Bering Strait School District

AMERICAN LITERATURE SYLLABUS

Instructor: Leah Stanek Course Title: American Literature 9th Website: www.leahstanek.weebly.com E-mail: See contact section on website

Course Description:
The American Literature course offers a balanced focus on literature, grammar, vocabulary, and composition. Students learn about commonly known American authors and their work. Students improve their critical thinking skills as they determine the underlying assumptions and values within the selected works and as they understand how the literature reflects the society of the time. Oral discussion is an integral part of literature courses.

Course Objectives:
Students will be able to: 1. Read, interpret, discuss, and analyze the various literary works selected. 2. Write in a variety of forms to clarify thinking and communicate ideas. 3. Complete writing assignments by applying knowledge of the steps in the writing process. 4. Determine the meaning of a word within context and its origins. 5. Identify and use correct grammatical and mechanical usage. 6. Become effective communicators through speaking and writing.

Grading Criteria:
This is only a suggested grading policy. Make appropriate adjustments for your class.

The grading policy for this course is based on a point system or percentage system. For each assignment, students will be able to earn a certain number of points or percent. The points/percentages are distributed as follows: Homework/Class work Essays/Projects Summative and Formative Assessments Notebook/Journal (10%) (50%) (20%) (20%) or or or or 10 points each 50 points each 20 points each 20 points each

Requirements: Writing: Only one student writing is required per quarter. Students writings will be placed in their portfolio. Literature: Based on the Scope and Sequence, only one required novel, short story, speech, and poem are required per quarter. Materials: CBL Write Source Writers Choice: Grammar and Composition 8th Grade Writers Choice: Grammar and Composition 9th Grade

Course Outline
Bering Strait School District

American Literature

Quarter 1
September 1. Bread Givers 2. Nightjohn (Remedial) 3. Commas and Semicolon 4. Compound Sentences 5. Expository Writing October 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Bread Givers (continued) Short Story Poetry Sentence Combining Expository Writing (continued) Word Usage

Quarter 2
October 1. Of Mice and Men 2. Dragonwings (Remedial) 3. Complex Sentences November 1. Of Mice and Men (continued) 2. Dragonwings (Remedial) (continued) 3. Complex Sentences (continued) 4. Colons and Apostrophes 5. Short Story/Poetry 6. Persuasive Writing 7. Pronoun Usage December 1. Poetry 2. Persuasive Writing (continued) 3. Pronoun Usage (continued) 4. Word Usage

Quarter 3
January 1. To Kill a Mockingbird 2. Bud, Not Buddy (Remedial) 3. Compound-Complex Sentences February 1. To Kill a Mockingbird (continued) 2. Bud, Not Buddy (Remedial) (continued) 3. Speeches 4. Verb Tenses 5. Business and Technical Writing March 1. 2. 3. 4.

Speeches (continued) Business and Technical Writing (continued) Verb Tenses (continued) Word Usage

Quarter 4
March 1. 2. 3. 4. April 1. 2. 3. 4. May 1. 2. 3. 4. Short Story Poetry Narrative Writing Word Usage A Raisin in the Sun The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 (Remedial) Active/Passive Voice Verbals A Raisin in the Sun (continued) The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 (Remedial) (continued) Verbals (continued) Research Paper

Note: A research paper can be incorporated into any of these modes of writing
(persuasive or expository). Please do not feel obligated to teach a research paper only in the last quarter.