Mrs. Erin E. Pagtakhan

Conference: Room D9, 4th Period & Tuesdays after school

American Literature

Dear Juniors:

I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve as your teacher in this challenging and enriching course. This year we will focus on honing your writing skills & sharpening your ability to critically analyze important pieces of American Literature. Please review the following information & familiarize yourself with this course outline, as well as my classroom policies & procedures. USE MY WEBSITE: Nearly everything for this class is there: www.pagtakhanenglish.org.

Reading Selections

Semester One:

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Various works from American authors, including Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass, Emily Dickinson, etc.

Selected short stories & poems from text

Semester Two:

Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Catcher in the Rye By J.D. Salinger

Street Car Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

Selected Modernist & Post-Modern short stories/poems from text, to include Ernest Hemingway, J.D. Salinger, Kate Chopin, T.S. Eliot, Kurt Vonnegut, & more! Yay!

Requirements and Expectations

  • Daily participation is required through class discussion and collaborative work groups.

o  Regular involvement in class dialogues is required to earn in A in this class.

§  In other words, if you do not raise your hand/participate in class discussions of your own volition, you will not be able to earn an A, regardless of essay/test scores. You can, however, earn a B—it’s not all or nothing.

  • Every class member will give presentations on a regular basis throughout the year, both individually and as a member of a group.
  • ALL MAJOR ESSAYS WILL BE TYPED, DOUBLED SPACED, AND IN A 12 POINT TIMES NEW ROMAN FONT, ACCORDING TO MLA FORMAT.
  • “My printer broke” will never be an acceptable excuse for late work, EVER. There are many ways to solve this problem, NONE of which include printing in my classroom or emailing me an assignment.
Suggested/Recommended Class Supplies

·  Loose-leaf college-ruled paper

·  Blue/black ink pens

·  #2 Pencils

·  Pocket stapler: very important

Binder w/following labeled dividers:

·  “ISMs Notes”

·  “Homework/Returned Work”

·  “Writer’s Reference”

Student Assessment

You will be graded using a standards-based weighted grading system that has been mutually agreed upon by the English department members at FHS according to the following categories:

EREADING: 35% EWRITING: 50% ELISTENING/SPEAKING: 15%

GRADING SCALE (Dept./School policy of no rounding, so please don’t ask…)

90-100 A 70-79.9 C

80-89.9 B 60-69.9 D

Work Standards

§  Use full page, loose-leaf paper (not torn out spiral notebook paper or half sheets)

§  Write work in blue or black ink

§  Use proper heading on ALL work: Name, Period #, Date, & Assignment Title.

o  Failure to include full heading will result in letter grade point deduction.

§  Proofread all work prior to submission

§  Always submit your BEST effort

§  Develop and maintain a sense of personal integrity—author your own work, not Google’s or your tutor’s or your mom’s or your friend’s...

SAVE ALL OF YOUR GRADED WORK UNLESS INSTRUCTED OTHERWISE. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR SCORE WILL BE RESOLVED BY REFERRING TO THE GRADE ON THE RETURNED WORK.

PROCEDURES

Make-Up and Late Work

There is no substitute for regular, timely attendance in class. I do not accept any late work, except:

§  Make-up assignments are available for excused absences. You have one day for each excused absence unless we have agreed upon an alternate due date.

§  NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED FOR UNEXCUSED ABSENCES. PERIOD.

§  MAJOR PRE-ANNOUNCED ASSIGNMENTS will receive a 50% deduction for each day late, so get those essays in on time.

·  Please place all make-up work in the tray labeled “IN”—CLEARLY LABEL WORK AS “ABSENT”—do NOT walk up & hand it to me at my desk.

·  To clarify, in regard to major projects, tests, and essays, even excused absences will not apply—you must find a way to get the assignment in on the due date and/or BE HERE FOR THE TEST/ESSAY SUBMISSION/SPEECH. Communication is key.

§  If you need to discuss an absence or make-up work with me, please do so on your own time and NOT during class time—I am available 4th period, as well as after school on Tuesdays.

§  Remember, it is YOUR responsibility to inquire about make-up work within the time limits.

§  Per school & district policy, you must complete work PRIOR TO LEAVING for a planned absence; this includes field trips/sporting events/family trips.

Tardy Policy

You are considered tardy if you are not in your seat and ready to work at the start of class.

§  Three tardies = FHS detention

§  Additional detention for every tardy after three

§  7th tardy = suspension from my class

Final note: After some time with me, you will find that I am a reasonable person. Do not let concerns fester; come and see me. I am always willing to listen and want to know what is on your mind. Come and speak to me if you are struggling with course content or other curriculum areas. Don’t go home confused; I am here to help you. I want very much for each and every one of you to succeed this year, and I believe you can. Good luck!

Parent/Guardian Information Sheet

Student Name: ______

First & Last Name of Guardian(s): ______

Contact Phone #: ______

E-Mail Address: ______

GUARDIAN/STUDENT/TEACHER CONTACT POLICY:

In an effort to encourage accountability and positive learning outcomes, the student must make an attempt at communicating with me prior to a guardian doing so. It’s genuinely amazing the difference meeting with a teacher can make when students take the reins in their own learning. Once a student has met with or contacted me, I am more than open to meeting with guardians. EXCEPTIONS: This policy only applies to course content (tests, quizzes, essays, etc.); it does NOT apply to personal issues of which guardians would like me to be aware. Please contact me at any time at all regarding issues of a personal nature.

I have read the Course Outline & Contact Policy for Mrs. Pagtakhan’s English class and understand the requirements and expectations set forth.

PARENT SIGNATURE: ______

STUDENT SIGNATURE:______