2.0: Upgrade to
Excellence!
English Department
Spring
Semester 2013
COURSE TITLE: Multicultural
Literature INSTRUCTOR: Emily Antwih
PHS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GOALS:
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: Students will demonstrate increased
achievement in writing and reading comprehension in all content areas.
COMMUNICATION:
Increase communication between the school and its stakeholders.
LEARNING GOAL:
We, the community of Pebblebrook High School, believe in the
worth of dignity of all students. Our commitment is to provide a challenging
and meaningful educational program in a secure, disciplined environment where
all students will have the opportunity to gain the essential skills to pursue
gainful employment and/or higher education. Students will be prepared to be productive
citizens in an ever-changing global activity.
.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course focuses on world literature by and about people
of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Students
explore themes of linguistic and cultural diversity by comparing, contrasting,
analyzing, and critiquing writing styles and universal themes. Outside novels,
online articles, grammar and writing mechanics, the comprehensive research
paper, and selected composition assignments comprise the content of the course.
Students will also participate in various
writings and activities to help build a strong foundation for writing and communication
skills. Technology will also be present in our course in various forms and will
require student and teacher participation. Throughout all units, we will
explore the idea of critical literacy. We will analyze the various ways that
the media influences our understanding of “news” and society. We will explore a
network of journalistic texts (newspapers, magazines, radio, video/TV) in order
to give students the opportunity to explore how events and issues are
presented. The units emphasize how to become an active rather than passive
consumer of journalistic texts.
GRADING POLICY:
Reading ……….…………………...……………….……25%
Writing………………….…………………………….….25%
Speaking and Listening.………….…..………………….15%
Language………………………………………………...10%
Common Assessment.…………………………………….5%
Final Assessment……..………………………………….20%
GRADING SCALE:
100-90%............................................................................A
89-80%..............................................................................B
79-74%..............................................................................C
73-70%………………………………………………..…D
69-Below……………………………………………..….F
Grade Recovery: You may
re-take any assignment, within one week, on which you make a grade of 73
or less.
SYNERGY ACCESS TO GRADES:
It is
strongly encouraged that you keep your Synergy login information in a safe
place and that you have access to the information when needed. You will not be given grade reports outside
of the ones provided every six weeks. It is preferable, in order to save paper,
that you and your parents regularly access your grades for all courses through
the Synergy website.
**PARENTS SHOULD CONTACT THE
GUIDANCE OFFICE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THEIR SYNERGY PASSWORD AND ACCESS
INFORMATION.**
Please note that when you are
viewing grades in Synergy that a blank grade column for your child has no
effect on their grade. If the space is
blank your student may not have turned in that assignment due to absence or the
teacher may not have entered grades for that assignment at that time. An “X” means that the student is exempt from
an assignment at the discretion of the teacher.
CENTRAL TEXT: A Multicultural Reader Collection Two by
Perfection Learning (in-class textbook)
Required Texts/Readings: It is HIGHLY recommended that you purchase all of these
texts so you can annotate them.
·
August Text: The Circuit by
Francisco Jimenez
·
September
Text: Absolute True Diary by a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
·
November
Text: I am Malala by Malala
Yousefzai
·
December Text: A.D.: New Orleans
After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld
Possible Media:
·
Smoke Signals
·
Ordinary People
·
This American Life” Life on the Rez” “America the
Beautiful”
·
Crash
·
When the Levees Broke
·
Various Ted Talks
·
Spainglish
·
Dive
NOTES:
Please remember that all material
has been selected and approved for this particular course as a result of its
thematic relevance and significance; however, modifications in the material are possible upon request as a result of
reservations, concerns, or problems with its content.
As this is a college-level course,
its mature themes, content, and theoretical nature are designed to develop
critical thinking, writing, and thinking skills necessary in post-secondary
educational institutions. Should you have
a problem with a particular selection on this syllabus, please do not hesitate
to discuss it with me. Your signature on this syllabus indicates permission for
your student to read these texts and view these movies.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- OPEN
MIND
2.
Spiral-bound
notebook for the Interactive Notebook component (I would suggest one that can
easily hold 8x11 sheets of paper and has at least 150 pages.)
- Blue
or Black Pens/pencils
- Required
novels for class
- Sticky
Notes (if using a library book for annotations)
- Report
cover for final project
- USB
Drive
DONATION REQUEST:
Due to limited funding this year, I am asking for donations for the
classroom. Some items for your
consideration:
·
Copy Paper
·
Hand Sanitizer
·
Tissue
·
Multicolored Markers
·
Dry-Erase Markers
CLASS EXPECTATIONS:
1.
Come to class on time
every day ready to participate, engage, and learn.
- Be
kind to one another. Listen to one another and me. We are a community.
- Be
respectful of individual cultural differences and opinions.
- Participation
in class discussion is essential.
- Students
are to bring appropriate materials to class every day.
- Follow
ALL school rules and policies (no food, no headphones, no electronic
devices).
PARTICIPATION:
Class participation is an
important component of this curriculum. Much can be learned from the exchange
of ideas that occurs during class discussions. Frequent absences SERIOUSLY
jeopardize your success in this class. The participation grade will be based on
the degree of student involvement in the learning activities, including
attention to and participation in written and oral exercises, class discussion,
preparation for class, and homework. To
reiterate: If you do not participate in
formal class discussions, you will not receive a passing grade for that activity.
ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY:
Attendance is ESSENTIAL to your success in this
course. It is YOUR responsibility to come to school and “plug in” to the learning
community. Being here does not mean
simply filling the seat.
A student who is
present and actively participates is more likely to be successful; however, if a student has an excused absence, he/she
has the number of days absent plus one day to make up assigned work. If the student does not make up the work, a
zero will be given for the missed work.
All a student has to do is ASK, and I will be happy to designate a time
for make-up work. Remember, that IT
IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK FOR AND TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED WORK!
Please check the blog for all missed work.
If a student has an
unexcused absence, all work will be assigned a zero in Synergy unless the
absence becomes excused. Remember, that IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY
TO ASK FOR AND TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED WORK! Please check the blog for all missed
work.
Any student who misses class for OSS or ISS must turn in his/her work
the day he/she returns to class.
Students in OSS must have their work picked up in the main office.
LATE WORK POLICY:
Late work is frowned upon in an AP course, thus
it is my expectation that you will turn in your work on time and with no
excuses. Late work will be accepted upon completion, but will be subject to a
lowering of the grade. Teacher discretion will govern whether or not you will
be able to turn in late work or makeup work that is late for a reason other
than absence if it becomes obvious that you are abusing policy.
All major assignments/projects will be penalized 10% each day late, up
to nine consecutive days.
Late class work and homework
assignments only receive half credit the next class period.
TARDY POLICY:
To avoid being counted tardy, students
must be seated and ready for class when the bell rings. School
policy states that students may receive Saturday School, In-School Suspension,
and Out-of-School Suspension for repeated tardies. Bottom line: BE ON TIME TO CLASS!
EXTRA HELP:
I am available for extra help
before school from 7:30-8:10 and after school (Tuesday and Thursday) from
3:30-5:00. Mrs. Hathorn is available on
Wednesday morning 7:30-7:55, and Thursday afternoon 3:30-4:00. If this time does not work for you, just let
me know. I AM HERE TO HELP YOU SUCCEED.
CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC
DEVICES:
As per
the school’s policy, cell phones are not to be seen during the school day.
Students will receive a discipline referral after one warning to put away any
electronic device (unless the device is being used for instruction). Students
are allowed to bring certain technologies to class (iPad, laptop, Kindle,
etc.), but it should NOT interfere
with the teaching or other’s learning. The first time I will give you a warning
to put away the technology. After the initial warning, you will not be allowed
to bring it to class again.
COMPOSITION 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
name, teacher name, class, and date should appear in the upper left-hand
corner of all assignments per MLA style (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/)
- All
final draft essays should follow the standard MLA manuscript format for
written composition. Major writing assignments should be typed.
The Computer Lab (Room 907) 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.
CLASSROOM BLOG:
Throughout
the year, students are expected to use the classroom blog daily. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to check the
blog and come prepared to the next class. All handouts and assignments will be
posted daily to the blog.
My blog: http://pebblebrookhigh.
This blog was established to promote a learning and a writing
community. With this blog, students will learn how to incorporate technology
skills relevant to real-life applications. Students are expected to post their
work as well as comment on each other’s work. Students need to be fully aware
that this site is for educational purposes only and will be actively monitored
by Ms. Coyle.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I am looking
forward to a GREAT semester of learning and fun. You have elected to take a
demanding senior college-level class in the study of English Language Arts. My
expectations of you are high because of your desire to achieve. Avoid procrastination
and shortcuts as they will only hurt your chances of success. This course
requires your diligence and attention. You will succeed as an individual
according to the effort put into the course. Please see me with any concerns or
issues.
SYLLABUS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Fall 2013
TEACHERS: Miss Antwih and Mrs. Hathorn
COURSE: Multi Cultural Literature
Student’s
Acknowledgements:
- I have read and I understand the
academic integrity policy.
- I have reviewed the class syllabus and
understand the grading policy.
- I understand that it is my
responsibility to get the required books for this class.
- I understand that I need a binder and
other materials for this class.
- I understand that I need to keep up
with my grade on Pinnacle.
- I understand that I need to check the
blog each night.
Student’s
Name:_____________________________ Date:________________
(Please Print)
Student’s
Signature:__________________________ Student’s
Email___________________
Parent/Guardian’s Acknowledgements:
- I have read and I understand the
academic integrity policy.
- I have reviewed the class syllabus and
understand the grading policy.
- I give permission for my child to view
the listed movies that are related to the curriculum of the class.
- I give permission for my child to read
the required texts noted in the syllabus.
- I am willing to be contacted by
e-mail, phone, and regular mail regarding my child’s progress.
- I have access to the Internet and will
access the classroom blog and the Pinnacle parent feature to check on my
child’s progress.
Parent/Guardian’s
Name:_____________________________ Date:________________
(Please
Print)
Parent/Guardian’s
Signature:__________________________ Parent/Guardian’s
Email:________________________
Parent/Guardian’s
Phone Number:_____________________ _____________________
(Home) (Work)
Any Comments:
RETURN THIS FORM
WITH BOTH SIGNATURES BY Wednesday, August 14, 2013.
Please feel free
to contact me if you have any additional questions or concerns.
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