Course Description: Literature & Composition I is to refine, apply, and extend the solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and strategies developed in the previous years’ English classes. Using the lenses of diversity and privilege, students will develop a new perspective by analyzing diverse, contemporary texts in a variety of genres, including nonfiction. Students will synthesize information, ideas, and themes to understand how their own identity and privilege allow them to interact in the world. They will identify and apply their own leadership skills and prepare for responsible action as citizens in the context of a global world.
Required Texts/Readings: Over the course of the year students will be reading a series of short stories, poems, and nonfiction articles as well as major thematic texts like, Americanized, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, The God of Small Things, and The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. In addition to these, students will be required to have multiple Accountable Independent Reading (AIR) books over the course of the year. I have a varied library available to the students at all times, or they can check out the books of their choice at their local library.
Course Unit Outline: Each unit in Lit & Comp 1 will last for 8 - 10 weeks and include a series of assignments, quizzes, essays, and projects.
Unit 1: Understanding My Identities
Inquiry Question: How can stories impact how people feel or think about their identity?
Big Idea: We can express pride, confidence and healthy self-esteem without denying the value and dignity of other people
Text: Americanized
Writing Pieces: Express & Reflect or Inquire and Explore
Projects: Black Out Poetry; Body Biography;
CCSS: RL.11-12.1; RL.11-12.2; RL.11-12.3; RL.11-12.5; W.11-12.3
Unit 2: Affirming Identities Through Historical Perspectives
Inquiry Question: How do authors creatively and surprisingly narrate the histories of different social identities?
Big Idea: We can understand the language and historical and cultural knowledge that affirm and accurately describe their membership in multiple identity groups.
Text: Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Writing Pieces: Inform and Explain or Analyze and Interpret
CCSS:RI.11-12.3; RI.11-12.4; RI.11-12.6; RI.11-12.7; W.11-12.2
Unit 3: Understanding the Lived Experiences of Others
Inquiry Question: How is what's true made clear?
Big Idea: Storytelling and Reflection
Text: The God of Small Things
Writing Pieces: Evaluate & Judge or Take a Stand & Propose a Solution
Projects: Character Body Biography
CCSS: RL.11-12.1; RL.11-12.2; RL.11-12.4; W.11-12.1
Unit 4: Recognizing the Individual Despite Stereotypes and Biases
Inquiry Question: How do we decide what’s right?
Big Idea: Stereotypes and Biases
Text: The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Writing Pieces: A Blend of Express / Reflect & one other purpose
Projects: Multi-Genre Research Project
CCSS:RL.11-12.1; RL.11-12.2; RL.11-12.3; RL.11-12.5
What Students Need for Class: Students should have the following items with them daily. Having all of these items daily will be part of their participation grade in the class weekly.
- Laptop with charger
- AIR Book (independent reading book)
Assignments and Grading Policy:
- 20% - Reading – Assignments that are focused on reading, understanding, and interpreting a variety of texts.
- 20% - Writing – Assignments that are focused on the application of core knowledge for writing across the curriculum.
- 20% - Speaking & Listening – Assignments that demonstrate effective communication in writing, speaking, and visual presentations
- 20% - Language – Assignments that are focused on the growth and development of grammar, vocabulary, and language usage.
- 20% - Social – Assignments that contribute to a healthy classroom environment by respecting people, property, ideas, and diversity. Homework completion falls under this category.
Note to All Students: Students who wish to advance to the AP / ECE (Honors level) Literature & Composition course next year must maintain a B+ average (85%) for the year in order to qualify for honors placement.
Classroom Behavior Expectations: In order to be successful in the classroom it is imperative that students follow the expected standards of conduct:
Late Work Policy:
Students who miss the assignment deadline can still turn in the work up to one week after the deadline for 50% of the credit.
A Pathways Student:
- Turns in their work on time
- Asks questions about the work before it is due
- Asks what was missed during block break or before they return to class when they miss class
- Emails their teachers or checks the online platform before returning to class when they miss class
- Students with excused absences will not be penalized for late or missing assignments as long as they meet the responsibilities listed above and complete the missed work within 2 missed classes.
- Students with unexcused absences, who skip class, or who are chronically distracted while in class due to technological distractions will not be given make-up work in the last 2 weeks of a marking period.
Plagiarism:
Hartford Public Schools defines plagiarism as “Use of or copying of the academic work of another individual and presenting it as the student's own work, without proper attribution; or any other form of academic dishonesty, cheating or plagiarism.”
Students caught plagiarizing will be given a zero for the assignment without the opportunity to make it up, and parents and administration will be notified.
PLAGIARISM INCLUDES:
- Copying all or part of someone’s work and submitting it as your own
- Using a source (paraphrase or quote) without proper citations
- Collaborating on an independent assignment
Please refer to the Pathways Academy of Technology & Design’s Parent-Student Handbook for all school-wide and district-wide policies.
Class Rubrics | |
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