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Miller Grove High School

Dekalb County Schools

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Infinite Campus

Class Syllabus




 

 

 

 

  

        School Year/Semester: Fall 2020

 

Course Name

British Literature

Course Code

23.0520000

School Name

Miller Grove High School

Teacher Name

Muriel A. Smith

School Phone Number

678-875-1102 (School Main)

678-8275909 (M. Smith’s Google number)

Teacher Email

Muriel_a_smith@dekalbschoolsga.org

School Website

http://www.millergrovehs.dekalb.k12.ga.us/

Teacher Website

 

Office Hours

M, T, TH, (2:00-3:45 PM) 

 

Tutorials by Appointment

M, T, TH, F (9:00-9:40)

W (11:00-3:45 by appointment)  

 

Course Description

This literature based, integrated course is designed for heterogeneously group students that are reading at grade level.  The literature is divided into historical literary units:  The Old English, Medieval Periods &The English Renaissance, The Seventeenth/Eighteenth Centuries & the Romantic Period and The Victorian Period and The Modern/Postmodern Periods.  Vocabulary skills, library and research skills, various compositions, standardized test preparation for SAT/ACT and use of current technology are integrated into the semester’s study.  Students improve grammar and usage skills through guided writing with current technology.  Emphasis is placed on the development of critical and analytical thinking skills through classroom discussions and frequent compositions.  Outside reading is required. The teacher will integrate at his/her discretion instructional time for any content related subject matter that will meet the needs of the class. Independent Reading of student chosen texts as well as outside novels will be both required and encouraged.

 

Curriculum Overview 

The following academic concepts will be covered. THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

 

 

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Bridge Instruction- Students will have a thorough review of priority standards ELAGSE11RL7, ELAGSE11RI8, ELAGSE11W9, ELAGSE11W2, ELAGSE11W9. Exposing students to interpretations that are true to the original and those whose interpretation is “loosely based”. Students will identify the literary elements that have changed and those that remain the same. Students will construct newspapers and journalistic articles based on both literary and informational texts.

Unit 1 A.D. 449-1625 (September-October)–Students will read, analyze and interpret appropriate grade level literary and informational texts to develop an understanding of the concept of good and evil  and the celebration of humanity as well as pagan and Christian influences prevalent throughout the onset of written text in British literature. Students will define the characteristics of good and evil, analyze its representation in multiple media through in-class observations and independent investigations/research, and produce writing arguing as to how the perception of morality (good and evil) changes or is adapted over time/culture/context.

Unit 2 1625-1832 (October-November) – Students will read, analyze and interpret appropriate grade level literary and informational texts to develop an understanding of the concept of revolution, colonization, and independence while analyzing the continually evolving representations of morality and self-realization throughout British literature. Using textual evidence from the suggested extended and shorter literary texts, and other grade-level appropriate informational texts, students will define, analyze its representation in multiple media, and produce writing arguing as to how the perception of morality changes or is adapted over time/culture/context.

Unit 3 1833-Present (December-January)– Students will read, analyze and interpret appropriate grade level literary and informational texts to develop an understanding of the concept of personal growth, industrialization and the modern renaissance and analyze the evolving representations of morality and exploration throughout British literature. Using textual evidence from the suggested extended and shorter literary texts, and other grade-level appropriate informational texts, students will define, analyze its representation in multiple media, and produce writing arguing as to how the perception of morality changes or is adapted over time/culture/context. 

 

 

 

BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Title

 

 The British Tradition

ISBN

 

ISBN: 0131317202

ISBN13: 9780131317208

Replacement Cost

$5.25-$55.00 (Amazon or Thrift Books.com) No Online resource is available at this time. Teacher will upload specific texts as .pdf as needed. Outside novels may require independent purchase or student download.

 

GRADING SYSTEM: The DeKalb County School District believes that the most important assessment of student learning shall be conducted by the teachers as they observe and evaluate students in the context of ongoing classroom instruction. A variety of approaches, methodologies, and resources shall be used to deliver educational services and to maximize each student’s opportunity to succeed. Teachers shall evaluate student progress, report grades that represent the student’s academic achievement, and communicate official academic progress to students and parents in a timely manner through the electronic grading portal. See Board Policy IHA.

 

 

GRADING CATEGORIES

 

*GRADE PROTOCOL

 

Formative and Diagnostic Assessments – 0% 

Assessment Tasks (Skills & Homework) – 25% 

Classwork (Guided, Independent, and Group Practice) – 45% 

Quizzes, Tests, and Projects – 30% 

A            90 – 100                                  ~P (pass)

B            80 – 89                                    ~F (fail)                

C            71 – 79 

D            70 

F             Below 70

 

Notes:  

*English Learners (ELs) must not receive numerical or letter grades for the core content areas in elementary and middle school during their first year of language development. A grade of CS or CU must be assigned. This rule may be extended beyond the first year with approval from the EL Studies Program. English Learners must receive a grade for ESOL courses.

