E. Dailey
Textbook: Adventures in American Literature
1. American Literature is a survey course beginning with the pilgrims and Puritans and extending into modern times. Students will study historical events, author backgrounds, important literary works as well as the major genres of literature.
2. Course Requirements: All students must actively participate in a variety of daily lessons. Students are encouraged to become ACTIVE, CRITICAL readers in American Literature. All of the assignments are designed to help students achieve this goal.
Students will keep a reading LOG which is a record of all the authors studied and all the works of literature studied. In addition, students will be required to complete worksheets and study guides. At the end of each unit, students will select an individual project to complete.
There may be one or more quizzes in any given unit depending on the material studied. If a student is absent on the day of an ANNOUNCED QUIZ, the student MUST TAKE the quiz on the day he/she returns to class. UNANNOUNCED QUIZZES can not be made up; however, the next quiz will count a double grade.
3. Grading Policy: All grades are computed on a 100 point scale. Generally, daily grades are worth 25 or 50 points. Daily grades include worksheets, study guides, and short writing assignments. Daily work may be turned in ONE DAY LATE with a 10% reduction in the total grade. Assignments are generally not accepted more than one day late.
4. Feedback to Students: Students will receive feedback by comments and grades on their returned work. Students who receive low grades on assignments are encouraged to set up a conference to discuss individual problems.
5. Make-up Work: Students will regularly receive a syllabus, a schedule of the week�s lessons. It is the student�s responsibility to schedule his/her time so that all assignments are completed. Also, it is the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT to review the syllabus when absent and complete the assignments that are due. Minimally, the student must complete any reading that has been assigned. Students are encouraged to take home their American Literature book everyday.
Students are responsible for taking announced quizzes and tests and turning in major assignments on the date of return to class. Because all tests, quizzes and major assignments are announced several days in advance, and noted on the class syllabus, students who are absent the day BEFORE a test or major due date are expected to take the test or hand in the major assignment on the announced date.
If a student is absent on the due date of the assignment, he/she MUST turn in the assignment ON THE DAY that he/she returns to class. The assignment will be counted as LATE otherwise. If a student is in school any part of the day on which a MAJOR ASSIGNMENT is due, it is the student�s responsibility to turn in that assignment on the due date. If the student fails to turn in the assignment, it will be counted as late.
Prearranged Absences: Students who have prearranged absences must turn in all the work that was assigned during their absence on the DAY OF RETURN TO CLASS. Additionally, any test or quiz given during the absence must be taken on THE DAY OF RETURN.
6. Extra Help: Students are encouraged to request a conference when they need extra help. I will either assist the student directly, or help the student arrange to be tutored.
7. Extra Credit: NO EXTRA CREDIT work will be assigned or accepted for a student to make up for assignments that he/she has FAILED to turn in. All individual extra credit work must be approved before the student begins the work.
Any extra credit assignment that is given to the entire class may be completed by any student. Extra credit work will not be accepted during the last week of the marking period.
8. Classroom Rules: Students are expected to comply with the rules of the Student Handbook. Students are expected to act in a mature and respectful manner when in the classroom. Students who have problems in maintaining discipline will be dealt with on an individual basis.
CHEATING: ANY STUDENT WHO ALLOWS HIS/HER WORK TO BE COPIED OR COPIES THE WORK OF ANOTHER WILL RECEIVE A ZERO FOR THE ASSIGNMENT. ANY STUDENT WHO PLAGARIZES BY SUBMITTING WORK THAT IS CLEARLY NOT AUTHENTIC WILL RECEIVE A ZERO FOR THE ASSIGNMENT.
9. Special Materials: It is strongly recommended that a dictionary be used to assist in reading.
10. Semester Grade: The final examination will count 20% of the final grade. Each marking period will count 40%. The second marking period will be the decision maker for the final grade. Students must demonstrate that they have met all the requirements of the class in order to receive a passing grade.
AMERICAN LITERATURE UNIT GRADES
The UNIT GRADE is worth 500 points. It consists of the Unit Test (200) points, the Reading Log (220 points), and the Insight Projects (up to 80 points).
READING LOGS/INSIGHT PROJECTS
GRADE OF C REQUIREMENTS
1. author insights
2. reading insights
3. no insight project
These assignments are due on the first day of the test. They must be kept in notebook form. To insure that you complete the insights by the due date, I will initial or date stamp your LOG ENTRIES. At the end of the unit, there is a 50% late penalty for LOG ENTRIES that are not initialed.
