World Literature Syllabus

1. World LiteratureSyllabus Mrs. Wells 2011-2012

2. Contact Information EMAIL: ashlie.wells@cobbk12.org PHONE: 770-819-2521 ext. 620 TEACHER BLOG: www.wellsworldlit.wordpress.com

3. Grading Policy Standards Based Grade Scale: Reading/Reading Across the Curriculum= 30% Writing and Conventions=30% Listening/Speaking/Viewing= 15% Final Assessment= 20% Midterm= 5%

4. What Will We Watch? • POSSIBLE FILMS: Troy, The House of Flying Daggers, Aladdin, Real Women Have Curves, documentaries, Freedom Writers, and other films as determined by the teacher.

5. TEXTBOOK ASSIGNMENT: • Please be aware that each student will be assigned a textbook from the class set. The text will remain in the classroom at all times. Please note that students are responsible for their textbook. If the textbook is lost, due to any reason, students will be required to pay the fines associated with replacing the text.

6. Evaluation and AssessmentHow will I be graded? Informal Assessment: • Class discussion • Teacher-student conferences • Journals, Quick writes, and Summarizing • Voice Lessons (writing exercises) • Graphic Organizers • Exit Tickets • Daily Reflections • Online discussions and activities

7. How will I be graded continued: Formal Assessment: • Quizzes • Weekly Reading Comprehension • Tests • Essays • Presentations • Projects • Performance Tasks

8. What kind of writing will I do? • Timed writing • Creative writing • Expository writing • Technical Writing • Narrative Writing • Persuasive Writing

9. Attendance and Make-up Work Policy: • ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY: • A student who is present and actively participates is more likely to be successful; however, if a student has an excused absence, he/she has the number of days absent plus one day to make up assigned work. If the student does not make up the work, a zero will be given for the missed work. All a student has to do is ASK, and I will be happy to designate a time for make-up work. Remember, that IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK FOR AND TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED WORK!

10. Continued • If a student has an unexcused absence, all work will be assigned a zero in Pinnacle unless the absence becomes excused. Remember, that IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK FOR AND TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED WORK.

11. Late Work Policy • Late work is frowned upon, thus it is my expectation that you will turn in your work on time and with no excuses. Late work will be accepted upon completion, but will be subject to a lowering of the grade. For instance, if you make an A+ on a late assignment, because it is late the grade will be lowered to an A-. Teacher discretion will govern whether or not you will be able to turn in late work or makeup work that is late for a reason other than absence if it becomes obvious that you are abusing policy.

12. Continued • All major assignments/projects will be penalized 20% each day late, up to five consecutive days. Late class work and homework assignments only receive half credit up to two class meetings whether you attend or not.

13. Tardy Policy • Students will now be required to use the Late Arrival System to obtain tardy slips for admittance to class. The LAS requires students to enter their lunch identification number and prints a slip to submit to their teacher to gain admittance to class. Students are allowed a total of ten tardies before administrative action will be taken. Please note that this new system does not allow for ten tardies to one class before administrative action is taken; rather, the LAS accumulates all tardies to school, to classes, to homeroom, and from lunch. Therefore, it is possible for a student to earn five of their ten tardies in one day. Consequences for tardies after the tenth tardy are: Saturday school and in-school suspension.

14. Academic Integrity Cheating is considered a serious matter. The parents of a student who has been involved in cheating will be notified and the student will receive a grade of zero for the test or evaluation period, and a grade of U in conduct. For this course, cheating is defined as, but not limited to, the following acts: • Copying anyone’s answers to questions, exercises, study guides, class work, test revisions, or homework assignments. • Taking any information verbatim from any source, including the Internet, without giving proper credit to the author, rearranging the order of words and/or changing some words as written by the author and claiming the work as his or her own, i.e., plagiarism. • Looking on another student’s paper during a test or a quiz. • Having available any study notes or other test aides during a test or quiz without the teacher’s permission. • Writing test and unit information on desks or any other item viewable to the student during a test (ex. Shoes, hand, clothing, book bag, the back of the chair in front of the student, and small pieces of paper). • Collaborating on assignments when independent work is expected. • Using cell phones, iPods, or any other electronic device to send test answers or information to other students (ex: calculators or paging devices). • Having a parent, guardian, family member, or friend complete research or assignments for you. • Sharing test information with the teacher’s other students

15. Expectations • Arrive on time, with materials, and ready to work • Show respect to your peers, teacher, and classroom visitors (ex: administrator or substitute) • Students will exhibit mature behavior and not require corrective action • Stay on task and focused. • Participate with the online discussions and activities. • No food, cell phones, hats, iPods, CD players, PSPs, or other electronic devices should be seen during class. It is my duty to confiscate these items from you. • Participate in class discussions and complete all work on time. • DO NOT get out of your seat and walk across the classroom while instruction is taking place.

