Alpharetta High School
2011-12
Instructor: Dr.Gingrich
PH: 770-521-7640 ext176
E-mail: gingrich@fulton.k12.ga.us
RISE Times:
Tuesday: 8am to 830 am in room 3317
Course Description:
In 2004 the Georgia Department of Education adopted new Georgia Performance Standards for grades 9-12. Consistent with state curriculum, the Fulton County Schools English language arts curriculum implementation aligns with state standards. The content standards for this course are clustered by strands: Reading and Literature, Reading Across the Curriculum, Conventions, Writing, and Listening/Speaking/Viewing.
American Literature and Composition will continue to build on the reading and language curriculum established in tenth grade. Throughout this course, students will have opportunities to develop and expand their knowledge of American literature and demonstrate their mastery level of new learning through performance tasks and assessments. At the completion of this course, students will take the American Literature and Composition End-of-Course Test required by state law.
Reading and Literature
Focusing on a chronological study of American literature, students will develop an understanding of the importance of various periods of literature that characterize and reflect the American experience. They will read, interpret, analyze, and apply knowledge of the structures, themes, and elements of American fiction and nonfiction. Examining letters, journals, diaries, and speeches, students will trace the history of the development of American literature. They will also consider the influence of mythical and classical texts on American authors. Through extensive reading, students will acquire new vocabulary specific to the study of American literature and apply that knowledge in their writing.
Reading Across the Curriculum
To encourage students to become life-long readers, the curriculum includes standards that address both academic and personal habits of reading. Students will read approximately one million words per year from a variety of subject disciplines including language arts. In the English language arts classroom, students will learn the vocabulary of literature, writing, and listening, speaking, and viewing.
Writing
Expository writing is the focus for eleventh grade; however, students will continue to produce a wide range of writings including polished narratives, persuasive pieces and technical documents. Students will practice both timed and process writing to develop compositions that demonstrate an understanding of tone, point of view, style, organization, author’s purpose, and audience. Students will continue to use research and technology to support reading and writing.
Conventions
Students will increase their knowledge of the conventions of language in reading, writing, and speaking. They will demonstrate their control of the rules of English, focusing on the correct use of clauses, phrases, and the mechanics of punctuation. Sentence construction and usage will continue to be a focus for eleventh grade. Students will apply their knowledge of the conventions of format when producing expository text including research based papers.
Listening/Speaking/Viewing
Students will continue to develop their critical listening skills. Through presentations and interactions with the teacher and other students, they will apply effective speaking techniques in small and large group settings. The viewing standards will enable students to develop media literacy skills through the careful examination of contemporary texts including television, radio, film productions, and electronic media.
Honors American Literature emphasizes student enhancement of reading, writing, speaking, listening and critical thinking skills through integrated activities. Students in this course will study a survey of periods of American Literature including the Colonial Periods, the American Renaissance, Transcendentalism, Naturalism, Realism, Modernism, and Postmodernism as well as reading classic works of American literature which have been tied thematically to those literary movements. Students will read many different genres including fiction, poetry, drama, and non-fiction. Becoming effective writers, readers, and speakers at a college level will be a major goal of this course. I think that students will find the readings in this course challenging and beneficial and will benefit greatly from the many opportunities to write about and discuss the literary works. Writing and reading assignments will be very frequent. The focus in the second semester will be on college writing, rhetorical analysis, and preparation for the AP Exam.
Course Objectives:
1. students will have broad knowledge of the major works of American Literature and their contribution to American society
2. students will be able to read and respond critically to a variety of college level readings
3. following this course, students will be writing and speaking at a level expected in college composition courses and other specific academic area courses
Texts:
Two texts will be assigned to you through the school book checkout, an American Literature Textbook and a Writing Handbook. You are expected to have these in class at the appropriate times.
Costs of Textbooks
Bedford Reader, $62
Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes (Ruby Level) $61.97.
Hodges Harbrace Handbook (Burgundy Colored) $36.
Supplies
Periods and Topics to be studied:
I. Pre and Early Colonialism (Beginnings-1750)
II. Revolutionary and Nationalism (A Nation is Born)
III. Romanticism (A Growing Nation)
IV. Realism and Naturalism (Division, Reconciliation, and Expansion)
VI. Contemporary Literature and Postmodernism (Prosperity and Protest)
VII. Research and Analysis (Writing in the Academic Disciplines)
VIII. Persuasion and Argumentation
IX. Rhetorical and Media Analysis
Classroom Rules:
1. Always come to class prepared. This includes bringing a textbook or assigned readings, pen, paper, notebook, homework, and other materials as needed.
