Course Description

This is a year-long required course that is intended to advance students' organizational, reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills. Students' writing includes journal (response and interpretive), essay (expository, persuasive, narrative), and historical research. The literature features nonfiction, including autobiographical and biographical readings. Emphasis will be placed on meeting state learning standards in English and on improving students' writing, speaking and listening skills. This course enables students to interact with their fellow students and to express themselves creatively, as well as factually, in both written and oral communication. Particular emphasis will be placed on preparing the students to take the PSAE reading and writing tests in the following spring.

You will be responsible for reading three novels this year: Night by Elie Wiesel, Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals, and a novel you will choose from our independent novel reading list. (The school will provide a copy of Warriors. Each student is responsible for obtaining his or her own copy of Night and the independent reading selection.) These readings will be supplemented with applicable short stories and poetry.

The other focus of this course is on public speaking. You will be responsible for speeches and presentations which accomplish a variety of purposes (informative, process, debate, etc.). Some of these speeches will require intensive research. Proper MLA formatting will be expected for documentation of your sources. Don’t worry, we’ll talk about how to do this when the time comes. :o)

Course Unit Overview

Semester 2:

Warriors Don’t Cry               8 weeks

Novel Unit                            5 weeks

Informative Speech              2 weeks

Debate Unit                          4 weeks

Text Box: Semester 1:
Narrative 2 weeks
Biography 3 weeks
Demonstration Speech 2 weeks
Career 2 weeks
Holocaust 6 weeks

Required Materials

& Necessary reading materials (Whatever we are reading together as a class or your independent novel. We will also be doing D.E.A.R. every Wednesday. Students may bring in their own novel, or are free to borrow one of mine for use in the classroom.)

& Pen or pencil: I’m not particular. As long as what you write is legible, I generally don’t have a preference. In the event I actually have pens or pencils to loan out, collateral will be required. In other words, you have to leave me something of “value” to you to guarantee the return of what I lend you.

& Paper: Loose-leaf or notebook paper, it doesn’t matter. Just please have some with you. I generally don’t have extra paper available for your use.

& A 3-ring binder with five dividers is required and will be part of your daily work grade. It will help develop organizational skills which will become invaluable later in life, whether your pursue college or a career after high school, and are a must in some of the course options you will have your senior year. During the independent novel unit, you will be required to submit a binder of your work for evaluation and a grade.

Grading

Each assignment will have a point value. Rather than all points simply accumulating throughout the semester, however, assignments will be weighed in the following manner:

Final exam: 15% Mid-Term: 5%

Speeches: 25% Major writing assignments: 20%

Quizzes: 15% Tests: 5%

Daily work/Participation: 15%

Scale: 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D <59 F

I’m here to help. If you feel you are struggling, don’t hesitate to see me before or after school. If you are not in school and have questions, or if your parents need to talk to me, feel free to contact me:

tsmith@learningcommunity202.org

(815) 577-5795