Download Scripps Ranch High School Syllabus and Course

6/29/2017 G. Richmond Room B-34
Scripps Ranch High School Syllabus and Course Requirements
Instructor:
Ms. Gail Richmond
[email protected]
Course: Honors American Literature 1, 2 Rm. B-34
(858) 621-9020, x3034
Text: The Language of Literature: American Literature (Yellow) and supplementary texts
Course Description: Honors American Literature 1, 2
Welcome to Honors American Literature, a college-level English class designed for the following purposes:
To introduce the great works of American Literature
To prepare you for senior level AP English, English Literature, or Contemporary Voices and
college level reading and writing
To strengthen your overall analytical writing and reading skills addressing:
“What makes American literature unique to the Americas?”
To continue your high school career with a powerful English class with interdisciplinary ties to studies in
American History
This class is primarily for college-bound students who have a good grasp of English fundamentals as
evidenced by high achievement scores and previous English grades. Prerequisite: Adv. English 3, 4 with
A/B grade and teacher/counselor recommendation. Summer reading is assigned and assessed during the
first full week of class. The attached district chart outlines required coursework for this University of
California Weighted Honors course.
As a result, you can expect a tremendous amount of reading and writing throughout the year.
Standards addressed in Honors American Literature 1, 2 include:
Reading
Word analysis, fluency, and systematic vocabulary development and use. Reading
comprehension with emphasis on expository critique.
Literary response and analysis & literary criticism: tone, symbolism, motif, & literary techniques
Writing
Writing strategies: logic of discourse; grammatical conventions; proof-reading; voice & tone
Writing applications: timed writing; the essay refined; expository writing
Written and Oral English Language Conventions Listening and speaking strategies
Speaking Applications (Genres and their characteristics)
The following is a tentative list of the works we will explore throughout the year. Calendar updates will be
given for each six week grading period. Books on tape/CD and film will be used to augment American
Literature readings.
First Encounters
Colony to Country
Individualism
Conflict & Expansion
Changing Face of America
Modern Age
p. 1
Native American poetry and tales; historical narratives
The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Crucible – Arthur Miller
What is an American?
Civil Disobedience; Walden selections – Thoreau
Poe, Whitman, Longfellow, Emerson
The Red Badge of Courage – Stephen Crane
Frederick Douglass, James Russell Lowell, Abraham Lincoln
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain
Poems of Emily Dickinson
The Yellow Wallpaper – Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Poems of Carl Sandburg, Edgar Lee Masters, Robinson, Dunbar
The Harlem Renaissance: Langston Hughes, Johnson, Cullen, etc.
6/29/2017 G. Richmond Room B-34
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston
Poems of Robert Frost
The Sun Also Rises; A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
War Abroad/Home Conflict Steinbeck, Malamud, Carson McCullers
The Things They Carried – Tim O’Brien
Martin Luther King, Jr. & Malcolm X – Speeches & Interviews
Works of Sandra Cisneros, Gary Soto, & Amy Tan
Additionally, you will read many critical essays and experiment with more technical poetry analysis. Alongside
these readings (and the practice and use of literary analysis) there will be an extensive writing program with
instruction in major essay styles.
Requirements: Students enrolled in Honors American Literature 1, 2 will be required to:
1. Maintain a 1” three-ring-binder with subject dividers for this class; a spiral-bound college-ruled notebook to
use for journal entries and notes; bring college lined paper, black or blue ink pens and pencils with eraser as
well as small post-its and a highlighter daily; have available blank CDs, scissors, glue stick, poster board,
and colored markers/pencils for creative projects; and bring to class the textbook or supplementary text
daily or as required.
2. Keep textbooks covered.
3. A grammar guide may be useful, as well as a thesaurus. Students may wish to use a laptop computer to keep
notes, to write in-class essays, or to present projects.
3. Complete all assignments in a prompt and timely manner; complete quizzes, exams and writing assignments
in a timely manner.
4. Maintain classroom behavior that provides an environment in which optimum learning for all
students can take place.