2. Be respectful of others and their property. This includes classmates as well as the teacher. Please also be very respectful of the school environment and property.
3. Do not bring food, drink, or candy to class. School rules also dictate that there be no gum in classrooms.
4. Be on time!
5. Refer to student handbook for guidelines for appropriate behavior in classes and corresponding disciplinary actions for infractions.
Late work policy:
Late work (except in circumstances of an excused absence) will be accepted one day following a due date but will receive only 50% of available credit.
Make-up work:
Make-up work should be completed one day after you return from an excused absence. Tests should be made up within one week of returning from an excused absence.
Grading Procedures:
A= 90-100
B= 80-89
C =70-79
F= 69 and below
The semester grade will be tabulated as follows:
15% EOCT Test or Final Exam (State Final Exam)
55% Summative Assessments
30% Formative Assessments
Drafting Policy:
Writing in this class emphasizes process and individual growth as a writer. A daily grade
will be given for rough drafts of essays; students receive full credit if they complete the word requirements. Second drafts will be graded by Dr. Gingrich. Once students receive their second drafts with Dr. Gingrich’s grade and comments they will have one week to revise the paper if they are not satisfied with their grade/score or wish to improve their writing. They may meet with Dr. Gingrich during the remediation period or another time before or after school or during lunch to work on writing papers and AP exams.
Class Rules:
Academic:
· All work submitted for grading must be in ink on paper not torn out of a notebook. All out of class papers must be typed and double spaced. (pencil: - 15 points; torn – 15 points; not double spaced – 20; not typed: – 25 points) Students may write on the back of paper during timed, in class writings or essays on tests as long as the pen does not bleed through making the work illegible.
· All out of class papers must be submitted through turnitin.com before they will be graded.
· All work must be on time! Compositions, major projects, and presentations will be accepted late one day for half credit. (For example, if the assignment is due on Monday, the assignment will be accepted on Tuesday for half credit; on Wednesday and thereafter, it is a zero.) Homework is not accepted late for any reason.
· Students should bring all needed materials to class. Locker passes will not be issued.
· Assignments made prior to a full day absence and due on the day the absence occurs, will be due upon the student’s return. Students who are present for ANY portion of the school day are expected to turn in all assignments due on that day in order to receive credit for the assignment.
· In the case of printer problems, students should email the work to me prior to 8:30 AM to avoid the late penalty. I will send you a return message that reads, “Received” once I open the attachment and print it. If you do not get the message from me, you know that I have not received it. Students will not be allowed to print work during class time. Students may use the AHS library to print work before school.
· In the case of computer problems, use the AHS library computers before school, during lunch or after school or use the computers at your local public library. Computer problems are common and are not an excuse for not having work completed or typed.
· Class participation is graded holistically based on the following: actively engaging in class daily (listening, taking notes, being prepared), offering ideas, asking questions, attempting answers, discussing materials, using textual references, clarifying material, etc. Two class participation grades will be entered - one at midterm, one before finals. Students loose points for inhibiting class discussion or being excessively absent. One cannot participate if one is not in class.
Behavior:
· All school rules will be enforced (dress code, cell phone, ear phones, tardies, etc.).
· Respect yourself and all others.
· You are or almost are an adult, act like one.
Attendance, Make-up Work, and Extra Help: It is very important for students to be in class every day. Meaningful class discussions cannot be recreated and, consequently, that can affect learning and grades in this class. Each student is responsible for all work missed. It would be wise to pair off with another student in this class who would be willing to keep you informed of assignments and share class notes. All missed work should be made up according to the information in the student handbook.
Writing, Grammar, and Vocabulary: Both in class and out of class writing assignments, grammar, and vocabulary will enhance each unit of this course.
Georgia Performance Standards The course will also conform to all of the Georgia Performance Standards outlined for English Language Arts at the 11th grade level. In English Language Arts performance standards are concerned with
two major areas of focus: reading and writing conventions and listening, speaking, and viewing. The standards for viewing are new for Georgia, and they address the need for students to become discerning viewers of text. These standards are primarily concerned with media literacy.
The complete list of all the Performance Standards for the course are available online at http://www.georgiastandards.org/langart.asp under American Literature and Composition.
