American Literature and Writing Class Policies and Syllabus



American Literature and Writing Class Policies and Syllabus Mrs. SchleicherWelcome to American Literature and Writing. I am looking forward to working with you as we continue to improve your reading and writing skills while sampling some excellent American literature. Please take a few moments to read over this packet with your parents or guardians and have them sign the last page. You will need to return the signature form to me. I expect you to keep this syllabus in your binder for reference. Throughout the year, we will build on your prior learning of essay writing, play around with some creative writing, write regularly in journals, study SAT-relevant vocabulary, and work on a variety of projects and presentations designed to improve your communication skills. Additionally, you have the opportunity to choose some supplemental reading from a list of renowned American authors.Good communication is key to success, whether in class or in life, so please, if you need help or need to address a concern, feel free to see me at any point during the year.My Contact InformationClass: American Literature and Writing Teacher: Mrs. Schleicher (pronounced Slysher) e-mail: sschleicher@auburn.wednet.eduThis is the best way to contact me!Phone: (253) 931-4719 ext. 1312Class Website: to my part-time status, I am available for calls from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Please do not call during class time as it disrupts learning. Unfortunately, you cannot leave a voicemail for me without it ringing the class phone. If you need to leave a message during class, please call the main office at (253) 931-4880 and have them take the message.Grading A = 93-100%A- = 90-92%B+ = 87-89% B = 83-86% B- = 80-82%C+ = 79-77%C = 73-76% C- = 70-72%D+ = 67-69% D = 60-66%F = 59-0%Grades .5 or higher will be rounded up to the nearest decimal. (i.e. 92.5% A- will round to 93% A. However, a 92.4% is still an A-)Summative assessments will count as 80% of the cumulative semester grade. Summative assessments include, but are not limited to, unit tests, speeches and essays.Tests/Essays/Speeches/Projects/Quizzes65%Book Talk 15%Formative assessments will count as 20% of the cumulative semester grade. Formative assessments include, but are not limited to, daily work, reading, homework and quizzes.Online Gradebook: I highly recommend that students take advantage of the online family and student access to grades. I post assignments on a regular basis, and this is the best way to keep track of your progress. If you currently do not have a login and password, please see our Registrar, Arlista Holman (aholman@auburn.wednet.edu), to set up an account. You can reach her at (253) 931-4876.Family and Student Access web address is: can also access it from a link on the school’s home page: bring these Materials—DailyPencil, blue or black pen, highlighter and a colored correcting penCollege-rule notebook paper (no spiral edges)Three-ring binder with pockets and dividersAssigned reading/workSupplemental reading bookE-mail address (for )ExpectationsIn ClassShow respect to teachers, guests, other students and yourself.Have a positive attitude and keep an open mind.Use class time to focus on American Literature class assignments only.Be productive. Do not waste class time.Do not distract others from working, intentionally or thoughtlessly.Be prepared. Have all materials & assignments (finished & unfinished) with you in class.Be seated before the bell rings to start class; no tardies. Work does not end until the bell rings or I say so.Turn all electronic devices off when entering the class. Cell phones should not be seen or heard. If it becomes an issue, the phone will be confiscated and turned into the office and you may face additional consequences.No unexcused absences.AssignmentsAssignments must have a proper heading, be legible, complete, and turned in on time to earn credit. Follow all directions carefully, both written and oral. Have questions? Ask me before the assignment is due, not when you are turning it in.Assignments are due at the beginning of class unless noted otherwise. Vulgarity, drug/alcohol promotion/use and degrading remarks on assignments are unacceptable and assignments will not receive credit.Do your best. You get out of education what you put into it.At teacher discretion, redos and retakes might be allowed and/or required on summative assessments. Summative assessments include, but are not limited to, unit tests, quizzes, speeches and essays. You may also be required to redo formative assessments (daily work, homework, etc.) if your assignment does not meet expectations and standards.At the very latest, redos and retakes have a final due date of one week before the end of each quarter. After this time, no retakes or redos will be accepted for credit. No exceptions.Quarter One deadline: Quarter Two deadline: ParticipationParticipate when asked.Respect other students’ right to speak and hold ideas different from your own.Raise your hand when you wish to contribute to the discussion or ask a question. Vulgarity, drug/alcohol promotion/use and degrading remarks are unacceptable. Academic DishonestyI do not tolerate cheating of any sort. A few examples of what is considered cheating include:Looking at someone else's test or quiz.Talking during a test or quiz.Copying homework/having others do your homework for you.Plagiarizing.Keeping notes, cheat sheets, or anything that has the answers in plain view during a test or quiz.Allowing someone else to copy your work (homework, tests, etc).Attempting to do a Book Talk on