20th Century Novels

The Course

20th Century Novels is a one-semester course that will guide students to experience and analyze literature both written and set within the 20th Century. Students will use various literary devices, themes, and the history of the time period as they read and analyze the following novels: The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, The Stranger by Albert Camus, and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Students should also be prepared for daily writing assignments and quizzes over the previous nights reading assignment.

Workload

Students should be prepared to read at least one chapter 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 class

Bring 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. You can connect to the Blackboard Website at www.blackboard.resa.net.

Contact Info

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