Advanced Placement Literature - North Mesquite High School

2015-2016 Course Guidelines

Teacher: Wendy Gaskin
Room Number: D-4
E-Mail Address: wgaskin@mesquiteisd.org
Class Web Page: gaskineng.weebly.com
Remind Texts: To receive class text reminders,
A-Day: text @gaskinA to 81010
B-Day: text @gaskinB to 81010
(You can opt-out of messages at any time by replying unsubscribe @gaskinA or unsubscribe @gaskinB)

Welcome to AP Literature and Composition, where we will look at how authors use language to
answer questions about life and the human condition. This year you will study highly
challenging works in their historical and philosophical contexts. We will discuss not only a
works content, but also the writing style in which the author has chosen to present it. Designed
to be a college course, this is an intense class rooted in critical thinking, close reading, and
extensive essay writing. My goal is to prepare you for both higher education and the AP
Literature and Composition exam in May.
The AP Literature and Composition Exam
This is a three-hour exam, which consists of:
A multiple-choice section (approx. 55 questions) testing the students ability to
comprehend and analyze complex text. It is one hour and weighs 45% of the exam grade.
An essay section in which the student must respond to three prompts. This portion is two
hours and weighs 55% of the exam grade.
The exam is scored on a scale of 1-5. Most public colleges award credit for a 3, but some
private and upper-tier universities require a score of 4 for college credit. Check your
prospective university to see what it requires.
Major Works Planned for Whole Class Study
Beowulf
Heart of Darkness
Grendel
The Importance of Being
Hamlet
Earnest
A Doll House

Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are Dead
Inferno (Ciardi translation)

SUPPLIES. Please bring items 1- 4 to class by _____________________.

1. 3-ring binder and loose-leaf notebook paper (binder may be shared with other classes)
2. 5-section dividers
3. Pens (blue or black inkall in-class essays are written in pen)
4. Composition book or wireless notebook
5. Pocket folder with brads (not needed until 2nd six-weeks)
6. Suggested: sticky notes & highlighters
BRING BINDER, PAPER, COMP BOOK, & PENS ALONG WITH
CURRENT NOVEL/INDEPENDENT READING TO CLASS EVERY DAY.

Tests, Quizzes, and In Class Writings

If a student is present in class on the day a test, quiz, or in class writing is administered,
the student must take the test or quiz or do the writing.
If a student is absent from class the day a test, quiz or in class writing is administered, the
student must make arrangements to make up the assessment in a timely manner. On the
day you return, sign up for a makeup time on the sheet in the Absent Binder.
Late Assignments
If a student is present in class the day an assignment is due and does not turn it in during the
beginning of the period in which it is due, it may be turned in later only with a Life
Happens pass; it will receive full credit if one class period late or with the loss of one letter
grade from the final grade for each subsequent class period. (NOTE: please note the final
late/makeup work submission date for the six-weeks on the calendar).
If you are absent
All information about missed work and makeup assignments is in the Absent Binder.
Locate the absence sheet(s) for the day(s) you were out to see what you missed.
Pick up all handouts from the section for your class in the binder.
It is your responsibility to check this binder on the day you return to class. See me if
you have any questions about what you need to do.
If a student is absent from class the day an assignment is due, the assignment is due the
day the student returns to class.
Makeup assignments (those assigned while the student was absent) must be turned in
within one week of the students return to school to receive full credit (NOTE: please
note the final late/makeup work submission date for the six-weeks on the calendar).
After one week, unless there are special circumstances, a Life Happens pass will be
required to submit the work for credit.
Try to be present everydayattendance is crucial to success. Must be present to win!
Communication with the teacher is mandatory when dealing with missed assignments. The
student is responsible for turning in all assignments as instructed. It is NOT the teachers
responsibility to remind students to turn in missed assignments. It is advised that you
communicate with the teacher by email prior to returning to the classroom.
Group Assignments
Each group member when working on a project is equally responsible for the components of
the project during the work time and presentation. It is the entire groups responsibility to
turn in all components of the project by the due date, or points will be deducted from
everyones final grade.
Individual commitment to a group effort that is what makes a team work, a company work,
a society work, a civilization work. Vince Lombardi
Tutoring Times
Wednesday & Friday, 8:00 8:30
Tuesday, 3:45 4:15
2

