American Literature & Composition, Grade 11

Winter/Spring Semester 2015-2016

Instructor:
Mrs. Newsome
In this class we will be closely reading many examples of American Literature, starting
with Native American literature and progressing to contemporary selections. Our study
of American literature also is, in some respects, a study of American history, for we will
be reading brief overviews of historical and cultural periods, understanding their
significance of impact on the literature of the time. It is my desire that when you leave
this class, you will have a deep understanding of American literature, that you will
remember the big ideas and their importance even if you forget the smaller details over
time.
Text: The Language of Literature (yellow book)
Supplies:
Three-ring binder with dividers and looseleaf notebook paper
dark ink pens (dark blue or black)
Highlighter
Pencil (mechanical or wooden, as long as it has #2 lead)
1 box of markers: These do not have to be expensive; a small box of markers
(6-12 in a box) will suffice, but you will need them upon occasion.
Class Format: Each day you can expect the following in this class:
o A warm-up/opening activity, which will be posted on the active board or
white board.
o Begin the warm-up as soon as you enter the room.
It is your job to start on and complete the warm-up during this time and
while I take roll.
o An agenda for the days lesson, along with standards and essential
questions, posted.
o Delivery of instruction / content (a reading assignment, for example).
o An activity (or activities) demonstrating your comprehension and
application of knowledge.
o Closure of the lesson (last 10 minutes of class).
o Dismissal by teacherno getting up, wandering around the room,
gathering by the door. Wait to be dismissed.
Grading Policies:
You will have many and varied types of assessments to provide
evidence of your knowledge and understanding of the material covered. You will have
informal as well as formal assessments. Quizzes, homework, daily class assignments, my
observation of you as you work individually and in groups and as you respond in
discussions about literature are some examples of informal assessments. The teacher will
use the schools uniform grading policy to determine individual averages:

Homework = 5%
Daily Assignments = 15%
Quiz= 20%
Test=30%
Project/Lab/Performance Task = 30%
Students are required to take a summative assessment (final exam) which counts as 20%
of their semester grade; the new summative assessment for this course is the Georgia
Milestones for American Literature.
When I give you a homework assignment, you should have it ready to turn in when I
request it the next day if you want to receive credit for it.
Assignments turned in after the due date are subject to point
deductions at the discretion of the teacher. Exceptions will be given to
students with documented accommodations or those with prior teacher
approval.
At the end of the semester, if you are in Advanced American literature, I will add
seven (7) points to your average (district policy for advanced classes at the high
school).
Improving Reading Comprehension Skills: In an effort to improve our students reading
comprehension skills, we are intensifying our efforts in vocabulary building. We hope
this effort will benefit you, our students, by helping you to better understand a broader
range of reading material and increasing your confidence in your ability to comprehend
what you read.
Junior Testing: This is the year that you will take your writing test; you will take it in
September. Therefore, we will have several practice essays (timed writing) in preparation
for this fall event. As stated previously, students will take the Georgia Milestones near
the end of the semester.
Behavior:
In this class we will use the Progressive Steps to Discipline to record
minor instances of misbehavior. The first infraction will result in a warning. The second
infraction will result in contact with your parent or guardian. The third infraction will
result in detention. Additional infractions will result in a discipline referral to the office
administration. All major behavior infractions (fighting, harassment, blatant disrespect,
etc.) will result in a referral to the administration.
Detention:
I will assign break detention as necessary, perhaps more than one day of detention if there
is a pattern of misbehavior.

Optional Assignments
Periodically I make optional assignments available to any and all students in a class. It is
your choice whether to do these assignments and adhere to rubrics and deadlines for
these. It is an opportunity for you to improve your grade in this class.

No Food or Drink in the Classrooms

School policy states that students are not to eat or drink in the classroom. This means NO
food items, including gum. The only exception to this rule is bottled water.
Tardies
Per school policy, I will notify the assistant principal of all tardies.
Absences
On your third absence, I refer you to the counselor / Attendance Support Team. I then
keep the support team informed about any additional absences. When you have an
absence, it is your responsibility to get your missed assignments on your first day back to
class and to make them up in a timely manner. (It is up to you to pick up your missed
assignments.) You may not make up an assignment if you have more than six unexcused
absences or more than 6 parent-excused absences. You must still take previously
scheduled assessments at the scheduled time. For example, if on Tuesday I announce that
we will have a test on Friday, and you are absent on Thursday, yes, you still have to take
the test on Friday. Also, if you are absent and miss a test, quiz, essay, or other
assignment, your make-up assignment may not be the same as the one everyone else
completed. Be forewarned!
When you have an absence, it is your responsibility to get your missed assignments on
your first day back to class and to make them up in a timely manner. You may not make
up an assignment if you have more than six unexcused absences or more than 6 parentexcused absences. You must still take previously scheduled assessments at the scheduled
time. For example, if on Tuesday I announce that we will have a test on Friday, and you
are absent on Thursday, yes, you still have to take the test on Friday. Also, if you are
absent and miss a test, quiz, essay, or other assignment, your make-up assignment may
not be the same as the one everyone else completed. Be forewarned!
Cheating / Plagiarism
Cheating on assignments will not be tolerated, whether it is a daily assignment or a
formal assessment. To eliminate any confusion about copying the work of others, I have
included a definition of plagiarism for your edification. The following is a definition of
plagiarism taken from an educational web site:
Plagiarism is presenting someone elses work as if it were your own, whether you mean
to or not. Someone elses work means anything that is not your own idea, even if it is

presented in your own style. It includes material from books, journals or any other printed
source, the work of other students or staff, information from the Internet, software
programs and other electronic material, designs and ideas. It also includes the
organization or structuring of any such material. (Victoria University of Wellington,
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/home/glossary/)
Cheating on any assignment will result in a grade of 0 on that assignment. If you cant
afford to earn a 0, dont copy the work of others; dont let others copy your work.
Passes Out of Class
You will have 5 passes for the nine weeks. Dont waste them on unnecessary errands.
Procedure: You will get your pass from me, with your name, time, date, & destination;
when you return to the room, return the pass to me to keep.

Mrs. Newsome
American Literature
Syllabus / Grading Policies / Classroom Policies
To be completed by student and parent:
STUDENTS NAME:

_________________________

CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS: _________________________

_________________________
_________________________
NAME OF PARENT /GUARDIAN : _______________________________
Relationship to Student ______________
DAYTIME PHONE NUMBERS WHERE PARENT MAY BE REACHED:
______________
___________________
PARENTS/GUARDIANS EMAIL ADDRESS:
__________________________________________
I have read Mrs. Newsomes syllabus for American Literature & Composition. I
understand Mrs. Newsomes classroom policies and grading policies as specified in the
syllabus. Also, I have read the definition of plagiarism.

PARENTS SIGNATURE _________________________

Date __________

STUDENTS SIGNATURE ________________________

Date __________