English 11- American Literature CRHS 2012-13

What does it mean to be an American? Units: Fall Semester: Colonialism: Many Cultures, One Nation Argument and the Age of Reason Nature and Poetry The Struggle for Equality Spring Semester: Modern Thinking in a Modern World The Literature of War and Trauma Imitating, Recombining, and Remixing

Two Major Themes:

Space

Race

Important Info My website : nfisher.weebly.com Twitter updates: @mrfish78 My e-mail: nfisher@rsd13.org My phone number: 860-349-7215 ex.321

Grading The grading system uses total points. Point totals will be announced as work is assigned. Check Powerschool and my website often. Homework assignments and daily class assignments may range from 1-5 points. Assessments may range from 20 to 100 points and may include quizzes, essays, short stories, poems, or multi-media projects.

Academic Policies Late work will not be accepted. Requests for extensions on major assignments will be considered on a case-by-case basis. (See English Department policies for more details.) In order to get an extension, students may be asked to attend a private tutoring session.

The Absence Policy… But first, a poem a teacher wrote about absent students.

Did I Miss Anything? By Tom Wayman Nothing. When we realized you weren't here we sat with our hands folded on our desks in silence, for the full two hours. Everything. I gave an exam worth 40 percent of the grade for this term and assigned some reading due today on which I'm about to hand out a quiz worth 50 percent.

Nothing. None of the content of this course has value or meaning Nothing. None of the content of this course has value or meaning. Take as many days off as you like: any activities we undertake as a class I assure you will not matter either to you or me and are without purpose. Everything. A few minutes after we began last time a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel or other heavenly being appeared and revealed to us what each woman or man must do to attain divine wisdom in this life and the hereafter. This is the last time the class will meet before we disperse to bring the good news to all people on earth.

Nothing. When you are not present how could something significant occur? Everything. Contained in this classroom is a microcosm of human experience assembled for you to query and examine and ponder.      This is not the only place such an opportunity has been gathered. But it was one place. And you weren't here.

Classroom Procedures Classwork, and Homework handouts Materials on the small desk at the door are for you. Pick up a copy as you come in. Do Now There will almost always be instructions posted on the front board for you to start. Do not wait for me to start class. As soon as the bell rings, everyone should be on task and working. ALWAYS have your notebook and pen out and ready to go at the beginning of class.

Professional Behavior I base my expectations of your behavior on my experience in professional settings. Your actions should be workplace appropriate at all times. As a class, we will solidify our social contract in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I have four rules that are non-negotiable.

Four Rules:

Rule #4 Backpacks and purses on the floor. Please leave tables clear for learning!

Rule #3 Appropriate language! If you’re wondering if it’s appropriate, it’s probably not. (Occasionally, we may encounter some limited adult language in our reading. Please be mature as you consider the appropriate and inappropriate uses of profanity.) One X-block detention per inappropriate word. In addition, students may be required to attend a sexual harassment training session, conducted by me after school.

Rule #2: Do not ask me to go to the bathroom! While I have been endowed by the communities of Durham and Middlefield with authority over your learning and participation within my classroom, I do not deserve nor want authority over your essential bodily functions. If you have to leave the room for any reason, please wait for an appropriate time and do so discreetly and quickly. Make eye contact with me, let me know you are leaving, and please be back promptly. Students who abuse this freedom by disrupting other classes or going anywhere other than the closest bathroom will be asked to use the bathroom before or after my class.

Rule #1 E L E

Stuff You Need: A folder for handouts A notebook Highlighters Pencils or pens Water bottle Optional: MLA style handbook (Both the library and I have copies. There is an online edition available here at the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University.) A smartphone or other internet-ready device for quick online access.

Other Stuff: Temperature varies in the classroom throughout the day. Dress appropriately and bring layers. You may bring food to class, as long as you leave no mess. Garbage left in the classroom may lead to a reconsideration of this policy for your class. Bored after school? Join The Devils’ Advocate!

And finally… School can be tiring! Get plenty of sleep!