Download Course Expectations

American Literature Honors
Course Expectations
Grade 11
I.
Course Description:
This course is a study of the writing of American Literature from as early as Native-American to the contemporary
society, emphasizing the various genres in fiction and non-fiction, including essays, short stories, novels, poetry, and
drama. Additionally, emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. A variety of literature selections
will be used for comprehension and analysis, as well as for models for developing writing skills. The focus of American
Literature will correspond and enhance the junior study of Honors and/or AP United States History.
II.
Course Goals:
1.
To develop a broad knowledge of the American literary heritage. [NS: 3.0]
2.
To recognize the origins and development of American literature as a product of the
political, social, and religious environment of the American people. [NS: 3.12.3]
3.
To recognize specific contributions of American culture and history to literature.
[NS: 3.12.3]
4.
To understand forms and types of American poetry. [NS: 3.0]
5.
To recognize writing styles in fiction and nonfiction. [NS: 3.12.1, 3.12.2, 3.12.5, 3.12.6, 3.12.7, 4.12.1,
4.12.2, 4.12.4, 4.12.5]
6.
To expand vocabulary through literature. [NS: 1.12.5]
7.
To develop the techniques of literary critique and evaluation. [NS: 3.0]
8.
To reinforce the steps in the writing process. [NS: 6.12.1, 6.12.2, 6.12.3, 6.12.4, 6.12.5,
6.8.6, 6.12.7]
9.
To expand reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. [NS: 2.0, 6.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0]
10.
To write objectively and subjectively, using the reader's own experience, in response to selected literature.
[NS: 5.12.3]
11.
To strengthen higher-level thinking skills through student writing and discussion of
literature. [NS: 3.0]
12.
To respond with tolerance and respect to ideas and writing of others.
13.
To develop an understanding of good character and ethics by responding to a wide variety of written and
oral
communication.
III.
Course Outline:
Semester I: America to 1850
Native Americans, Explorers / Puritans: Cabeza de Vaca, Bradford, Bradstreet, Taylor, Edwards, Mather,
Cruible
Age of Reason (Colonialism / Revolution): Henry, Paine, Wheatley, Crevecoeur, Franklin, Jefferson
Romanticism: The Scarlet Letter, Irving, Melville, Hawthorne, Poe
Transcendentalism: Thoreau, Emerson, Whitman, Longfellow, Fireside Poets
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Semester II: 1851 to Present
Civil War, Realism & Naturalism: Bierce, Douglass, Crane, Cather, Chief Joseph, Harte, Dickinson,
Gilman, Chopin, London, Dunbar, Robinson
The Modern Age: The Grapes of Wrath, Hemingway, The Great Gatsby, Porter, Faulkner, Hurston, Wright,
Pound, Eliot, H.D., Williams, Millay, cummings, Frost, Cullen, Hughes, Bontemps
Contemporary Authors: O’Connor, Updike, Walker, Ellison, Tan, Brooks, Bishop, Plath,
IV.
Texts:
The Language of Literature: American Literature McDougal Littell, The American Experience Prentice Hall
The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain
The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Grapes of Wrath John Steinback
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers
V.
Course Requirements and Policies:
1.
Testing—The teacher will administer tests and quizzes throughout the course of study to determine the
individual student’s development and comprehension. This includes semester and final exams.
2.
Homework—Students are expected to arrive to class with homework completed and ready to turn in.
Homework assignments will only be accepted if complete, and legible. Assignments completed on spiral
paper or written in any color other than blue or black will not be accepted. Homework should be placed in
the designated tray at the beginning of class.
3.
Make-up work: Students with an excused absence must complete make-up work within three days of the
absence to earn credit (for example, if a student is absent on Wednesday, they have until the Tuesday to
turn in their make up work. (This allows three classes and its due on the fourth day @ the beginning of
class) Students may slip work until the door if it’s locked). Students are responsible for obtaining all
assignments, lecture material, either via the class website or by seeing the teacher before or after school.
Lecture notes should be obtained from a classmate. Students who miss class for a school activity or
prearranged absence are expected to obtain the work they will miss prior to their absence and have it
completed upon their return.
5.
Extra Credit—Extra credit assignments will be given at the teacher’s discretion and will vary in possible
points.
