BEST SELLERS SYLLABUS
Class Description:
“Best Sellers” is a literature-based course focusing on best-selling literature from recent decades. Students will explore a variety of literary genres and themes and will read between five and seven books throughout the course of the semester. Class discussion, critical reading strategies, and independent reading projects are the primary forms of assessment.
Essential Questions:
• What is a best-selling book/author?
•What about a writer's style connects to a broad audience?
•What might move a book from best seller to classic?
•What historical/social/cultural events contributed to the popularity of the text?
•How do authors of best sellers employ the devices/elements of literature?
Areas of Focus:
- plot structure/development
- characterization
- setting
- symbolism
- theme/motif
- irony
- point of view
- narrative structure
- literary style
Grading Policies:
1. Summative assessments will be worth 70 percent of a student’s grade. These assessments typically include larger assignments that occur at the end of the learning process (tests, essays, etc.) Formative assessments will be worth 30 percent of a student’s grade. These assessments are designed to be show students how they are progressing toward learning targets (homework, classwork, etc.)
2. Students will be allowed to complete a reassessment only if they have fulfilled their teacher’s requirements for this privilege. These requirements will be specified for the student for each assignment. Requirements may include meeting all deadlines, visiting the English Resource Center, studying in a different way, working with a tutor, etc. Students must prove that they are putting forth their best effort to learn the material in order to retake an assessment. Some assignments may not be eligible for reassessment due to scheduling issues and grading deadlines. These assignments may include assignments due at the end of a grading period, speeches scheduled in class, etc. The teacher will specify for students which assignments are not eligible for reassessment.
Classroom Policies:
- RESPECT your classmates, your classroom, and your teacher. (Our purpose as a class is to learn together, and our goal is to become a comfortable community of learners. Therefore, please refrain from anything that will hinder the teaching or learning in this room.)
- Come to class on time, and be prepared with all needed materials.
- Obey all school rules. (Note: I follow the school’s rules and discipline procedures, including our tardy policy and the four step disciplinary procedure. The handbook is your friend!)
- Any written assignments done out of class must be done on Google Docs.
Plagiarism: I expect the type of academic honesty required by universities. You must do your own work and cite all sources according to MLA guidelines. Cheating and plagiarism will result in appropriate consequences, which often includes a zero on the assignment. We will follow the Student Handbook in regards to plagiarism.
Email:
Late Work:
Deadlines are provided for your benefit. They help ensure that you are learning at an appropriate rate and not being swamped with too many assignments due all at once. They help me, as a teacher, assess our progress as a class and make adjustments. Therefore, we will have due dates, and I expect you to follow them. Formative late work will receive 50% of earned credit. Late summative assignments will be discussed with the teacher. Please note that late work may take me a long time to grade and may not receive comments depending on my schedule.
Missed Work:
1. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up any missed work, including quizzes or tests.
2. Previously assigned work due while you are gone (such as an essay) is due the day you return.
Teacher’s Note:
If you read, you will succeed.