School Year/Semester Fall 2020/Spring 2021
Course Name | Advanced Composition and American Literature
| Course Code | 23.0340000 [Adv. Comp] 23.05510000 [American Literature]
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School Name | Miller Grove High School | Teacher Name | Ms. Morgan-Leanne House Ms. Javeanni Adams |
School Phone Number | (678) 875-1102
| Teacher Email | [email protected]
[email protected]
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School Website | www.millergrovehs.dekalb.k12.ga.us | Teacher Google Voice # | Ms. M.-L. House: 404-913-1597 Ms. J. Adams: 470-219-8917
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Course Description
Advanced Composition
In this course, students focus on the writing process (planning, drafting, and revising). Students will focus on different writing genres and organizational structures: expository, argument, narrative, descriptive, comparison-contrast, exemplification, process analysis, classification, cause and effect, and definition. Advanced language skills (grammar and usage) will be a major component of this class. An emphasis on research is also required.
American Literature
In this course, students read and analyze works of American Literature from Colonial to
contemporary times, including poetry, short stories, novels, drama, and nonfiction. The literary works provide opportunities for critical writing, creative projects, and online discussions.Students develop vocabulary skills and refresh their knowledge of grammar, usage, and mechanics in preparation for standardized tests. Students broaden their composition skills by examining model essays in various genres by student and published writers. Through in-depth planning, organizing, drafting, revising, proofreading, and feedback, they hone their writing skills.
Curriculum Overview
The following academic concepts will be covered.
THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
ADVANCED COMPOSITION (Semester One) |
Unit 1: Narrative Writing—Life Lessons
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Unit 2: Expository Writing—Spill the Tea
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Unit 3: Argumentative Writing—The Great Debate
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Unit 4: Research—What's the 411?
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AMERICAN LITERATURE (Semester Two) |
Unit 1: A Nation is Born
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Unit 2: The Individual & Society
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Unit 3: A Nation Young, Yet Emerging
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Unit 4: Embracing Diversity while Overcoming Adversity
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BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Title
| Prentice Hall Literature Eleventh Grade
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ISBN
| 0-13-131755-5
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Replacement Cost | $60.97
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Online book and/or resources | Microsoft Teams (learning management system) CommonLit (through Launchpad) Reading Plus (through Launchpad) Infinite Campus (to check grades) https://www.ixl.com/signin/millergrovehs |
Online student access code (school-specific) |
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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 B 80 – 89 C 71 – 79 D 70 F Below 70 |
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 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 |
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS | Virtual Classroom Policies The course platform will be Microsoft Teams. Students will log in with their s-number and DeKalb password. Students are expected to login for EVERY Live Session and attendance will be taken daily. Live Sessions will be offered four days a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays). Please see the schedule below: 1st Period: 9:45-10:30 2nd Period: 10:40-11:25 3rd Period: 11:35-12:20 4th Period: 1:05-1:50
All classroom meetings and student conferences will be conducted through Microsoft Teams. Students can join either through Outlook, Teams, or Notifications. Assignments will be submitted through Teams. Please DO NOT email assignments. Students must contact the teacher first if they are unsure of how to submit an assignment. Students will be expected to dress appropriately and use appropriate language when engaged in any classroom communication, spoken and written. Students will be expected to practice proper etiquette in online interactions with their teachers and peers.
Academic Requirements All assignments will be submitted through Microsoft Teams unless indicated otherwise. All assignments must be submitted by the due date. If you are having difficulty submitting an assignment, you must contact your instructor before the assignment due date and time. Remind: Please refer to the code in your Class Notebook. Email:[email protected]
[email protected]
Google Voice: Ms. House= (404)-913-1597
Ms. Adams= (470)219-8917 **Please do not call during instruction time.** Incomplete assignments will receive a grade of M which is equivalent to a ZERO. ??Weekly Reading Plus assignments will be due Fridays by 11:59 pm. Weekly IXL assignments will be due Sundays by 11:59 pm. Assignments will NOT be accepted late. NO EXCEPTIONS! Cheating will result in a zero for ALL students involved. The grade will remain a zero. There are no alternate versions of an assignment for those who cheat.
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MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES | Students must have reliable and consistent Internet access A DCSD-issued Chromebook (preferred) OR A personal laptop A tablet or a smartphone that is Microsoft Apps-friendly |
EXTRA HELP
| Extended Learning Time Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Time: 9:00-9:40 am
Workshop Wednesdays Day: Wednesday Time: Individual Conferences (arranged as needed)
Office Hours/Tutorials Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays Time: 2:00 pm-3:00 pm |
PARENTS AS PARTNERS
| Parents can access grades through Infinite Campus and sign up for Remind using the information provided by the teacher.
Please submit the syllabus agreement via the link provided by the teacher by Friday, August 21, 2020. |
**Please see the Syllabus Agreement via the link provided by your teacher**
Teachers Website links
Ms. House: http://www.millergrovehs.dekalb.k12.ga.us/Morgan-LeanneHouse.aspx
Ms. Adams: http://www.millergrovehs.dekalb.k12.ga.us/JaveanniAdams.aspx