VHS 10th Grade Literature
Mrs. Anne HowardRoom 120 Monday-Friday
Email: Office Hours: Weekdays from 7:00-7:25 and 2:45-3:15
Website Link:
Course Description
This course is designed to expose students to selected readings in World Literature, covering drama, poetry, short stories, and novels, both fictional and non-fictional. Students will also complete a variety of writing assignments throughout the semester, as writing is a key component of English and an essential skill for life. Through reading, writing, and thinking, students will prepare for upper-level English courses and for life beyond high school, acquiring habits and skills necessary for success in college and the working world. Below you will find a list of potential novel length works we will be studying in addition to numerous works of poetry and prose.
Night, Hill and Wang, 2006
Julius Caesar (in the textbook)
Antigone,Prestwick House, 2005
The Sunflower, Shocken Books, 1997
Luka and the Fire of Life, Random House, 2011
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate competence in
- writing (writing in a variety of styles and for a variety of purposes)
- grammatical and mechanical conventions in written composition
- recognizing and using the common, effective techniques of persuasion
- reading comprehension and literary analysis
- study skills (note taking, organization, etc.)
*Keeping an organized notebook throughout the semester is a requirement for the course.
- acquiring new vocabulary
- class discussions and debates
- group work and interpersonal skills
- workplace ethics
Units & AssignmentsDuring the course of the year we will cover three major units of study. Below you will find a chronological breakdown of those units along with a list of assignments to be completed during the time of study. Additional works studied will be added throughout the units.
Heroism Unit
Summative Assessments (60%)
1. Essays
--Funeral Speech Arg. Essay
--Hero Argumentative Essay
2. Novel Analysis Project
3. Multimedia presentation over heroes
Standards Check (30%)
1. Research—background on Rome
2. Letter of Warning to Caesar
3. Narrative Writing—Eulogy
4. Routine Writing/W2W prompts from tasks
5. Reading Check Quizzes
6. Standards Check Quizzes
Learning Targets (10%)
1. Quote Log
2. Cornell Notes
3. Content Vocabulary
4.Novel Events Timeline
Courage Unit
Summative Assessments (60%)
1. Essays
--Tragic Hero Essay
--Courage Argumentative Essay
2. Two Part Project on Courage
Standards Check (30%)
1. Antigone Storyboard /Antigone Scene
2. Narrative on Courage
3. Routine Writing/W2W prompts from tasks
4. Reading Check Quizzes
5. Standards Check Quizzes
Learning Targets (10%)
1. Quote Log
2. Cornell Notes
3. Content Vocabulary
Human Rights Unit
Summative Assessments (60%)
1. Unit Test over Night
2. Essays
--Human rights (explanatory)
--Compare/contrast symbolism
3. Multimedia presentation over human rights in American Society
Standards Check (30%)
1. Research—background on Human rights and responsibilities
2. Narrative Writing—Multi-genre response to the Holocaust
3. Socratic Seminar
4. Routine Writing/W2W prompts from tasks
5. Reading checks over reading
Learning Targets (10%)
1. Character Log
2. Cornell Notes
3. Content Vocabulary
4. Novel Events Timeline
Textbooks/Materials
The school will provide the following materials:
- Holt, Elements of Literature
- Novel(s) (see the above list)
Note: Lost textbooks cost $85, hardbound novels cost $20, and paperback novels cost $15.
The student will provide the following materials:
- blue or black ink pens (pencil is not allowed)
- loose leaf notebook paper
- a folder/notebook exclusively for English
Class work/Homework
All work must be turned in on time to receive full credit. Homework assignments or projects are due at the beginning of the period on the assigned day (not the next day, later in the day, or later in the same period). Points will be deducted for lateness (10 pts. per day). All work must be submitted in either blue or black ink on lined paper. Sloppy or illegible work will be returned with no credit given. (If I can’t read it, I won’t grade it.)
Make-up Work
Students are responsible for providing proper proof of an excused absence and for making arrangements to make up missed work. Students have three (3) days to make up any work missed while absent. If you missed a test, it must be made up within the three day period before or after school. It is your job to get the work made up and returned in the allotted time. See me before or after class to get the assignments you missed. If you know ahead of time you will be out, see me to get the work before the absence.
Grading
The grading system the same for the coming school term. According to the grading scale, grades will be based on two nine week periods. Progress reports will be issued by printout every three weeks and report cards will be sent out at the end of each nine weeks. Grades will be based on the following:
60%--Summative Assessments (unit tests, formal compositions, and projects)
30%--Standards Check (quizzes, short writing assignments, journal writing etc.)
