Susitna Valley High School

College Composition

Instructor: Pat Bills 733-9330

Text: Owning the New SAT

Write for College

How to Read Literature Like A Professor

Classroom Behavior/Citizenship

As a senior in high school, it is expected that you are of the age and maturity level to act in a responsible manner. The few rules I will establish are:

1. You must be in your seat, ready to work, when the bell rings.
2. You must bring necessary materials to class.
3. You must treat others in this class and their property with respect.
4. You must use language appropriate to the formal setting of a classroom.
5. You must take care of personal priorities outside of class (bathroom, nurse, counselor, texting, phoning etc.).

Submission of Assignments and Homework

1. All formal papers must be typewritten with a cover page including assignment title, your name, and the date.
2. Make-up work is the responsibility of the student. I will not seek you out. The normal amount of time for make-up work is one day for every day absent. Students leaving for sports events or other pre-arranged absences must have the assignment in before leaving on the trip. Late work will not be accepted unless I specifically OK it, and there is parental confirmation of your excuse.

Course Description

1. We will have the opportunity to learn about the college application and scholarship process from several guest speakers. I will assign participation points for attendance at these important seminars. Do not schedule an absence for these dates. Parents may attend these classes also.

2. We will concentrate on SAT preparation, college choices, admissions essays and assembling scholarship packets.

3. This course focuses on literature based writing. We will read a variety of literary works that have cultural and personal significance. Papers will be shared with the whole class and critiqued and revised. Real growth in student writing comes through revision. These final drafts may be used as writing samples for scholarship packets.

4. Most of the reading and writing will be done outside of class. Class time will be used to analyze and discuss the previous night's assignment. Spot quizzes and reading logs will be used to verify completion of homework.

Grading Scale

90-100%=A

80-89%=B

70-79%=C

60-69%=D

0-59%=F

Class Books

We will start with a war unit and then read Hamlet. Here are some titles for consideration.

1. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
2. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque
3. Maus by Art Spiegelman
4. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
5. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
6. Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
7. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

I have read and understand this syllabus for College Composition.

Student Signature______Date______

Parent Signature______Date______