16. Extra Help or Tutoring I arrive at school everyday by 7 a.m. and am available after school Mondays and Fridays until 4:30; however, I will not stay after school if there are no students in my classroom by 3:45 p.m. If a student would like to have help before school, they need to ask me for a pass prior to the tutoring session in order to gain admittance to the building. All tutoring will take place in room 903.

17. Materials Needed: • Paper • Pen and highlighter • 3 ringed 1 ½ - 2” binder for handouts, notes, and supplemental readings • 5 divider tabs • Required textbook/outside reading materials • Post-it Notes • One pack of lined note cards 4 x 6 or larger • One RED three pronged folder with pockets on the sides

18. E-mailing Assignments • You may be asked to e-mail certain assignments to me throughout the semester. Please send requested assignments to: work4wells@gmail.com • If you send the work to my Cobb County e-mail it may be blocked as spam and I will not receive it. Only send work to the g-mail account listed above to ensure that your assignment is received.

19. Pinnacle and Grade Reports It is strongly encouraged that you keep your Pinnacle log in information in a safe place and that you have access to the information when needed. You will not be given grade reports outside of the ones provided every six weeks. It is preferable, in order to save paper, that you and your parents regularly access your grades for all courses through the Pinnacle website.

20. Other Required Readings For this course our textbook will not be the only required reading. You will need to obtain (purchase) your own copies of the following texts: American Born Chinese Like Water for Chocolate When it gets closer to time to read these texts, you will be given further information.

21. Know Your Administrator • Mr. Chandler: • Ms. Creswell: • Ms. Johnson: • Mr. Magee: • Dr. Lee: • Mr. Locke:

22. Know Your Counselor • Mrs. Mooney: A-C • Mr. Tinsley: D-Ha • Mrs. Dunnavant: He-Mc • Mr. Burch: Me-Sc • Mrs. Walker : Se-Z

23. Student Acknowledgement • I will follow school rules in addition to Mrs. Wells’ classroom rules. • I understand the academic integrity police as stated in this syllabus. • I have reviewed the class syllabus and understand the grading policy. • I will participate in the online activities associated with the blog. • I understand that I am responsible for obtaining my own copies of the novels that will be read in class. • I will not use my cell phone or any other electronic device during class. • I will model mature behavior or I understand I may be removed from class or put on a behavior contract. • I will positively and actively participate in my education and take all make-up work responsibility upon myself to ensure my success in class. • I will bring all of the required materials to class (pen, pencil, textbook, paper, and folder). • I will contact my teacher at any time regarding any concerns or questions concerning the class curriculum or my personal progress in her class.

24. Syllabus Acknowledgement for Parents • Today I am giving you a syllabus acknowledgement for your parents to sign • They can access the syllabus on the blog • They also need to complete the parent survey online that is on the homepage of the blog • Both need to be completed by 8/25 or 8/26

25. Class Updates • I have started a page on Facebook to give reminders of upcoming assignments and school information • Search for Wells Literature (as my name) and “friend” the page so that you can have access to the updates and information. • Please understand this is a school appropriate form of social media and should not be confused as anything else. All comments and postings need to follow the conventions of standard American English and need to be school appropriate.

26. Next… Pass forward your cloze activity with your name and the date on it. Don’t forget to sign the line for your syllabus acknowledgement.

27. Now…we Boggle Write your name on your boggle sheet and prepare for the activity.

28. Your Part Inside the Circle, write as many facts, phrases, rules, or words as you remember from the syllabus presentation. You have two minutes.

29. Your Peers’ Part Walk around the room and collaborate with your peers. Each person you speak with can contribute one NEW fact and write it in the square around your circle. You have 5 minutes to get as many new facts as you can.

30. Community’s Part Now we will all work together to share facts and create a class Boggle Board. If we write something you do not already have on your sheet, write it in your corner triangles.