Syllabus: Second Semester

In the second semester, we will work on deepening skills of interpretation in works of more complexity and more abstraction. In our reading we will focus particularly on the analysis of metaphor. We will also review grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and usage in both semesters.Second semester: Texts: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Feb. 12-March 9) selections from Frankenstein films Othello Shakespeare O dir. by Tim Blake Nelson Night by Elie Wiesel Schindler's List dir. Steven Spielberg The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (Jan. 30-Feb. 3) The Elephant Man dir. David Lynch (Feb. 3-Feb. 10) Course Requirements:Preparation: reading responses to discussion questions written responses to reading

informal writing exercises

Participation:

sharing written work

involvement in peer review

attention to the work of others

attention to all deadlines including those for homework and drafts

responses to focusing questions on reading

attention to dynamics of class discussion

decorum and mindfulness of classroom as public space

Process:

understanding one’s own individual writing process

attention to all deadlines including those for homework and drafts

Grading: Each unit of written work clearly sets out the grading scale.

Class participation will be evaluated on the frequency and the quality of your contribution to our discussion.

The final exam or project counts 20% of the total.

I will meet with you at the end of each marking period to review your grade.

Homework Policy:

Doing your homework thoroughly and conscientiously is the single best thing you can do to help yourself in this course. The more independent you are, the more thoughtful you are about your own work, the better. Never let it be said that you have nothing to do!

Just because homework isn’t a written assignment doesn’t mean you don’t have homework. In this course, homework is often preparing for discussion. Preparing for discussion means thinking about questions before class. Such work is critical to your success and the success of the whole group.

Each Monday in class, I will preview the week for you. Given the dynamic of a discussion class, I reserve the right to change the homework or adjust the schedule. Check What Happened in Class if you are not in class. Here you will find a report on what we covered and what is due.

Lateness

Managing deadlines is about discipline, responsibility, planning, and organization. I will help you reach the goal, but the final responsibility is yours.

All work must be submitted at the beginning of the class it is due. Work turned in later than the beginning of class will result in a grade reduction. The work will be reduced a grade each day the work is late.

If you will not be in school because of a planned absence on a day work is due (match or game, school trip, family vacation, etc.), then the work is due before you leave. If you are absent from school because of an excused absence on a day work is due, then the work is the day you return. A pattern of absences when assignments are due will result in a grade reduction.

Absences:

As I outlined above, each Monday, the homework for the week will be posted on the web and written on the board. I will preview the week for you during Monday’s class. Given the dynamic of a discussion class, sometimes issues arise or that need to be I reserve the right to change the homework or adjust the schedule. It is always better to check in the class notes for What Happened in Class or check emails I send to you directly through your school account.

If you must be absent from class, check the website for class notes and for assignments you missed. You can always get in touch with me by email at klong@abingtonfriends.net. If you know you will be absent from class for some reason, let me know well in advance so I can give you the work you will miss or set new deadlines for you.

If I am absent, you may use the time to work on the various projects you have for the course. You may write at the computers, consult with classmates, do reading, or whatever course work would be a good use of that time for you.

Extra Help:

Conferences for extra help are a useful way to talk about general issues in writing as they emerge during the course or to address specific areas of writing and reading. I will ask you to meet me in conferences periodically (at least once a quarter), but you may want to ask for a conference to discuss a particular essay or a particular part of the course work.

Extra help conferences are arranged at a time convenient for both of us. When we schedule a conference to discuss your work or to work on a skill, it is important that you write down the day, time, and location of the conference in a place you will remember. If the time needs to be changed, I will speak with you or call you at home. As a courtesy, please let me know if you need to change the time or cancel for some reason. If you are unable to be in school on the day we have a conference, please call me to let me know.

Kristine Byrne Long

215-840-2059

klong@abingtonfriends.net