SAINT IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

ENGLISH 300: CHRONICLING THE QUEST FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM MS. PETERSON
2012-2013
EMAIL: kpeterson@siprep.org OFFICE HOURS: WEDNESDAYS 2:40-4:30 PM; EVERY DAY BEFORE SCHOOL; BY APPOINTMENT AFTER SCHOOL M & TH ROOM 120 PHONE: 415-731-7500 ext. RESOURCE PERIODS: 4TH PERIOD ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY

796

ROOM 114

CLASS WEBSITE: MSPENGLISH300.BLOGSPOT.COM In English 300, we will be growing as learners, thinkers, and individuals who understand and enhance the living of a courageous and spiritual life in contemporary American society. Reading and writing assignments will be the avenues by which we practice thinking critically about our own quest for the American dream about how characters and themes we encounter in American fiction, non-fiction, poetry, media, and performance influence our understanding of, and journey through, America. Students will develop and refine reading, writing, discussion, and critical thinking skills. This course will serve as preparation both for students Junior Writing Exam in the second semester, and for students achievement of college-level work this year and beyond. Major Texts. We will read American literature ranging from early Native American myths to contemporary short stories. Please see the junior reader, Literature of the United States, for a complete list of texts. ISBN #s for appropriate editions of each text are listed on at mspenglish300.blogspot.com. Materials. Each student should be prepared with the following: A three-ring binderwith 2 sections: Unit Handouts & Homework/Keep Foreverto be used exclusively for notes and handouts from English 300 Lined paper for warm ups and note takingin a spiral notebook with perforated pages, preferred Blue or black pens and/or pencils; highlighter(s) Stapler Appropriate hard copy textbooks, handouts, note taking materials, (charged) technology, etc. for class discussion Full energy and brain power for all class activities! iPads & Apps. I will work to integrate iPads and Apps into our classroom activities as they are beneficial to student learning. Inevitably, there will be some experimentingI ask students and parents to be patient in these experimental periods. In addition, I invite students to assist me in collaborating around helpful ways to integrate iPads and Apps into our activities and routines. Students should expect to use their iPad every class period, and still have a hardcopy of necessary textbooks, note taking materials, and handouts. No charged iPad = 0 in your participation grade for that class day. I will begin the year trying out daily use of the iPad to track class agendas and homework assignments via a blog visible to both parents and students: Mspenglish300@blogspot.com We will begin the year with one required (and free!) App, downloadable from the iTunes App Store: Flipboard
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Classroom Etiquette. Much of your learning depends on you sharing ideas and listening to those of your classmates and teacher. Please arrive to class prepared to participate in a productive, respectful manner with our classroom community. In return, you may expect to be treated with respect by the teacher and other students. Ridicule of another students work, contributions, or ideas will never be tolerated. Let us foster an atmosphere where ideas flourish and acceptance of individual differences is the rule. Homework and Writing Assignments. Unless otherwise noted, all homework and writing assignments must be typed, appropriately formatted (see sample essay), and submitted in printed form at the beginning of class on the date due. Please, do not email an assignment unless you have made special arrangements with me beforehand. Any missing homework assignment will count as a 0 in the gradebook. Late final writing assignments cannot be revised, and will be penalized 10 percentage points per day late. You will be required to submit major writing assignments to turnitin.com in addition to submitting a written copy to me. Your class ID and password will reappear on each writing assignment prompt:

Class ID: 5381273 (for 2nd Period) 5381291 (for 5th Period) Case-Sensitive Password (for both Periods): Gatsby

Evaluation. Quarter and semester grades will be determined by assessing each students performance on writing assignments, tests, quizzes, homework, and class participation. It is my commitment that you will receive each grading rubric with the assignment directions so expectations are clear from the beginning, and so there is ample time to ask questions. Depending on the assignment, I will provide written feedback and/or award points earned out of the total points possible. I will make transparent my assessment strategy for each assignment throughout the year. Grading Scale: A 94-100%; A- 93-90%; B+ 87-90%; B 84-86%; B- 80-83%; C+ 77-79%; C 7476%; C- 70-73%; D+ 67-69%; D 64-66%; D- 60-63%; F 0-59% Participation in Classwork and Discussion: 20% Final Semester Grade Vocabulary Quizzes: 10% Final Semester Grade Reading Assignments, Tests & Quizzes: 35% Final Semester Grade Writing Assignments: 35% Final Semester Grade Academic Honesty. ALWAYS CITE YOUR SOURCE. Even if you rephrase someones ideas in your own words, you must cite a human, electronic, or print source in proper MLA format. Any cheating or copying from a source (including peers) is a betrayal of student integrity and will be dealt with harshly. Cheating or copying will result in an automatic failing grade, in addition to the notification of academic deans and the students parents. Absences. A student who, for a legitimate reason, is absent from class must arrange with mevia phone or email before 9:00 pm the night before classto submit assignments for on-time credit, and to find out about homework assignments so that he/she is prepared for the next day of class. It is the students responsibility to arrange with me a time to make up all tests and quizzes missed due to an absence. A missed quiz, test, or paper not made up within the allotted time period will be counted as a 0 in the gradebook. I encourage you to think of learning as growing in everything that is involved in an English class: reading, writing, presentation, discussion, and collaboration. Value it as a processtake opportunities for revisions, practice new skills with patience, and grapple with new ideas both inside and outside our English classroom. Please feel free to meet with me before/after school, or during office hours, to discuss your
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work in class, individual homework or writing assignments, grades, and anything on your mind. Im looking forward to a great year! Sincerely, Ms. Peterson Please sign the form below and return to Ms. Peterson on _____________________________.
Google Reader & Flipboard How-To Make Daily Blog Reading As Easy As Possible!! Download (free) Flipboard App to your iPad (http://flipboard.com/) In your Google Apps (accessible via your Gmail page in your web browser), click more to find Reader. Click to open your Google Reader. In Google Reader, click Subscribe. Paste/type our class blog URL into the text box: mspenglish300.blogspot.com. Sync your iPad before moving on to step 5. In your Flipboard App on your iPad, click the red search flag in the upper right. On the Content page, click Google Reader. Then click Feeds and Folders. Click Blogs You Follow. As long as you synced your iPad before Step 5, you should see English 300. Click English 300. When the English 300 blog opens in Flipboard, click the blue +Add button in the top left. This should make class agendas, daily activities, class goals, and updated homework assignments easily accessible every time you open your Flipboard!

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I, ____________________________________ (student name), have read and understand the course policies and procedures for English 300. I will do my absolute best to follow them throughout the year. __________________________________________
Student Signature

I have read the course policies and procedures for English 300. I will do my best to assist my student in following them. __________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature

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