CONTOOCOOK VALLEY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH 03458

(603) 924-3869   cvhs.convalsd.net

Bethany Cooper

English Department

bcooper@conval.edu

Semester 2: Spring 2024

Our Mission 

At ConVal High School, we have opportunities to grow and learn, both individually and as an inclusive community. We strive to be respectful and show compassion for others. We work to be creative thinkers and problem solvers who communicate and collaborate in an effort to take responsibility for our learning. As we build resilience in a safe school environment, we also commit to developing skills and tools to become civic-minded citizens. 

AP Literature Course Description

Welcome! This course is designed to engage students in the careful reading and critical analysis of literature.  Through the close reading of selected texts, students develop their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers.  Students consider a work's structure, point of view, style, and themes, as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of diction, syntax, figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone.  Writing is an integral part of this course; assignments focus on the critical analysis of literature and include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays.  Units include some practice in timed-essay writing as well as applying various forms of literary criticism.  Although critical analysis makes up the majority of student writing for the course, well-constructed creative writing assignments help students see from the inside how literature is written.  Students also write informally in extended reading journals and short free-writes to articulate immediate responses to their reading and the issues that reading addresses. Also, essential to the course will be small and large group discussion.  

Learning Objectives/Competencies

• Reading: the ability to read a variety of literature fluently and critically that will promote learning in all disciplines

• Writing: the development of writing skills for a variety of purposes and audiences is essential across all disciplines for effective communication

• Information Integration: the ability to gather relevant & reliable information for a variety of purposes, and present information in diverse formats, such as writing and visual presentations

• Speaking/Listening: the ability to effectively communicate ideas, including argument, using evidence and descriptive language

• Process: the ability to plan and implement a process for in-depth learning and creating high quality products to demonstrate skill and knowledge

Required Texts, Resources, and Materials

Texts may but are not limited to: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, How to Read Literature Like A Professor by Thomas C. Foster, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, There, There by Tommy Orange,  A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, and Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

• Poems and shorter texts will be assigned in addition to the texts above based on class interest and need.

• Resources and readings from AP Central

Grading Procedure:

Formative Assessments 

• “Check-ins” we do to determine where students are in the process of learning.

• Formative assessments are required, and students are expected to complete all assigned work. 

Up to 10% of term grade

Summative Assessments

• The “final” opportunity a student has to demonstrate mastery of skills and concepts.

• These assessments may be repeated to demonstrate further mastery with teacher approval; however, you MUST submit your work on the due date in order to be eligible for a re-do.

• Quarters are NOT averaged together. You will continue accumulating points all year so that your final grade is based on the TOTAL points for the course, not an average of the two quarters.

Up to 75% of term grade

Final exams/projects

• Culminating end of the semester reflection portfolio

15% of overall course grade

Communication Protocols:  Information is shared with students via Google Classroom. All digital assignments MUST be submitted via Google Classroom (not e-mail or shared documents). Please email with questions or concerns, but time-sensitive issues should be addressed by a phone call or voicemail.

Attendance Policy and Procedure: All work must be made up after a student’s absence. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what they missed while they were out and arrange to make it up. The time frame for makeup work will be proportional to the amount of time missed. Makeup work will NOT be allowed for class cuts or unexcused absences. I expect my students to be present, on time, and actively learning every day. I encourage students to take the responsibility of getting schoolwork and assignments in advance if they know they are going to miss school for an extended period of time. Also, if email is available, students can email me at lholcombe@conval.edu and ask for the missing assignments as they can often be shared electronically or accessed through Google Classroom.

See School Board policy  JH (Attendance, Absenteeism, and Truancy) as well as the pertinent sections of the 2022-2023 Student Handbook (sections Student Code of Conduct > “Attendance,” (p. 9)  and Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities (Clubs) >“Academic and School Attendance Expectations,” (p. 29).

Electronic Device Procedure: Cell phones, earbuds, and headphones may be used in the classroom only at the direction of the teacher and for educational purposes. Please see the 2023-2024 Student Handbook (p. 12) for this policy. Students are not allowed to bring to class and/or attach to the school network any personal laptops.

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism: Please reference the 2023-2024 Student Handbook.  ConVal Regional High School and the Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC) do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, national/ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, or disability in its programs, activities and employment practices.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Assignments

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning has emerged as a contested issue recently. While a student's use of AI programs, such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, Bing AI, DALL-E, Adobe Firefly, etc., to complete a class assignment may not technically constitute plagiarism because it does not involve the copying of another person's work, it still constitutes academic dishonesty if an AI-generated assignment is represented as the student's own. 

