English - American Literature

Written by Administrator | 17 November 2009

American Literature Syllabus

I. Course Description

The primary purpose of this course is to develop the student’s cognitive thinking skills and communicative abilities as a listener, reader, writer, and speaker while introducing the student to major literary selections of the American world of writers.

II. Course Requirements

Reading assignments are designed to provoke the student’s cognitive thought processes (critical and creative thinking) and to broaden the student’s knowledge of major works of American Literature and of the writing process. Students will be expected to complete all reading assignments within the time limit established by the teacher whether those readings are discussed in class or not.

Students are encouraged to take careful notes on all class lectures and discussions as well as homework and class study assignments since unit tests will be comprehensive.

III. Textbooks and Resources

1. Elements of Literature, Fifth Course: Essentials of American Literature. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2005.

2. Other texts and resources may be added as appropriate.

IV. Objectives

To master basic cognitive thinking skills when listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
To improve communicative skills in order to succeed in a global society.
To demonstrate a knowledge of the writing process: researching, organizing, writing, rewriting, and referencing.
To improve vocabulary size and accuracy.
To become familiar with major works of American literature.

V. Class Rules

· All students must be in their seats before the bell has finished ringing.

· All students must bring the following items to class each day:

1. Literature notebook with proper contents (see VIII below)

2. Pencil or blue or black ink pen

3. Textbook

4. Independent reading book

· No student is to have opened food or drink in the classroom.

· No gum or candy is to be chewed or eaten during class.

· All basic school rules apply as set forth in the school handbook.

VI. Grading Policy

GRADING SCALE

A 92%-100% C 72%-77%

A- 90%-91% C- 70%-71%

B+ 88%-89% D+ 68%-69%

B 82%-87% D 62%-67%

B- 80%-81% D- 60%-61%

C+ 78%-79% F 0%-59%

LATE & INCOMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS

Late assignments will receive NO CREDIT, except in the case of an excused absence. In most cases, students will be asked to complete and turn in unexcused late assignments, even though a score will not be given. Incomplete assignments also receive no credit. Each quarter, the assignment that is most detrimental to a student’s grade will be dropped. This does not apply to tests, quizzes, projects, or reports.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS DUE TO ABSENCE

Upon returning from an excused absence, students have one school day for every day absent to complete and turn in their work for full credit. Please notify the teacher in advance of pre-planned absences. Students are responsible for obtaining and completing missed work due to absences, and a note or a phone call from a parent must be received in order for an absence to be excused.

American Literature grades are weighted as follows: 50% tests and quizzes; 40% assignments, projects, and reports; 10% notebook.

VII. Course Outline

For each unit or collection listed below, reading tasks will be assigned with response activities for each reading task. Quizzes will also be administered for most reading tasks. Each collection will end with a unit project and unit test. An outline with assignments for each collection will be given at the start of each unit.

COLLECTIONS

Encounters and Foundations to 1800
American Romanticism 1800-1860
American Masters: Whitman and Dickinson
The Rise of Realism: The Civil War to 1914
The Moderns 1914-1939
Contemporary Literature 1939-Present

BOOK REPORTS

Each student is to read one independent book per quarter. Each student must select a book and share the title with the teacher by the end of the first week of each quarter. The format for the report will be given by mid quarter, and the book report will be due four days prior to the end of each quarter. Please choose books from the recommended book list unless you have made special arrangements with the teacher.

VIII. Notebook

Please follow these guidelines when setting up and organizing your notebooks as this will be a part of your grade.

1. The following materials are required for setting up the notebook:

· A loose leaf notebook (plain with one inch rings is best)

· Five section dividers

· Loose leaf notebook paper

2. Once you have these materials, organize the notebook in the following manner:

Section 1/Class Notes--Use this section for any notes that you take in class or while you are doing your homework assignments.

Section 2/Handouts & Instructions--Use this section to keep all of the handouts that you get in class or instructions that are given for assignments and projects.

Section 3/Homework--Keep all of your homework assignments in this section.

Section 4/Quizzes & Tests--Keep the results of all of your quizzes and tests in this section.

Section 5/Projects & Book Reports—Keep “in progress” and completed projects and book reports here.

Be certain to keep your notebook neat and well organized at all times. I will ask for you to leave notebooks with me for a grade at unannounced times throughout the quarter. Grades will be based not only upon neatness and organization but also upon how complete and up to date your notebooks are kept. From time to time, Mrs. Spelber will instruct you to empty your notebook and turn in the contents or take the contents home to your parents. Please do not empty your notebook unless instructed to do so by the teacher.