American Literature and Composition 121

Carmel Catholic High School Course Procedures and Guidelines 2007-2008

INSTRUCTOR:

Br. Tom Murphy, O. Carm.
email: tmurphyATcarmelhsDOTorg
url: www.brtom.org

TEXTS:

Literature (The American Experience) - Prentice-Hall
The Gold Bug and Other Tales - Edgar Alan Poe
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Selected Poems - Walt Whitman
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger
Other works to be announced

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course explores the development of major themes in United States literature. Students will continue to develop their skills as writers and readers as they prepare for future CCHS English classes and college. Online responses to course readings will be written on a discussion board; essays and other literary forms will be drafted, revised, edited, and (when possible) published.

Please note: Course material will at times require the consideration of matters related to human physicality and sexuality. Be assured that all such discussion will be informed by Catholic theology and moral teaching within the scope of the mission, philosophy, and policies of Carmel High School.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Students will respond to their reading by posting their thoughts to A Plain Public Road, the class online discussion board. These responses should be substantial, thought-full, reactions to the reading assignments and other classroom experiences. They should not be merely summaries of the reading or repetitions of what other students have written. Students who do not have home access to the internet should see me to discuss alternate strategies. See below for evaluation and grading criteria for this online response.
2. Homework assignments should be written down as they are given, and they are posted at my website. Assignments missed due to excused absence will be due on the school day after the student's return, except in the case of extended absence. Missed assignments not due to excused absence are not accepted. "Extra credit" work is not given.
3. With only a few exceptions, work will be typed on standard size white paper. Ripped out spiral sheets will never be accepted. All papers presented as final drafts should be in perfect condition. Papers presented as "work in progress" will, of course, show evidence of your labor.
4. This course requires total participation. At times students will need to work alone, and at other times they will be part of a group. Each student is expected to become an active listener and speaker in this class (see Roundtable Discussion Rubric).
5. All policies that are found in the Parent-Student Handbook are operative in this class.

GRADING POLICY

Individual Written Assignments are scored with a check system. A check means that the assignment meets my expectations for it. A checkplus goes somewhat beyond my expectations (and shows extra effort on your part). A plus indicates an exceptionally high level of accomplishment on your part.

These marks each carry a given point value: minus = 0 points; checkminus = .5 point; check = 1 point; checkplus = 1.5 points; plus = 2 points. The check sets the lower end of the B range. For example, if there turn out to be ten such assignments by the quarter's end, the grade scale would look like this:
12-13 points = A (over 14 = A+)
10-11 points = B
7-9 points = C
4-6 points = D

Online Response at A Plain Public Road will ultimately be graded on quantity (per quarter, at least 45 posts = A (over 55 = A+), at least 35 posts = B, at least 25 posts = C), but entries are evaluated for credit in terms of quality (see Discussion Board Posting Rubric). Credit will be withheld for posts that do not adequately express and explain the student's response, posts that are merely summaries or repetitions. While the discussion board is a relatively more relaxed writing forum, credit also may still be withheld for posts that are seriously inattentive to language mechanics, including spelling. Additional credit may be given for especially substantial or insightful posts.

PLEASE NOTE:

Students who lack a reasonable number of posts at certain times throughout the quarter will receive deficiency reports.

A student who, in order to achieve an A must post more than ten times in the two weeks before quarter's end will receive a grade no higher than B for this portion of the quarter grade. This means that the student must have at least 35 creditted posts by two weeks before the quarter's end.

Your online response grade will drop one or more grade levels if you do not post significantly (i.e. at least five times) in a given Forum while it is open for posting.

In this class every A is put into the computer as 96 (A+ as 100), every B is put into the computer as 89, every C is put into the computer as 80, every D is put into the computer as 72, every F is put into the computer as 60. These scores are aligned with the school's established grading scale.

Quarter grades will be generally figured on the following scale. Some variation may be necessary to adjust for specific projects. Students will be advised of any variations near the beginning of each quarter.

40% = Online Response; 40% = Written Class Work and Major Projects; 20% = Quizzes (if applicable), Class Notes, Preparedness, Participation

Semester grades will be figured on the following scale (as per school policy):
40% = Quarter A; 40% = Quarter B; 20% = Semester Exam (No exemptions are granted for this exam.)

CONDUCT POLICY

Respect for self and others is the key to all acceptable conduct. Each person has the right to learn. Each person has the right to self-expression, but never at the expense of another's dignity. Each person has the right to feel safe in his or her person and belongings.
For minor misconduct, students will be warned once. If the student persists, disciplinary action will be taken. No warnings are deemed necessary in the case of serious misconduct. No warnings are necessary for violations of the dress code or anti-eating edicts.

Cheating occurs when a student presents someone else's work (in any form) as if it were his/her own work. This is a very serious offense against self and others. It is deeply destructive of the kind of trust that is essential for human community. Failure to work from the highest standards of academic integrity will incur the strongest possible consequences.

Please Note: If you feel tempted to cheat on any assignment, come talk to me about the problem you are having with the work. We can work something out. No student needs to cheat in order to succeed in this class.