6.
All formal writing assignments must be typed according to the teacher’s requirements or no credit will
be given. These essays must be accompanied with a minimum of one rough draft, and a submission
receipt from turnitin.com, unless otherwise directed. NO EXCEPTIONS!
7.
Long-range work (essays, independent novel projects, style analysis, research project): Long-range work is
due on the date assigned. If a student is absent, he/she must find someone to bring in the assignment or
mail it to the instructor on or before the date it is due.
8.
Late work: Late work will NOT be accepted.
VI.
Evaluation:
A.
The evaluation of a student’s performance will be based on many factors, including testing, homework, and
classroom participation.
B.
While a total point system will be used, an approximate breakdown of the percentages for those grades is
outlined below.
1.
Tests and quizzes: 30%
2.
Essays: 30%
3.
Projects (group and Individual): 25%
4.
Class work and Participation: 15%
a.
Students will earn five points per class period (not to exceed 10% of the quarter grade);
however, students will lose their daily participation points for the following infractions:
1).
Absence (for any reason)
2).
Tardy
3).
Lack of preparation (no book, no supplies, etc.)
4).
Inappropriate behavior (Nuisance item usage, sleeping, class disruptions,
eating/drinking in class, cheating/plagiarism, insubordination, etc.)
b.
Students may make up a portion of their participation grades by writing two higher-level
discussion questions over the material.
c.
This participation grade will directly affect the citizenship grade earned each quarter.
C.
Semester exam: this will count for 10% of a student’s final semester grade, with each quarter counting for
45%. If a student has missed fewer than 3 classes per semester, maintained an A average in the other
coursework, and had a satisfactory citizenship grade, the exam will still count for only 10% of the final
semester grade.
VII.
Grading:
A.
Grades will be figured according to the following scale:
90 - 100% = A
B.
C.
VIII.
80 - 89% = B
70 - 79% = C
60 - 69 % = D
0 - 59 % = F
Grade reports: grades will be posted on Parentlink on a weekly basis. If a student notes a discrepancy in
his/her grade, it will be left to the student to report that discrepancy to the teacher and make sure that it is
rectified before the following grading period. Printed grade reports for students to take home may be
provided at teacher’s discretion. Progress reports are sent home midway through each quarter. Students
earning less than a B or 79% at the time of the reports will receive an unsatisfactory report.
Citizenship:
1.
Students are expected to attend school on a regular basis and come to class promptly, be
prepared for class with writing paper and a writing utensil, be prepared to participate in class
discussions, and respect the learning environment that the teacher and other students have
created by not causing distractions.
2.
This grade will be considerably affected by the participation grade.
Policy on academic dishonesty: (In Mrs. Berselli’s opinion, cheaters
are________________________________ in life.)
A.
Preparing students envisions more than understanding course content and process. It includes a
fundamental respect for personal achievement and accomplishment. Academic honesty demands that
each student is responsible for his or her own work and that no student will engage in any form of academic
dishonesty or encourage, support, or tolerate any other student attempt to engage in such activity.
B.
Criteria of academic dishonesty
1.
Cheating: using any unauthorized notes, study aids, including electronic information exchanges, or
other information on examinations or assignments; changing work after it has been returned or
graded in class for credit; allowing others to do one’s work; submitting identical papers for credit in
more than one class without receiving prior approval from each courses’ teacher; stealing
examination materials; unauthorized reproduction and circulation of examination materials and
assignments; unauthorized retention and redistribution of prior examination materials or
assignments; taking unfair advantage of other student’s work; or such other similar or related acts
which may reasonably be construed to be academic dishonesty.
2.
Plagiarism: submitting material that is in part or in whole not one’s own work without proper
attribution to, or documentation of, the correct source.
3.
Fabrication: falsifying or inventing any information, data, or citation.
4.
Aiding others’ academic dishonesty: providing material, information or other assistance to another
student with the knowledge that such assistance could be used to violate any of the definitions
previously enumerated.
C.
Penalties and procedures for academic dishonesty:
1.
Student will receive no score for the assignment, project, or test and no make-up work will be given
2.
A Request for Parent Conference may be filed
3.
The student’s citizenship grade for that quarter and the semester may be reduced to U
4.
