Welcome to English 5H! This course focuses on the study of American literature with an emphasis on improving reading and writing skills to prepare students for college-level work. The students will study various periods in American history and their correlation to a range of major American literary movements. The course is designed to begin with Puritanism and culminate in the twentieth century. The students will gain a deeper understanding of literature and how to master more challenging works. They will also embark on writing a college-level thesis paper.
This year I am excited to announce that I have begun an online blog pertaining to our class. It will be a place where I post assignments, announcements, and where your child may write comments about our class discussions and the literature we will be studying. I will be updating the blog on a weekly basis. I encourage students to check the blog periodically, and hope that parents will enjoy reading about our class! The website is: http://www.juniortigerwriters.blogspot.com/
I have also started to use an online grading system through https://snapgrades.net/login/?20409. I will update scores on a weekly basis.
The students will be studying from among the following texts:
- The Crucible by Arthur Miller
- Selections from The Things they Carried by Tim O’Brien
- The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
- The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
- Fences by August Wilson
- The applications of the Greek and Latin roots
- Commonly used SAT words and vocabulary study
- Thematically related readings from American poetry and prose
- The grammar and mechanics of the English language
- Regents examination preparation for the ELA regents exam in January
- The writing process
- Writing the college application essay
- Working collaboratively with peers
- Understanding literary elements and techniques as found in literature
- Writing a standard 4-5 page thesis paper that includes the MLA format for citing and documentation
Essential Questions that will be addressed throughout the term:
- What’s in a name?
- To what extent do fame and fortune bring happiness?
- How do we achieve the American dream?
- What does it mean to be American?
- What happens when dreams become reality?
- How do we create our own identity?
- What happens when we don’t conform to society?
- What are social expectations?
- To what extent does the past form our future?
- Does the “apple fall far from the tree?"
- How do we find happiness?
- Understanding literary elements and their applications in literature
- How to write a thesis statement
- How to organize ideas in a paragraph
- Writing Regents-based essays
- Mastering multiple choice exams
- How to “dig” into poetry
- Understanding Greek and Latin roots
- How to understand texts in juxtaposition with one-another
- How to improve grammar and sentence structure
- Developing an analysis of literature
Improving vocabulary
- Analytical essays
- Personal response papers
- Homework that relates to the day's lesson
- Exams
- Independent reading
- Journaling/blogging
- Creative projects
- Group projects
- Portfolios
1. Students should arrive to class on time and immediately begin the task at hand. Students who arrive late to class will be asked to sign a late book.
2. Homework is assigned every night and is key to supporting the lesson/unit we are studying. Homeworks are graded according to a rubric and will receive one point off (out of four) for every day assignments are submitted late. Assignments will not be accepted after three days past the assigned date without documentation from a caregiver.
3. Papers, exams, and projects will be assigned well in advance and will frequently be broken into parts through mini-lessons. Ten points will be deducted for every day projects are submitted late without documentation. Students will have opportunities to make up exams as well, but only with a doctor's or parent's note.
4. In accordance with the school’s policy, no electronic devices such as i-pods and cell phones are permitted.
5. No food or gum chewing is permitted in class.
6. This class will be a rigorous class that will enrich your skills. It will take hard work and dedication, but with effort you will accomplish a great deal of work you will be proud of!
Grading Policy – High School English
Participation 15%
• Class discussion• Listening• Group work/process• Conferring• Book Talk• Sharing Work Aloud
Classwork / Homework 30%• Homework assignments and readings are completed• Independent work during class time is completed• Journals are up to date• Group work – process and product• Reflections • Student is prepared for class• Student’s work is organized
Assessment 55%• Essays• Quizzes• Tests• Projects• Presentations
I am always available via e-mail should you ever have questions or concerns. I encourage parental involvement and hope to be in communication with you throughout the school year regarding your child's process. I will also accept assignments through e-mail as well. My address is Jdavid4 at schools.nyc.gov