However, artificial intelligence is likely to be built into an increasing number of online learning services, and learning how to use AI purposefully — e.g., through the intentional engineering of prompts — is recognized as a developing digital skill. Therefore, teachers will indicate on specific assignments if, and to what extent, the use of AI is permitted.

Signature/s: 

Please return this paper to signify that you have read and understand the syllabus. If you have any questions please email PUT YOUR NAME AND EMAIL HERE.

Student Name (Printed) _____________________________

I ____________________________ (parent or guardian) have read and agreed to the English 11 syllabus.

I ______________________________ (student) have read and agreed to the English 11 syllabus.

A thoughtful message from your caring English teachers:

We don’t typically like to make assumptions, but it is assumed that you are enrolled in this course because you are interested in expanding your English education and challenging yourself in both academic rigor and comfort zones. We would like to begin this school year by expressing that we have high expectations for all of you, and we hope that you hold high expectations for yourself. This does not mean that we expect you to fit into some type of mold, but we are hoping and looking to see your best effort and growth. Staying cognitively engaged and completing assignments on-time will be very important to the success of the entire group.  Speaking-up and participating in discussions both as a listener and a speaker will be very important to the success of the entire group. Believing that you are an important member of the class is important to the success of the entire group. Do you get where we’re going here?

-Mrs. Cooper, Mr. Fetrow, and Mrs. Harris

To help us all maintain high expectations, here are some common expectations we’ve brainstormed to help us all be successful:

Participation:

• Having necessary assignments completed (this means doing homework BEFORE class starts)

• Phones, earbuds, and any items that cause distractions are put away for the entire class period to promote cognitive engagement.

• Willingness to both listen and speak during class discussions

Collaboration:

• Contributing in all class activities individually, small group, and whole group.

• Working with different people in the class when requested.

Assignment Completion/Absences

• Pay close attention to due dates and ask for clarification. Usually due dates can be found in Google Classroom. 

  • Do you have an agenda book or some method to keep track of your due dates?

• In the event that an assignment is passed in late, here is what you can expect:

  • Automatic 10% markdown

  • After two weeks, no credit earned

• If you are absent, you will take the following steps in this order:

  • Check Google Classroom or email instructor prior to returning to class to find out what you’ve missed;

  • If you are unwell, message the teacher as soon as you are feeling better and suggest a plan and timeline for completing missing work.

  • If this is a scheduled absence, you will agree to check Google Classroom regularly or discuss a plan and timeline in advance of your absence.

Building & Classroom Expectations

Bathroom/Water break: One student is allowed out of the classroom at a time to reduce the amount of students in shared spaces. Students are required to use an online hall pass system: e-hall pass. Students will be trained to use the software that allows for digital passes. Bathroom/water breaks are fewer than 5 minutes, and students are expected to use the 400-level bathrooms near the library unless otherwise requested for pre-established reasons. Additionally, students should not be leaving to use the bathroom during instruction. A typical class will have times of independent practice, during which requests to take a break can be made.

In the classroom: Students and teachers are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and honest 

manner. Both teachers and students are responsible for coming to class prepared and willing to participate. Students are also expected to come to class with their school-issued chromebook charged. Paper copies of assignments will not be provided for most assignments because there are some assignments that cannot be replicated on paper. If a student is unable to complete assignments in class because they are unprepared, they will need to complete those assignments on their own time.

Students demonstrate a willingness to participate by giving their attention, curiosity, and best effort. Sleeping during instruction and classroom activities is unacceptable. If a student falls asleep, a request will be made that they sit-up and stay awake. If falling asleep becomes a repeated habit, there may be a teacher-issued consequence, and communication will be sent home. If a student is unable to stay awake after an initial request, they will be asked to go to the nurse so that their health can be taken into consideration. If a student refuses to go to the nurse, administration will be called to support the student.

Phone Policy: We will be adhering to the school-wide phone policy and consequences, which states that they should not be used during any part of the class period without instructor permission.

Absences and make-up work: If a student is absent, it is their responsibility to meet with me at an appropriate time (TASC or before class time) to ask about what they missed or check Google Classroom. Extensions for deadlines will be determined on an individual basis, but students are expected to keep pace with the coursework in the event of an absence.

I encourage students to take the responsibility of getting schoolwork and assignments in advance if they know they are going to miss school for an extended period of time. Also, if email is available, students can email me at bcooper@conval.edu and ask for the missing assignments as they can often be shared electronically or accessed through Google Classroom.