Senior English Composition at ASMSA
Class Time/Location
Each class will meet in the Senior Writing Lab on the 3rd floor of the administration building during the period indicated on the master schedule. For the semester schedule, please see the SEC Google Calendar (students can subscribe to this calendar through the JEC/SEC Google Site).
Course Description
The senior year continues developing skills that students began to acquire as juniors. These include word processing, researching via the Internet, communicating via e-mail, peer editing, writing using different modes of discourse and analysis, scientific and general research techniques, and successful completion of a research paper.
The major differences between junior and senior English composition courses are the increasing intensity and depth. Students will write longer essays to demonstrate mastery of rhetorical structures. Intermediate to advanced word processing and computer skills are assumed. A higher level of independence in scientific and other research areas will be expected of the student.
Senior English Composition will spend an extended period of time on the college admissions process. Students will write and revise admission essays, as well as investigate financial aid and scholarships. In addition, students will spend quite a bit of time writing about literature. Part of the focus of the course will also be on interdisciplinary writing; many assignments will be generated from other disciplines and completed in SEC. Therefore, SEC is the interdisciplinary core of the curriculum at ASMSA.
Textbook
Students will not be issued a textbook this year. Students will have access to class sets of reference books, various informational materials distributed by teachers, and online reference websites.
Course Format
SEC is designed to emphasize student autonomy and self-direction. In keeping with those goals, a significant portion of class time will be spent individually researching and drafting and in student-led group workshops. In addition to working one-on-one with students, instructors will lead large-group discussions and introduce concepts, techniques, and texts.
Grading Policy
The grade for SEC is computed by total points. There are no final exams given, so each final semester grade is computed by taking the average of the two quarters of that semester. The point values for individual assignments will be outlined in each unit syllabus.
Other important information
Peer editing will be done for each assignment and editors will sign their work.
See the Parent/Student Handbook for attendance, homework, late work, makeup work, and inclement weather policies. Pay particular attention to the Honor Code and Academic Honesty sections of the handbook.