English/Humanity Class for Fall 2007

Contract

I,_______, understand that I'm abide by all the school rules. Frequent violations of these rules and deliberate intent to destroy computers in 459 can lead to the removal from the station, suspension and failure of the class.

I do not need a computer at home to pass and do well in the class but I will need to use time in class effectively to complete the assigned class work and be prepared for the homework.

I understand that learning is my responsibility and my active participation in the process will help me succeed.

 

Student Signature___________

Parent Signature____________

Date______________________

 

 

Grading Policies

Grading Policy

Classroom Rules
1. Attendance, Lateness(15%) 1. All school rules apply to this room.
2. Class/Group Participation & notebook(30%)
  • Cooperative efforts
  • Activities in our class online discussion board
2. Follow the IAUP( Internet Acceptable Usage Policy)
3. Homework & class assignments,  projects, performances, book reports, journals etc. quizzes and tests(55%) 3. Don't write on the desk and the computer.
  4. Respect and help each other.

Academic Dishonesty

  • Plagiarism attacks the freedom and integrity of thought. In a class where you will do extensive online researches, you must know what constitutes plagiarism and avoid it.
  • Students who plagiarize will receive 0 in the subject.
  • Full acknowledgement for all information obtained from sources outside the classroom must be clearly stated in all written work submitted.
  • All ideas, arguments, and direct phrasings taken from someone else's work must be identified and properly footnoted.
  • Quotations from other sources must be clearly marked as distinct from your own work.

Grading Policies for Written Work/Artwork

  • Originality in contents and forms
  • Accuracy of the understanding of literary texts
  • Quality of work
  • Punctuality of work completion and submission

English/Humanity Class for Fall 2007

 

Syllabus for Freshman Reading and Humanity Course Fall 2007

Instructor: Ms. D'Amato        English Department     Room 459

 

I. Course Description Expected Goals and Objectives, Learning Outcome

In this course, students will read various genres of works including fictional and nonfictional materials. Through the exposure to all genres of writing, students will learn vocabulary of different categories, improve their reading comprehension and ultimately help them with their critical thinking and writing abilities. They are expected to grasp essential reading skills that will help them succeed in the Regents tests of other humanity courses.

II: Rationale

III.  The textbooks adopted for this course are:

·         Electronic version of the New York Times

·         Westside Story

·         Short Stories by James Baldwin

·         Famous speeches

·         Poetry by Langston Hughes

·         reference materials

·         primary and secondary sources

·         technical manuals

·         workplace documents

·         national and international newspapers, periodicals, and journals

·         biographies and autobiographies

·         online and electronic databases and web sites.

IV Course Objectives/Outcomes - Standard - Assessment

Course Objectives Standard Assessment

1.Skim texts to gain an overall impression and scan texts for particular information

2.Recognize the defining features and structures of informational texts

3.Interpret and evaluate data, facts, and ideas in informational texts

4.Identify and evaluate the reliability and validity of informational sources

5.Recognize unstated assumptions

6.Distinguish verifiable statement from hypothesis

7.Check consistency of hypothesis with given information and assumption

8.Analyze and synthesize information from different sources by making connections and showing relationships to other texts, ideas, and subjects, and to the world at large

Key Idea ELA1.LR1:

Listening and reading to acquire information and

understanding involves collecting data, facts, and ideas;

discovering relationships, concepts, and generalizations;

and using knowledge from oral, written, and electronic sources.

Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding

.

Use information from two sources –a newspaper article (non-fictional writing ) and graphs, to write essays to expose, describe and persuade.

To read and interpret cartoons

To read and interpret art work

 ELA1.C.SW2B: Students present a controlling idea that conveys an individual perspective and insight into the topic. Write an essay to interpret a cartoon and painting
To learn to analyze characters and themes through the West Side Story and other short stories ELA2.I.LR1B: Students understand and identify the distinguishing features of the major genres and use them to aid their interpretation and discussion of literature.

ELA2.I.LR1C: Students identify significant literary elements (including metaphor, symbolism, foreshadowing, dialect, rhyme, meter, irony, climax) and use those elements to interpret the work.

ELA2.I.LR1F: Students evaluate literary merit based on an understanding of the genre and the literary elements

 

  

To appreciate poetry and its language

To study specific poetic forms & devices

To be familiar with specific literary techniques and elements

 

 ELA2.C.LR1A: Students read and view independently and fluently across many genres of literature from many cultures and historical periods.

ELA2.C.LR1B: Students identify the distinguishing features of different literary genres, periods, and traditions and use those features to interpret the work.

ELA2.C.LR1AC: Students recognize and understand the significance of a wide range of literary elements and techniques, (including figurative language, imagery, allegory, irony, blank verse, symbolism, stream-of-consciousness) and use those elements to interpret the work

ELA2.C.LR1AF: Students evaluate literary merit based on an understanding of the genre, the literary elements, and the literary period and tradition.

  

To listen and read aloud some famous speeches  to learn the techniques of public speaking

To study the structure and persuasive strategies used in the speeches

 

   Write a speech based on a current issue( using details from the New York Times)
  MST1.I.SI1A: Students formulate questions independently with the aid of references appropriate for guiding the search for explanations of everyday observations.  
  MST1.I.SI1D: Students seek to clarify, to assess critically, and to reconcile with their own thinking the ideas presented by others, including peers, teachers, authors, and scientists.  
To read and analyze graphs and other infographics MST1.I.SI3A: Students design charts, tables, graphs, and other representations of observations in conventional and creative ways to help them address their research question or hypothesis  
     

Footnote: Grading System involving attendance and late assignments

·         If 12 absences occur due to unaccountable reasons, you may receive a 45 for the course.

·         Late assignments, unless pre-discussed with the instructor, will receive only a credit for doing the work but no grade.