New Unit-American Literature: The Effect of Time, History, and the "Isms"

Welcome to the New Unit- American Literature:  The Effect of Time, History, and the "Isms"

In this unit our class will explore the literary time-line and genres of American literature from a historical context.  Please download the document below for our unit and assessment expectations!  Here is a brief synopsis of it:

Unit Assessments 
Unit Multiple Choice Examination
This unit will feature a 40 question multiple choice section that asks 5 basic questions about genre, theme, style, historical context, and major writers. 

Unit Defense Analytical Essay
Essay Prompt:  Defend, analyze, and answer the following essential question in a well developed essay (minimum requirement must feature MLA): How does the presentation of the “isms” and other literary genres in American Literature shape our perspective of American Literature? (4) Evaluate each genre, comparing the impact and influence of each.

How am I going to be assessed?
Your essay will be graded on the state scoring rubric.  You have been given a packet outlining in detail the expectation of each strand (ideas and content, fluency, conventions, voice, word choice, and citing sources).  In your packet, you also have the scoring sheet that will be attached to each draft (rough and final).

Unit Journal
Description:  This is a formative assessment.  Unit journals will include your quote entries and responses, journal responses, cornell notes, inquiry questions, and summaries.

How am I going to assessed? 
Unit Journals are collected every Friday.  At that time the expectation is that you will have three quotes per week and a response for each (six per two week submission).  The expectation is that the journals are also in cornell note format and include summaries and inquiry questions for each day we take notes (which is each time we meet!).  You must also prove through your writing that you are engaged in the class by connecting ideas from the text with your own personal opinions.  But now you ask, how will my writing be graded?  The above is a checklist of things that will affect your grade because these are expectations, but your writing as always will be graded on the state scoring rubric!

What happens if I miss the mark, or as you say, “am not proficient?”As you all well know by now any work in this class that receives a 70 percent or below (or in terms of the scoring rubric 3 or below) does not prove proficiency.  You have the opportunity to retake these assignments.

Unit Outline

eng11.coursedevelopmenttemplate.whatisamericanlitunit

Revised Calendar

You will see that this website is going through a face lift.  We are now launching into "units."  From Monday, November 1st-Friday, December 3rd we are going over the unit "Do I Dare Disturb the Universe: Social Structures, Choices, and Consequences."** To find supplemental material, please click on the page "Do I Dare."  As I leave you for now, please note the new "Calendar."  It is important that you become familiar with this.  It is in a different set-up.  Here you can see the standards we are hitting, daily goals, and basic skills that I want you to acquire through this journey.  And finally, let me leave you with some inspiration from one of the greatest American writers, T.S. Eliot (from the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock)

And indeed there will be time
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”
Time to turn back and descend the stair,

UNIT CALENDAR

eng11.doidaredisturb.unitplan
 

**Credit goes to Brande Ledford who inspired and created a majority of this unit.  Mrs. Tana Garcia and I did take some liberties to create a new unit out of this.

Tyranny is Tyranny Reading

Please click here or copy and paste this to be directed to our reading!

http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinntyr4.html

Welcome to American Literature with Mrs. Fisher

Happy New Year to you!

You might find it strange that I greeted you with that message. If you think about it realistically, the beginning of the school year IS a NEW year. We all make resolutions to be better learners, do our homework, and so on. One way that I can help you with that is this website! Here you will find our course calendar.  Before viewing our course calendar, please review the course syllabus.  Both parent/guardian and student must sign a form sent home on the first day of school.  This form is due back no later than Friday, September 17th, 2010.

Eng11.Syllabus

ENGLISH 11 Course Calendar for October
eng11.monthlycalendar.october2010

Google Groups

You will need to sign-up for Google Groups with Mrs. Fisher. Certain homework assignments require you to go online to engage in discussion. Google Groups also has documents uploaded in proper pdf or word format. Because the group is private, it is by invite only. Before you can join you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) must sign a user agreement.

Advice for American Litters aka Expectations

Let's just cut to the chase. You are now Juniors. Expectations are high. Before you know it this year will be over, and you will usher in your Senior year. For most of you, college will follow. When I taught in California, I was privileged to sit down with a round table of professors across the state. One of them read a shocking statistic.... 75% of incoming college freshmen are unprepared for college, especially in terms of writing and critical thinking. This course is intended to not only make you a part of the 25% that succeed, but help combat that high number of unprepared students. YOU WILL BE PREPARED. What do you need to know then to survive this course?

• Yes, we will have a great time, but this course is a lot of hard work. Just know this about me as your teacher. My philosophy is work hard; play hard. But remember this- you cannot play hard until you work. You will find out more about this in class.
• You will need to think. When you think you though it out you need to think harder. Simple answers will not do. DIVE into the material.
• You NEED to do homework. You will completely drown if you do not keep up with your homework.
• You need to take responsibility for your education. Do not make excuses. You need to show up. You need to be prepared. If you don't get the theme here a lot of the class is based on YOU. Example, if you miss a day, it is your responsibility to get the make-up work. I also expect that you complete homework if you are gone. I have given you the calendar. Do it. No excuses. You cannot make excuses in college. I won't allow anti-college habits in my class.
• You will be expected to have two notebooks or a notebook or a binder. We have a writer's notebook and a reader's notebook in this class. If you cannot get both items, please let me know and I will get them for you.
• You are expected to take notes in Cornell Format.
  
• I will be tough on you, but this is my promise to you: At the end of the year most of you will feel like family. When you leave this class most of you will know you have an ally for life.
  
• Let's work hard and enjoy this year.