School Appropriateness in Writing Assignments

Instructional assignments are expected to be school appropriate in language, topic, and
content. Cursing, derogatory remarks, sexual harassment or bullying will not be tolerated.
This includes all writing assignments regardless of prompt.
Electronics/Cell Phones
Students must keep cell phones and other electronic devices silenced and put away unless
specific permission has been granted by the teacher. Also, there is no headphone use in class
without specific permission from the teacher.
Campus phone policy:
1st offensewarning
2nd offensephone will be taken up and turned in to the office. Teachers are not allowed
to return the phone at the end of the class period; we must turn it in to the office.
o 1st time turned in to officestudent may pick it up at the end of the day without
charge
o After the first time a students phone is turned in, a $15 fine will be charged when
it is picked up (at the end of the day).
Phones may not be charged in the classroomthis is a safety issue.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. Students are responsible for upholding the
highest standards of honesty at all times. Activities that have the effect or intention of interfering
with education, pursuit of knowledge, or fair evaluation of a students performance are
prohibited. Specifics about what does or does not constitute academic honesty are provided
below, but what this primarily says is that if you say you read it or wrote it, you really did.
Manage your reputation carefully.
Examples of prohibited activities include, but are not limited to the following:
Cheating
o Acquiring answers for any assigned work or examination from an unauthorized
source
o Working or collaborating with others on an assignment when not paired or the
teacher has not specifically assigned group work
o Looking at another persons paper during an examination
o Using a cheat sheet, including technological devices, during an exam, test, quiz
or writing.
o Providing the contents of an examination or quiz to another person who will be
taking the examination or quiz
Plagiarism
o Failing to acknowledge and cite all sources utilized in a project or paper
o Using the ideas, data, or language of another without acknowledgment
o Turning in work which has been purchased in whole or in part from individuals or
other sources
o Recycling or submitting the same paper (or other type of assignment) for two
courses without prior approval
3

Fabrication
o Falsifying an interview that has not been conducted or creating false sources
o Altering a graded work after it has been returned
Collusion and Coercion
o Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in
an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, failing to secure
academic work; providing a paper or project to another student; providing an
inappropriate level of assistance or unauthorized collaboration; communicating
answers to a classmate about an examination or any other course assignment;
removing tests or answer sheets from a test site; and allowing a classmate to copy
answers or giving out answers.
o Coercion is bribing or bullying a student for answers, to do an assignment, to
write a paper.

Because of our course content and atmosphere, as well as the clear expectations for academic
honesty, it is the responsibility of each student to adhere to a high code of honor and integrity.
Our students work hard and deserve to succeed. This relationship of mutual respect between
student and teacher requires honesty in all situations.
Should cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, collusion or coercion occur, the student will lose
all or partial credit for the particular assignment/assessment. In addition, a student
involved in an instance of academic dishonesty should be aware of the ramifications
regarding teacher recommendations and college admission.
GRADING SCALE
40 %: Major assignments. Assignments such as essays, timed writings, projects, tests, journals,
etc. Major grades are weighted using points rather than percentages. These assignments will be
limited, so missing a major grade will seriously impact your average.
20%: Quizzes, reading responses, and drafts
20%: Daily grades. Daily assignments are graded holistically using the scale below.
20%: Six-week test
Symbol
++
+
+

Grade
100
95
88
80
73
50-?

Level of Completion
Complete
Complete
Nearly Complete
80% +
70% +
Mostly Incomplete

Level of Accuracy
Fully Accurate
Mostly Accurate
Mostly Accurate
Mostly Accurate
Some Accuracy
Little Accuracy

Insightfulness
Insightfulness/analysis
Some insight/analysis
Some insight
Lacking
Not enough to tell
Not enough to tell

Classroom Conduct
1. Be prepared learn.
2. Dont do anything that keeps you (or anyone else) from learning or that interferes with my
teaching. And yes, this means no personal phone use during class.
3. Follow all campus and district guidelines. Even the ones you dont like.
4

Student ContractAP/GT English 4

Please sign, detach, and return this sheet to your teacher by _________________. Please keep the
guidelines in your possession. By initialing and signing, you indicate that you understand and agree to
follow the above guidelines and will accept the consequences if they are not followed. Please speak with
your teacher prior to signing and initialing if you have a question or issue with any of the above
procedures, as your signature implies understanding and consent.
____ Students, please initial, indicating that you understand and will follow the class guidelines and
will accept the consequences if the guidelines are not followed.
_____ Students, please initial, indicating that you understand my definitions of cheating,
plagiarism, fabrication, collusion and coercion and will accept the consequences if the policy is not
followed.
STUDENT email __________________________________________
STUDENT Signature____________________________________________________
STUDENT Name Printed_________________________________________________
PARENT Signature ________________________________________________
PARENT Name Printed ________________________________________________
DATE__________________________________________________

Dear Parents,
In an effort to foster better parent-teacher communication, I am requesting an email address from at least
one parent/guardian for each of my students. I check my email several times a day and will be able to
respond to/contact you with greater expediency than I am able to provide by phone. You are also
welcome to sign up for Remind to receive notices about class due dates and activities. Instructions are on
the first page of this handout. Please provide a preferred email address and daytime phone below:
The following email address belongs to: ________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian email address: _______________________________________________________

The following email address belongs to: ________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian email address: _______________________________________________________
If you would prefer to be contacted by phone, please provide the best number to reach you during the day:
Name: ______________________________________ Phone: __________________________________