Honors American Literature
Marin Langner
Contact Information
Teacher E-mail:
marin.langner@corvallis.k12.or.us
Classroom Phone Number:757-3836
Class Website: www.csd509j.net/staff/langnem
Course Description and Goals:
Honors American Literature is a
fast-paced, academically rigorous study of American literature beginning with
colonial times, moving through the nineteenth century, and finally ending with
in-depth studies of twentieth century literature.
We will read novels, poetry, essays, and short stories that exemplify
many characteristics of American literature and illuminate the intellectual
currents of the times. Our
thematic focus will revolve around the American Dream.
Throughout the year, you
will have many opportunities to hone your writing skills and demonstrate your
ability to do college-level work.
You will be writing for varied purposes, reading from a variety of literary
genres and periods, interpreting literary works, conducting inquiry and
research, analyzing relationships of the humanities & human/social experience,
and communicating in a variety of forms.
You will also be keeping a portfolio of your work.
Finally, a highlight of this course is the "place essay" assignment, a
writing assignment designed to give you time to reflect and to tap in to your
artistic talents! .
Tentative Schedule of Readings and Major Assignments
SEMESTER 1
Sept. 7– Sept. 27
Colonial Period
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Dialectical Journals
Dramatic presentation/discussion
Character Essay
Test
Sept. 28 - Oct. 13
Romanticism/
Works by Hawthorne, Thoreau, Emerson
Transcendentalism
Response Logs
Transcendentalism Project
Oct. 12/13;Oct. 17/18
Place Essay #1 due (R.D./F.D.)
Oct. 17 - Nov. 18
Regionalism and
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain
Realism
Discussion Groups
Literary Essay
Test
Nov. 28-Dec. 9 Poetry
Dickinson/Whitman
Response Logs/Discussion
Dec. 12-Jan. 6 Short
Story
Hemingway, Faulkner, Porter, Welty
Short Story Author Analysis
Jan.19/20;Jan. 23/24
Place Essay #2 due (R.D./F.D.)
Jan. 9-Feb. 1
The Roaring Twenties
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Diacritical Journals
Research project/"Cocktail Party"
Test (including in-class essay)
SEMESTER 2
Feb. 6- Mar. 2 The
Great Depression
The Grapes of Wrath by John
Steinbeck
Diacritical Journals
Literary Essay
Test
Mar. 5-March 23
Harlem Renaissance
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Short works by Hughes, Wright, Cullen
Multiple Works Essay
Apr. 6;Apr. 9/10
Place Essay #3 due (R.D./F.D.)
April 2- April 27
Post WWII /
Beat Poetry
Era of Discontent
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.
Salinger
Study Guide
Literary Criticism Essays
Test
April 30 – May 22
Vietnam
The Things They Carried by Tim
O'Brien
Notes/Discussion
May 21- June 14
Final Project
Research Essay/Presentation: Literary Movements
May 25
Research Essay due
June 1; June 4/5
Place Essay #4 due (R.D./F.D.)
Instructional Activities:
Students will engage in individual, pair, and group work during class sessions.
Instructional activities include: writing exercises, close reading,
discussions, journaling, collaborative group work, lecture, and grammar and
mechanics practice.
Assessment Procedures:
Students are assessed in both formative and summative assessments.
Examples of formative assessments include: reading response logs,
journals, and homework. These
assignments are viewed as learning in progress, and the student will be given
feedback for growth to help assure they are understanding and gaining
proficiency in the curriculum.
Summative assessments allow students to demonstrate their mastery of course
material and include essays, projects, and tests.
All writing and speaking are assessed using the Oregon Scoring Guides,
which can be found on the ODE website.
Grading Policy: Your grade will be
based on the quality of your essays, projects, research assignments, literary
journals, reading assignments, quizzes and tests, Writer’s Journal entries,
vocabulary study, class participation, discussion and speaking skills, etc.
Grades are based on a standard scale (over 90% = A, 80-89.9%=B, etc.)
Homework assignments are generally due at the beginning of the period.
For work to receive full credit, it must be turned in when called for.