5. Be prepared for class, in assigned seat, and with materials at hand when the tardy bell rings.
Instructional Strategies:
Independent reading; discussion groups; collaborative learning; small group problem-solving; writing activities
such as quick writes, literature logs, and writing prompts; oral language activities such as Reader’s Theater,
choral reading, role-plays, Socratic Seminar participation; library and on-line research and technology activities
(films, video, DVD, recordings, word processing, PowerPoint presentations, etc.)
Homework: You can expect homework at least four nights a week. It is my expectation that students will read
for a minimum of 30 minutes per day outside of the class. There will be occasions when your class assignment
will demand more reading time than 30 minutes. Plan your time wisely. Reading will be a daily assignment and
includes weekends and vacations.
Grades: Your class grade will be based on written homework, essays on major literary works, quizzes, tests,
creative projects, research papers, panel discussions, group work, Socratic Seminars, and class participation.
Class participation in all aspects of the program is required; therefore, attendance is a key to success and does
affect grades. All Honors American Literature students are assessed on a district-wide essay.
Writing assessments include mechanics and grammar; powerful use of vocabulary and sentence structures;
analysis of literary texts with quotes from the work studied; and the ability to address the prompt and its details.
Reading assessments include comprehension of plot and author’s intent; vocabulary development; making
inferences and predictions; analysis of characters; and analysis of literary techniques and style.
p. 2
6/29/2017 G. Richmond Room B-34
General Grading Policies:
‘A’ work is truly outstanding. Insights are articulate, accurate, deep and thought provoking. The ‘A’ student
thinks critically and generates superior inferences. Essays demonstrate sophisticated style, near-perfect
grammar, and strong development. Needless to say, ‘A’ work is thoroughly complete and submitted on time.
‘B’ work is interesting and above average. Insights may not be as far-reaching or deep as the top quality
work, but critical thinking is demonstrated and explored. Essays may not be quite as sophisticated or as well
developed as top-scoring essays. Again, all work is complete and generally submitted on time.
‘C’ work is complete, but most ideas are obvious or barely insightful. Critical thinking is minimal. Essays
attempt to prove those ideas that most readers already understand, and present ideas in a simplistic manner.
‘D’ grades are not assigned in this class. Student work that falls below a C will receive an F grade.
‘F’ is all work that is incomplete and fails to address the assignment.
Academic Honesty Policy infringements: Work will receive no credit and may be reflected in an F grade for
the six week grading period. If a second incident should occur, you may receive an F for the semester grade.
Honors American Literature is a University of California weighted course; college level performance and
behavior as well as this course require honesty in all things.
Class changes will not be allowed after the first grading period. A student who drops a course after the first
grading period of a semester for reasons within their control, or who is dropped because of his/her behavior in
class is detrimental to the welfare of the class may receive an “F/U” grade on his/her semester grade reports and
cumulative grade history records. Grades reported on the semester report card are part of the student’s
cumulative grade history records. When students withdraw from a class for reasons not within their control, the
school shall evaluate individual circumstances and determine whether a grade should appear on the student’s
cumulative grade history record.
Citizenship
Because of the nature of this college-level class, discipline will not be an issue. Your citizenship grade will be
based on cooperation and respect of other students and the teacher; attendance and on-time arrival;
student’s acceptance of class responsibilities and the ability to abide by the rules and the guidelines of the
class contract; and class participation in addition to abiding by the following policies.
THREE ESSENTIAL CLASSROOM POLICIES
Be Prompt *** Be Prepared *** Be Polite
Treat all others and all materials as you would want to be treated, with respect and care.
Tardiness: Please be on time to this class. Honors American Literature, an advanced class, and after-school
detention do not mix. The SRHS Tardy policy will be followed. (First tardy: teacher counsels student; second
tardy, teacher counsels student and calls parent; third tardy, parent is notified and detention assigned.)
Attendance: Regular, daily attendance is extremely important. Unless you are ill, be in class. There is no
substitute for class discussion and group activities. When you miss class, you lose the shared essential
knowledge and idea exchange that benefits every student. There is no way to “make up” these experiences. Plan
p. 3
6/29/2017 G. Richmond Room B-34
your family vacations accordingly. As an honors literature, college preparation course, the amount of reading,
writing, and oral work is significant; Honors American Literature is not a correspondence course.
