syllabus brit lit

8/3/2019 Syllabus Brit Lit

1/4

British LiteratureWalnut Grove High School

Fall 2011

Course Description and Goals

This course is designed to fulfill the Georgia Performance Standards listed for 11th grade using literature of theBritish Tradition as a backdrop. Through a general survey of a rich breadth of classic and contemporary literature andBritish society, students will learn the skills necessary to advance to their final year of high school. We do this throughcurriculum discovery, creative activities, practice problems, and real-life examples. Students will be given all of thetools for success; it is up to them to use them.

British Literature and Composition. This course is designed to encourage students to discover new culturesand to take advantage of reading and writing opportunities that will prepare them for college and for the Georgia HighSchool Writing Test. It is my hope that students will leave this course not only appreciating how enriching BritishLiterature can be, but also knowing how a great book can help us better understand the world in which we live. To thatend, we will be reading and responding to reading through writing and discussion. Students will have opportunities torespond to reading in informal and engaging ways and to use writing as a tool for discovery and for deeper thinking.Students will also have opportunities to engage texts in a formal manner and with a fundamental understanding of literary

elements, presentational styles, and literary connections encouraged by the Georgia Performance Standards.Parents, I encourage you to be involved in your childs education, as you are their foundation for success. If youhave an email address, please list it at the end of this letter with the Student Information Sheet. I do check my emailthroughout the day, and this is the best way to contact me. Also, I will routinely update my website to help keep you andyour child informed about what is going on in the classroom. Please take a moment to read through this syllabus withyour child so that we can all start the semester off on the same page. At the end of the syllabus, you will find a section foryou to fill out and leave comments and concerns. I look forward to working with you and your child this semester!

Conduct and DisciplinePlease carefully read and sign the attached document Guide to Good Behavior. It lists my expectations for behavior inthe classroom and the consequences for failure to observe these guidelines.

GradingDaily Grades 20%Major Grades 30%Writing Assignments: 25%

100%*Daily grades consist of quizzes, homework, and class participation. Major grades consist of exams, projects, andpresentations. Writing assignments refer to all formal and informal writing opportunities: research, essays, GHSWT practice,

journal writing, etc. Non-exam grades are given as A+ (100), A (95), A- (90), B+ (85), B (80), C+ (75), C (70), F (60), and 0 forfailure to attempt. Participation grades are given daily out of 10 (50 pts. a week) and are + (10), (8.5), - (70), or 0.*Opportunities for extra credit will be provided throughout the semester.* Any instance of cheating/plagiarism will result in a 0 grade for that assignment, and the student will be written up.*STUDENTS SHOULD HOLD ON TO GRADED WORK UNTIL THE GRADE APPEARS CORRECTLY IN I-CAMPUS.

Late Work/Make-Up WorkIn my class, students have a minimum of daily homework. However, I do assign long term out of class assignments thatstudents should work on daily. Because students are given ample opportunity to complete out of class assignments, I havea strict late work policy. Students will be given one late work pass per semester. All other assignments turned in after thedeadline will be automatically graded as half credit. For example, a 100-point assignment cannot score higher than a 50 ifit is turned in late.

Moreover, technology failure is not an excuse for late work. Consistently working on projects before the day that they aredue will eliminate potential technology failures. In addition, to accommodate students with limited at-home technology,all out of class assignments have the option to be completed without the aid of technology.

Instructors: Sunny VidrineRoom: A246

Email: [email protected]: msvidrinesclass.blogspot.com


2/4

Students are responsible for their own make-up work and have three class days after a missed day to make up in-classassignments. If a student is absent on the day that major out of class assignment is due, unless a doctors note is providedor parent contact is made, arrangements must be made to have the assignment turned in, otherwise it will be consideredlate and subject to late work penalties. A major exam must be made up immediately upon return. Work missed after a prolonged absence will have a due date commiserate with time missed and the nature of the absence.All missed work will result in a grade of missing until it is made up. Infinite Campus assigns a value of zero to allgrades marked as missing. All work coded as missing is available to be made up. However, if the work is not madeup during the grace period after an absence, the grade will be converted to a zero that will stand. Materials

The following materials are required for my class:

y 3-ring binder and dividersy College Ruled loose leaf papery Pencil and a blue or black peny Dictionaryy One ream of typing paper (teacher request not required)

Please note that we will be doing A LOT of writing in class, so one pack of loose leaf paper may not be enough.

Classroom LibraryIn order to increase the variety of British Literature that students have available to them, I have provided a library ofbooks that can be checked out of my classroom at any time. Because I have students of varying levels and tastes, mylibrary consists of books of varying levels and tastes. Students are encouraged to select books accordingly. Pleaseunderstand that books deemed suitable by some parents might not be suitable according to other parents estimations.Therefore, I encourage parents to take an active role in helping their child decide what kind of books he or she isallowed to read in their household. Whenever possible and to aid parents in this process, I have included a contentrating on the inside cover of each book. The rating is similar to movie ratings. Books that I am unfamiliar with will nothave a rating. You are also welcome to visit my classroom and familiarize yourself with my library. I will be happy toanswer any questions that you might have about my growing collection. Also, I welcome book donations!!!!! In additionI expect all students to respect the books in my library. If a student is caught writing in, tearing, or otherwise destructing abook, he or she will lose the privilege of using the classroom library.

*Like textbooks, these books are considered school property. Any book that is lost or damaged beyond use will requireeither monetary compensation or replacement of the lost/damaged book. Failure to replace a book will result on a hold onthe students record.

In-class FilmsPeriodically, we will watch films and/or clips of a film or television show that serve as a visual medium to accompany awritten text. No film shown will have a rating above PG-13, and all films have been pre-screened to ensure contentappropriateness for the classroom. However, not all individuals share the same threshold of tolerance for film content. Ifyou feel that your child might be subjected to a film that is outside his or her comfort level, please do not hesitate tocontact me to discuss the details of and the rationale for the film or to provide an alternate assignment for your child.

Texts and Curriculum include but are not limited to

Prentice-Halls British Literature ($53.00 to replace)Selected Poetry, Short Stories, and Non-Fiction

The Canterbury TalesBeowulf(text and film)

Macbeth (text and film)Much Ado about Nothing(text and film)Lord of the FliesAbout a Boy (text and film)

The Importance of being Earnest(text and film)As examples of satire, pre-screened clips/text from SNL, BBC The Office, and The Colbert Report

Animal Farm (text and cartoon clips)Reduced Shakespeare Company clips


3/4

Students and parents, so that I can ensure that you have read the syllabus, please sign (and initial where indicated)the attached sheet.

Dear Ms. Vidrine,

I have carefully read your syllabus and understand the basic outline of your class. If I have any questions, I will feel free

to contact you.

__________________________________ _____________________________________ _______Student print name Student signature Date

__________________________________ _________________________________ _____Parent/Guardian print name Parent/Guardian signature Date

_______________________________________Preferred method of contact

Parent/Guardian please initial the following:

_____ I have read and understand the classroom library policy.

_____My child has permission to view film/clips in class.

_____ I have read the list of materials that my child needs for this class, including the teacher requested (not required)ream of white typing/computer paper.

Parents/Guardians, please leave comments or concerns here:

If there is something specific that you would like for your child to learn in English class this semester, please feel

free to indicate that here:

Thank you!Sunny Vidrine


4/4

syllabus brit lit

Documents