totten american lit syllabus

7/31/2019 Totten American Lit Syllabus

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R I C H A R D W R I G H T P C S

10th

Gr

ade

1 6 0 0 - Pr e s e n t

Mrs. Totten, B.S. Phone Number: 202-388-1011

English Professor Text: 202-643-TOTT (8688)

American Literature Email: [email protected]

2012-2013 Academic Year Room: 226; Meeting Times: A/B Day

Twitter: @tottenenglish Class Blog: www.theihopp.blogspot.com

FEATURED WRITERS

his course will focus on the

study of American Literature

where students will become

aware of the great, controversial, and

beautiful ideas contained in American

Literary History. Not only will this

course develop a students

understanding of the history and

cultural progress of our country, but it

will also look at some of those

unfavorable scars that have yet to

heal. In addition to an intense

examination of the rhetoric of

American literature students will be

expected to summarize, analyze, and

evaluate the literature covered

through written journals, blogs, vlogs,

glogs, essays, multimedia projects, and

oral presentations.

Students will also continue to improve

their writing skills by understanding

that form is related to function, that

meaningful writing requires authors to

choose the most effective voice and

genre according to their purpose and

audience. Students will also express

maturity in their writing through a

variety of sentence structures andsyntactical methods as well as through

sophisticated

vocabulary and

diction.

Unit 1

The New World

Unit 2

A New Nation

Unit 3

AmericanRomanticism

Unit 4

A TroubledYoung Nation

Unit 5

EmergingModernism

Unit 6

Challenges andSuccesses of the

20th Century

Course Description

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CourseOut

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Classwork 10%

Homework 15%

Quizzes 20%

Assessments 35%(Tests, 10-day, Midterm, Final)

Projects 20%

100%

WeightCatego

riesCourse of Study: American Lit

Unit 1: The New WorldStudents will

examine the works

of some of the

earliest settlers

and consider the

significance of theintersection of Native

American, European,

and African Cultures.

They explore whether conflicts were

inevitable and how language and

religion served as barriers and as

bridges. Students look for and track

emerging themes in American

literature, such as the new Eden and

the American dream. Finally, art

works from the period are examined

for their treatment of similar themes.

Unit 3: American RomanticismStudents explore

this period as

Americas first

prolific one of

literature by

examining works

from Cooper and

Irving to

Hawthorne,

Melville, Poe,Whitman, Emerson, and Thoreau.

Students will wrestle with how the

romantics perceive individualism and

how this focus on individualism relates

to other themes in American literature.

Unit 2: A New NationStudents trace the movement towards

revolution, the colonists desire to

establish a new government, and

analyze the expression of conflict

between various groups. Students

compare the radical purpose and tone

of the Declaration of Independence to

the measured and logical tone of the

Preamble to the Constitution. They will

begin to recognize the emerging theme

in American literature of American

exceptionalism.

Unit 4:

A Troubled

Young

NationStudents will

examine the

literature of

the late nineteenth century in America,

exploring themes such as the

challenges of westward expansion,slavery, the changing role of women,

regionalism, the displacement of

Native Americans, the growth of cities,

Unit 5:

Emerging

ModernismStudents

explore

Robert Frosts

vision ofnature as

modernist

rather than

transcendental

in its perspective. They will also examine

the Harlem Renaissance literary

movement through the works of Zora

Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, Langston

Hughes, etc.

Unit 6: Challenges and Successes

of the Twentieth CenturyStudents will trace the flourishing of the

American short story and the

development of the novel and dramas

since World War II. The unit also

explores works by Richard Wright and

Ralph Ellison, whose texts expose

tensions within the emerging African

American literary tradition.

GradingScale

Percentage

%

Letter

Grade

Above 100 A+

96-100 A

95 A-

93-94 B+

90-92 B

87-89 B-

83-86

C+

79-82 C

77-78 C-

76 D+

75 D

72-74 D-

Below 72 F


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Classroom Expectations:The 4Ps

Be PROMPT Be PREPARED Be PRODUCTIVE Be POLITEATTENDANCE,

ABSENCES,TARDIES ANDMAKE-UPWORK

In order to succeed inEnglish 10, you must attendclass regularly. The more youattend, the better you will do(funny how that works). If

your absence is unexcused,you may not make upmissed work and you willlose FIVE points ofyourWeekly Expectations

grade. If your absence isexcused, you MUST makeup missed work or you willearn a zero. The best way tosee what you missed is tocheck the class twitter feed(@TottenEnglish), check thefolders on the wall by thedoor during the first 10minutes of class (afterR.E.A.C.H), or check theclass blog:

www.theihopp.blogspot.com

I will not provide missedwork during class time.Please plan accordingly toattain your work (i.e. afterschool, or during lunchtime). Please note that youhave one day for each day

you were absent to make upmissed work. Pleaseunderstand that you areresponsible for finding out

what you missed after anabsence and turning it in

within the required time.I will not track you down.