Lost/damaged book policy: Students are financially responsible for all books issued by Alpharetta High School. Textbooks may not be left in classrooms, and teachers are not responsible for students’ books once books have been issued to the student. The copy issued to the student must be turned in at the end of the course. Students will not receive credit for turning in another student’s book, and students may not turn in replacement books. The cost of replacement will be assigned to any student that fails to turn in the exact book she/he was issued and/or to any student that turns in a damaged book. If a student is issued a damaged book (i.e. broken binding, torn pages, water damage, writing, etc…), then the book must be brought to room 1330 for a replacement book or to document the damage. There is a two week grace period for students to document damage before the student will be held accountable.
Recovery Policy
Opportunities designed to allow students to recover from a low or failing
cumulative grade will be allowed when all work required to date has been
completed and the student has demonstrated a legitimate effort to meet all
course requirements including attendance.
Students must contact the teacher concerning recovery opportunities. Teachers
are expected to establish a reasonable time period for recovery work to be
completed during the semester. All recovery work must be completed ten school
days prior to the end of the semester.
The teacher will determine when
and how students with extenuating circumstances may improve their grades. To be
eligible for recovery, you must have no missing assignments and have not been
excessively absent.
Students (YOU) have to start this process!
AHS Plagiarism Statement: A particular kind of honor code violation occurs with plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s words or ideas and the presentation of them as though they are entirely one’s own. Acts of plagiarism include but are not limited to using words or ideas from a published source without proper documentation; using the work of another student (e.g., copying another student’s homework, composition or project); using excessive editing suggestions of another student, teacher, parent, or paid editor. Plagiarism on any project or paper at Alpharetta High School will result in a zero for the assignment, two days of Saturday school, and an Honor Code Violation. Unless directly stipulated by the teacher, collaboration on written work is not acceptable. Students who willingly provide other students with access to their work are in violation of the Alpharetta High School Honor Code. From time to time, students will be required to register with and post assignments to the Fulton County approved plagiarism detection site, turnitin.com. Should the teacher require posting the particular assignment to turnitin.com, the assignment must have been posted to the website prior to the time the assignment is collected in class or the assignment will be considered late.
1. unauthorized/unsupervised use of the computer network
2. shelling-out to network directories
3. adding software packages of any kind to the network
4. causing damage to the network environment
We at Alpharetta H.S. firmly believe that the access to valuable information and interaction available on this worldwide network far outweighs the possibility that users may procure material inconsistent with the educational goals of Fulton County Board of Education. Internet access is coordinated through a complex association of government agencies, and regional and state networks. In addition, the smooth operation of the network relies upon the proper conduct of the end users who must adhere to strict guidelines. These guidelines are provided here so that you are aware of the responsibilities you have. In general this requires efficient, ethical and legal utilization of the network resources.
Statements and/or information provided by the Internet's World Wide Web do not necessarily reflect those views held by AHS. Any information you gather from various World Wide Web sites while you are using the Internet is your sole responsibility. This is also true for any damages incurred. This includes loss of data, non-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by the Internet or by your own error(s) or omission(s). Alpharetta High School, Fulton County Board of Education accepts no responsibility for accuracy and/or quality of information obtained through the use of its Internet services.
Additionally, vandalism will result in immediate cancellation of privileges, disciplinary action and may result in school suspension and/or criminal charges. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, Internet, or any of the above listed agencies or other networks that are connected to the Internet provider. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses. Moreover, you do not have permission to create "homepages," directories, or establish additional network addresses here at Alpharetta High School.
Home Access Center:
As you may already know, Alpharetta High School has a program called Home Access Center that allows you to view your child’s academic progress and attendance on-line. You may contact the AHS Counseling Office to obtain a log on password to your account. Due to limited access to a telephone during the day, the best way for us to keep in contact with you is by email.
AP Exam Requirements –
Per Fulton County and College Board policy, any student that does not take their AP exam FOR ANY EXCUSED OR UNEXCUSED REASON is responsible for the returned/unused exam fee of $13. Any student that is passing their AP class, even if it is with a 70%, MUST take their AP exam.
I reserve the right to make any chances to the syllabi if the course necessitates them.
I have received and read the syllabus for Dr. Gingrich’s AP Language and Composition Course at http://www.rsgingrich.com/americanliterature/11home.htm
Students’ Signature:_____________________________________________
Parent or Guardians’ Signature:___________________________________