12^th Grade Contemporary Literature & Composition

2009-2010

 

 

                                                                                       Ms. Nicole Hayes                                             Hayesn@fultonschools.org

                                                                                       Mrs. Dewi Schierholz                               Schierholzd@fultonschools.org

                               

 

homepage:  http://66.39.52.159/nhayes/class-schedule.html

 

Texts:      Literature Across Cultures, 4th Edition ($48)

                Media in Your Life ($84)

                Supplementary Novels: The Things They Carried, Maus, Water for Elephants ($15-$20/each; we will be asking each student to purchase one copy of Maus)

               

Course Description

This one semester course is a study of modern literary topics and themes of the world. Students will continue to develop vocabulary and apply effective reading strategies to a wide variety of literary and informational texts; to learn about universal themes and symbols common to literary works including the novel, short story, poetry, drama, nonfiction and film; to establish effective writing and research habits; and to refine language skills as they apply to writing, listening, speaking, and viewing.  We will cover basic film technique and consider how directors use them to influence viewer perception.  Students will understand and explain the ways in which different forms of media shape what we know about particular events.  They will also investigate different news vehicles and different propaganda techniques. Throughout the unit we will be considering how communication influences contemporary global culture.  What is the relationship between "literature/media" and "truth?"  The students will work in small groups to present a culminating Media-Analysis Presentation. We will read a number of fiction and non fiction works as part of this unit, and the students will read work together in small groups to launch a fictional project, incorporating what we have learned about film and media techniques.  In addition to reading logs and journals, the students will finish turn in a selection of journals and reading logs with a reflective paper on their writing process.  Our grammar focus for the semester will be on editing our work. 

 

Course Requirements / Expectations

Academic:

There are three major requirements for the course:

 

·         A Writing Portfolio - In addition to the three major compositions (including a college application essay, an in-class essay, and research paper), students will collect their writing in a Writer's Portfolio that will include  journal and reading log assignments, and a reflective essay about their writing.  It will be worth 15% of their semester grade.  

·         Participation and Preparation - A key component of the course is active participation/preparation for class, and student performances.  

·         Unit Tests - There will be a test at the end of each unit.

 

In addition, there will be graded homework and classwork assignments, as well as quizzes and a comprehensive final exam.

 

Notebook Requirements:  Each student is required to keep an organized notebook specifically for this class.  This notebook should contain all materials and work completed, including the following:

·         Course syllabus

·         Class notes and handouts

 

Attendance and Make-up Work

In my classroom there will be an Absentee Folder, where each day's lessons, notes, assignments, handouts, etc. will be kept.  It is a STUDENT'S responsibility to check the binder whenever they return from an absence.  Make up work is to be completed within the same amount of time as the student was absent (i.e. if the student misses two days of class, the work is expected to be turned in two days upon returning).  Refer to the CHS Student Handbook for more information. If a student is absent on a test day, the test will be administered during class on the next day he or she is present.  If a student is absent prior to an announced test or presentation, but returns on the day of the assessment, the student will be expected to participate. Cases of extended absence will be dealt with on an individual basis.

 

ALL MAKE UP WORK IS LISTED ONLINE AT http://66.39.52.159/nhayes/class-schedule.html

 

 

Homework Expectations

Homework is crucial to a student's mastery of skills they have learned in class.  Students should expect homework most nights.  Homework will not be accepted late. Incomplete homework will only receive partial credit of 50% or less. Major assignments (writings or projects) will be accepted late with a penalty of 10 points per day and will not be accepted after 3 school days.

 

Grading Scale

The grading scale for the class is as follows:

                A = 90-100              B = 80-89                C = 70-79                F = below 70

 

 

A cumulative final exam given at the end of the semester will comprise the remaining 15% of the student's grade.

 

Chattahoochee High School Policies

The recovery and plagiarism policies are available in the student handbook which is also online at chattcougar.com.  Click Student Resources on the main page and then access the Student Handbook. 

 

Upon teacher request, students may be required to email essays, research papers, or other written work to turnitin.com. The website checks the submission for plagiarism, provides a receipt for the student to give to the teacher, and reports to the teacher that the student's work was not copied from any source. Students will be trained on the use of turnitin.com in the first weeks of school. Students who do not have email access at home may use the computers in the media center.

 

Georgia Performance Standards

The course will also conform to all of the Georgia Performance Standards outlined for English Language Arts at the 12^th grade level.  In English Language Arts performance standards are concerned with two major areas of focus: reading and writing conventions and listening, speaking, and viewing.  The standards for viewing are new for Georgia, and they address the need for students to become discerning viewers of text. These standards are primarily concerned with media literacy. 

