Syllabus 2005-06

Rooms C325, C416

Contact Info: bookworm@troublemaker.com

Welcome back in more ways than one! It will be a pleasure to teach so many of you for a second time. This year we will look closely at our essential question: What does it mean to be an American? What principles, hopes, and ideals are included in "the American Dream?" What does this dream promise, and to what extent have these promises been fulfilled? We will examine these and other questions as we read and discuss literature from the late 1800's to the present. This will be a writing-intensive year. As you develop stronger critical thinking skills through our discussions of literature, you will also become more sophisticated readers and writers. Trends and ongoing themes in this year's readings to pay attention to include: 1) sins of the fathers; and 2) the effects of individual actions on the world.

The reading list for the year is ambitious, but we can do this!

Poems and essays on American identity from Tan, Sedaris, Hughes, Hooks, Sapphire, etc.
Pudd'nhead Wilson, by Mark Twain
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Crucible, by Arthur Miller (time permitting)
Fences, by August Wilson
Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien
Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Symptomatic, by Danzy Senna (author of Caucasia)

For one or two of the novels listed above you will be expected to participate in a Literature Circle where you will keep an interactive group journal. You will also have one Independent Reading Project per semester.

Other things we'll be doing will include:
Vocabulary (5 words each week--passed out Monday, quiz Friday) either from the SAT vocab list or from the current novel
Silent reading (a chunk of class on Mondays, no SSR when there's no Monday class)
Grammar and writing conventions (Strunk & White's Elements of Style, one or two chapters each semester)
Integrated projects with other CAS classes/content areas

What will I need for this class? What policies should I be aware of?
You will need a binder for this class, loose-leaf paper, a pen with black or blue ink, and any book we are currently reading on a daily basis.

It is very important that students keep absences to a minimum, and that they not be tardy to class. Accumulated unexcused absences will lower grades. Please check the school policy in the student handbook/organizer for details.

CAS-wide agreements and behavior expectations will be reviewed as necessary in each class, including the "no visible electronics" rule (electronics will be confiscated and will have to be recovered by a parent).

I have a zero tolerance rule with regards to plagiarism. Any work that is partially or entirely plagiarized will receive an immediate zero as well as an additional ten points off (-10) the overall grade. In addition, students will not be allowed to make up the assignment in question. Please be fully aware that there is no room for negotiation on this issue at all; sackcloth and ashes notwithstanding. See page 21a of the student handbook/organizer for school-wide policy. For more information on plagiarism, what it is and how to avoid it, please check out this very informative website:
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/plagiarism.html

SAVE ALL YOUR WORK FOR THIS CLASS!!! I'm providing you with in-class storage (your folder) where you can safely store each completed assignment so that it's easy to find when we begin working on your portfolio. I will pass out more information on your portfolios a little later into the semester.

I will not accept any late work for credit. If you are ill on the day a major assignment is due, either have a friend or family member drop it by the room or my mailbox, or e-mail it to me by class time. If a packet with multiple drafts is due, bring the drafts to class the next day you are in class. While I will not accept any late assignments, I will offer one (1) bonus vocabulary quiz each quarter (with a separate set of words) which you can use to replace one vocabulary quiz. Smaller assignments and presentations cannot be made up. There will be one or two extra credit opportunities per semester, with no more than 5 total points awarded. Typed assignments must adhere to all BHS manuscript requirements or will be penalized one entire letter grade.

I expect each and every one of you to work hard and do your best in this class. If I suspect that you are not working to your potential, or that you may need extra help in order to keep up with the work, I will talk to you and your family. If you feel that you are having trouble keeping up, or that something is standing in the way of realizing your potential, please come and talk to me. This is an important year and I want you to succeed.

How will I be graded?
You will receive a printed, detailed progress report approximately every six (6) weeks that must be signed by a parent/guardian. Grades will be broken down as follows:

Participation/homework/Classwork: weight=25%
Projects/tests/quizzes: weight=30%
Vocabulary quizzes/mini-quizzes: weight=25%
Participation/Citizenship: weight=20%