Dress Code: The Scripps Ranch High School dress code will be enforced in this classroom.
Academic Honesty Policy: The Scripps Ranch High School Academic Honesty Policy will be enforced. Parent
and Student signatures required.
Electronic Devices: SRHS policies will be enforced. Cellular Phones, Pagers, and Other Electronic
Signaling Devices:* Students may only use cell phones, pagers, and other electronic signaling devices on
campus before school, during lunch, and after school. These devices must be kept out of sight and turned off
during the instructional program. Unauthorized use of such devices, including issues of academic honesty,
disrupts the instructional program and distracts from the learning environment. Therefore, unauthorized use is
grounds for confiscation of the device by school officials, including classroom teachers. Confiscated devices
will be given to the administration and may be returned to the student, parent or guardian. Repeated
unauthorized use may lead to disciplinary action. If a student refuses to give the cell phone or any electronic
device to the teacher, the matter will be referred to the vice principal for additional consequences (i.e. detention,
Saturday school, suspension). *School personnel, including school police, do not have resources to investigate
instances of lost or stolen property unless suspect information is provided. School Police will not conduct a
police investigation or take a police report.
THREE ESSENTIAL CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
1. ALL work must be word-processed; in class essays must be written clearly in ink. I will not read any
work in pencil. DOUBLE SPACE ALL ESSAYS (including ALL drafts.) I will not decipher illegible
writing to discover its author’s intent. Use the technology available in the school and in B-34 if you do not
have a personal computer.
2. I will accept major work late, but will LOWER it ONE FULL GRADE for EACH SCHOOL DAY
that it is late. If an assignment is due on Monday, but you give it to me on Tuesday, the highest grade it can
receive is a ‘B‘; if it is turned in on Wednesday, the highest grade will be a ‘C’. Major homework
assignments or projects are assigned well in advance, and their due dates are firm. If you are absent and
your work is not received on the due date, this “late work policy” applies. Catastrophic events will be dealt
with in an appropriate and sensitive manner. (Computer problems are not catastrophic events; handwrite the
assignment if necessary or accept the late penalty.) Homework is reviewed in class and must be received by
the due date. Late homework will only be accepted from students with excused absence from school for the
due date.
Block schedule days are no excuse for late work. If necessary, send your work in with a classmate or
sibling, or drop off your work in my room before school, at lunch, or after school. You may also submit
work via the Internet as a WORD attachment and a message with the work inserted within the body of the
message. My e-mail address: [email protected] Work must be received on the day before the date due
prior to 7:00 am to be considered on time.
If you are submitting work electronically, be sure you include a return receipt so that you know when and if
I have received your message and work. I will respond to you. If you do not receive a reply from me, I have
not gotten your work.
p. 4
6/29/2017 G. Richmond Room B-34
Remember, YOU are responsible for finding out about, as well as making up, all missed work. Check
for make-up work before school, at lunch, at the end of class, or after school. You may wish to write an
email if you are absent so that I can put a packet of materials together for you to pick up before school.
Keep in contact with your classmates in order to stay current on all assignments. Study buddies can be a
great help by picking up copies of assigned work, etc.
3. The Scripps Ranch High School Academic Honesty Policy will be enforced. All work you present must
be your own. Copying or paraphrasing another student’s work will be considered a violation of this policy.
Be certain that during a test or quiz you do nothing that could bring your integrity into question. Also, when
writing any assignments in which you have been required to (or chosen to) consult outside sources, be sure
to properly give credit to the author(s) of your source(s) and include all the bibliographical information. If
you ever need assistance in doing this correctly, please ask; I’m delighted to help.
The Academic Honesty Policy is attached and requires both student and parent signatures.
Conference Hours: Should you encounter difficulty with the class or just need further assistance on some
aspect of it, please know that I am available before school, at lunch or after school to work with you. All I ask is
that you give me a day’s notice so that I can schedule time to work with you.
