Course Overview
American Literature and Composition is a study of the major literary topics and themes across the history of the United States from pre-colonial times to present day. While maintaining an intense reading emphasis, instruction will refine grammar, vocabulary and writing skills, preparing students for success in 12th grade Literature and Composition. As a result, students will learn to think and write critically about literature.
This course will address the standards for success as set out by the English Language Arts Georgia Standards of Excellence: https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Pages/ELA-9-12.aspx
Throughout this year-long course, students will have opportunities to develop and expand their knowledge of literature and language and demonstrate their mastery level of new learning through performance tasks and assessments. At the completion of this course, students will take the Eleventh Grade End-of-Course Test (EOC) required by state law.
We will use Remind 101 and Microsoft Teams as communication tools for assignments, reading materials, and classroom dialogue. Students will be expected to login to their Teams class every day during this assigned class time. Cameras should be ON; microphones should be MUTED unless otherwise informed.
This course will address the standards for success as set out by the English Language Arts Georgia Standards of Excellence: https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Pages/ELA-9-12.aspx
Throughout this year-long course, students will have opportunities to develop and expand their knowledge of literature and language and demonstrate their mastery level of new learning through performance tasks and assessments. At the completion of this course, students will take the Eleventh Grade End-of-Course Test (EOC) required by state law.
We will use Remind 101 and Microsoft Teams as communication tools for assignments, reading materials, and classroom dialogue. Students will be expected to login to their Teams class every day during this assigned class time. Cameras should be ON; microphones should be MUTED unless otherwise informed.
Course Texts
It is the goal of Fulton County Schools to provide students with every opportunity to experience a wide range of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as opportunities to experience visual and digital texts related to content area studies. Teachers select texts for students to read because of their literary merit, contribution to the subject of study, and support of the Georgia Standards of Excellence.
We are sensitive to the values of the many different families that make up our school district. If you as a parent or guardian feel that the supplemental text is not a good fit, you have the option to request an alternate text from your teacher. Your child will be given comparable text and assignments to those of other students.
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Please contact me if you have concerns with any of the texts listed above. We encourage your participation in your child’s education and look forward to working together as all of our students experience the rewards of reading.
We are sensitive to the values of the many different families that make up our school district. If you as a parent or guardian feel that the supplemental text is not a good fit, you have the option to request an alternate text from your teacher. Your child will be given comparable text and assignments to those of other students.
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Please contact me if you have concerns with any of the texts listed above. We encourage your participation in your child’s education and look forward to working together as all of our students experience the rewards of reading.
Materials
-School issued device or your own device (REQUIRED)
- Notebook or loose leaf notebook paper for notes, assignments, etc. (REQUIRED)
- Pencils (REQUIRED)
- Folder or three ring binder with dividers to maintain organization
- Highlighters, post-it notes, notecards, and other annotation materials
- Notebook or loose leaf notebook paper for notes, assignments, etc. (REQUIRED)
- Pencils (REQUIRED)
- Folder or three ring binder with dividers to maintain organization
- Highlighters, post-it notes, notecards, and other annotation materials
Grading
Summatives: 80%
Final Exam: 20%
•Numerical grades will be given.
•Grades should be based on mastery of standards and not completion.
•Incompletes willbe used in lieu of zeros.
•Grade will fall into the following categories: Formative, Summative, and Final Exam
•Summative grades are those reported to communicate an evaluation of student learning and mastery of standards. Examples: Tests, labs, formal essays, quizzes, etc.
o Per District guidelines, students will have 9-12 summative assignments per semester. The individual weights of these assignments will be determined by course.
o The graded assignments in the Summative category are those that students would be allowed to redo and resubmit to improve their grade.
•Formative grades are those reported to communicate how student learning is monitored during instruction on standards. Examples: classwork, homework, practice writing, etc.
o Grades given in this category will have a weight of 0 and will not count toward the student’s final grade.
o However, it is critical for students to complete this work because it informs the student and teacher how the student is performing prior to the summative assignment.
INCOMPLETES:
•Per GADOE guidance, FCS will adopt a NO ZERO policy during Remote Learning.
