Lassiter High School
Reaching Excellence and Climbing Higher
Language Arts Department
Fall Semester 2010
COURSE TITLE: American Lit/Comp 112A INSTRUCTOR: Danielle Crandall
Shay Kappel
EMAIL: , PHONE #: 678-494-7863 ext. 282
INSTRUCTOR WEBSITE: http://lhsblogs.typepad.com/jacobs
LEARNING GOALS:
¨ Students will demonstrate proficiency in the critical thinking skills of decision-making, information processing, reasoning, and analysis at or above course standards.
¨ Students will demonstrate appropriate critical thinking skills in reading comprehension and written expression. All students will be asked to write in complete sentences for assignments.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed for college-bound students and will survey American works from Native Americans through the Romantic and Transcendental movements. The course will prepare the student for specific writing experiences such as exposition and analysis of literature as well as provide speaking and listening opportunities, vocabulary development, and test-taking strategies.
GRADING POLICY: Major assignments (tests, essays, projects) …… ….……… 50%
Minor assignments (quizzes, homework, class work, etc.)…30%
Final Exam………………………………………………………..20% Total…………………………………………………….…….....100%
TEXTS/READINGS: Students will read a variety of works from the textbook Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: The American Experience Vol. II. Parallel readings will include The Crucible by Arthur Miller (in textbook) and The Best of Poe published by Prestwick House - Literary Touchstone Classics. Other parallel readings will be determined at a later date.
VIDEOS: To compare and contrast, we may view portions of each of the following films rated PG: The Crucible. We may occasionally view other curriculum-related movies or movie clips none of which will exceed a PG-13 rating. Your signature on this syllabus indicates permission for your student to view PG-13 rated movies.
§ MATERIALS NEEDED: Three-ring binder, college-rule paper, section dividers, blue or black pen/pencil, a composition journal, a student issued literature book, post-it notes, highlighters, one package of colored printing paper, and a flash drive. Students should have all materials and the appropriate books in class EVERY DAY! Students who repeatedly come to class unprepared will receive morning detention.
LATE WORK POLICY: Major assignments turned in late will be penalized 20% per day for every day late. Long-term assignments (about a week or more before the final due date) must be turned in on the published due date to receive full credit. No minor assignments will be accepted late.
TARDY POLICY: To avoid being counted tardy, students must be seated and ready for class when the bell rings. School policy states that 3 tardies = 1 after school detention, 3:30-5:30 p.m.; 6 tardies = Saturday School + loss of parking space; 9 tardies = 2 days ISS. See student handbook for additional information.
HALL PASSES: Each student will be able use a pass ONLY if he or she has the student handbook he or she
was given on the first day of school.
EXTRA HELP: Lassiter’s English department has a schedule of extra help sessions both before and after school on a regular basis. For extra help specifically with Mrs. Crandall, be sure to make an appointment.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS: Students are expected to follow all policies in the Lassiter Student Handbook. Some of these include, but are not limited to the following: acts that interfere with a good learning environment, horseplay, inappropriate language, insubordinate behavior, and use of electronic devices. When a student demonstrates inappropriate behavior they will receive one of the following consequences: warning, detention, office referral, or other consequence set forth by an administrator in accordance with Lassiter's policies.
MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS:
§ All work should be completed with care and reflect grade level insight. Illegible work and papers without the proper identification will receive a zero.
§ Student name, teacher name, class and period, and date should appear in the upper left-hand corner of all assignments per MLA style.
§ All final draft essays should follow the standard MLA manuscript format for written composition.
§ Major writing assignments should be typed. For your convenience, the media center computers are available before and after school, and during lunch for word processing.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Cheating is considered a serious matter. The parents of a student who has been involved in cheating will be notified and the student will receive a grade of zero for the test or evaluation period, and a grade of U in conduct.
For this course, cheating is defined as, but is not limited to, the following acts:
§ Copying anyone’s answers to questions, exercises, study guides, class work or homework assignments
§ Taking any information verbatim from any source, including the Internet, without giving proper credit to the author, or rearranging the order of words and/or changing some words as written by the author and claiming the work as his or her own, i.e., plagiarism.
§ Looking onto another student’s paper during a test or quiz.
§ Having available any study notes or other test aids during a test or quiz without the teacher’s permission.
§ Collaborating on assignments when independent work is expected.
§ Students will submit all major writing assignments to turnitin.com as a precaution against plagiarism.
Per Lassiter policy, the penalties for cheating include receiving a zero on the assignment and administrative referral. A repeat violation will result in a zero, administrative referral, and expulsion from all Honor societies.
SPECIAL NOTE: Please keep this syllabus to refer to throughout the semester. It should be the first page in your three-ring binder. If you ever have any questions, look here or on the website. If you still do not find an answer, you may email me for help. I look forward to this year with you.
LASSITER HIGH SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS DEPARTMENT FALL 2010
SYLLABUS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
TEACHER: Danielle Crandall/Shay Kappel…..……………………………… COURSE: American Lit/Comp 112A
PLEASE SIGN BELOW INDICATING YOUR AGREEMENT TO THE FOLLOWING:
q I have read the parent letter and understand the academic integrity policy.
q I have reviewed the class syllabus and understand the grading policy.
q I give permission for my child to view G, PG or PG13 movies if they are related to the curriculum of the class
q I give permission for my child to read the class parallel readings noted in the syllabus.
q I am willing to be contacted by email.
q I have access to the internet and will access the I-Cue parent feature (once it is available) to check on my child’s progress. I understand that teachers will make every effort to post grades within two weeks of accepting the assignment, but that the posting of grades on larger papers and projects may extend beyond the two week time frame.
Student Name: ______Class Period: ______
(Please print.)
______
(Student’s Signature) (Parent’s Signature)
______
(Student’s E-mail—optional but encouraged) (Parent’s E-mail—optional but encouraged)
RETURN THIS FORM WITH BOTH SIGNATURES BY 8/09/10.
Please feel free to contact the instructor if you have any additional questions or concerns.