Syllabus

UNION GROVE HIGH SCHOOL

2026-2027 Course Syllabus

Instructor: Jennifer Sheran

Room #: 210

Course Name and Code: 

American Literature & Composition (23.0510002)

Textbook Used: 

HMH Into Literature 11th Grade

Tutoring Schedule: 

UGHS Tutoring Schedule

Supplementary Texts or Special Materials:

• The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (second semester)

• Composition notebook - REQUIRED

• Textbook: HMH Into Literature 11 (Online Version & textbooks in classroom)

• Chromebooks EVERY DAY (please be sure to charge nightly)

• UGHS suggested 3 Ring Binder with 4 dividers

• Loose leaf college ruled paper

• Highlighters (5 colors)

• 1 Dry erase marker

• Post-it Notes

• Pencils and pens

• Glue stick and scissors

Course Description: The overall goal of this course is to expose students to American informational texts, short stories, novels, and dramatic literature. Students will examine literature from novels, prose, and poetry, focusing on works that emphasize the various genres, authors, cultures, and histories surrounding each piece of literature. 

Course Outline and Content: Students will interpret, analyze, evaluate, and critique literary works. Students will demonstrate their understanding of literature through discussion, presentations, and essays. Students must demonstrate mastery of grammar and usage, and will develop their written and spoken vocabulary. Students will apply the skills they have learned to real-world tasks, incorporating reading, writing, research, interviewing, and oral presentations. This course approaches the study of literature thematically, with an emphasis on developing independent thinking skills and composition skills. This is a highly academic course and will require outside reading, writing, research, and vocabulary study.

Special Assignments and Projects: Students will complete various performance tasks and end-of-unit projects designed to demonstrate mastery of standards. Options may include:

Multimedia presentations and digital storytelling.

Literary analysis essays and thematic research projects.

Classroom Rules and Discipline Procedures 

All students must adhere to the rules and expectations outlined in the Henry County Schools Student Handbook and the Union Grove High School Student Handbook Addendum. Classroom discipline follows a Four-step process including student conference and redirection, parent contact, remediation, and office referral for repeated or egregious infractions.

Classroom Expectations

1. Follow directions.

2. Bring all materials to class, including your charged Chromebook, daily.

3. Be in the class, seated, and ready to learn when the bell rings.

4. Show respect and be polite to all people.

5. Respect other people's property.

6. No food is allowed in class. Drinks must have lids.

7. Stay in your seat. Ask for permission to get up.

8. Remain seated until the dismissal bell.

9. Raise your hand to speak or ask a question.

10. Listen and do not talk when others are speaking.

11. Be prepared, focused, and engaged in class.

12.  Check Google Classroom and Outlook email daily

Hall Pass Policy 

Restroom passes will not be given the first 15 minutes or the last 15 minutes of class. Restrooms are open during each class change and are to be used during that time. The student will be dismissed from class only if he/she becomes ill or if circumstances arise which prevent the student from using the restroom between classes or if medical documentation is provided. Students are not allowed to take their cell phones with them into the restroom. 

Chromebook Policy 

It is an expectation for students to have their charged Chromebook with them every day. Failure to do so will be regarded as “not being prepared for class.”

Missing Work Policy

Students will be given the number of days absent plus ONE additional day to complete any work missed due to an EXCUSED absence (i.e. if you are absent for 3 days due to an illness, you will have 4 days to complete missing work). It is YOUR responsibility to obtain all information missed due to absence. 

If you are absent the day before a previously scheduled assignment is due, that absence is not an excuse to turn in late work without consequences. If you are absent the day before a scheduled quiz or test, you are still responsible for completing the assessment upon your return. It is in your best interest to keep a calendar or agenda to help you remember all your responsibilities. Failure to make up missed assignments, quizzes, and tests will result in a permanent zero.

Unexcused late work is penalized. Your grade will be deducted by 10 pts off the grade earned on the assignment for each day it is late. No late work will be accepted after 4 days past the due date. ALL Late/Missing work is entered into the grade book as a zero until it is turned in. 

Instructional Focus

2nd Period Daily in All UGHS Classes – Instructional Focus (I.F.) is a twenty-minute, non-credit bearing enrichment program that affords students the opportunity for tutoring and/or enrichment during the school day. I.F. is an extension of instructional time in which students have scheduled time to complete various assignments, homework, and/or projects. I.F. also serves as a vehicle for mandatory tutoring for those students who may need additional assistance in mastering concepts, or assistance in preparing for the content portions of high-stakes assessments (Georgia Milestones, Advanced Placement). 

Student Expectations for Instructional Focus: 

• Students are expected to work daily on specific subject areas according to the I.F. schedule. 

• Students may work quietly on academic assignments or log in to Progress Learning.

• Students may use this time to make-up missed assessments (per teacher approval).

Academic Honesty

Coursework submitted by a student must be the student’s own, original work. Students shall not cheat on any assignment by giving or receiving unauthorized assistance (including but not limited to artificial intelligence or similar intelligence based technologies to generate responses to assignments) or commit the act of plagiarism. Students who commit such acts are subject to not receiving credit on the assignment in question and will be subject to disciplinary action as well. 

Evaluation & Grading System  

Per Henry County Schools policy, there will be a minimum of one grade per week in each class. Grades will be updated each week.  Formative assignments (classwork, homework, etc.) will count as 40% of the grade.  Summative assessments (tests and major projects) will count as 40% of the grade.  The final exam (or Milestone) will count as 20% of the grade. 

Practice Work & Assessments

Practice work will include classwork, homework, formative assessments, diagnostic assessments, and written reflections. These assignments are designed to help students refine and extend their understanding of content throughout the year.

Assessment tasks are created to measure mastery of target standards and may include constructed responses, reflective assessments, summative unit tests, culminating performance tasks, and projects.

Cell Phone/Electronic Device Policy 

According to Georgia House Bill 1009, students are prohibited from using personal electronic devices or accessories during the instructional school day.  A personal electronic device refers to any device utilized to access the Internet, Wi-Fi, cellular telephone signals, or to capture images or video. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and gaming devices. This also includes accessories (earbuds, headphones). Personal electronic device accessories include any wired or wireless accessory or wearable technology that connects to a device and any other accessory commonly used in conjunction with a personal electronic device (wireless headphones, earbuds, etc). Upon entering the school building, students must turn off their devices and store them in their book bag (purses, murses, and pockets are not acceptable). 

Students who are seen with a device (cell phone, wireless headphones, earbuds, tablet, gaming device, etc. ) in the hallway or in the classroom during the instructional day, will have item confiscated and will receive behavioral consequences.

Tardy Policy

In order to be considered “on time” to class, the student must be inside the door of the classroom or designated classroom area by the end of the tardy bell. Students have plenty of time during class changes to go to the restroom. We expect all students to enter class before the tardy bell rings. It is the student’s responsibility to be on time and it is your responsibility to have a pass if you have a reason for being late. 

When students arrive late to class, they are required to use the student conductor system to receive a tardy pass. Students will type in their student ID number and receive an entrance ticket into class. Each entrance ticket will include discipline information and will result in an email to parents/guardians.

Test Retake Policy 

If a student fails a major assessment (test), they will be given the opportunity to complete steps to retake the assessment. This does not apply to quizzes or projects. The test retake form (including the actual test retake) must be completed within 10 school days after receiving the grade for the original assessment. 

After the retake, the new grade will be calculated by averaging the original test score and the retake test score.  For example, if the student makes a 40 on the first test, and an 80 on the retake, the new grade will be a 60 (40 + 80 = 120 / 2 = 60).