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Composition Syllabus

Page history last edited by Mrs. K. 12 years, 7 months ago

Composition Course Syllabus

Valley Community School

Mrs. Jeannie Krambeer

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Required – full year course – Prerequisite: junior or senior standing

This course provides students with experience and guidance in many different writing styles including but not limited to: non-fiction essays, personal essays, informative essays, persuasive essays, literary response essays, poetry, and research papers.  Students will also display and improve their understanding of grammar and mechanics as well as writing style.  A great emphasis will be placed on writing as a process and the idea that successful writers need to also be readers. 

 

COURSE EXPECTATIONS:

Students will produce approximately four major writing pieces per quarter.  All writing pieces will be holistically graded, and 25% of these pieces will be submitted to the teacher as well for final grading. 

Students will also read several selections featuring various writing styles and conventions to help them to understand, recognize and implement those techniques in their own writing.

Students will read and respond to that reading via blog prompt one day each week.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. You will understand and practice writing as a process that will include prewriting, drafting, peer reviewing, editing/revising, and publishing.

2. You will develop a portfolio of writings for different occasions and diverse audiences.

3. You will read and respond analytically to a variety of prompts.

4. You will support your researched arguments and expositions with quotations, paraphrases, and summaries accurately using current MLA citation practices.

5. You will use electronic technology (on-line  resources, word processing, blogs, wikis, and electronic mail) to access information, and to compose and share your writing.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGIES: In addition to the traditional practices of reading and writing academic essays, this composition course will incorporate current pedagogical approaches including process writing, collaboration, small group activities, and online assessment. 

 

PROJECTS/WRITING PIECES (May change as year progresses): 

Writing Process Review                            (3 days)

Song Essay                                                (7 days)

Reading Response                                    (1 day/week)

Mini Lessons                                             (4 days/5 days/4 days/8 days/4 days)

Influential Person Essay                            (8 days)

Writer’s Workshop                                    (4 days/semester)

Group Essay                                               (7 days)

Transcendentalism Essay                           (13 days)

New ClassAdvertising Essay                     (6 days)

Prejudice Essay                                         (7 days)

US Research Paper                                    (28 days)

Pay It Forward Essay                                (9 days)

Semester Test                                            (1 day/semester)

 

CLASSROOM MATERIALS:

Computer, writing utensils, binder or folder for materials, a book to read during allotted time 

 

ATTENDANCE:

Attendance is expected at every class.  If absence is unavoidable, students are expected to make up all work they miss for absences according to the time frame given in the school handbook.  No extra time is given if you miss the day that a long-term assignment is due, therefore you will turn the assignment in immediately on your return.

  

EVALUATION PROCEDURE:

Writing Pieces 30%
Mini Lessons 20%
Reading Response 25%
Tests/Quizzes 25%

 

GRADING/ASSESSMENT:

Grading cut-offs are is as follows:

93% - A

90% - A-

87% - B+

83% - B

80% - B-

77 % - C+

73% - C

70% - C-

67% - D+

63% - D

60% - D-

Below – F

            All late work, whether 5 minutes late or 5 days late is worth 50%.  All work must be completed to pass the class.  If work is not turned in, the student’s grade is considered an I (Incomplete) until the work is completed and the student receives a grade. Ongoing formative assessment is important in this class as well.

 

GENERAL PAPER-GRADING STANDARDS:

F: No paper, plagiarized work, or a paper which bears little or no resemblance to the assignment.

D: The writing is unclear and the text lacks substance either because the exposition is superficial or the argument is very poor or nonexistent.

C: The writing is effective enough to meet the basic needs of the assignment, but it fails to engage the reader in a significant way. Either the writing is unclear or the exposition or argument is incoherent, insufficiently supported, or does not suit the intended audience, or the text exhibits non-standard spelling, usage, punctuation or citation practices.

B: The writing is clear and the exposition or argument is basically sound, exhibiting good development and cohesiveness, and the surface of the text exhibits current standard written academic grammar, punctuation and citation practices.

A: The writing is both clear and graceful, the argument or exposition well arranged and suited to its audience, and the essay as a whole exhibits depth of thought and unity of structure, and a surface free from error.

Late work merits a 50% grade, no matter how late.

 

CLASSROOM RULES:

  1. Students are expected to be in their seats ready to work when the bell rings.
  2. Classroom laptops are for composing writing pieces and for research; no surfing or games will be allowed.
  3. Students will maintain a positive classroom environment.  No inappropriate comments or behaviors will be tolerated.
  4. Students will be allowed restroom/locker passes at the teacher’s discretion.  If you abuse the privilege, you will lose it.
  5. No food in class.
  6. If a student is absent, he or she is responsible for finding out from the teacher what the make-up assignment is (ahead of time if at all possible).  Check Edmodo!
  7. Cell phones… If I see it or hear it, I take it.
  8. Cheating/plagiarizing is not tolerated.  If you are caught cheating/plagiarizing once, you will fail the assignment (you will also redo the entire piece for no credit and receive a U).  If you are caught twice, you will fail the course and need to retake the class next year.
  9. Computers are essential to this class.  If you get your computer taken away for disciplinary reasons, you will still be expected to make upall the work you are assigned in class on your own time.

 

 

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