American Lit./Comp.

Course Description forBrian Gallagher

briang@glynn.k12.ga.us

The Glynn Academy English Department has a procedure for

offering alternate choices if a given text to be used for

classroom study and discussion offends the individual sensibilities of a student or his or her family. Please don’t hesitate to notify your English teacher if such

concern should arise

Objectives:

The student will

The student will

1. write essays on a limited topic with references and direct quotations correctly documented in MLA form from the primary works under consideration.

The student will

2. use standard language and mechanics in the composition of essays.

The student will

3. apply a variety of grammatical constructions in writing.

The student will

4. recall details, analyze and interpret themes, literary schemes and devices while drawing conclusions to reading selections.

The student will5. distinguish

characteristics of the early written American literature of the Colonial (1600’s), Revolutionary (1700’s), and American Renaissance (mid-1800’s), Modern Period (early 1900’s), and Post Modern Period (after 1945).

The student will

6. identify American writers and their purposes in major writings.

The student will

7. define and apply literary terms to material covered.

The student will

8. exhibit proficiency in expressing ideas verbally through analytical discussions of literature.

The student will

9. demonstrate proficient and appropriate classroom listening, speaking, and note-taking skills.

The student will

10. define and apply relevant vocabulary.

The student will

11. demonstrate mature classroom behavior.

Course Content

Evaluation

Early American Literature

No formal evaluation except on state tests i.e.

GHSGT (Georgia High School Graduation Test)

and EOCT (End of Course Test)

Call of the Wildby Jack London

1 test (summer reading)1 possible essay

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

1 test1 timed essay

(possible)

Catcher in the Ryeby J. D. Salinger

1 test(possible essay)

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

1 test(possible essay)

The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald

1 test(possible essay)

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

1 test (1 possible essay)

Of Mice and MenJohn Steinbeck

1 test (1 possible essay)

Ordinary People by Judith Guest

1 test

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

1 test

Poetry

Modern Poetry1 test or incorporated

into final exam depending on time

approximately 5 to 10 grades per six-weeks

Quizzes: reading-checks, homework, vocabulary, class- work, informal writings etc.

Extra Credit

See parallel reading list.

Final

1 test

Grading

Homework/Class work: 25%

Tests/Quizzes: 30%Projects/Writing: 30%

EOCT: 15%

This course is an integrated study of American literature, composition, and grammar. In addition to formal literature study, part of each semester, is devoted to developing paragraphs and essays based on the reading selections. English grammar instruction is incorporated with an emphasis on sentence structure, usage, punctuation, mechanics, and style. Content evaluation considers development, focus, clarity, effectiveness, organization, cohesion, and originality.

Safety precautions:

No student should throw anything i.e. pencils, pens, books etc. for it could cause serious injury. No pushing or shoving (playful or confrontational). No running in halls. During a fire drill, students should exit the rear door of the science building and go to the dirt parking lot by Albany St. in a quick and orderly way. During a tornado warning or drill, students should go immediately outside the classroom and sit down in the hall.

Required class materials:

Students should always have a subject notebook in class. No particular kind is required, but one that easily organizes papers and handouts is advised. Always have a pen and pencil. Pens are preferred, but pencils are necessary for scantron tests.

Required class materials

continued… Always have an ample supply of

notebook paper. Because this course is novel-driven, the book we are studying should be with you in class every day.

Classroom behavior:

Students should arrive to class on time and have notebooks, pens, and books out and ready to begin class. Anticipating and predicting the class lesson is always appreciated. Talking after the bell has sounded is frowned upon. Students will always have something to do.

Classroom behavior continued…

The teacher having to call the class to attention at the beginning should not have to occur. Students should raise his/her hand (with attention to the appropriate timing) and wait to be called on before speaking. There are exceptions to this rule, but common sense comes into play here.

Classroom behavior continued…

Constant inane interruptions deter the lesson and rankle the teacher. Humor is appreciated, but it better be good. Debate is encouraged, but mean-spirited tone and insolence will not be tolerated. Remember the teacher is in charge and strives to be fair and consistent, but not every case is the same. If you have a complaint, please be courteous; talking in private, although not always possible and appropriate, many times is better in resolving issues.

Cheating and Plagiarism:

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will bring serious consequences. Cheating includes copying answers from someone else’s quiz and test or discussing questions on tests or quizzes from a previous class or copying someone else’s homework or turning in someone else’s work or text-messaging questions and/or answers or using cheat sheets etc.

Cheating and Plagiarismcontinued…

Cheating will result in a zero for that assignment, a call to the parent, and a discipline referral documenting the dishonest behavior. Plagiarism is taking someone else’s writing or ideas and calling it your own. You must give credit to the source of the idea or the writing.

Cheating and Plagiarismcontinued…

Even if you put something in your own words (summarizing or paraphrasing), you must document where you found that information. Otherwise, it too is plagiarizing. Copying something verbatim (direct quote) is an obvious plagiarism.

Cheating and Plagiarismcontinued…

Pulling essays off the internet, turning in another student’s essay, copying, paraphrasing, summarizing parts of another’s essay or report are all cases of plagiarism. Plagiarism will be penalized severely, many times resulting in a zero for the assignment.

Grade Scale and Grade Reports:

90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; below 70 = F

Progress reports will be sent out every nine weeks. On the average, approximately one to three quiz grades will be given each week; one test each four weeks, and one essay per nine weeks. These are fairly accurate estimates.

Late Work Policy:

Turning in work late is permitted to a degree. Work that is one day late will receive a five point penalty; two days a ten point penalty; three days a fifteen point penalty. After three days, work will not be accepted and given a grade of zero except under extenuating circumstances, which will be decided by the teacher. The teacher will always try to by fair, consistent yet flexible.

Absence Policy and Make-up Work Policy:

Making up work in a timely fashion is imperative. Students will be given the same number of days missed to make up work with one grace day, that being the day of return. For example, if a student misses Monday, he/she will be expected to have the work made up by 4:00 on Wed.

Absence Policy and Make-up Work Policy

continued: If a student misses Monday and

Wednesday, then the student would be expected to have made up and caught up with all work and assignments by 4:00 on the following Tuesday. Students may come to talk to a teacher (in private) if special consideration is needed, but this must be done before the expiration date.

Absence Policy and Make-up Work Policy

continued… It is the student’s responsibility to find

out what has been missed. The teacher will try to remind, but a zero will be received if the student does not take on the responsibility of finding out what has been missed and must set up a time to make up the work. Once again, the teacher will be fair, firm, consistent (with exception of special cases), and reasonable with this policy.

Extra Credit Policy:

Extra credit is encouraged throughout each semester. The principal form of extra credit is earned through reading novels. A list of books is distributed to each student outlining the policy. Up to eight on a final grade may be earned per semester.

Extra Credit Policycontinued…

Also, students may make videos (about ten minutes) depicting excerpts from material covered in class. Points are awarded depending on such things as time spent, originality, technological applications, humor etc. This can be a fun project. Examples of past projects will be shown to evoke ideas.

Extra Credit Policycontinued…

Also, extra grammar exercises, creative writings such as short stories, poems, songs may earn extra credit if they so deserve. The teacher is always open for suggestion in this area.

Contact Information for Brian Gallagher

Planning period is 3B (12:20-1:40) Phone (GA): 912-267-4210 ext.

3119 Email (GA):

briang@glynn.k12.ga.us Email (home):

touchofgreyband@comcast.net