12^th Grade World Literature & Composition

2009-2010

Ms. Nicole Hayes

Mrs. Dewi Schierholz                                                         Room E105                                          Hayesn@fultonschools.org

                                                                                                                                                                Schierholzd@fultonschools.org

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

Texts:     Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: World Literature, Prentice Hall (replacement cost $62.00)

                Prentice Writing and Grammar ($26)

                Supplementary Novels ($10/each for paperback titles; $20/each for hardcover titles)

Students are financially responsible for all books issued by CHS. Textbooks may not be left in classrooms and teachers are not responsible for the whereabouts of your book. The copy which was issued must be turned in at the end of the course.  You will not receive credit for turning in another student's book and may not turn in replacement books.  The cost of replacement will be assessed to any student that fails to turn in the book they were issued or turns in a damaged book. 

Course Description

In 2004 the Georgia Department of Education adopted new Georgia Performance Standards for grades 9-12. Consistent with state curriculum, the Fulton County Schools English language arts curriculum implementation aligns with state standards. The content standards for twelfth grade courses are clustered by strands: Reading and Literature, Reading Across the Curriculum, Conventions, Writing, and Listening/Speaking/Viewing.

Twelfth graders will continue to build on the reading and language curriculum established in grades 9-11. Throughout this required one-semester course, students will have opportunities to develop an understanding of literature as both a product of its culture and as a culture-bearer. In addition, students will recognize the commonalities and the differences among works of literature from different times in history and from different places in the world. They will demonstrate their mastery level of new learning through performance tasks and assessments.

Reading and Literature

Students will read, analyze, and apply their knowledge of the structures, themes, and elements of fiction and nonfiction. Through extensive reading, students will acquire new vocabulary specific to the study of world literature and apply that knowledge in their writing.

Reading Across the Curriculum

To encourage students to become life long readers, the curriculum includes standards that address both academic and personal habits of reading. Students will read approximately one million words per year from a variety of subject disciplines including language arts. In the English language arts classroom, students will learn the vocabulary of literature, writing, and listening, speaking, and viewing.

            Some literature that we will explore this semester to address these standards may include:

Things Fall Apart

The Kite Runner

Othello

Excerpts from Gilgamesh, the Bible, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Mahabharata, the Panchatantra,

Zen Parables

"Survival in Auschwitz" from Night

Non fiction works

They Poured Fire from the Sky

Writing

Expository writing is the focus for twelfth grade; however, students will continue to produce a wide range of writings including polished narratives, persuasive pieces and technical documents. Students will practice both timed and process writing to develop compositions that demonstrate an understanding of tone, point of view, style, organization, author's purpose, and audience. Students will continue to use research and technology to support reading and writing.

The following writing assignments will be given this semester to address these standards:

In class timed essay                                                                           Reading logs, journals

College Application Essay                                                                 Annotated Bibliography

Persuasive writings; letters to the editor                                          A comprehensive writing portfolio with a reflective paper

Conventions

Students will demonstrate an understanding of proper English usage and control of grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, diction, and syntax. They will apply their knowledge of the conventions of language in reading, writing, and speaking and focus on the correct use of clauses, phrases, and the mechanics punctuation. Sentence construction and usage will continue to be a focus for twelfth grade. Students will apply their knowledge of the conventions of format when producing expository writing.

Grammar and Format Conventions that we will cover this semester include:

·         Review of parts of speech, parts of the sentence, Sentence types, Comma Usage

·         Use of active voice

·         Tips and strategies for writing narrative essays, persuasive writing and research summations.

Listening/Speaking/Viewing

Students will continue to develop their critical listening skills.  Through presentations and interactions with the teacher and other students, they will apply effective speaking techniques in small and large group settings. The viewing standards will enable students to develop media literacy skills through the careful examination of contemporary texts including television, radio, film productions, and electronic media.

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

Course Requirements / Expectations

Academic:

There are four 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.  

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

·         Formal Writing - Students will complete three essays and one annotated bibliography.

·         Performance and Participation - A key component of the course is active participation, and student performances.  

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

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.

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

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.

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

Film, Television and Music

Over the course of the semester I will incorporate some film clips, television, and/or music into the curriculum.  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.

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

FULTON COUNTY RECOVERY POLICY:

Opportunities designed to allow students to recover from a low or failing cumulative grade will be allowed when all work required to date has been completed and the student has demonstrated a legitimate effort to meet all course requirements including attendance.

Students should contact the teacher concerning recovery opportunities.  Teachers are expected to establish a reasonable time period for recovery work to be completed during the semester.  All recovery work must be directly related to course objectives and must be completed ten school days prior to the end of the semester.

Teachers will determine when and how students with extenuating circumstances may improve their grades.

Chattahoochee High School Guidelines:

Recovery is available to students with a cumulative grade below 74% after a minimum of two (2) major grades.  The maximum grade a student can earn for a recovery activity is 70%.  There will be only one recovery opportunity per failed major assignment or test. The individual teacher will determine the means of recovery. THE STUDENT MUST INITIATE THE PROCESS WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS OF NOTIFICATION OF A FAILING GRADE ON A MAJOR ASSIGNMENT/TEST.

CHS English Department Plagiarism Statement

Plagiarism is the use of another's words or ideas and the presentation of them as though they are entirely one's own.  Acts of plagiarism might include, but are not limited to:

1.  using words or ideas from a published source without proper documentation;

2.  using the work of another student (e. g. copying another student's homework, composition, or project);

3.  using excessive editing suggestions of another student, teacher, parent, or paid editor.

Plagiarism on any project or paper at Chattahoochee High School will result in a zero for the assignment and an Honor Code violation.  Unless directly stipulated by the teacher, collaboration on written work is not acceptable.  Students who willingly provide other students with access to their work are in violation of the Honor Code.  Students guilty of cheating will receive a grade of "0" on the assignment or test. The assignment may not be made up (students having zero's are not eligible for recovery). Additionally, an Honor Violation Form will be completed by the teacher and filed in the school office. Violations may be considered by faculty in making future recommendations. Membership in honor clubs could be jeopardized. Students receiving an Honor Code violation will be assigned to serve two (2) days of Saturday School for the first offense.