 

~Elementary schools will utilize P (pass) and F (fail) in Health/Physical Education, Music, World Languages, Visual Arts and Performing Arts. 

 

 

 

 

DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS

 

 

 

STUDENT PROGRESS

Semester progress reports shall be issued four and a half, nine and thirteen and a half weeks into each semester.  The progress of students shall be evaluated frequently and plans shall be generated to remediate deficiencies as they are discovered. Plans shall include appropriate interventions designed to meet the needs of the students. See Board Policy IH.

 

 

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students will not engage in an act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, providing false information, falsifying school records, forging signatures, or using an unauthorized computer user ID or password. See the Code of Student Conduct - Student Rights and Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook.

 

 

 

HOMEWORK

Homework assignments should be meaningful and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom experience.  Homework is at all times an extension of the teaching/learning experience.  It should be considered the possession of the student and should be collected, evaluated and returned to the students. See Board Policy IHB.

 

 

MAKE-UP WORK 

DUE TO ABSENCES

When a student is absent because of a legal reason as defined by Georgia law or when the absence is apparently beyond the control of the student, the student shall be given an opportunity to earn grade(s) for those days absent. Make-up work must be completed within the designated time allotted. See Board Policy IHEA.

 

SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS

 

VIRTUAL

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS & Synchronous Instruction Norms

  1. All Students will report to class on time (gather materials and login at least 5 min before planned synchronous instruction) 
  2. All cameras should remain ON and students microphones should be muted unless specifically asked to do otherwise by the teacher..
  3. Students will have respect for the instructor, one another and the classroom at all times. No profanity, insulting commentary, or rude behavior of any kind will be accepted in the virtual classroom.
  4. Students will complete all assignments and submit  on the specified date provided by the instructor.
  5. All cell phones, tablets, or Chromebooks allowed in class will be used solely for classroom instruction..
  6. Students will not share screens with the class for any reason unless specifically instructed to do so by the teacher for project presentations.
  7. All makeup assignments for excused absences are due within 2 days of the students return, submitted directly to the instructor.
  8. Students are expected to follow the DeKalb County Schools code of conduct and ethics both in a virtual learning environment as well as upon the students return to a hybrid or traditional school setting.
  9. Students are expected to communicate regularly with the teacher regarding assignments, grades and or supplemental instruction. Students in need of assistance must schedule to meet with the teacher during extended learning time (M, T, TH, F 9:00-9:40) or during the teachers office hours 
  10. ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO OBTAIN A CHROMEBOOK OR OTHER INTERNET CONNECTING DEVICE AND BRING IT TO CLASS EACH DAY. IF YOUR STUDENT DOES NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS OR A DEVICE PLEASE CONTACT A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR IMMEDIATELY.

 

Late Assignments: No projects, essays or group assignments will be accepted late! TIMELINE MODIFICATIONS ARE GIVEN AT THE INTRODUCTION OF SUCH ASSIGNMENTS, NO FURTHER TIME MODIFICATIONS WILL BE GIVEN AS PROJECTS ARE UNIT SPECIFIC. 

All other assignments are considered late if it is not turned in at the time of teacher’s request and a 30 % deduction from the final grade of that assignment will be given. The highest grade that can be received is a 70. 

 

 

Make-up Policy:  All students must make up all regular class work missed due to an EXCUSED absence from class within two days.  All students must bring an admit slip in order to receive credit for the missed work.  All research papers and projects are due on the assigned date.

 

 

 

Re-do Policy:  AT THE TEACHER’S DESCRECTION, Students are eligible to re-do  1 tests and 1 PROJECT  when they receive 69% or below. The student can request a re-take within 2 days of receiving the results of the unsatisfactory assignment. The maximum grade possible is 75%. The assignment to be redone will be the SAME concept, but a different test or project.

 

 

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

Each student must have the following items and bring to class each day:

  • Chromebook 
  • jump drive
  • google account using first and last name for email correspondence
  • google drive
  • google email in addition to district given student email
  • access to a working web cam for video instruction (most Chromebooks have this already installed)

 

 

EXTRA HELP

 

Tutorial Days: M, T, TH, F (9:00-9:40)

W (11:00-3:45 by appointment)     Tutorial Hours:

After school 3:15-3:45 PM by appointment only (Appointments must be made at least 1 day in advance)

Tutorial Location: Class Microsoft Teams Channel 

 

 

 

PARENTS AS PARTNERS

 

Parents are encouraged to check Infinite Campus to check their child’s progress. Because this course is REQUIRED for graduation please stay in contact with me to make sure that your child is passing.  A week before graduation is too late to deal positively with a failing grade. Please Email at the above address for communication with the instructor and make sure that the phone numbers in infinite campus are up to date. (See or Call the Registrar) I will also use Remind to communicate.

Please download the Free Remind app. To sign up using your smartphone:

2nd Period enter 81010 text this message @bg4baa

3rd Period enter 81010 text this message @d6cacc

4th Period enter 81010 text this message @b2dad4