World Literature and Composition
Fall 2020 Course Description:
Length of course: 1 semester, 95 minutes per day face-to-face and approximately 60 minutes per day when learning at home
Materials Used: Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes ; Grammar & Writing: Communication in Action; plays and novels by American authors
Wordly Wise 3000, Book 10
This high school English curriculum is designed to produce individuals who read with comprehension and appreciation, think critically, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively both in writing and in speaking. This course will concentrate on four areas of instruction: oral language, vocabulary study, reading and literature study, and the writing process.
Goals of the course: The ninth-grade student will make planned oral presentations independently and in small groups. Knowledge of the impact that informative/persuasive techniques in media messages make on public opinion will be introduced. The student will continue development of vocabulary, with attention to connotations, idioms, and allusions. Knowledge of literary terms and genres will be applied in the student’s own writing and in the analysis of literature. The student will be introduced to significant literary texts. Increased requirements for research and reporting in all subjects will be supported by the use of print, electronic databases, online resources, and other media. Students will cite sources of information using a standard method of documentation. The student will distinguish between reliable and questionable sources of information. Writing will encompass narrative, expository, and persuasive forms for a variety of purposes and audiences. The student will demonstrate correct use of language, spelling, and mechanics by applying grammatical conventions in writing and speaking.(Courtesy of the Virginia English Standards of Learning)
STUDENTS SHOULD CONSIDER ENROLLING IN HONORS/AP/BRVGS COURSES AT LCHS TO:
• Be intellectually motivated and challenged
• Experience classes that emphasize and promote improved study skills necessary at the college level
• Have the opportunity to be exposed to a wide variety of materials and content interpretations
• Improve reading and writing skills by reading collegiate level materials and writing to address collegiate level prompts
• Improve thinking, analysis and problem-solving by taking courses that specifically emphasize these skills
• Be challenged to accept responsibility for individual student learning as will be the expectation at a college or university
• Have the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school
STUDENTS & PARENTS SHOULD EXPECT THAT HONORS/AP/BRVGS COURSES AT LCHS:
• Require outside preparation above and beyond that of regular level courses and may include summer reading and/or projects
• Involve in-depth independent study and out-of-class work, and the subject matter may not be presented in the traditional classroom lecture style
• Are designed to have students academically stretch, reach, and persevere in order to succeed. Therefore, conducting research by analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing data from multiple sources is required
• Regardless of the academic area, may require students to demonstrate advanced writing skills
• Require that students produce work that fully meets expectations and understand that the highest evaluations are earned by those who complete and submit exemplary work
• Require that students accept responsibility for their own learning
• May have fewer grades and more comprehensive assessments than regular-level courses
• Are faster-paced involving a variety of resources and materials
TEACHERS OF HONORS/AP/BRVGS COURSES AT LCHS ARE EXPECTED TO:
• Develop and provide demanding and challenging coursework that promotes higher-order thinking skills
• Create syllabi that provide a course outline, objectives, expectations, and major due dates for the course
• Employ instructional methods appropriate for college-level classes
• Develop a variety of evaluation tools that assess student knowledge and understanding of the content area as well as addressing skill development in reading, writing, and thinking
• Provide completed evaluations in a timely manner
• Expect and encourage students to participate in all class activities in a positive manner, treating peers with dignity and respect
• Actively seek opportunities for professional development and collaboration
• Teachers will be available at regular and specifically announced times to consult and/or work with students
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HONORS/AP/BRVGS COURSES AT LCHS ARE EXPECTED TO:
• Devote the necessary time to prepare fully for all in-class activities and assessments
• Complete summer assignments/projects in selected courses
• Complete extensive reading and writing assignments, as assigned
• Commit to thinking independently and accepting responsibility for their own learning
• Actively and positively participate in all class activities, treating peers with dignity and respect
• Complete work appropriate for and/or equivalent to that produced by freshmen at a college/university
Class Expectations:
