World Literature Syllabus and Policies

2014-2015

Mr. McDaniel

Email:

Twitter: @PreApWorldLit

Classroom Phone:502-484-4171

Course Overview

Welcome to Mr. McDaniel’s World Literature class! This class will involve you directly in reading, writing, and especially thinking. English II encourages collaborative learning through small and large groups, formal and informal writing activities, discussions, and peer response workshops. We will be reading many types of text and I believe you will find this class very enjoyable. Upon completing this class, students will be able to

  • Appropriately address various audiences for various writing purposes.
  • Employ pre-writing methods such as free writing, brainstorm listing, clustering, and informaloutlining.
  • Find and assess information
  • Think critically
  • Choose and distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources
  • Revise, edit, and proofread your own and others' work
  • Use technology for research and text production
  • Develop an understanding of text strategies, and in general, a writer’s knowledge of the connections between writing and reading processes
  • Learn to analyze, synthesize and evaluate written materials, and to incorporate that material, along with original thinking, into persuasive and critical essays

By the end of the course, you should be able to demonstrate an authoritative understanding of a subject based on research, evaluation, and analysis. Students completing English II will achieve writing fluency, clarity, and correctness through learning to generate writing topics, writing multiple drafts, contributing to the class through regular attendance and participation in peer response groups and class discussions, developing knowledge of the connections between writing and reading, responding to and critiquing essays written by others, and adjusting to the demands of writing in an academic community.

Course Content

We will be covering literature from many different time periods, all the way up to the present. Students will be developing their writing skills daily short writings and longer projects, such as narratives, argumentative writing, and information writing.

Course Materials

• Pen AND pencil and loose leaf lined paper

• 3-ring binder to organize your class materials.

∙Notebook for journal logs

Course Policies

Every day when you enter my classroom, I will be ready to teach you an engaging lesson. If you approach this class with a positive attitude, respect for your classmates, and a sense of responsibility, you will be successful! My expectations for you are listed below. Make sure you review these expectations carefully and know that I will hold you to these standards of behavior.

Respect: Every person in this class will be given an equal opportunity to express himself or herself in class discussions, group work, writings, etc. Individuals may dress differently, have different beliefs, or communicate in different ways, but I expect you to treat each classmate with respect. In a discussion, a variety of opinions often surface. While you will not be asked to change your way of thinking, you will be expected to listen to others with respect and to express your personal opinions in a respectful manner. If you disagree with someone’s viewpoint, you are free to challenge them. However, please take time to consider your classmates’ opinions. The ability to weigh different perspectives and a willingness to change one’s ideas based on the presentation of new evidence are essential skills in today’s information age.

Behavior: Follow theClassroom Rules:

1. Be in your assigned seat daily before the bell rings.

2. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

3. Have all materials before class begins.

4. Follow directions the first time they are given.

5. Do not talk while the teacher or another classmate is talking.

School Policies: Any rule stated in the Student Handbook is, of course, a rule in this classroom as well. Please be very familiar with all school rules and policies.

Arrivals: Class begins when you walk in the room. Please be seated and begin work on your “Start Up”. If you are not in your seat when the bell rings, you will be counted tardy.

Absences: If you have a planned absence from school, please notify me in advance and I will give you the upcoming assignments. It’s always best to make up your work before you leave. If you have an unplanned absence from school, please check the folder on the back bulletin board immediately upon your return to class to obtain any makeup work. You may also e-mail me to find out assignment details. When possible, I will e-mail attachments to you. Regardless of the situation, please talk to me personally if you have any questions or concerns when you return.

Late Work: For excused absences (i.e. illnesses, emergencies, appointments, school activities, parental notes), there will be no penalty for late work as long as the work is completed within one day of your return. For more extended absences due to illness (documented by a doctor’s note), late work must be completed within the number of days that you missed. For example, if you missed 5 days of school you have 5 days upon returning to complete your assignments. For unexcused absences (skipping, no note from parents) students will still be required to make up class work, homework, quizzes or tests for partial to zero credit.

Plagiarism/Cheating: I begin the year with complete trust in each of you. Please do not abuse that trust by being dishonest. Learning cooperatively is great, and I encourage students to get together to brainstorm and discuss assignments.

Plagiarism: material that has been knowingly obtained or copied in whole or in part, from the work of others. . ., including (but not limited to) another individual's academic composition.

Cheating: completing academic work for another student, or providing one's own work for another student to copy and submit as his/ her own.

Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses. Clear cases will result in an unforgivable F for the assignment or test and appropriate academic discipline. If you have any question about when and how to document sources, or any other question that will help you avoid unintentional plagiarism, please talk to your instructor. We will also be covering this in class.

Grading Policy

Please refer to the following grading scale:

A92–100; B 83–91; C 74–82 D 65–73; F Below 65

Test, Projects, and Papers will be 40% of your final grade. Quizzes or test will cover grammar, vocabulary, and skills that will be identified in the daily objective.

Quizzes/Blogs/Journals will be 40% of your final grade. These will be your major writing assignments that students will completed throughout the course.

Classwork/Homework/Participation will be 20% of your final grade. Journals will be required taken up and checked bi-weekly. Participation includes coming to class prepared and on time, taking part in class discussions, asking questions, contributing your knowledge and insights in whatever form is suitable, and striving to make all your contributions excellent. It also includes doing the required reading and writing for each class.

Additional Information

Questions and Help: If you have questions regarding your schoolwork or need extra help, you have a number of options. You can see me after class (I will be here most days very late), by appointment before or after school, and/or you may e-mail or tweet/DM me.

Signature(s): Discuss this course syllabus with your parent(s) or guardian(s). I am looking forward to working with you this year.

I, ______(Student Name), have read and understand the World Literature course syllabus and expectations. After you have received credit for getting this signed, place it in your 3-ring binder. Don’t lose it!

Student Signature: ______Date: ______

I, ______(Parent/Guardian Name), have read and understand the World Literature course syllabus and expectations so I can help keep my child accountable and hold him/her to the same standard they are asked to keep.

Parent Signature: ______Date: ______