Mon. Quiz on Fri.
Assessment : Weekly vocabulary quizzes = 20 % of grade
Tests , homework and presentations = 70 % of grade
Class participation and effort = 10 % of grade
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St. John’s High School Syllabus
English III
Instructor: Mr. Murphy, Room 207
Textbooks: Prentice Hall Literature Volume I
Baron’s SAT
Outside Readings: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Materials: Separate English Notebook (grouped according to discipline)
Notes should be taken in pen
Red Pen
Hi-liter
Homework: English homework will be assigned 9 out of 10 evenings
Usually 1 night off every 2 weeks
Assignments will usually take up to 30 minutes per evening
Assignments will consist of written work , study materials and
Readings from the textbooks
Writing prompts and assignments from the instructor
Vocabulary Study
Weekly Schedule:
Monday: New vocabulary is introduced & work is assigned
Tuesday: Work is assigned from the text or outside readings
Wednesday: English test day,writing prompts are introduced
Thursday: Work is assigned from the text, SAT practice tests
Friday: Weekly vocabulary quiz (15 matching 10 fill-ins)
Quarterly Schedule: Quarter 1 Summer Reading Review
Introduction to American Literature
Baron’s SAT Vocabulary, Practice Tests & Writing
Quarter 2 Continuation of American Literature
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Baron’s SAT Vocabulary, Practice Tests & Writing
Quarter 3 Introduction of American Poetry
Baron’s SAT Vocabulary, Practice Tests & Writing
Quarter 4 Continuation of American Literature
The Great Gatsby
Baron’s SAT Vocabulary, Practice Tests & Writing
Assessment: Weekly vocabulary quizzes = 20 % of grade
Tests, Homeworks,Presentations = 70 % of grade
Class Participation & Effort = 10 % of grade