Tardiness is not acceptablein the workplace; thereforeit is unacceptable at school.You will earn an infractionthat affects your WeeklyExpectation Grade. (SeeDiscipline Rubric and chartsposted in class.)

PROFESSIONALDRESS &

SUPPLIES

You must come to classdressed professionally, in aCOMPLETE uniform, and

with all the necessarymaterials. Please check yourattire and your suppliesbefore entering theclassroom. Those violatingthe uniform policy will notbe allowed entry into class.Lack of supplies earns an

infraction that reflects inyour Weekly ExpectationsGrade.

EXCEPTIONS TO LATEWORK POLICYWe all have experiencedtimes in our lives when we

were unable to meet ourresponsibilities because of apersonal emergency. Lifeisnt always predictable, sothe ability to adjust to new

circumstances is essential forour success and happiness.If you experience a personalemergency that affects yourability to meet a deadline,

you must have aconversation with me about

your issue BEFORE the duedate. If I feel your situationis a valid emergency, I willextend your due date.However, if you wait untilthe due date to inform methat you cannot meet thedeadline, I will be unable tomake any accommodationsfor you. If you choose not todiscuss your reasons withme, I will assume that youchose to spend your time onleisure activities, or yousimply did not care tocomplete the assignment.

USE OF CLASS TIME

You are allowed to socializebefore and after school,between classes, and at lunch.When you enter theclassroom, you are at work.We often work incollaborative groups andengage in class discussions.You are expected to askclarifying questions and/orcontribute to the flow oflearning, NOT take away.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLETO WORK ONANOTHER SUBJECTSASSIGNMENTS INENGLISH CLASS. If I see

work from another subject inEnglish, I will take it and I

will keep it.

Likewise, SLEEPING ORPUTTING YOUR HEADDOWN (in any fashion) ISUNACCEPTABLE. I

highly recommend that yourespect yourself enough to getadequate rest to perform yourjob each day learning.

GREETINGS

I will greet you at, anddismiss you from, thedoor every day. Always

give eye contact and workon that handshake!Since were all human, wecan expect that all of ourdays will not be pleasant.However, those with

whom you interact shouldnot become victims to

your negative attitude. If

you are having a bad day,please inform me duringour greeting at the doorand if needed sit quietlyby yourself in the readingarea, continue to beproductive with theassigned tasks, and returnto the community when

youre ready. No penalty.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIORYou are expected to

demonstrate mutualrespect for your teachers,any other adults, and yourfellow students.Roughhousing, Teasing(a.k.a jonin),bullying,intimidation, and generaldisrespect (foul language,etc.) or rudeness willNOT be tolerated underany circumstances. If anoffense is committed thefollowing will occur:First Ofense:Verbal WarningSecond Ofense:Infraction earned againstWeekly ExpectationsGrade; Move to theSeat of OpportunityThird Ofense:Referral to Dean ofStudents; Removed fromclass; Phone call home.

25

Poin

ts

Per

Week
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Required Materials &English 10 Notebook Setup

11/2inch3-ringbinderwithCollegeRuled

paper

One1-subjectspiralnotebook(Journal/R.E.A.C.H)

7dividers

PensBlackandBlue

(nometallicgelpensorneoncolors)

1clearportfoliosleeve(usedformaintaining

foldables)

No.2Pencils

Highlighters

OneUSBFlashDrive(atleast4GB)

Post-ItNotes

Syllabussignedbystudentandparent/guardian

Divider#1-Classwork

Divider#2-LiteraryTerms&Vocabulary

Divider#3-Notes

Divider#4-WritingAssignments

(RoughDrafts&Final)

Divider#5-Homework

Divider#6-Assessments&Quizzes

Divider#7-Rubrics&Resources

Required Materials Notebook Setup

English II Expectations Contract

I have read and understand the class syllabus and policies for the 10th grade English II-American Literature class. If I haveany questions and/or concerns, I can contact Mrs. Totten via email, phone, text, or I can request a scheduled conference.

Please sign and return (1) copy of this form with your child to verify that you have received the syllabus.

Students Name (Printed) _____________________________________________________________Students Signature ___________________________________________________

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Name (Printed)__________________________________________________Parent/Guardians Signature _________________________________ Date: ___________________Parent/Guardian Home Phone _______________________________ Cell/Work: _________________________Professional Email Address ______________________________________

Emergency Contact Name ______________________________ Emergency Contact Number_________________________

___________I would like to participate as a volunteer parent at Richard Wright PCS.___________I would NOT like to participate as a volunteer parent at Richard Wright PCS.

Notes/Questions/Comments:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

totten american lit syllabus

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