Students will NOT receive any recommendation, whether formal or informal for any scholarship,
college application, employment application or similar matter
5.
D.
Such further action as may be warranted for future violations will be taken in accordance with Palo
Verde’s progressive discipline policy and/or other applicable Clark County School District
disciplinary procedures and regulations.
Turnitin.com: Students will be required to submit any/all of their written assignments to http://turnitin.com.
Students who do not submit their work to turnitin.com when it is requested will receive a zero for that
assignment. Students without Internet access can make arrangements to have their work submitted by the
teacher prior to the due date.
IX.
Class expectations:
A.
No Slackers allowed. A slacker is defined by a student who is unwilling to participate or has no desire to
do their class work or assignments including the independent novel reading.
B.
Each student is expected to bring to every class a blue or black pen, a #2 pencil for SCANTRON tests only,
the textbook (if applicable), any novel from which the class is reading, the Student Handbook, and his/her
notebook. Students are expected to have a specific notebook or section of their binder to put handouts,
notes, papers, etc. for this class.
C.
Gum chewing, eating, or drinking (other than water) is not allowed.
D.
Students must be in their seats before the tardy bell rings and are dismissed by the instructor, not the bell.
Any student who comes to class late will not be permitted to turn in homework that has already been
collected, receive handouts, or take any quizzes that are finished. Consequences for tardiness will follow
the stated discipline guidelines and result in loss of participation points
E.
Students may get additional help or make-up work after school or by making an appointment.
F.
Cell phones are NOT allowed at all this classroom. Students should put them away before they come to
class. Use of a cell phone which includes having it visible during any exam or quiz will be considered
cheating, and the student will receive a zero on that test or quiz.
G.
Swearing, vulgar language, or inappropriate comments are unacceptable in any learning environment and
will not be tolerated under any circumstances. This includes talking, sleeping, writing notes combing hair &
putting on makeup as well as drawing on yourself or the desk.
H.
Students will keep the classroom clean and tidy including throwing away empty water bottles & personal
trash.
***A note on restroom passes: Students may use the restroom only when the teacher deems appropriate, e.g. not
while taking notes or during a class discussion, but most likely while working silently. Students must use their daily
planners for passes.
X.
Progressive discipline: Students who are routinely disruptive or unprepared will be subject to repercussions; the
consequences are as follows:
1.
First offense: verbal or written warning
2.
Second offense: parent contact and the lowering of a citizenship grade to an 'S'
3.
Third offense: counselor referral and the lowering of a citizenship grade to an 'N'
4.
Fourth offense: dean referral and the lowering of a citizenship grade to a 'U'
***In certain situations, it may become necessary to skip one of the steps of the progressive discipline plan.
“The most successful classes are those in which the teacher has a clear idea of
what is expected from the students and students have a clear idea of what the
teacher expects from them.”
Harry Wong
In review, both the student and the teacher will come to class prepared. All students are required
to participate in discussions, assigned class work, group activities and oral presentations. The overall
goal is to create a meaningful learning experience for everyone. The class is what YOU make of it and
YOU are the KEY to success in this classroom. Remember with greatness comes responsibility –
YOURS.
Have a Fabulous 2010-2011 year in American Literature Honors- Mrs. Berselli
Student Last Name: ___________________________
American Literature Honors
Course Expectations
Movies: Some of the movie clips which we will be viewing in conjunction with the literature studied may be rated with a PG
rating or not rated (NR). In order for your child to view these movie clips,(“Field of Dreams”, “A raisin in the sun” “The Great
Gatsby” and “ The Crucible”) the school district requires parental permission. A separate permission slip will be posted
online for a full length movie. If you wish for your child to have an alternate assignment instead of viewing the movie, please
sign in the space below.
No, my child may not view PG movie clips in class.
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Acknowledgement of Expectations: If you have read and fully understand the information in the Course Expectations,
please sign below. If you have any questions at any time during the school year, please feel free to contact me at the school
(799-1450 x71003315), email me ([email protected]), check out the class website (http://paloverde.org), or
call the counselors’ office and arrange a parent conference.
Student Name (print name legibly below):
Student Signature (sign below):
Parent/Guardian Signature (sign below):
Student #
Period
Date