a book you have either not read, or read in a previous school year.The sequential consequences for cheating are:Verbal warning and a zero.Zero, office referral and parental contact.An automatic F for the course and parental contact.Attendance Because of the nature of this class, attendance is vital. Chronic absences will prevent you from passing the class. It is your responsibility to inquire about make-up work, take missed quizzes/tests, and collect any handouts or notes. Unexcused tardiness will impact your grade. Make-up tests/quizzes—If you have an excused absence, please take the make-up test or quiz within a week of your return. If your test/quiz is not made up in a timely manner, you will receive a zero. Make-up assignments—If you have an excused absence, you have two days following the date of absence to turn in work assigned the day of your absence. Please see me if you have any questions. Long term projects are due on the day they are assigned—no exceptions unless it is an emergency situation and you have called or e-mailed me prior to the due date time. E-mailing and/or submitting the assignment to can count as turning the assignment in if you are absent as long as you turn in the writing process when you return.DisciplineProgressive discipline, starting with loss of points and/or a detention, is in effect to enforce the rules and expectations of both the class and the school. Failure to attend detention will result in referral to your assistant-principal. Hall PassesThis class follows school policy regarding hall passes. Please use hall passes for emergency purposes only. If you misuse/overuse the pass, I will limit or revoke the privilege and/or assign consequences. Please wait for an opportune moment to ask for permission so that you don’t distract the class or impact your own learning.If you are coming from lunch, it is my expectation that you will take care of your bathroom needs prior to coming to class.Please keep this syllabus in your class binder for the semester, as you may need to refer back to it.After reviewing the expectations of the class with you parents or guardians, please sign the last page of the syllabus and return only that page to me.American Literature Power Standards 2013-2014These standards are the focus of our goals for the classReading StandardsDetermine two or more themes (central ideas) of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings.Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness or beauty of the text.Writing StandardsWrite arguments to support claims, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and thoroughlyUse words, phrases, and clauses as well as varied syntax to create cohesion and clarify ideasEstablish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.Examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through informative/explanatory writings.Introduce and effectively organize informationDevelop topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant concrete detailsUse appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and conceptsEstablish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writingResearch StandardGather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources; assess the strengths and limitations of each source; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation.Language StandardDemonstrate a command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing or speaking.Upcoming Dates:Open House is September 17th , starting at 5:30pm Fall Parent/Teacher conferences are on October 16th, from 3:30pm until 7:00pm. (Please note that I will be available until 6:00pm on conference night)Due date ___________________My family and I have read all of the information regarding the expectations for Mrs. Schleicher’s American Literature and Writing class, and agree to the requirements of the class.Signature: _______________________________ Printed Name: ______________________________(student) (student)Signature: _______________________________ Printed Name: ______________________________(parent/guardian)(parent/guardian)Date: _______________Parent/guardian e-mail address: _______________________________________________________Parent/guardian preferred contact phone number: _______________________________________Parents, if you have any concerns or anything you would like to bring to my attention, please use the space below to let me know. Parent Permission for Video/Movie/DVD/Film UsageThe American Literature and Writing class follows district protocol regarding the use of films in class. This includes obtaining parent permission to view films with an industry rating of PG-13 as well as documentaries or other television programs which may not have a clear rating. While this course does not utilize film on a regular basis, there are sometimes instances when viewing a film benefits students’ understanding of challenging reading material.In order to save time for everyone, I would like to obtain blanket permission to show PG-13 or non-rated television documentaries in the future without sending out repeated permission slip forms. If you choose not give comprehensive permission, I will continue to send an individual permission slip home with your student on a film by film basis.If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail me.I give permission for my student to watch PG-13 and non-rated films/videos such as documentaries in American Literature and Writing for the 2013-2014 school year.Signature: ________________________________________Date: ____________________(parent/guardian) ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download