AMERICAN LITERATURE SYLLABUS

Instructors: Ms. Nelson (ellen.nelson@byron.k12.mn.us) Mrs. Green (jennifer.green@byron.k12.mn.us) Room 3329

Ms. Nelson is serving as an Intern Teacher under the supervision of Mrs. Green as part of the Teacher Preparation Collaborative through Winona State University. The program is currently designed to provide individuals who hold a minimum of a bachelors degree in an appropriate content area with an opportunity to complete the requirements for a secondary teaching license. This teacher preparation program requires intensive coursework and field experience at the Rochester WSU campus, which is followed by a yearlong internship in a middle or high school. Ms. Nelson will be the primary teacher for this course. She has a Bachelors Degree in English from St. Olaf College, a short-term Substitute Teaching License, and a Limited Intern License. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Green and/or Ms. Nelson. Course Content Summary: American Literature is a REQUIRED course for graduation offered to grade 11. The purpose of the course is to give students a broader understanding and knowledge of their literary heritage. The three types of literature read and analyzed in this class are plays, poems, and novels. Students will be expected to correlate the literature to their contemporary lives. Texts:

A Raisin in the Sun (Lorraine Hansberry) Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck) The Catcher in the Rye (J. D. Salinger) The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald) The Crucible (Arthur Miller) Selected poetry

Assessments: Vocabulary Quizzes/Tests Papers: literary analysis (2) and poetry project Grammar and mechanics when needed Helpful Reminders: Cooperate and study. If I do all the work, youre not going to learn much. Let me know how I can help you be successful, and dont be afraid to ask for help (politely ) at any time. Ill never put you down for asking. Approach the work of the course with a positive attitude. Accept and tackle difficult tasks. Challenge yourself. Have faith in your own ideas and express your individuality through your writing. Suggested Class Materials: Notebook (for this class only)

Folders Writing utensils (pen/pencil) and erasersno bright ink, please! Textbook (as assigned) Assignment book or planner

Daily Expectations and Procedures: If you miss class, you are responsible for making up assignments. Check our Moodle site for updates; collect appropriate materials from the basket on the table; get notes/information from a classmate; come talk to me or send me an e-mail. (Students are allowed two school days to make up the work.) If you are absent on the day of an assigned quiz, test, or writing assignment, you must be ready to take the quiz or test or turn in the paper on the day you return to class. If you are absent from school for part of a day in which a paper or assignment is due, you must get that paper to the teacher (even a substitute) before you leave or upon arrival at school. Be on time for class with your assignments done by the time class starts on the day the assignment is due, unless otherwise stated. I am in school at 7:30 every morning and after school until 3:30 (sometimes earlier, sometimes later). However, I may have meetings, so unless you make arrangements to meet me, do not assume I will always be available. Each student will receive ONE late pass to be used at his/her discretion throughout each quarter. Assignments with a late pass may be turned in up to one week after the assignment is due. Students MAY NOT use late passes on group projects, class presentations for on assignments due within the last week of the quarter or semester. All other late assignments without a late pass will receive a point deduction. Restroom/locker passes will be given on an emergency basis only. If you deem it an emergency, you owe me two minutes of your passing time after class. Cheating and plagiarism will result in a zero on that particular assignment. All work should be your own. Evaluation It is important for you to keep up with assignments daily, and just as important, turning in quality work. ALL FINAL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED AND PRINTED. Your grade will be based on total points earned, so it is very important that you do ALL assignments. You will be surprised how one or two missing assignments can affect your grade. Points are given to each assignment, project, and assessment based on length and complexity. Points are totaled at the end of each quarter with a letter grade assigned at those times. Evaluation will be based on the following percentage breakdown: 94-100% = A 90-93% = A87-89 % = B+ 84-87% = B 80-83% = B77-79% = C+ 74-76% = C 70-73% = C67-69% = D+ 64-66% = D 60-63% = D0-59% = F Rules: Only water, no food and drink, are allowed in the classroom. School rule. Racial, sexist slurs and profanity will not be tolerated. Respect others and be tolerant. Bring books, notebooks, folders, and writing utensils with you to class.

Consequences: First offense warning Second offense you own me 10 minutes before or after school Third offense contact parents, student sent to principal Each of these consequences is cumulative for that day but will begin again on a new day. The Severe Clause is that any action in direct violation of school policy will be treated accordingly.

***I have read the syllabus for American Literature and accept/understand it. ________________________________________________________student signature ________________________________________________________parent/guardian signature Comments: