10th Accelerated Composition and Literature

The Course         

10th Composition and Literature is a two semester course that offers an introduction to the study of American literature through the exploration of short fiction, poetry, drama, novel, and non-fiction. As students study some of the great literature of the past and present they will also explore, analyze, reflect, discuss, philosophize, research, and criticize some of the universal themes of the world. An emphasis will also be placed upon interpreting the literary theme through writing in the narrative, expository, persuasive, analytical, and research modes. In addition to writing original responses to the themes explored, students will also be expected to write a formal research paper. In addition to selections from the course anthology, students will study Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn during the first semester.  In the second semester students will read F.Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby along with other supplemental material.   Students should also be prepared for daily writing assignments and quizzes over the previous nights reading assignment.  

Accelerated 10th Composition and Literature is designed to be a college-prepatory course which will provide you with the intellectual challenges and workload consistent with a typical Advanced Placement literature course.  The course will include intensive study of representative works from various genres and periods, concentrating on works of “recognized literary merit.” You are expected to read deliberately and thoroughly, taking time to understand a literary work's complexity, to absorb its richness of meaning, and to analyze how that meaning is embodied in literary form. Reading assignments will be intense at times, but you are expected to complete all assignments on time.  Intensive writing assignments are a key component in the course as preparation for further study within the Grosse Ile English Curriculum and as a building block for state mandated testing.  You will be expected to write to understand, to evaluate, and to explain. Writing assignments will focus on the critical analysis of literature and will include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays. The goal will be to increase your ability to explain clearly, precisely and vividly what you understand about literary works and why you interpret them as you do.  Class participation is essential for the Accelerated 10th Grade Composition and Literature student.  As a student you will be expected to be actively engaged in the lesson, to participate when called upon, and to offer meaningful insight to the discussion. 

Workload:

Students should be prepared to read at least one chapter, or one short story per night depending on classroom activities.  Because quizzes will follow most reading assignments, you must keep up with your work. You need to participate in class discussions, both as a speaker and an active listener. Written work—homework, essay, whatever—is due at the beginning of class. Late work will incur a grade penalty—but worse, you’ll have little to add to class discussions and will also lose participation points. 

 Assessment

• QUIZZES/TESTS/ESSAYS/PROJECTS                               50%

• CLASS WRITING/ /CLASS-WORK/NOTES                       30%

• HOMEWORK / POSITIVE PARTICIPATION                      20%  

• A performance P that is marked in the notes column of the grade book indicates outstanding effort—leadership in the classroom, consistent hard work outside of class.

•  A U marked in the notes column of the grade book reflects unacceptable performance—missing assignments, resistance to rules, hindering others’ success. 

School Grading Scale

A = 93-100                                 C = 77-79                     D- = 60-62

A- = 90-92                                  C = 73-76                       E = 00-59

B = 87-89                                 C- = 70-72

B = 83-86                                   D = 67-69

B- = 80-82                                  D = 63-66 

Academic Honesty:

The work that you do in this class must be your own work, consistent with the Honor Code at Grosse Ile High School. If you attempt to turn in someone else’s work without giving proper credit, you will receive a zero on the assignment and face other disciplinary action. 

ADDITIONAL HELP:

In the past, students have needed extra help and they usually do not take advantage of that help.  The first step would be to ask for as much help as possible during class time.  The only dumb questions are the ones that go unasked.  The next step would be to stay after school for clarification.  I am in the building every day until 3:00 (35 min of help) each day.  I am also in the building early, before school around 6:30 am.  (For about 45 min. of help).   If both of those options are still not helpful, the counseling office has a list of student and adult tutors available at your convenience. Materials that you will need to be successful in classBring the text for the day, your three ring binder and a pen/pencil.

Blackboard On-Line Teaching

We are currently using a website through Wayne County RESA as a supplement to classroom teaching.  On this website students can access the reading material, reading assignment questions, and daily class notes.  Students will also have access to tests or quizzes that were given in class.  This way the student may be able to finish his/her own work in case of absences.  Your student’s password is his/her last name followed by his/her first name; gi.lastnamefirst.  Your student’s password is the last four digits of his/her student identification number.  Please log in at blackboard.resa.net for more information.

Contact Information.

I check email often, rossowa@gischools.org . During my free period I will usually be in my classroom, x2441.