Parent communication is essential to you and to me. Please have your parents send an e-mail message or leave a
phone message if they have concerns. My preparation period is 5th period. Please check the SRHS web page for
the daily bulletins and time schedule. www.srhsfalcons.org
Scripps Ranch High School Back-to-School Night:
Thursday, September 24, 2009 6:30 – 8:20 p.m.
p. 5
6/29/2017 G. Richmond Room B-34
Scripps Ranch High School
Academic Honesty – Integrity Policy
Scripps Ranch High School expects students and staff to exercise the highest moral and ethical standards. Our campus is a
place of safety and respect for all, and we operate with a clear understanding of the need for honesty and integrity in the
academic process.
1. Cheating on Tests
Any intentional giving/ discussing/ using of external assistance relating to an examination, test, or quiz, without express
permission of the teacher.
Penalty
A student who is guilty of dishonesty on an examination, test, or quiz will receive a zero on that examination, test or quiz.
That zero may not be dropped from the record and will be averaged into the student’s grade. Upon a second instance of
dishonesty on an examination, test, or quiz in that course, the student will leave that course and will receive an “F/U” for
that semester.
2. Fabrication
Any intentional falsification of invention of data, citation, or other authority in an academic exercise.
Penalty
If a student is found guilty of falsification of data or authority of invention, the student will receive a zero on that
assignment. The zero grade may not be dropped and will be averaged into that student’s semester grade. The semester
citizenship grade will be lowered by one letter.
3. Unauthorized Collaboration
Intentional collaboration of an assignment between a student and another person, if such collaboration is not permitted.
The teacher will specify when collaboration is permitted.
Penalty
If students are guilty of collaboration that has not been authorized by the teacher, all of the students involved will be
subject to lowered academic and citizenship grades and, in serious cases, will be removed from that class.
4. Plagiarism
Any intentional use of another’s ideas, words, or work as one’s own. Plagiarism includes the misuse of published/
copyrighted materials, whether written or visual and/or the work of other students.
Penalty
Any student guilty of plagiarism will receive a zero grade on the assignment. That zero will be averaged with the other
course assignment grades and may not be dropped. The semester citizenship grade will be lowered by one letter.
5. Theft or alteration of materials
Any intentional and unauthorized taking, concealment, or alteration of student, teacher, office, or library materials.
Penalty
A student guilty of stealing or altering test materials, calculators, books, computer tapes/discs/CDs/DVDs, other course
materials from teacher, the library, office, or another student will be subject to removal from the class with an “F/U” for
the semester, and may receive suspension from school.
6. Pattern of Test / Major Report Avoidance
A pattern of absences on test days or major report due dates for the apparent advantage of performing better on the makeup test or for gaining extra working/ studying time.
Penalty
p. 6
6/29/2017 G. Richmond Room B-34
If a student develops a pattern of test avoidance, the parents will be notified. At the teacher’s discretion, any further
absences may result in a forfeit of makeup opportunities.
7. Pressure for unsubstantiated grade changes
Any student request for a raised grade that is not based on mistakes in correction, recording, averaging, or other clerical
error.
Penalty
Student and parent requests for a raise in a course grade that is not based on mistakes in correction, recording, averaging,
or other clerical error.
8. Abusive conduct with computers and the network
Such conduct would include, but not be limited to, damage or theft of system hardware or software; the altering of any
system software or software configurations; placing unlawful information, computer viruses or harmful programs on any
computer; and pirating copyrighted software. (See Network Use Agreement and Contract)
Prohibited Use: Transmission of any material in violation of any federal or state law is prohibited. This includes, but is not
limited to, distribution of:
Information that violates or infringes upon the rights of any other person
Defamatory, inappropriate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, or illegal material
Advertisements, solicitations, or political lobbying
Information that encourages the use of controlled substances or the use of the system for the purpose of inciting crime
Unauthorized electronic entry
Any entry without permission. Any access downloading and / printing of materials that would be considered
pornographic, unlawful, obscene, or otherwise objectionable by any staff member.
PENALTIES
All students will have due process in the handling of the above infractions. Penalties for infractions may include
parent notification, lowering of citizenship / academic grade, failing grade for the assignment, removal from the
class with and F/U, Saturday school, and suspension.
p. 7