2011-2011 ENGLISH II: American Literature (Honors) Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Mr.

Ian McCarthy

"Success, after all, loves a witness, but failure can't exist without onea writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway." --Junot Diaz
E-mail: imccarthy@cps.edu Phone: 773.534.7500 ext 24707 Office hours: 4th, 8th, & 9th periods (2B, English Cubicle or PE Building)) Course Description
Throughout the year, the English II class will explore some of the major writers and works from The United States of America. Students will develop a passion for reading and writing using traditional and electronic formats. Student writings will respond to the literature with their own words and style, offering individual and unique perspectives. Units on grammar and vocabulary will also be completed. Most importantly, the class will improve the students writing through work in the following areas: The process of writing (invention, composition, revision); Small elements of writing (spelling, grammar, style, syntax, etc.); Large elements of writing (structuring essays and paragraphs, using sources); Methods of writing (narration, description, comparison/contrast, cause/effect, speech, prediction, argument/persuasion, research).

All required individual accommodations and modifications will be followed. Learning Objectives

Reading and understanding a variety of texts Analyzing and discussing literature Using evidence from the text Communicating ideas orally and connecting them to others ideas Writing in different genres or rhetorical modes Revising Editing the grammar within your own writing Learning vocabulary and how to use that vocabulary correctly Enjoying what you read All Illinois Standards for the English Classroom can be found at http://www.isbe.state.il.us/common_core/pdf/ELA_common_core_standards.pdf Large and small group discussion Note taking Oral Presentations Writers workshop Tests and quizzes Conferencing Come to class prepared to participate. You must complete readings prior to class in order to receive credit for in-class group assignments. Be responsible for your own learning. Ask questions if you do not understand. Stay organized. Write your assignments in your Whitney Young Magnet Handbook or another assignment notebook. Save all your work. Complete all homework and independent reading at home. There will not be a quiz everyday to check that you have read, but you must be fully engaged in the discussions each day to get high grades for group work, assignments, and tests. Use your resources. Everyone struggles at some point. The best and smartest learners are the ones who know when and where to ask for help. I am always happy to meet with you to discuss big or small questions, or if you just feel like you are struggling in general.

Classroom activities

How to be a Successful Learner

Materials
Students are required to bring the following to class on a daily basis: Single Subject Notebook Folder with loose-leaf paper Pen (black ink only) Textbook (United States in Literature) or other assigned works Vocabulary Books Small Dictionary (soft cover)

Works to purchase or borrow 1st Quarter: Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger by Oct. 14th 2nd Quarter: 3rd Quarter: The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien 4th Quarter: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Assignments Reading and writing assignments are due at the beginning of each class. It is expected that you will come to the class having done the reading assignment for the day. Note taking on the work is required. The date that the assignment appears on the syllabus is the due date. The date that a homework assignment appears on the syllabus/Edline is the due date. Late work will have one letter grade deducted per late day. Assignments 4-10 days late will receive a maximum of 50% credit. Assignments that are more than ten days late will receive a zero. Late written works will lose 50 points if one to five days late and 100 points if six to ten days late and no credit if more than 10 days late. Works less than ten days late can be revised once without penalty. If you miss class because of a field trip, sports activity, early dismissal, late arrival, your work is still due on that day. Come early before you leave to hand in the assignment. All work must be handed to me personally. Do not put work in my mailbox or in my classroom without my presence. Formal Papers You will write a paper for the eight kinds of writing we will cover this year; five of these (description, narration short story, comparison/contrast, argument/persuasion, research) will be revised using a writers workshop model. Essays should be typed, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, in black ink, with margins no greater than 1 inch. No essay should be shorter than two pages. Research Paper On an approved topic of your choosing. The only parameter: that the topic must pertain to an issue that faces the citizens of the United States of America. The process of writing the research paper will include a number of stages. We will begin the paper in March. The paper must be at least four pages. Blog By September 9th, go to www.blogger.com and set up a blog to be used only for this class. It is free and easy. After you set your blog up, send the address (it look like ______.blogspot.com) to me at imccarthy@cps.edu I will have a master page that will link up to every class members blog. This will be an online portfolio used to store formal and informal writings, comments, appropriate discussions concerning classroom activities, etc. See list of 1st Semester entries at the end of the syllabus. Typically, blogs will be 200-400 Words in length. Journal Each day you will warm-up for class by journaling. There will be a question, quote, word, or idea on the board when you enter class. Sit down, open your journal, and start writing your thoughts concerning what you see before you. If something else is on your mind, you are allowed to write about it. Remember, this is not a diary. Realize that information in the journal is not entirely private. Journals will be collected at the end of every month. Presentations Each student will make three presentations per semester: the first will be a few minutes of leading a discussion concerning the days reading; the second & third will be a presentation of an assigned project/paper. Presentations grades will be determined using a rubric. For all presentations, presenters should strive for clear and forceful expression of their ideas. Use of technology is allowed (teacher must be informed so that equipment can be acquired). Classroom Rules Attendance is mandatory. Be here and be on time. Failure starts with complacency and a lack of responsibility. Cutting will drastically lower your grade. Tardiness will result in missed classroom work for points. Any student with excessive unexcused absences, truancies, and/or tardies will have their grade lowered. More than nine absences in a quarter will result in an automatic F. Eating in class is prohibited; drinking water is fine. Behavior will follow a model of respect: when someone is talking, no one else is. Do not talk while others are. People like to be heard, including you. You will be called on to express your thoughts, concerns, arguments. Wait patiently. You are a scholar in a talented learning community. Behave like one. All school rules as explained in the WYHS Student Handbook and CPS Uniform Code apply in this class

