American Literature II

The Course

American Literature II is a chronological and thematic survey of literature written in the United States form the turn of the twentieth century to the present. Important literary periods and movements will be explored and a variety of genres will be studied: short story, poetry, the drama The Crucible, essays, and a novel, which is currently The Great Gatsby. Various short stories, poems, letters, essays, and biographies on the influential authors such as:  Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, E.E. Cummings, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, Eudora Welty, Katherine Anne Porter, James Porter, E.B. White, Robert Frost, Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Carl Sandburg, Randall Jarrell, Elie Wiesel, John Hersey, Anne Frank, Tim O'Brien, Arthur Miller, and John Updike.

Students taking this course should be prepared to read widely, discuss actively, and draw parallels, not only between works of literature in this course, but also between these texts and material presented in American History courses. In addition to reflective writing, comparison writing, and analytical writing; students will also write two formal papers, which will include a critical essay and an essay to be determined in addition to a research paper/project. You should be prepared for a formal writing assignment every week.  

Workload

Students should be prepared to read at least one chapter, or one short story assignment 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.

Bring the text for the day, your three ring binder and a pen/pencil.

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 access the information on the Blackboard website at www.blackboard.resa.net.

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