10%--Learning Targets (rough drafts, class work, homework, reading checks, etc.)
20%--Final Exam
Exemption Policy
This year, the exemption opportunity is again in effect for all students. Below you will find the rules for possibly exempting final exams.
90 or better average can exempt with less than 5 absences (excused or unexcused)
85-89 average can exempt with less than 3 absences (excused or unexcused)
80-84 average can exempt with 0-1 absence (excused or unexcused)
Attendance
- Attendance will be recorded within the first 10 minutes of class.
- If you are going to be absent for “School Business”, let me know ahead of time to get your assignments.
- You will be more successful if you are in class. Keep your absences to a minimum. Absences could result in truancy.
Tardy Policy
- If you have a proper note to excuse your tardiness, place your excuse on my desk and promptly get to your seat without interrupting the class.
- Unexcused tardies will result in referrals and time spent in ISS. Make sure you get to class on time.
- If you are tardy once, a warning is issued and I make parent contact. If you are tardy twice, I will make parent contact and assign detention. If you are tardy a third time, I refer you to the AP. (Every three tardies will result in a referral.)
Class Rules
- Bring all needed materials to class daily.
*You are high school students, and as such, I will not provide you with materials for my class. You can however, purchase a pen, pencil, or paper for a small fee.
- Respect one another. (This includes their belongings, opinions, and ideas.)
*This is an English class in which discussions are vital. While I encourage you to speak up with your ideas and opinions, I also encourage you to hear others out and respect them.
- Speak at appropriate times, using appropriate voice and language.
*Don’t interrupt anyone. Raise your hand and wait your turn to speak.
- Follow all other school rules.
Class Procedures & Keys to Success
- Arrive on time every day and dressed appropriately. (If you aren’t following one of these rules, expect me to say something…as often as it takes.)
- Students should be ready for class when the tardy bell rings. (This means that students should be in their seats with all books and materials ready to begin working. All talking and socialization stops when the tardy bell rings. Those of you who are not in your seats when the bell rings will be marked tardy.)
- Bring your own supplies and assignments to class, and do not ask the teacher or peers for supplies.
- Make an effort to participate in class. This includes listening and adding to the discussions when you have something worthwhile to say. (Individual student conversations interfere with teaching and learning, so don’t.)
- Place purses on the floor or under your desk for the entire period. (This removesany temptations you may have.)
- Respect faculty, staff and other students.
- Do your work faithfully and without complaining, or accept the consequences without complaining. Do not beg for mercy or attempt to negotiate grades.
- Do your part to keep the classroom clean. Trash cans are an amazing invention made for people to put their garbage in. Locate them and use them when you need to. (No one likes to find used tissues on the desk when they get to class. It’s gross.)
- As class ends, make sure that you put all books back where they came from or at least underneath the desk. (This includes literature books, dictionaries etc.)
- All creative writing assignments should be school appropriate. (While I encourage you to be creative and explore different ideas, these ideas should be appropriate for any of the other faculty members to hear or read.)
- THROWING is ABSOLUTELY prohibited. I will not risk your well being in my class; therefore NOTHING will be thrown. If you are giving something to another student, hand it to them or pass it to them. If you are throwing trash away in the trash can do not throw it. Simply walk to the trash can and drop it in. The first time you throw something you will get a warning. After that, it will result in detention. Failure to come to detention will result in a referral.
- Remember that you are in a public place and your behavior impacts the experience of people around you. (Let someone else be remembered as the class clown.)
Cell Phone Procedures
- Cell phones and other electronic devices are allowed when permitted. If I see an electronic device when not allowed, I will ask for it. Please hand it over with no further conversation. Failure to hand over the device will result in detention.
- After class, you may speak with me about the proper times to use your phone and possibly sign up for detention.
- If you need to know the time, check the clocks on the wall.
- During quizzes or tests, phones are to be face down on top of your desk. If I find a phone turned over for ANY REASON I will take your test of quiz and give you a zero.
Positive Consequences
- Positive Parent Contact
- Self-respect and the respect of others
- Treats from the Treasure Box
Negative Consequences
- Parent contact
- Teacher/Administrative Detention
- In-School/Out-of-School Suspension
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I have read the class syllabus. I understand and agree to follow the class procedures, rules, and consequences.
______
Student Signature Block
I have read the class syllabus. I understand the classroom rules and procedures and agree to encourage my child to follow them.
______
Parent/Guardian Signature Date
Parent/Guardian Name(s): ______
Home phone: ______
Workplace: ______
Work Phone: ______
Cell Phone: ______
Parent/Guardian Email Address: ______