The highest average that you can receive as a UNIT GRADE if you only complete the Grade of C Requirements and do well on every log entry is a C (73%).
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GRADE OF B REQUIREMENTS
1. author insights
2. reading insights
3. insight paper
The AUTHOR INSIGHTS/READING INSIGHTS are due on the day of the test.
Throughout the unit, you will be given topics for completing the insight paper assignment. Generally, these papers ask you to make connections with something we have read in the unit. You will have a choice of creative writing topics or topics that require you to do further reading in a specific area. This paper is due one week after the test. NO PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED PAST THAT DATE. You may also turn in this paper at any point during the unit.
The highest grade that you can receive as a UNIT GRADE if you complete the Grade of B Requirements is a B+ (87%).
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GRADE OF A REQURIEMENTS
1. author insights
2. reading insights
3. two insight papers
These have the same due dates as the above requirements.
HOW TO COMPLETE AN AUTHOR BIO
Part I: Bullet Points
Read the biographical information on the author. Write down 2 important points for each paragraph of the author biography in your text. Be sure to select important things about the author�s life. Consider the author�s early life, education, prime of life achievements, famous literary works, non-literary achievements, hardships, tragedies, and last years, and death. Your bullet points must be written in complete sentences. Use the below format when writing bullet points:
Paragraph One:
Write a complete sentence
Write a complete sentence
Paragraph Two:
Write a complete sentence
Write a complete sentence
The purpose of PART I is to highlight what is distinctive and memorable about the author.
Part II: Insights (150 WORDS)
After studying the author�s works, write 1-2 paragraphs in which you reflect and make insights about the author�s contribution to literature. You might explain the author�s influence on American Literature (What should this author be remembered for?). Or you might explain the impact that the author has had on your thinking or philosophy.
This writing SHOULD NOT be a paraphrase of the author information in your text.
Part III: Literary Term
Literary Term: (Please write the words, literary term; then write the definition of the term and provide an example).
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FORMAT
Please put a heading on your AUTHOR BIO. Look at the example below:
Author�s Name: Literary Period:
Life Span: ____-____
Word Count: You must count the words for your insights. Put the number of words at the end of the writing. Circle or highlight the word count.
Highlight each section (Part I, Part II, Part III)
HOW TO COMPLETE READING INSIGHTS
Part I: Bullet Point Summary
This purpose of this part is to briefly summarize. List at least 5 important things that happen in the selection. Depending on the selection, I may ask you for more than 5 important points. Sometimes in a lengthy selection (or a selection that may be difficult to read,) it may be necessary to briefly summarize the main point of each paragraph. PART I should show a sequence of events. It should be short and easy to read.
Part II: Insights (150 words minimum)
The purpose of Part II is to reflect upon what you have read. Sometimes I will give you a particular focus for writing your insights. When I don�t give you a specific topic, you will have to write your insights on your own. One of the ways to do this is to think about the author�s purpose in writing the selection. Another way to do this is to try and make connections between the author�s works and modern day life. Most importantly, your insights should reflect that you have read the selection and that you understand what you have read WITHOUT summarizing.
Thematic Questions: What do you think the author is trying to tell us? What is his or her point? Do you agree with what the author is saying? What is the author�s philosophy of life or the world? Have you read any other works by the author? Does the author use elements of his/her life and experiences in the story? Did the author present any controversial issues that may have been present in his/her lifetime? How is the historical period reflected in the author�s works?
�Making Connections� Questions: Has the selection given you a new perspective or made you question your beliefs? Does the selection remind you of anything else you have read, seen, or heard before? How has the author�s work increased your understanding of people and the world? How would you respond to the author�s work if you had lived in that historical time?
Part III: Quotes/Passages (50 words minimum)
Select at least one quote or passage that is particularly important from the selection. Write out the complete quote and citation. Then, explain why this passage is especially meaningful. You can do this by analyzing the passage�s importance to the theme of the selection, or you can discuss the author�s use of figurative language, vivid verbs, or imagery. **Do not count the passage in your word count**
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Format
Please put a heading on the top of each page for READING INSIGHTS. See example below
Title of Selection and Author�s Name
Highlight each section (Part I, Part II, Part III)