No hats. IDs on at all times. Make sure your cell phones and electronic devices are shut off and stored in your book bag or locker. Unless permission is given by me, you are not to use them in class. Always be ready. With every new day comes the possibility for a quiz, discussion, or an exercise. Your participation is required. Those who think just sitting there is enough, better think twice.

Edline Although I will update assignments and grades on Edline, Edline does not substitute for personal responsibility. There may be times when I make changes to previously scheduled assignments in class. Make sure you pay attention and keep an up-to-date assignment notebook. Grades will be updated at least every two weeks. Independent Reading Thursdays 1. Inform me that you are reading a book and sign up to read it. You must be signed up in the class notebook. You can choose a book from the classroom library or get one on your own. Commit to reading works that you have not read before this school year. 2. Keep a reading notebook (4 pages or more) as you read. 3. We will discuss the book and decide upon an essay topic or project. 4. Turn in essay or project and reading notebook for maximum of 100 pts. Extra credit books can be read for credit in the same way as long as you are passing the course. 25 pts. For each additional book. Grading Scale A= 100-93 B= 92-85 C= 84-78 D= 77-68 F= 67-0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Return to Mr. McCarthy by September 9th. To the student: I have read and agree to the class requirements: ______________________________________________________ (Student Signature) To the Parent: I have read this course syllabus and agree to support the above named student in his/her efforts in this class: ______________________________________________________ (Parent Signature) Student name ______________________ Class Period _____________________

Parent/guardian name ____________________________ Parent/guardian Email _____________________________________________________ Parent/guardian phone number(s) _____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

1st Semester American Literature: Major Assignment Due Dates

9/8 9/9 9/19 9/23 9/30 9/30 10/11 10/21 10/31 10/31 11/4 11/9 11/14 11/21 11/30 12/2 12/16 12/22 1/9 1/13 1/20 1/20 1/23 1/25

Independent Novel Selection Blog Set Up 1st Blog Due Phillis Wheatley Presentations Description Paper The Road Reading Notebook & Test September Journals The Crucible Reading Notebook & Test (Vocabulary 1 & 2) Compare and Contrast Paper Catcher in the Rye Reading Notebook & Test (Vocabulary 3) October Journals New Yorker Book Review Paper Independent Reading Project #1 Slave Narratives and Arguments for the Abolition of Slavery Presentations Conclusions and Generalizations Paper November Journals Short Story Reading Notebook & Test (Vocabulary 4,5,6) Short Story Teacher Draft December Journals Opinion Paper Short Story Final Draft Independent Reading Project #2 Great Gatsby Reading Notebook & Test (Vocabulary 7) January Journals Semester Final

First Semester Blog Entries (Blogs will be posted by class time on due date. Each week you must respond to two blogs.) 9/9 Introductions 9/16 ArrivalsThere goes the Neighborhood 9/23 Sinners in the Hands of Angry God 9/30 Father and Son 10/7 John Proctor, Hero or Stooge? 10/14 The Moment I Knew I was an American 10/21 My Red Hunting Hat 10/28 Holden 11/4 A Direction the Class Needs 11/11 The Trick of Writing 11/18 Thankful for a Classmate 11/25 Jay and Nick 12/2 Whats it take to have a Rolls? 12/9 Art Review 12/16 Winter Poem- 3rd Annual Snowflake Battle 12/23 Music Review 1/6 Mr. Hemingway 1/13 King Still King? 1/20 Me in Another Time 1/27 My Greatest English II Moment