Lassiter High School Reaching Excellence and Climbing Higher Language Arts Department Fall Semester 2016
COURSE TITLE: AP Literature/Composition INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Todd Henry EMAIL: [email protected] PHONE #: 678-494-7863 SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.lassiter.org CLASS/TEACHER WEBSITE: http://lhsblogs.typepad.com/henry/
LEARNING GOALS: Students will demonstrate proficiency in the critical thinking skills of decision-making, information processing, reasoning, and analysis at or above course standards. Students will demonstrate appropriate critical thinking skills in reading comprehension and written expression. As part of Lassiter High School's School Improvement Plan (SIP), the Common Core Curriculum, and the Superintendent's Advanced Placement (AP) Certification initiatives, all students will participate in a multitude of reading comprehension and analysis activities and vocabulary enrichment strategies.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This college-level course focuses on the reading and analysis of literary works and the writing of critical essays. Students study various genres from world literature, employing advanced reading strategies and examination of literary devices and their effectiveness. The course presupposes writing efficiency but will focus on improving critical analysis and will include a study of vocabulary, grammar, mechanics and usage to improve writing ability. The course also emphasizes oral interpretation, public speaking and listening skills. It is geared toward the student who wishes to pass the AP exam in May.
GRADING POLICY: Major (tests/essays/projects)...... 40% Minor (vocab/quizzes/daily work)...... 25% Participation...... 20% Final Exam...... 15%
TEXTS/READINGS: The Bedford Introduction to Literature
Works not in text – students must buy or borrow the following:
Fall Semester: Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop Level H (students must purchase for $15.00) Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
. VIDEOS: We may also occasionally view other curriculum-related movies or movie clips, none of which will exceed PG-13 rating. Your signature on this syllabus indicates permission for your student to view the films.
MATERIALS NEEDED: . A three-ring binder, college-ruled paper, blue/black ink pens, #2 pencils, red ink pen, highlighters, index cards, post-it-notes, and a flash drive/Google Drive account
ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY:...... A student who is present and actively participates is more likely to be successful; however, if a student is absent, he/she has a one-day make-up privilege for each day of excused absence. (For example, a student absent 2 days would have 2 days to make-up the work.) Students are responsible for checking Mr. Henry’s Blog for the make-up work. A student with an unexcused absence may check the website for assignments and handouts and may choose to complete them in order to keep up with the class; however, the teacher is under no obligation to grade the work. Attempts to update the classwork and homework assignments on the blog are made daily; however, due to the fickle nature of technology, any postings in the classroom for due dates or assignment expectations trump what is posted on the website.
Students who must make up any tests or quizzes have the number of days missed to see Mr. Henry to schedule a time for a make up assessment which may or may not be the same assessment format as given during the class missed.
LATE WORK POLICY: Major assignments turned in late will be penalized 33% per day for every day late. No minor assignments will be accepted late.
TARDY POLICY: To avoid being counted tardy, students must be seated and ready for class when the bell rings. Anyone arriving late to class will have to sign in via Late Arrival System (LAS). Consequences are outlined by the rules set forth in the student handbook.
EXTRA HELP: Students may make up work or obtain help before school, after school, or during lunch by appointment. I am available for individual writing conferences by appointment.
MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS: . All work should be completed with care and reflect grade level insight. Illegible work and papers without the proper identification will receive a zero. . Student's name, teacher's name, course and class period, and date should appear in the upper left-hand corner of all assignments per MLA style. The upper right corner of each page should list the student’s last name and page number. The entire paper, including the heading, should be double-spaced. The title of the paper should be centered on the page below the heading. . All final draft essays should follow the standard MLA manuscript format for written composition. . Major writing assignments should be typed. For your convenience, the writing center (Room 333) and the media center computers are available before and after school for word processing.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Cheating is considered a serious matter. The parents of a student who has been involved in cheating will be notified and the student will receive a grade of zero for the test or evaluation period, and a grade of U in conduct.
For this course, cheating is defined as, but is not limited to, the following acts:
Copying anyone’s answers to questions, exercises, study guides, class work or homework assignments Taking any information verbatim from any source, including the Internet, without giving proper credit to the author, or rearranging the order of words and/or changing some words as written by the author and claiming the work as his or her own, i.e., plagiarism. Looking onto another student’s paper during a test or quiz. Having available any study notes or other test aids during a test or quiz without the teacher's permission. Collaborating on assignments when independent work is expected. Students displaying cell phones, PDA's, calculators, or digital cameras during tests and/or quizzes will have these items confiscated and will be given a zero for that test or quiz.
PUT AWAY YOUR PHONES!!!!!!! My room is a no texting zone. You may not text while in the classroom!
LASSITER HIGH SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS DEPARTMENT Fall 2016
TEACHER: Mr. Todd Henry...... COURSE: AP Literature/Composition
YOUR SIGNATURE BELOW INDICATES YOUR AGREEMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING:
I have read and understand the academic integrity policy. I have reviewed the class syllabus and understand the grading policy. I give permission for my child to view G, PG or PG13 movies if they are related to the curriculum of the class. I give permission for my child to read the class parallel readings noted in the syllabus. If I have access to the Internet, I will access the SYNERGY parent feature to check on my child's progress. I understand that teachers will make every effort to post grades within 2 weeks of accepting the assignment, but that posting of grades for larger papers and projects may extend beyond the 2-week timeframe.
Parents are encouraged to use the parent feature of Pinnacle in order to check their child's progress by accessing Pinnacle on the Internet at www.lassiter.org.
Student's Name: ______Class Period: ______(Please print.)
______(Student's Signature) (Parent's Signature)
______(Student's Email Address) (Parent's Email Address)
RETURN THIS FORM WITH BOTH SIGNATURES BY FRIDAY, August 5, 2016
*Please feel free to contact the instructor if you have any additional questions or concerns at [email protected]