Introduction to Literature 1

Course Syllabus -- Fall 2004

Ms. Gina Ahnen

Room 224
Phone: (303) 689-6100 extension 2224
Voice Mail: (303) 764-3203 mailbox 21400
gina_ahnen@dpsk12.org

Course description:

This is a semester course focusing on reading, literary analysis, writing, speaking and presenting at the high school level.  Students will develop reading and writing skills, focusing on a variety of formats and genres.  Students will continue to work on improving grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.  This course is required for high school graduation, and an end of course assessment will be given at the end of the semester.  

Materials:

You will need:

• Blue or black pen

• Loose leaf paper

• Three ring notebook

• Dividers

• A place to write down assignments

• Text and book we are reading at the time

Each student will be assigned a textbook during the second week of school and  will be responsible for it for the entire semester.  Also, paperback books will be passed out, and students will be responsible for keeping them in good condition and returning them when we are finished.

Responsibilities:

Attendance and tardies:

Attendance is essential for you to do well in this class. 

In addition, the South High School policy regarding school absences and tardies will apply.  If you are absent, a parent or guardian must contact the school either by phone: (303) 698-6081 or with a written letter within 24 hours.  If a student accumulates four unexcused absences in a nine-week grading period, they may fail the nine-weeks, unless the attendance appeal board has approved the absences.   

Students are expected to arrive on time and prepared to class.  If students are continually late, it is detrimental to their learning and the classroom environment.  If a student is tardy to class twice, a phone call will be made to parents.  After the fourth tardy students will be sent with a referral to the Dean’s office. 

More importantly, we will do many group projects throughout the semester, and it is important that you be here so you can work with your group. 

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. First, talk to your partner, then come see me if you have further questions.  Extra handouts will be placed in the “Extras” file, so you may get them if you are absent. 

You will also have another student in the class that you will connect with to contact about work if you are absent. 

Attendance and participation –20%

• You will be expected to participate in class discussions and activities during class, including listening to the teacher and other students.

• You will be expected to come to class on time and bring the materials that you will  need for the day

Notebooks -- 40%
Your notebooks will be collected periodically and should include the following:

• Journals: beginning of the period written responses.  Your journal entries should be legible and thoughtful.

• Vocabulary: vocabulary from class and additional vocabulary you come across in your reading and vocabulary assignments.   

• Short written responses: written homework assignments.  These should be done on a daily basis to be discussed in class and kept in your notebook to turn in.

• Classwork  

** It is our responsibility to make sure your notebook is up to date and with you every class period.

Handouts, longer assignments, quizzes and tests—40%%

• Papers in this category should be typed and REVISED before they are turned in.

• Projects should be done with pride and neatly presented.

• If you get below a C on any of these projects, you will be expected to revise  the assignment and turn it in again. We will discuss this further when you receive your first assignment. 

A --- 90-100%
B --- 80-89%
C --- 70-79%
D --- 60-69%
F ---  65% and below

Parents: E-mail is an easy way for me to communciate with you regarding your child's progress. Please include your e-mail address below and feel free to e-mail me at any time.  You may request a progress report, and I will send one home with your child within 2 days.  You may also call and leave a message on my voice mail if I am not able to answer the phone. 

_______________________________________________________________________