12th
Grade English: College and Creative Writing
Teacher: Ms. O’Donnell
Classroom Location: Room 230
Email: sodonnell@crec.org
Welcome to College and Creative Writing. This
course aims to prepare students for a variety of literary forms in preparation
for the college experience. The year is
broken into six major units of study:
Unit One: The Memoir/
College essay writing
·
What is the purpose of the college essay?
·
How do admissions officers assess candidates?
·
How does the writer illuminate his/her life and/or
individual perspective?
·
How does the memoir differ from the autobiography?
·
How does the writer use voice (diction, detail,
imagery, syntax and tone) to covey personality and growth and perspective?
Unit Two: Creative
Non-Fiction
- What is creative
nonfiction?
- How is it both
similar to and different from fiction?
- What are the various
forms, techniques, and literary devices used by writers of creative
nonfiction?
- What is the
difference between memoir and autobiography?
- What literary
techniques are used to create an author’s voice?
Unit Three: Creating Short
Fiction
- What
are the various forms, techniques, and literary devices used by short
story writers?
- How
should one use those elements in the creation of original pieces of short
fiction?
- How
is the use of literary elements unique for a flash fiction piece?
- How
does a fiction writer work towards finding his or her own unique style and
voice?
- How
is the revision process used when writing short stories?
- What
is the appropriate way to critically analyze short fiction?
Unit Four: Critical
Analysis of a Novel
- What
is the expectation of critical analysis in college class?
- What
are expectations of independent reading in college?
- What
is the correct format for a college level paper?
Unit Five: Playwriting
- What
are the various forms, techniques, and devices used by playwrights and
scriptwriters?
- What
extra-literary factors must a playwright or scriptwriter take into
consideration when crafting their piece?
- How
does the written drama transfer to the stage?
- How
is the revision process used in the writing of dramatic pieces?
Unit Six: Written and
Performance Poetry
- What
are the challenges facing both new and seasoned poets?
- What
are the many techniques, literary, and sonic devices used to write poetry?
- How
does one write poetry using several different forms & structures
breaking out of elementary, cliché writing?
- How
does the revision process apply when writing poems?
- How
does written and performed poetry differ?
Materials and Resources required for
class:
ü 1 Notebook
ü 5 dividers with tabs for organizing notebook
ü Agenda notebook (for writing down homework and project due
dates)
ü Pens, pencils, erasers, post-it-notes, highlighter (these
will not be handed out in class)
ü Recommended: Computer Disk or USB Flash Drive (for backing
up data at home or in class)
Expectations:
- Be prepared for class.
Bring all necessary materials with you. You will not be excused to go to your
locker during class to obtain any materials once the class has started.
- Be prompt to class.
Tardiness will not be tolerated.
- Have respect for yourself, your teacher and your
classmates, put-downs,
bullying, racist remarks, and profanity will NOT be tolerated.
·
Take care of your
books. Missing or destroyed books must be paid for at the end of the
semester/year.
·
School rules will be reinforced. No hats,
cell phones, iPods, etc.
·
Participation is
expected as it enhances learning. All students will be expected to participate
on a regular basis through the following: asking and answering questions;
submitting homework, papers, and projects on time; reading and discussing
literature. A participation grade may be given based on preparedness and class
participation.
Homework:
· Homework is to be completed daily.
· Papers written and edited to meet all deadlines.
· Late
homework will not be accepted unless due to illness or absence.
· All work must be each student’s own work, unless
specified as “group work.” (See below for definition of plagiarism and
cheating)
· Each student is responsible for missed work. “I didn’t
know” is not an acceptable excuse. All assignments are posted daily on
the board as well as on Classjump.com.
Students are also responsible for keeping assignments recorded in their agenda
books. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain any and all work missed
from the teacher while they were absent. The teacher will not track down
students with missing work. Students will not interrupt a class to obtain their
missing work.
Papers:
· All final draft papers will be edited and typed according
to MLA criteria
·
Double spaced
·
Times New Roman 12 pt. font
·
The title centered on the first page
(no title page please) and no larger than 12 pt. font and Times New Roman
·
The title will not be bolded or underlined
·
Margins will be 1” spaced (this is
not standard so it will need to be adjusted).
·
Pagination will occur in the upper
right hand corner of each page
Heading in the
upper left hand corner single spaced as follows:
Full Name
English 11
Ms. O’Donnell
Date Assignment is due
Academic Honesty:
PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Cheating is defined
as giving or receiving any form of information related to a graded assignment. Cheating by students is considered
inexcusable conduct and will be dealt with strictly. Do your own work. Do not copy from another student or give
another student your work. A zero will
be given to each student for the assignment(s) involved; the teacher will
contact the parents; and the student will be referred to the administration.
Grading: Each marking period is worth 20%
Homework: 20% A= 90-100
Classwork/participation:
20% B= 80-89
Tests/quizzes: 20%
C= 70-79
Writing/essays: 40% D = 60-69
Midterm is worth 10% of
final grade. Final is worth 10% of final grade. F=
0-59
PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION SHEET
I have read the syllabus
and I know what will be expected of me in class.
Student name (printed):
__________________________________________________________________
I have read this World Literature syllabus
carefully. I understand its contents and what is expected of my child in this
course. If I have any concerns or
questions, I will contact Ms. O’Donnell through the e-mail address listed on
the front page of the syllabus.
Parent/Guardian name (s) (printed):
________________________________________________________
Daytime or work phone number:
__________________________________________________________
Evening phone number:
_________________________________________________________________
E-mail address:
_________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian
signature: _________________________________________________Date____________
Student
Signature: ________________________________________________Date: ______________
