Junior English – 2009-2010

Ms. Davis: davisj@loswego.k12.or.us

For additional help please see me before school at 7:15 or after school until 3:15. Also, you may e-mail me to get assignments or to make an appointment.

Course Description: Junior English is an exploration of what it means to be an “American.” Our studies will range from the historical roots of America to the contemporary struggles that currently help define our culture In particular; we will track the development of key philosophical and literary movements in the U.S. such as Transcendentalism, Romanticism, Realism, and Multiculturalism. We will examine a variety of individual voices from the American Experience. In-depth reading, extensive writing, as well as active participation in class discussions are essential for this investigation.

First Semester:

Literature: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, selected works of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, and Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Major Assignments: Final essay on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a final comparative essay using several works we read this semester; independent reading for the research paper in the third quarter; in- class reading responses, and compilation for your American Encyclopedia

Second Semester:

Literature: The Crucible by Arthur Miller, selected gothic short stories, Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Major Assignments: The research paper, final comparative essay on The Great Gatsby, gothic film/short story, and completion of your American Encyclopedia

Weekly Practice:

We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.

- Kurt Vonnegut

Journals: Students will be expected to do in-class timed writing as a weekly practice. This is to help with fluency in writing, and to help generate ideas for class discussion. You will need to have a bound composition book to write in over the course of this year.

Independent Reading: Students will read the first 30 minutes of class on Thursday or Friday. Students may read the outside reading books they choose for their research project or the assigned reading. However, this is not study hall and students may NOT use this time to do other homework or read textbooks.

Additional Required Material:

Each student needs to bring in a clean bound composition book to use for journaling, note taking, and a variety of analytical/creative tasks. This book will be used for the whole year and will be mostly kept in the classroom for student use. The final product will be an American Encyclopedia of the student’s own making.

This kind of composition book works well because the pages are sturdily bound. Make sure that whatever notebook you get the pages are not easy to tear out. No spiral bound notebooks or notebooks with perforated paper!! Also, your notebook should be for this class exclusively, so there should be no other notes or materials for other classes kept there. You need not have lined paper, but you will be expected to keep your writing legible.

Classroom Policies and Procedures:

It is not what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.

-Moliere

Participation:

Participation in class discussions is essential for an “A” grade.

Attendance:

Attendance is vital in this class; if you are absent, it is up to you to find out what you missed. It is your responsibility to initiate arrangements for and completion of make-up work.

· Ideally, take the responsibility and e-mail me at davisj@loswego.k12.or.us. I can provide electronic assignments faster than hard copies.

· See me upon your return to school (before/after class/school or during my prep) to get materials you missed AND to arrange quiz/test make-ups (if a quiz or test is NOT made up within a week, it will revert to a ZERO. This is your responsibility!)

· In general, you will receive one day to make up assignments for each excused absence.

· If you were present on a day a test/quiz/paper was assigned, you are expected to comply with the original due date.

· Talk to a classmate to help fill-in information missed.

· Pre-arranged absences: see me and pick up work before you leave. Work due upon return.

· Work may not be made up for unexcused absences.

Late Work Policy:

Late work is not accepted!!

Homework:

There will be homework assigned in this class fairly frequently. The expectation is that you will do work assigned at home, and turn it in on time. Much of the homework will be reading.

Grading:

At the end of the quarter, points for assignments and participation are totaled and divided by the number of points possible. The resulting percentage determines the letter grade for that quarter based on a 10% scale. Quarterly grades are not averaged together for the semester grade; rather the semester grade is based on a running total, so there is a continual opportunity for student improvement.

Classroom Expectations:

Respect others: Uplift; don’t put down, no name- calling or abusive language.

Be prepared: Do the reading and bring paper and a pen or pencil.

Pay attention: Listen when others are speaking.

Participate: Your voice is valued; please, share in class discussions.

Be on time: The school tardy policy will be strictly applied.

Classrooms must remain a food and drink free zone.