English 11: American Literature

Miss Esposito

215-289-5000 x 5012

Objectives: This semester, English 11 students will…

  • Develop a more advanced and introspective approach to analyzing, discussing, thinking critically, and writing
  • Make tangible connections between a variety of genres and works of literature
  • Concentrate on American-born authors
  • Prepare for higher education and the SATs (or ACT where applicable)
  • Improve vocabulary skills through learned strategies and weekly vocabulary quizzes with an emphasis on preparing for SATs, Keystone Exams, college, and life after college
  • Write in a variety of styles and develop research using MLA style citations
  • Create several oral presentations, speeches, and group projects which will prepare students for success beyond high school
  • Accurately identify issues, problems, or questions related to texts and consider multiple perspectives defensible through research
  • Explore and thoroughly identify personal assumptions & bias, as well as the author’s assumptions & bias
  • Research and evaluate the context of evidence when presenting a thesis

Required Texts

English 11: American Literature

  • Textbooks

Elements of Literature: Fifth Course

  • Novels/ Plays:

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller

  • Poetry Unit
  • Research Essay
  • College Essay
  • Speech Curriculum

Short Stories:

“A Rose for Emily”

“Speaking of Courage”

“The Story of an Hour”

“Self-Reliance”

“The Lowest Animal”

“A Pair of Silk Stockings”

“The Crisis, No. 1”

“A Mystery of Heroism”

“The Devil and Tom Walker”

“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”

“To Build a Fire”

…Additional titles TBA, subject to change.

English 11: American Literature

Class Requirements

  • Attendance (students are responsible for notes, assignments, quizzes, homework, etc., MUST check IC)
  • Participation – ALL students are required to participate in class discussions, assignments, and group work.
  • 1” Binder for notes, handouts, and organizational purposes. Sectional tabs are not required, but recommended.
  • Loose-leaf for note-taking, assignments, in-class activities, preferably the type that can be torn out and handed in.
  • Folder dedicated to this class
  • Blue/black pens for graded assignments; pencils acceptable for your own note-taking purposes. No red pens.
  • Independent reading book – must have every single day. This is in ADDITION to the in-class novel being read.
  • Timely completion of all work
  • All required materials must be brought to class, every day, with no exceptions. Failure to have any of these materials will result in detention for being unprepared for class.
  • All formal assignments MUST be typed and DROPBOXED, not shared, nor emailed, nor on a flash drive. Papers that are submitted incorrectly will not receive credit. You must use the provided dropbox.

Late Work Policy – Homework

Students should use the IC Homework Drop Box to ensure assignments are on time. In the rare event that the drop box is not cooperating for the entire class, students will be permitted to attach and email a document to me. All other assignments that do not require typing must be completed and handed in the following class day. If you are absent, you must show your missed work the following day in order to receive credit.
ALL WORK MUST BE COMPLETED; work is not optional. Late homework (any homework that is not turned in at the beginning of the class period when collected on the day it is due) is not tolerated and will result in a homework detention. This policy aims to reduce missed homework assignments and to provide consequences for repeat offenders. Any missed, late, or incomplete homework will be made up after school in the homework detention, and is eligible for up to 70% credit, based upon teacher discretion. If homework is turned in any later than after the HW detention, student will receive zero credit.

  • All assignments are late if not turned in by the start of class.
  • Students will receive a homework detention to finish homework on the same day the homework was due, in the detention session.
  • Students may not begin incomplete work prior to the arrival of their detention. This work will not be accepted and students will still have to complete the detention.
  • Students must complete all work regardless of receiving credit.
  • Incomplete work (does not meet the criteria for credit) will not be accepted; it will be returned to the student, along with a HW detention, and follow the Late Work Policy until completed.

Project/PBA/Paper policy (counted as summative grades):

ALL WORK MUST BE COMPLETED (Late work may be marked down by 10%, or one letter-grade each day it is late). After three days the student will receive a zero, but still must complete the work.

  • All assignments are late if not turned in by the start of class, or by 7:30AM if it is to be dropboxed.
  • Students must complete work regardless of receiving credit.
  • Students will receive an appointment slip or detention in order to work on PBA/paper on the same day the assignment was due in the presence of teacher. If this appointment runs longer than 3:30 (likely), student may be sent to the Prep Zone to complete assignment.
  • As per the homework policy, students may not begin incomplete work prior to their arrival to the appointment. If work is still not done the second day, a second homework detention will be issued.
  • Incomplete work (does not meet the criteria for credit) will not be accepted; it will be returned to the student and follow the Late Work Policy until completed.

Retesting Policy:

  • In most cases, students will not be permitted to retest for an increased grade.
  • Proof of Study must be created and completed in order to consider allowing a student to retest.
  • Retests will be capped at a maximum grade of 75, regardless of higher score.

***There will only be exceptions for extenuating circumstances, in which case the situation will be dealt with on a case by case basis, in accordance with teacher discretion.

Assessments:

  • Vocabulary Quizzes (weekly)
  • Classwork/Notes/Participation (daily)
  • Homework Assignments & Annotation (approximately 4 per week)
  • Formal Writing (2-3 per quarter)
  • Speeches (3 per semester)
  • Summative Assessments (8-9 per quarter total)

English 11: American Literature

Grading:

English 11: American Literature

Formative: 10%

Homework, Quizzes, Class work, Small assignments

Summative: 70%

Tests, Major Papers, Essays, Projects, PowerPoints, Presentations, Speeches, PBAs

Midterm/Final: 20%

Comprehensive/Cumulative exam at the end of each quarter & semester