 

The complete list of all the Performance Standards for the course are available online at http://www.georgiastandards.org/langart.asp under World Literature and Composition

 

Film, Television and Music

 

Over the course of the semester I will incorporate some film clips, television, and/or music into the curriculum.  With the exception of the two major films shown as part of the film unit, we will very rarely watch an entire film.  Clips from PG-13 and R rated films are shown only with the approval of the administration and permission from parents.  Films I plan to show to support the lesson plans are listed on the Parental Permission Form for Instructional Use of Videotape.

 

 

Parental Permission Form for Instructional Use of Videotape

Fulton County Schools

Chattahoochee High School

 

The following videos/films have been selected for possible viewing during the 2009 Fall semester in Contemporary Literature:

·         One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest- Rated R for language, violence

·         Citizen Kane - Rated PG

·         The Matrix - Rated R for sci-fi violence and brief language.

·         Breakfast Club - Rated R for language, drug usage

·         Moulin Rouge - Rated PG-13 for sexual content.

·         Crash - Rated R for language, sexual content and some violence.

·         Silence of the Lambs- Rated  R for violence, language and mild sexuality

·         Do the Right Thing- Rated R for violence, language, and sexual content

·         Fight Club- Rated R for violence and language

·         The Dark Knight- Rated R for violence and language

·         Clips from the TV series 30 Days

 

The videos support the following instructional objectives:

·         Analyze directorial techniques

·         Extend understanding of traditional literary concepts to new mediums

·         Analyze how films both shape and reflect the society of which they are a product

 

Entire films are rarely shown; segments pertinent to teaching objectives are shown.  An alternate assignment will be available for those who do not choose to view the films.

 

We will also be reading the following novels:

¡         Maus ( a graphic novel about the Holocaust)

¡         The Things They Carried (a fictional memoir of experiences in the Vietnam war)

¡         Water for Elephants (a novel about a traveling circus set in  the Depression)

¡         Into Thin Air

¡         One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

 

All three of these noted novels are critically acclaimed and address issues relevant to Contemporary Literature.  They include some adult content and themes.  If you prefer not to have your student read one or more of these texts, an alternative selection will be assigned.

 

We will be requesting that your student to purchase a copy of Maus this semester.  The cost for this text is $15.  Checks can be made payable to CHS. 

_______________________________________ Teacher

 

YES, ____________________________ has my permission to view all of the videotapes and read the novels.

 

NO, ___________________________ does not have my permission to view the following films or to read the following novels:

 

Additionally, signing below indicated that I have read and understood the classroom policies listed in the syllabus.

 

Student Name:____________________________  Student Signature: ____________________________________

 

Parent Name:____________________________  Parent Signature: ____________________________________

 

Home Phone: __________________________     Parent Email:________________________________________

 

Work Phone: __________________________

 

 

 

 

    Course Requirements / Expectations

 

Academic:

There are three major requirements for the course:

 

·         A Writing Portfolio - In addition to the three major compositions (including a college application essay, an in-class essay, and research paper), students will collect their writing in a Writer's Portfolio that will include  journal and reading log assignments, and a reflective essay about their writing.  It will be worth 15% of their semester grade.  

·         Participation and Preparation - A key component of the course is active participation/preparation for class, and student performances.  

·         Unit Tests - There will be a test at the end of each unit.

 

 

In addition, there will be graded homework and classwork assignments, as well as quizzes and a comprehensive final exam.

 

Supplies

Students need to provide a notebook with pocket folders of some type, as well as a 3 ring binder to use for their portfolio Project. 

 

Behavioral:

Obviously, follow the rules of the student handbook, but in short, I expect you to be on time, be prepared and be respectful of all the members of the class.

 

Attendance and Make-up Work

In my classroom there will be an Absentee Folder, where each day's lessons, notes, assignments, handouts, etc. will be kept.  It is a STUDENT'S responsibility to check the binder whenever they return from an absence.  Make up work is to be completed within the same amount of time as the student was absent (i.e. if the student misses two days of class, the work is expected to be turned in two days upon returning).  Refer to the CHS Student Handbook for more information. If a student is absent on a test day, the test will be administered during class on the next day he or she is present.  If a student is absent prior to an announced test or presentation, but returns on the day of the assessment, the student will be expected to participate. Cases of extended absence will be dealt with on an individual basis.

 

Homework

Homework will not be accepted late. Incomplete homework will only receive partial credit of 50% or less. Major assignments (writings or projects) will be accepted late with a penalty of 10 points per day and will not be accepted after 3 school days.

 

 

 

ALL MAKE UP WORK IS LISTED ONLINE AT http://66.39.52.159/nhayes/class-schedule.html