Syllabus--Multicultural Literature and Composition Instructors: Ms. Jamie L.

Travis School Phone Number: (770) 266-4599 Teacher Email: jamie.travis@walton.k12.ga.us Webpage: www.monroeareahigh.org: www.edmodo.com Class Access/Group #:

Course Objectives: This course uses selections from world literature to reinforce and extend essential

communication concepts and skills described in the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards for Multicultural Literature & Composition. This is a multi-media course incorporating various forms of technology such as those that might be found in the work place. See the CCGPS standards for reading and world literature at www.georgiastandards.org

Materials Needed Students are required to have:

(1) 3-ring binder notebook black/navy ink pens EVERYDAY. textbook and/or accompanying novel every day loose leaf paper (no fringes) IPAD Guidelines for Writing Assignments Students writing assignments must: be written or typed in black/navy ink be double-spaced if typed. be written using Standard American English be written using standard one-inch margins be typed in legible, non-script font (such as Times New Roman or Garamond in size 12 font). have students first and last name, date, and block on the first page be legible

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS: Expectations of students' classroom behavior and academic performance are high. Regular attendance is critical to successful completion of this course, and students with an high absentee and/or tardy rate will likely do poorly in the course. The following are the primary guidelines and expectations for this course and the classroom: 1. Seating will be assigned and reflective of your childs performance in class (seated by class rank). 2.Tardiness will not be an acceptable behavior. (see policy above) 3.Students will be given 2 restroom passes per semester. It is the students responsibility to keep up with their passes. Any students who abuse this privilege will lose all future opportunities to leave during the class period. No one will be allowed to use the restroom during the first thirty minutes or last thirty minutes of class. IF the passes are not used by the student, they will be redeemable for an extra credit point (Must be turned in on December 9th). 4. Students must bring all required materials to class every day. The teacher is not responsible for providing notebook paper, ink pens, extra textbooks, novels, additional study guides, or pencils for permanent student use. 5. No food, drinks, gum, or candy will be allowed in class without a written excuse from a parent or a medical doctor. Water is the only acceptable drink that will be allowed in class without prior permission. 6. Students will not be excused from class to make phone calls. If a phone call needs to be made, then it can be made during the scheduled lunch break. 7. Headphones, gaming systems, CD players/radios, cell phones, pagers, hats, and/or other disruptive items will be confiscated on sight by the teacher. All electronic devices that become confiscated will be given to the students administrator.

8. class.

Students will be expected to adhere to the district-wide dress code policy during

CONSEQUENCES: detention student/teacher conference parent contact referral to an administrator Cell phones or other electronic devices will be confiscated without warning.

Absences and Make-up Work:

You are expected to make up work that you have missed because of an absence. Sometimes it will be necessary for you to come outside of class time to make up work. You should set up a time in advance. Remember that some of our work is group work. If you are absent, you may have to do the work on your own. If you are absent on the date previously assigned work is due, you are required to have it the day you return to class. After returning from an absence, you will have 5 days to turn in the makeup work that was not pre-assigned or to arrange to take quizzes or tests that you missed.
TUTORING: Tutoring will be available after school but no appointment is necessary on ANY morning from 6:45-7AM or on any MONDAY from 2:50-3:50. Should Mrs. Travis/Mrs. Smith be unavailable, tutoring is available by appointment from the other English teachers at MAHS.

Late Major Essay or Project: Points will be deducted for each day late at a rate of 10 points a day for a maximum of three days. No essay or project will be accepted after this time period. Final Exam Exemption: School policy will be followed.

Parent Contact:

We encourage parents to e-mail or call directly with any questions or concerns. The schools number is (770) 266-4599. We will try to return calls within 24 hours. E-mail is the fastest way to contact us.

Supplemental Novels:

The reading of supplemental works is an important aspect of the overall English curriculum. The novels have been chosen carefully by the department to enhance each courses mastering of the standards. Reading selections will be chosen by the teacher from the works below. If you have a concern regarding any of them, please call the teacher as soon as possible. Otherwise, please sign in the space indicated on page 4. The English department has copies of these novels/ plays for use with the classes; however, you may buy a copy for your child if you so desire. Title

The Piano Lesson

Author August Wilson

Things Fall Apart A Thousand Splendid Suns Interpreter of Maladies

Chinua Achebe Khaled Hosseini Jhumpa Lahiri

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Cheating is considered a serious matter. The parents of a student(s) who has/have been involved in cheating will be notified and the student(s) will receive a grade of ONE for the assignment. The student(s) will also be referred to his/her administrator for disciplinary action. Repeat offenses will result in the assignment of in-school suspension, per school policy. For this course, cheating is defined as, but is not limited to, the following acts: Copying anyones answers to questions, exercises, study guides, class work, or homework assignments Plagiarism: Taking any information verbatim from any source, including the Internet, without giving proper credit to the author, or rearranging the order of words and/or changing some words as written by the author and claiming the work as the students own. On research assignments, failure to include parenthetical documentation within the research paper will be considered an act of plagiarism. Looking onto another students paper during a test or quiz. Having available any study notes or other test aids during a test or quiz without the teacher's permission. Collaborating on assignments when independent work is expected. Purchase of and/or use of assignments completed by students previously enrolled in the course OR from the internet. Text-messaging during a test/quiz (the assumption of cheating will be automatic on the part of the teacher, as this behavior is prohibited per school policy). Thank you for your attention to these matters and for your support. Grading Percentages: Essays/Projects/Tests Daily/Homework Midterm Quizzes Final 40% 20% 5% 15% 20%