Maggie Schneider
11th Grade American Literature
mschneid@spearfish.k12.sd.us
(605) 717-1212 (W)
Class Overview
-American literature will include short stories, written response, and oral presentations on works from notable American authors.
-In addition, students will develop communication skills (both written and verbal), peer evaluation skills, and present oral and written reports on outside readings during the course.
Materials/Textbook Information
Laptop computer
Notebook and writing utensil
Digital textbook
Course Requirements/Objectives
The student will:
Develop critical reading, writing, research, speaking, and listening skills
Perform classroom presentations and debates
Evaluate other speakers/writers and provide feedback in writing
Gain an understanding of terminology/vocabulary
Meet or exceed state grade specific writing and composition standards
Novel Experience Presentations
-Self selected novels will be read in small groups throughout the semester
-Groups will meet weekly to discuss novel themes
- Approximately 100 points in structured writing assignments throughout the semester will be used to aid presentations
- Group presentations worth 200 points will be given at the end of the semester
Class Procedures and Rules
-Notify the teacher before leaving the room and leave your cell phone in the designated area before exiting
-Participate in class discussion in a respectful manner
-If absent, have a responsible classmate gather the information pertaining to missed assignments prior to the next class period
Laptop and Internet Procedures
-No laptop use unless specifically instructed
-Leave laptops under desks unless otherwise instructed
-Misuse will lead to confiscation
Assessment Plan
Student assessment will be based on:
Short essay and written response
Class discussions and partnered debates
Small group work and novel presentations
Comprehensive final
Late Work
Late work will be accepted with a point deduction for each day the assignment is late
Homework
If students are on task during class time, they should rarely have homework.
Grading
Letter grades for the course are determined by the school wide-grading scale outlined below:
96-100 A
92-95 A-
89-91 B+
86-88 B
83-85 B-
79-82 C+
76-78 C
73-75 C-
69-72 D+
65-68 D
60-64 D-