11th Grade English Literature and Composition

Room 4

2009-2010

Mr. Bell          E-mail- Jeremy.bell@bremencityschools.com

Course Overview:

This class will explore the literature of Great Britain from past to present.  Projects and writing assignments will be assigned in each unit studied.  Quizzes and tests will be given over much of the material covered.  Study guides will be provided for all material.

Expectations:

Students in this class are expected to adhere to the highest levels of academic honesty and follow all directions.  Students are expected to put forth the effort needed to become better writers.  Students are expected to participate in all readings and class discussions and follow all directives.  Students are responsible for understanding what is asked of them.  Students are expected to ask questions when information is unclear or not understood.  Students will be responsible for their actions and compliant with the consequences.

Class Rules:

Failure to follow these rules will result in a deduction from the student’s participation grade as well as possible disciplinary action:

-Do not interrupt the teacher or anyone else who may be speaking.

-Respect each other and yourself.

-No sleeping in class

-No food or gum will be permitted in the classroom

-Only ask to go to the restroom if it is an emergency.

-All school rules will be enforced in this classroom.

-Bottled water will be allowed as long as the bottles are thrown away.

*The “water in class” privilege will be taken away if trash is left in the room.

Grading:

Everything in this class will be graded on a 100 point scale.  Major writing assignments and projects will be worth more than daily grades.

-All make-up work must be completed within FIVE DAYS of returning to school with an excused absence.  Excused absence slip must be given to the teacher within THREE DAYS of returning to school. You will take missed tests the day you return to school after an absence unless the test was assigned during your absence. Major projects and essays are due during homeroom the day you return to school after an absence regardless of what block you have this class. It will be considered one day late if received after homeroom.

Late Work:

Any work turned in late will receive a 20 point grade deduction for each day that it is late (including weekends).  This does not include work due during an excused absence.  Students participating in a school field trip are responsible for getting all assignments before leaving.

Exams:

Students will take a mid-term and final exam in this class.  The mid-term exam will be over all material covered during the 1st nine weeks.  The final exam will be over all material from the 2nd nine weeks.

Literature:

Students will be assigned a textbook from the Prentice Hall Literature series for primary reading and outside-of-class use.  Material will be pulled from other sources as well.

 Writing:

Students are expected to have a pre-existing understanding of the English language as well as grammar and the rules of formal writing.  Students must also be able to write formally and use all of the techniques and rules learned in previous language arts classes.  Students will master the writing process for use in all writing assignments.  Writing assignments will include expository, persuasive, compare/contrast, character analysis, reader response, journalistic, and research-based writing.  All writing assignments will adhere to guidelines established in the Style Manual.

Plagiarism: 

If you represent another person’s words or ideas as your own, you are plagiarizing.  Plagiarism can come from direct quotations or even paraphrasing. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in the student receiving no credit for the plagiarized assignment.

Unit Plan:

This class will follow a chronological unit plan.  We will read literature from the following time periods in British history: Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Renaissance, Restoration, Romanticism, Victorian, and Modern/Contemporary.

Projects:

During the study of each unit in this class, students will be responsible for completing an extensive project.  These projects will follow a grading rubric.  Due dates will be provided in advance.  The projects for the corresponding units are as follows:

            Anglo-Saxon Unit:                   Beowulf Visual Project/Laws of Life Essay

Medieval Unit:                       Canterbury Tales Pilgrim Book

Renaissance Unit:                  Macbeth Skits/Mock Research Paper

            Restoration Unit:                    Research Paper

            Romantic Unit:                       Frankenstein Essay

Victorian Unit:                                    Independent Literary Analysis

            Modern Unit:                          Writing Portfolio           

This is not a complete list of all class activities and assignments.  Other writing assignments will be assigned in each unit studied.

 

 

This page needs to be signed and returned by ______/_______/_______

 

Name ________________________

The goal of 11th Grade British Literature is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the literature that originated in different parts, and times, in Great Britain.  Your understanding of this literature will be gauged using formal essay writing and project completion.

            I am always willing to help with any of the needs of my students.  I am available from about 7:45 am before school to about 3:45-4:00 pm after school.  The e-mail address on the syllabus is the best way to contact me.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

 

_________________________                                  __________________________

student’s signature                                             parent/guardian’s signature