•An “I” will be entered in Infinite Campus for missing assignments/assessments.
•At the end of a grading period, an “I” for incomplete will be entered on a student’s report card if a student does not complete 80% of the summative assignments/assessments.
•Students will have the remainder of the school year to complete the missing/unsatisfactory work and remove the “I” from their report card.
▪Students that receive an “I” at the end of Fall semester will have the Spring and Summer sessions to complete their work and remove their “I”.
▪Students that receive an “I” during Spring semester will have the Summer session to remove their “I”.
•If a student does not resolve the Incomplete by the end of the school year, their incomplete will be updated with a non-passing grade.
▪Schools are encouraged to provide support structures during the term to help students resolve incompletes before the end of the term (Fulton County School District, 2020, p. 52).
Final Exam: 20%
•Numerical grades will be given.
•Grades should be based on mastery of standards and not completion.
•Incompletes willbe used in lieu of zeros.
•Grade will fall into the following categories: Formative, Summative, and Final Exam
•Summative grades are those reported to communicate an evaluation of student learning and mastery of standards. Examples: Tests, labs, formal essays, quizzes, etc.
o Per District guidelines, students will have 9-12 summative assignments per semester. The individual weights of these assignments will be determined by course.
o The graded assignments in the Summative category are those that students would be allowed to redo and resubmit to improve their grade.
•Formative grades are those reported to communicate how student learning is monitored during instruction on standards. Examples: classwork, homework, practice writing, etc.
o Grades given in this category will have a weight of 0 and will not count toward the student’s final grade.
o However, it is critical for students to complete this work because it informs the student and teacher how the student is performing prior to the summative assignment.
INCOMPLETES:
•Per GADOE guidance, FCS will adopt a NO ZERO policy during Remote Learning.
•An “I” will be entered in Infinite Campus for missing assignments/assessments.
•At the end of a grading period, an “I” for incomplete will be entered on a student’s report card if a student does not complete 80% of the summative assignments/assessments.
•Students will have the remainder of the school year to complete the missing/unsatisfactory work and remove the “I” from their report card.
▪Students that receive an “I” at the end of Fall semester will have the Spring and Summer sessions to complete their work and remove their “I”.
▪Students that receive an “I” during Spring semester will have the Summer session to remove their “I”.
•If a student does not resolve the Incomplete by the end of the school year, their incomplete will be updated with a non-passing grade.
▪Schools are encouraged to provide support structures during the term to help students resolve incompletes before the end of the term (Fulton County School District, 2020, p. 52).
Classroom Policies & Expectations
ATTENDANCE:
•Attendance in synchronous instruction will be taken and maintained by all teachers.
•Teachers will note absences in Infinite Campus.
•Excused or unexcused absence standards will remain the same as will any processes regarding make up work.
•Teachers will contact parents if students are absent (three or more days) or who have poor engagement (two or more incomplete/ missing assignments) if they have not been notified by parents
TECHNOLOGY:
•All instruction will be provided using Microsoft Teams and Microsoft products.
•Zoom teleconferencing software is not allowed to be used for any student activities, including extracurriculars.
•Each school will use the ClassLink platform to access applications such as Microsoft Teams and i-Ready. •Inappropriate use of technology will be reported to the appropriate grade level administrator. •Students and parents will be provided resources in using Microsoft Teams and other instructional tools.
•Attendance in synchronous instruction will be taken and maintained by all teachers.
•Teachers will note absences in Infinite Campus.
•Excused or unexcused absence standards will remain the same as will any processes regarding make up work.
•Teachers will contact parents if students are absent (three or more days) or who have poor engagement (two or more incomplete/ missing assignments) if they have not been notified by parents
TECHNOLOGY:
•All instruction will be provided using Microsoft Teams and Microsoft products.
•Zoom teleconferencing software is not allowed to be used for any student activities, including extracurriculars.
•Each school will use the ClassLink platform to access applications such as Microsoft Teams and i-Ready. •Inappropriate use of technology will be reported to the appropriate grade level administrator. •Students and parents will be provided resources in using Microsoft Teams and other instructional tools.