Pebblebrook High School



Pebblebrook High School

English Department

2009-2010

COURSE TITLE: American Literature TEACHERS: Mrs. Kristen Carwile, Mrs. Tiana Royal

EMAIL: kristen.carwile @; tiana.royal@ PHONE #: 770-819-2521

PHS WEBSITE:

PHS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GOALS:

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: Students will demonstrate increased achievement in writing and reading comprehension in all content areas.

COMMUNICATION: Increase communication between the school and its stakeholders.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: American Literature is a course that focuses on the history and importance of American Literature, as it helps to shape our current culture. Outside novels, online articles, grammar and writing mechanics, the comprehensive research paper, and selected composition assignments comprise the content of the course.

GRADING POLICY: Reading Literature/Reading Across Curriculum 30%

Writing and Conventions 30%

Listening/Speaking/Viewing 20%

End of Course Test 15%

Final Assessment 5%

TEXTS/READINGS: Our main textbook for the course is Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes, which can be obtained through the school’s book room. In addition, we will survey the following author’s works: Frank Miller’s “The Crucible”, Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun”, Stephanie Meyers’ Eclipse, Mitch Album’s Tuesdays With Morrie and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, along with selected short stories, non fiction works and poetry.

FILM(S): The Crucible, Last of the Mohicans, Call of the Wild, A Raisin in the Sun, Twilight, various historical documentaries, A&E author biographies.

NOTE: As stated above, material covered in this course may contain mature language or themes. Parents should take an active role by investigating course material. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments. I look forward to a fruitful and productive partnership with all my student’s parents. Signature of the attached syllabus acknowledgement form indicates awareness of course material and the responsibilities of the student.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1. OPEN MIND

2. Paper

3. Pen/Highlighters

4. Markers

5. Folder/Notebook for handouts, supplemental readings

6. Required textbook/outside reading materials

7. Spiral Notebook

PARTICIPATION: ALL students are expected to actively and thoughtfully contribute to class discussions. Student involvement in the learning activities of the course is expected daily from every student. This includes attention to and participation in written and oral exercises, class discussion, preparation for class, classwork and homework.

ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY:

A student who is present and actively participates is more likely to be successful; however, if a student is absent, he/she has the number of days absent plus one day to make up assigned work. If the student does not make up the work, a zero will be given for the missed work. Making up any assignments and handing it in following an absence is the student’s responsibility. Any work missed due to an unexcused absence cannot be made up. Note Pebblebrook High School Student Handbook for further policies regarding make-up work. If you are present at school during any part of the day an assignment is due, even if you have missed English, you must bring the assignment to the teacher to avoid a late grade penalty.

LATE WORK POLICY: Late work is not given full credit. Work is due when the teacher calls for it. If it is late, the maximum grade will be 50%. Common assessments/tasks are penalized 5% for each day after the due date.

TARDY POLICY:

To avoid being counted tardy, students must be seated and ready for class when the bell rings. School policy states that students may receive warnings, teacher detentions, Saturday School, In-School Suspension, and Out-of-School Suspension for repeated tardies. Bottom line: BE ON TIME TO CLASS! Please consult student handbook for more details.

EXTRA HELP: I am available every day before school between 7:20-8:00am. Appointments are needed if you need to see me any day after school.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS:

Our expectations are high for our students. REGULAR ATTENDANCE IS IMPERATIVE; class discussions and information are group activities and are not easily replicated. Students cannot benefit and learn to their potential if they are consistently absent. These are some guidelines for our classrooms:

• Be kind to one another.

• Be prepared, be engaged, and be ready to learn.

• Respect yourself, one another, and me.

• Listen with your mind, your heart, and your soul.

• Bring ALL materials to class every day. This includes textbook, notebook, and writing tools. Failure to do so hinders your ability to participate in class, which affects your work and consequently, your grade.

• Dead time will be observed. Do not ask to go anywhere during the first 15 minutes or the last 15 minutes of class.

• I will not speak over you, nor will I allow you to speak over other students. Part of being respectful is the act of listening to me and to one another.

CONSEQUENCES* for not adhering to Class Expectations:

1st- Verbal Warning

2nd- Parent Contact/Detention

3rd- Parent Contact/Detention/Administrative Referral

*Severe disruptions will be referred immediately to parents and administration

MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS:

▪ All work should be completed with care and reflect grade level insight. Illegible work and papers without the proper identification may not receive a grade.

▪ Student name, teacher name, course, and date should appear in the upper left-hand corner of all assignments per MLA style.

▪ All final draft essays should follow the standard MLA manuscript format for written composition.

▪ Major writing assignments should be typed.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Cheating is considered a serious matter. The parents of a student who has been involved in cheating will be notified and the student will receive a grade of zero for the test and U in conduct.

For this course, cheating is defined as, but is not limited to, the following acts:

▪ Copying anyone’s answers to questions, exercises, study guides, class work, or homework assignments

▪ Plagiarism: Taking any information verbatim from any source, including the Internet, without giving proper credit to the author, or rearranging the order of words and/or changing some words as written by the author and claiming the work as the student’s own.

▪ Looking onto another student’s paper during a test or quiz.

▪ Having available any study notes or other test aids during a test or quiz without the teacher's permission.

▪ Collaborating on assignments when independent work is expected.

 

PEBBLEBROOK HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

2009-2010

SYLLABUS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

TEACHERS: Carwile/Royal

COURSE: American Literature

Parents, please place a check on the line to the left indicating your agreement to the following:

_____I have reviewed the class syllabus and understand the grading policy.

_____I understand the academic integrity policy.

_____I give my child permission to view G, PG, or PG13 movies/videos if they are related to the curriculum of the class.

_____I am willing to be contacted by email, phone, and regular mail regarding my student’s progress.

_____I have access to the internet and will access the Pinnacle parent feature to check on my child’s progress.

_____I understand that teachers will make every effort to post grades within two weeks upon receipt of student work. However, posting of grades for common assessments/tasks may take longer than two weeks.

(Print) Student Name

Student Signature

(Print) Parent Name

Parent Signature

(H) (W)

Parent telephone numbers

Parent e-mail

COMMENTS:

RETURN THIS FORM WITH BOTH SIGNATURES BY Friday, August 28th.

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