1. Be on time for class (seated & working by bell).
2. Be prepared (to listen, work, learn, and succeed).
3. Be courteous and respectful (to your teacher, your peers & yourself)
4. No food, candy, gum or drinks (besides water) in the classroom.
5. Follow the guidelines within the LCHS student handbook.
Materials needed:
1. A face mask (keep a back-up with you at school, too!)
2. Black or blue pen & correction tape and a pencil with eraser
3. Your Chromebook
4. College-ruled loose-leaf paper
5. 3-ring binder with at least four dividers
6. Highlighter(s)
Classroom Business:
A. Format – Each day students will complete a grammar and vocabulary activity. Most days we will spend the majority of class time analyzing the independent reading assignments that students will complete at home. Thursdays & Fridays will usually start with a weekly vocabulary assessment.
B. Homework - Homework must be written in legible form (blue or black ink) or typed (with 1-inch margins). Assignments will be posted regularly in Google Classroom. Homework is due at the BEGINNING of class and should be submitted before the last ring of the tardy bell.
C. Daily Warm-up assignments - Students are expected to be seated and working when the tardy bell has stopped ringing. A warm-up assignment will be on the board daily to facilitate a smooth opening to class and will consist of writing practice (MUG sentences = Mechanics, Usage, Grammar) and vocabulary work.
D. Make-up policy - It is the responsibility of the student to obtain make-up work at the beginning of class on the day of return. The work will be available in a file box on the wooden shelves at the back of the room, labeled by class period. For each absence, students have one day to make up work. Students should also be sure to check the online assignment calendar each night so as not to fall behind, especially when absent. Extra credit is not available on make-up tests and quizzes.
Regular attendance is necessary to succeed in school. The teacher needs to be informed of planned absences so arrangements can be made in order for all students to remain caught up with all assignments. Plan to stay after school and/or arrive early as negotiated with the teacher in order to make up tests/quizzes within two days of the test date.
E. Late work - LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Your attitude toward your work and your achievement is the determining factor in how well you do in this class. With this in mind, you should know that avoiding deadlines is an unappealing trait. It is frowned upon in the workplace and, currently, school is your job. Each student will receive two late work “passes” for the semester. These passes may be redeemed within a week of the original due-date of the assignment. The pass should be paper-clipped to the front of the late assignment. Lost passes will not be replaced and unused passes may be submitted at the end of the semester for extra credit. Passes may not be shared/given to others.
Students missing class on a major assignment (essay or project) due-date should make arrangements for that work to be submitted on time (email it or send in via a parent or sibling).
F. Cheating - Students must understand what constitutes offenses of cheating and plagiarism. Cheating offenses will result in a zero on assignments in question and disciplinary action as deemed necessary by the teacher and administration. SparkNotes or Cliffs Notes should NOT be brought to school. They can be used at home to supplement assigned reading, but used alone will not benefit students on reading quizzes and tests. Parent involvement is highly encouraged; however, students are required to complete assignments and master skills in an independent fashion. Any used resource material, human or textual, must be clearly cited in MLA (Modern Language Association) format on the required Works Cited page.
G. Work ethics - Respect for others and good behavior are of major importance in this classroom. As mentioned previously, your attitude toward your own work and toward your achievement will determine how well you do in this class; I encourage you to always give your best effort, never hand in work of which you are not proud, and never interrupt the teacher or your peers. Interruptions include, but obviously are not limited to, talking, fidgeting or getting out of your seat while someone else is talking or reading.
H. Grading policy – A total point system is used, with assignments that demonstrate mastery (tests, projects, essays) earning a greater number of points than developmental activities (warm-ups, daily class work, homework, quizzes). Rubrics will be distributed for major assignments to clarify expectations. At intervals of approximately two weeks, progress reports will be sent home and should be returned with a parental or guardian signature. You should never be in doubt as to your grade in this course.
Grading Term 1 = 40%
Grading Term 2 = 40%
FINAL EXAM = 20% (no exemptions)