English 10 Syllabus: Mrs. Zumbach

Room 16

 


American Literature:

Native American Period Through Mark Twain

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

HONORS AND COLLEGE-PREP:

English 10 is the first half of the survey of American literature from the Colonial period through the Reconstruction era (roughly 1600-1850). The class will emphasize how a particular author and his work are representative of the cultural and historical time period in which he lived and wrote and the worldview that he expressed.  Students will also examine the various texts from all genres as art forms and will analyze each on its own merit. Opportunities for formal and informal speaking will pair with written responses to assigned readings. Course content is available in the class text, trade books, or the Internet.

REGULAR ENGLISH:

This class will follow the guidelines and plans for the college-prep English 10 course.  This class will work at a slower pace and will spend more class time working on assignments in grammar and will read fewer novels and review less literature.

EXPECTATIONS

Come to class prepared with all materials and assignments ready.

Actively work and participate to the best of your ability.

If you need help, seek help.

If your computer fails, complete your assignments in cursive using paper and black pen.

HONORS ENGLISH
Students in Honors English are expected to perform at a high standard for all reading and writing assignments.  They should come into the class already performing at or near this level. Frequently assignments are longer and/or more in depth.  See the Parent/Student Handbook for more details about admission requirements and continuance policies. 

WORLDVIEW QUESTIONS

1.    Who am I?

2.    Who is my neighbor?

3.    What is wrong with the world?

4.    What is the significance of language?

 

COMMUNICATION

Please talk with me in class. 

Please talk with me in Room 16 during breaks or after school (if previously arranged).

Check my Web site and announcements posted in the classroom.

Email me on weekdays/weekends. Allow up to 24 hours for a response.

mailto:Tracey.Zumbach@wca-hsv.org

 

 

 

SUMMER READING

18 Best Stories of Edgar Allan Poe

Students are expected to read the entire text before the first day of class.  Students will complete assignments related to summer reading during the first 7 days of class.  Expect a few quizzes + writing assignment(s).

Honors: Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Students are expected to read the entire text before the first day of class (in addition to the book of Poe stories).  Students will complete assignments related to summer reading during the first 7 days of class.  Expect a few quizzes + writing assignment(s).

MATERIALS

10th graders should be prepared to purchase a binder and dividers as directed on the first day of class.
1. American Literature text (per student)
2. Good dictionary and thesaurus (at home)

3. Bible

NOTE:   For some texts trade books will be issued by the school and must be returned after the unit of study.
4. Sadlier-Oxford
Vocabulary Workshop workbook

5. Grammar text (available in class)
6. Internet access

7. Handouts folder from teacher 

ASSIGNMENTS

See web or assignment board. Due at the beginning of class.

CLASS TODAY

See link for your class

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Period 5

GRADES

Posted on Edline   www.edline.net

GRADING

1.    Homework/Reading assignments: 50%

This includes: Collaboration/discussion, essays, notes on readings

2.   Projects/Term Papers/ Tests: 50%; please note that in some cases, a cumulative test or term paper may count as 2 test grades 

SUBMITTING ESSAYS

Electronically submit all essays through your web folder (to be set up). Please give me an email or hard copy in addition to this when requested.  Students will cite each written assignment unless otherwise noted.

Please be aware of the WCA attendance policy and how it impacts work missed/due while you may be absent. I follow the policy as it is stated in the handbook.

 

 

FORMAT GUIDELINES FOR ESSAYS

1.    White paper, 1-inch margins, double-space, left-justified, 12-point Times New Roman (plain, not bold)

2.    Put your name at the top left-hand corner of the paper.  Type the date under your name using numbers such as 8/8/07.  Type the class name and period under the date.

3.    Center your paper title below your name.

4.  Number pages on top right: Zumbach 1, Zumbach 2, for example.

 DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES

1.    Give proper credit to all sources used when completing an assignment. Failure to do so is plagiarism. Plagiarism is the unethical "borrowing" of someone else's ideas without giving him credit.  At the very least you will receive a zero for work determined to be plagiarized. I use a plagiarism detector search engine program as needed.

2.    We use the Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation format which requires that students complete and hand in a works cited list whenever a student has quoted or paraphrased ideas or words from another person.

3.    Students are responsible to use the proper format both in their parenthetical references and in the works cited list.

4.    Use the Purdue University Online Writing Lab or a copy of the MLA Handbook (Fifth Edition) to ensure that due credit is given and documentation is formatted correctly.

 

LATE POLICY

1.    Assignments are due at the beginning of class; assignments submitted after this time are penalized. Plan on computer problems and print your paper well in advance or write it in cursive. Always back your information up in multiple places such as your email or a removable disk in case of computer crashes.

2.    Late work can be sent to the teacher by e-mail; the late penalty will be applied up to the date the work is sent.

3.    Students may make up work to receive 50% of the full value of the assignment, if approved by the teacher. The assignment must be turned in within 2 class periods and must be completed to a B (above average) level to receive 50% credit. The student must repeat the assignment several times, if necessary, to reach this level.  Failure to turn in work will result in a zero for the assignment.

4.  MISSED work and/or LATE work will be considered the responsibility of the student!  Students are expected to initiate follow up.

4.    Teacher is not expected to provide detailed feedback or comments on late student work.

 

First Semester:

Introduction (8/8-8/30): Edgar Allan Poe study with class discussion, review, quizzes, oral reading practice, objective test; including but not limited to: “The Raven”, “Annabel Lee”, “The Black Cat”, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”, “Alone”, “The Sphinx”, etc.  We will view the A and E biography video “Edgar Allan Poe” and discuss the significance of Poe’s life circumstances on his works.  We will investigate www.knowingpoe.com and explore the various links available there.  We will use “The Masque of the Red Death” to review oral reading, diction, and inflection and prepare for work on speeches after first quarter. Using “The Telltale Heart” we will follow step-by-step instructions for essay practice.

Unit 1: (9/4-9/14): Study of early American literature with in-class and outside reading.  We will begin a biography project to warm up for a later in-depth research paper assignment due in December.  We will begin to trace the development of America’s literature.

The Scarlet Letter: (9/17-10/3) Study of the Puritan influence on American literature along with discussion of the novel’s characters, author Nathaniel Hawthorne, and some of the novel’s themes.  We will touch on gothic elements, Romanticism, and the continuing development of American literature.