Take-home essays must be typed
(10% off if not typed). In-class
essays must be written in ink (10% off if in pencil).
Grades appear on Pinnacle and can be accessed by students and their
parents.
Tardy Policy: It is important to be on
time to class everyday. Not only do
you miss directions and instruction, coming in late distracts other students.
After three tardies, a student will be assigned detentions.
Attendance Policy:
Be here and be on time! When you are not, it has
a negative impact on your participation in the class and on your grade.
If you must miss a class, YOU are responsible for collecting missed work.
Use the class website as a resource tool; you can find calendars and
assignments there.
Leaving the Classroom: Leaving the classroom is frowned
upon! If an emergency arises and you feel you must leave the classroom for some
reason, you need to speak to me before you leave and sign out on the clip board
at the back of the room. Please do not
leave within the first or last 15 minutes of the class.
Late Work Policy: All graded
assignments, papers, and projects are due on the date stated.
Assignments are due at the beginning of class.
If an assignment is:
a.
Up to one week
late = 30% deduction
b.
More than a week
late = no credit
Please always put late work in late
basket, label your assignment “late”
and write both the due date and date turned in clearly at top of paper.
Unexcused Absences:
No credit will be given for work missed due to an unexcused absence.
Long-term assignments:
If you are absent for any reason, you are still responsible for
turning in long-term assignments (papers, projects, presentations) on time and
finding out what work you missed.
If you are afraid that you might become sick the night before an
assignment is due, then complete it early and make sure it is handed in.
Take advantage of email, friends, and siblings to deliver assignments.
If it is not possible to have an assignment delivered or emailed, please
contact me to work out a plan BEFORE the due date (minimum of 24 hours in
advance).
Short-term assignments:
a student with an excused absence may turn in work within two school days
of his/her return. Please label
“absent”, include date due and date turned in, and place in late basket. If you
know you will be absent in advance, meet with me before you leave to determine
due dates and assignments. For
planned absences (field trips, family vacations, etc), work must be turned in
before the deadline has passed.
Make Up Exams and
Quizzes: In cases of excused absences,
you may make up a test or quiz within two school days of your return to
school. You are responsible
for setting up an appointment with me to make up the work.
If you do not make an appointment or do not show up, you will receive a
zero. Please check the calendar
after all absences to learn about missed work, tests, and quizzes.
Formal Written
Assignments: All essays, papers, and
written projects need to be typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins on all
sides, and need to include the MLA formal heading.
Use Times New Roman font in 12 point at all times.
Always attach rough drafts, peer editing sheets, and the rubric to final
drafts. Evidence of the writing
process is an important part of our growth,
and is reflected in your grade.
Credit Denial Policy: Credit denial in
this course may occur when a student has accumulated 10 unexcused absences and
his/her grade has fallen below 59.5%.
Students and their parents/guardians will be informed in writing by the
teacher of the possibility of credit denial when a student has accumulated 5
unexcused absences and her/his grade has fallen below 59.5%. Credit denial
decisions will not be based on absences due to religious reasons, a student’s
disability, or an excused absence, as determined by district policy.
Students who receive a credit denial warning are responsible for taking
measures to prevent the loss of academic credit.
Students who are failing a class at the time of credit denial will have
an “F” entered on their transcript.
No credit will be awarded for the course.
Corvallis School District Policy IKAD.
Plagiarism Policy:
The Plagiarism Policy for Crescent Valley High School will be followed in this
course. This year, the CV Humanities
classes will be using SafeAssign, a plagiarism prevention program that can be
accessed through Blackboard.
Submission of all word-processed assignments will be required.
Details will be sent out separately in the first few weeks of the term.
Personal Electronics Policy:
The Personal Electronics Policy for Crescent Valley High School will be followed
in this course. Phones must be
turned off at all times. Headphones
may only be used during independent work time.
Classroom Behavior Expectations:
In order to make our classroom a
positive place for everyone, I expect students to follow the Raider Way: be
respectful, safe, and responsible.
Food and Drink Policy:
No food or drink is permitted during class.
You are welcome to bring water
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