Course Syllabus
Welcome to High School Literature and Composition
Fall 2022
The basis of literary analysis is learning how to observe, in the sense Sherlock Holmes means when he makes a distinction for Watson between seeing and observing. In "A Scandal in Bohemia," Sherlock asks Watson how many steps lead up to the room where they are sitting together. Watson says he's climbed the steps hundreds of times, but admits he cannot say how many steps there are. "Quite so!" Sherlock says. " You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is just my point." Our time together will be spent learning the art of literary observation. We'll practice active reading. We'll pay deep attention to what the words convey. We'll learn to follow insights. We'll gather evidence, ask critical questions, and draw many revealing conclusions.
When and Where:
Tuesday/Thursday: 11am - 12pm Pacific
Classroom: (please bookmark in your browser)
Instructor: Lawrence Wray
Contact: lawrencewray.clrc@gmail.com
Meetings: by appointment.
Canvas Links
Classroom Logistics And Etiquette
Books:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Silas Marner by George Eliot
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Rhetorical Devices by Brendan McGuigan
(Several short stories, essays, and poems to be provided by instructor)
Email Policy
This is to ensure that communication is clear and constructive:
- Please email me if you have any questions or concerns about the class or coursework. I want to hear from you. A Canvas message is an acceptable form of email.
- If you have a question about the homework, coursework, or any other assignment, I will be happy to answer your questions.
- If you send an email, I will do my best to respond within 24 hours.
Homework Policy
- Homework must be turned in the day it is due.
- Points will be deducted for late work.
- Once homework is one week late, I will deduct 50% from the assignment.
- Students may turn turn in homework corrections for partial credit, with the exception of final drafts of essays.
Essay Policy
- All essays are required to have a title and the student’s name on the paper.
- All essays are required to adhere to MLA Style, including in-text citations and a Works Cited page.
- Students are given one week to revise their essay rough draft. Rough drafts will be returned to students, with my comments and corrections, within one week of submission. If rough drafts are submitted after the due date, I will try to return the essay rough draft with my comments as soon as I can.
- If you cannot submit your rough draft on the day that it is due, please let me know.
- If your essay is late or receives less than a 75%, I will arrange a meeting time with you (and a parent if possible) to be sure you understand the requirements of the assignment and what is needed to improve your work.
Literature Discussion
The goal of this literature class is for students to engage, analyze, and draw conclusions from a story. Toward that end, students will be assigned rotating weekly discussion roles in which they will:
- Write questions for the assigned reading and lead the discussion (conversation) in class.
- Summarize the reading, tracking key plot points and important details.
- Track and analyze character development.
- Identify literary and rhetorical devices (paying attention to both structure and style), and examine how each device contributes to an understanding of the literary work.
Students are expected to prepare their literature role each week as their literature homework, and to be ready to present their work in class. They are also expected to participate in a discussion about the text with classmates, using their microphones, in each weekly class session.
Evaluation and Assessment
Students are graded on the following:
- Weekly homework assignments. Each week, students are assigned literature reading, a discussion role (see “Literature Discussion” above), rhetorical devices homework, and a writing assignment. Students are graded on completion, punctuality, and accuracy.
- Students are graded on preparedness, punctuality, and participation in classroom discussions.
- Students write two persuasive essays and complete one research project. Students are given feedback incrementally on their thesis, outline, and rough draft. The instructor writes detailed feedback and comments on the rough drafts. Final drafts of essays are graded as assessments.
- Each semester ends with an exam, which is comprised of a quiz portion and a writing portion.
Grading Policy
Homework/Writing 40% Homework consists of weekly assignments. Homework is graded based on the quality of your work, whether you completed the assignment, and punctuality (i.e. if it was submitted on time).
Essays 25% Essays are graded based on the quality of their writing, research, and response to the text. The student is also graded based on how well they respond to my comments and corrections, and if the essay is submitted in a timely manner.
Final Exam 15% The exam will be comprised of a quiz portion and an essay portion, proctored by the parent. The first semester final exam will include a take-at-home essay. The exam will cover most if not everything that has been covered in class, the novels that we have read, and the writing skills that have been taught. The second semester final exam includes a timed essay portion.
Participation 20% Participation means completing tasks for weekly literature roles, contributing to class discussion via microphone, and turning your homework in on time.
Course Summary:
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