FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL

World Literature and Composition

Instructor: Miriam Gueck Phone: (970) 305-1067
Email: miriamgueck@gmail.com Website: educatingmindandheart.weebly.com
Office Hours: Periods ______
ELO on Thursday mornings, and by appointment
General Course Description:
SEMESTER OFFERED: Full Year Course
NUMBER OF CREDITS: 5 per semester
PREREQUISITE: 9th Grade English
This course provides students with a foundation in reading and writing skills necessary for completion of a
comprehensive standards-based high school curriculum. The course integrates the teaching of writing with the
study of literature. Students read a substantial selection of world literature including short stories, novels,
drama (including Shakespeare), non-fiction, and poetry. Writing instruction is based on the Six-Traits Model.
Students produce expository, narrative, descriptive, persuasive, technical, and creative writings. This is a
prerequisite for US Literature and Composition.
Student Responsibilities:
Students will adhere to all FCHS policies and the Poudre School District Code of Conduct at all times to
include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Attendance - Students must attend class to receive the greatest benefit from instruction and class
interaction. Students who miss class are never able to completely make up missed work. Nevertheless,
students with excused absences will be allowed to make up work according to Poudre School District
policy. It is the students responsibility to contact the instructor - outside of class - to complete missed
assignments. Any missed tests should be made up in the school testing center (M201) within two days.
Students with an unexcused absence may make-up work for half credit.
2. Participation - Each student is responsible for participating in class discussions, making presentations when
assigned to do so, and contributing to the learning environment of the class. In order to fulfill his/her
responsibility, it is necessary to be in class, on time with all materials, including paper, a pencil/pen, and the
assigned reading(s).
3. Assignments - Students are responsible for coming to class prepared. All assignments are due at the start of
the class on the date the assignment is due. Please consult the website or hard copy of assignments for due
dates. Late work will be accepted for 50% credit for 24 hours following the due date. Opportunities
for revision of major writing assignments should be discussed with your instructor. Any electronic
homework should be completed on paper IF your laptop goes down, you do not have internet access at
home, (our website) crashes, or another technological disaster strikes.
4. Food, Drink, and Inappropriate Clothing - Food and drink are not allowed in class, but water is
permissible. The classroom is a formal setting and calls for a dignified presence, including adherence to the
school dress code.
5. Electronic Device - No electronic device of any kind may be used in class without permission. The
presence of an electronic device during a test or quiz will be considered evidence of academic dishonesty.
Remind:
Remind.com will be used to send reminders via push notifications, text, or email for major assignments and
schedule changes for this class. The information shared will also be posted on (class website). Your phone
number will not be shared with the teacher or students in class.

Course Technology Expectations:

Digital literacy is a valued skill at FCHS and essential for post-secondary readiness in the 21st century. This
course has a technology expectation that students come to class prepared with school issued technology devices
every day. Failure to come to class prepared may result in loss of credit for assigned work during that class
period.
Students are expected to:
fully comply with the PSD User Agreement, PSD Notebook Computer Handbook, PSD Code of Conduct and
District Policy JS - STUDENT USE OF COMPUTERS, E-MAIL & INTERNET ACCESS.
make sure their district issued device is fully charged, in working order and ready for use each day. If not
charged, then they should bring their charger to school or use the school charging stations in the media
center. If their device is not working, it must be turned in to the technology department for repairs. It is the
students responsiblity to check out a loaner device until the assigned one is repaired.
Essential Materials:
Blue/black pen, pencils, highlighters/crayons/colored pencils, 1 interactive notebook, 1 journal, USB drive
Our Class Website http://www.educatingmindandheart.weebly.com contains:
Course Outline, Unit Plans, List of Texts, Announcements, Project Descriptions, and more. I have designed our
website as not only a working resource for our class, but also a resource for parents/guardians to conveniently
check in and find out and see whats going on in our classroom.
Academic Dishonesty:
Each student is required to do his/her own work. Plagiarism and/or cheating will not be tolerated, and if
detected, will result in disciplinary referral and action. The Fort Collins Student Handbook outlines the
consequences for cheating and plagiarism, and the instructor will, with the assistance of an administrator,
implement the policy. A first incident of plagiarism and/or cheating will result in a zero. Additional incidents
may result in expulsion from school. Please consult the Handbook for the full text of the consequences for
academic dishonesty.
Open Door Policy:
I have a deep passion for teaching English and I consider it a privilege to work with high school students. Your
success is my priority. I welcome you to come and talk to me about any questions or concerns you have
regarding class. Outside of class, you may meet with me during my office hours or schedule an appointment.

...we should be emphasizing those skills that would make our students expert citizens: creativity, common
sense, wisdom, ethics, dedication, honesty, teamwork, hard work, knowing how to win and how to lose, a sense of
fair play, and lifelong learning...active and engaged citizens must be creatively flexible, responding to rapid
changes in the environment; able to think critically about what they are told in the media, whether by
newscasters, politicians, advertisers, or scientists; able to execute their ideas and persuade others of their value;
and, most of all, able to use their knowledge wisely in ways that avoid the horrors of bad leadership...
-Robert J. Steinberg, FORMER PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DEAN OF SCHOOL OF ARTS AND
SCIENCES AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY, as quoted in Readicide by Kelly Gallagher

PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, AND SUBMIT THIS FORM TO MS. GUECK BY

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

PARENT/GUARDIAN AND STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF

RESPONSIBILITIES IN MS. GUECKS CLASS

STUDENT

_____________________________________________

WORLD LIT period:__________________

Students Name

Class and period

We have reviewed the course syllabus issued to my son/daughter,

_____________________________________________, and we have discussed his/her responsibilities which
must be met to be successful in this course. We understand _________________________s responsibilities in
this class to include, but not be limited to, the following:
Attending all classes unless excused by a parent/guardian. We understand that class attendance is our
responsibility, and we have read and understand the Poudre School District and Fort Collins High School
Attendance/Truancy Policies.
Accepting the reduction in points for assignments/essays/tests, etc. which were due on a date for which an
unexcused absence was recorded.
Consulting the assignment schedule and completing all assignments by the deadline. Emergencies may
necessitate a request for an extension of the due date for an assignment. If such an extension is needed, please
contact Ms. Gueck outside of class. See the syllabus for telephone and email contact information.
Adhering to all class rules as set out in the course syllabus.
Completing make-up work within the Poudre School District guidelines. If additional time is needed, please
contact Ms. Gueck.
Contacting Ms. Gueck at the first sign of academic difficulty.
Taking tests and examinations at the scheduled time. We understand that to protect the academic integrity of
the testing process, make-up evaluations may not necessarily duplicate that which other students completed at
the scheduled time. Make-up tests will need to be completed in the testing center (M201) within 2 days of
return.
Obtaining academic progress information through StudentVue/ParentVue and reporting any discrepancy in
StudentVue/ParentVue to Ms. Gueck immediately.
Bringing all required course materials to class every day. This includes bringing a charged laptop.

________________________________________

__________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Name - PRINT

Parent/Guardian SIGNATURE

DATE

________________________________________

___________________________________________

Student Name - PRINT

Student SIGNATURE

DATE