Intro to Literature Teacher: Mrs.

Derdiger
2016-2017 Course Syllabus Email: sara.derdiger@has.hc.edu.tw
Textbook: Holt McDougal Literature
Grade 9
Schedule: 1st Block A Days (8:20-9:45)

Course Description
This course provides an introduction to various literary elements, including plot, character, sequence, symbolism, form
and style. We will discuss what these elements are, and how they interact with one another to contribute to the overall
meaning of a work of literature. In addition, we will look at several genres of literature, including drama, short stories,
novels, and poetry. We will explore how literature helps us address broad questions about life, art, and culture. By the
end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of literature, and be prepared for more advanced literary
courses in the future. They will also have the tools necessary to read, understand, and enjoy literature on their own.

Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:

 Analyze the impact of elements like setting, character, voice or tone on the overall meaning of a piece of
literature.
 Identify the main idea of a work of literature, and explain how it develops within a work.
 Examine how small details within a work can drastically change its meaning.
 Understand the challenges and rewards offered by various genres of literature.
 Analyze literature from other countries, making cross-cultural comparisons.
 Examine narratives to determine how they reflect cultural identity.
 Analyze how multiple works of literature about the same topic can sometimes reveal very different ideas about
that topic.
 Use textual evidence to craft arguments and compose multi-sided essays.
Required Materials
● Textbook: Holt McDougal Literature Grade 9
● Novels: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark
Haddon, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
● Pens, pencils, highlighters, and erasers
● Notebook and paper
● 3-Ring binder or folder to store and organize class materials and assignments
● Homework diary
● Electronic dictionary
● Laptop and headphones are highly recommended.

Course Schedule*
Unit Topics and Themes Readings Duration
Unit 1 Plot, Setting, Theme, and Conflict ◊Novel Study: The Hunger Games by Suzanne 6 weeks
 Plot Diagrams Collins
 Description in setting -“Vietnam on Television” by Daniel Hallin
  5 types of conflict
 Recognizing themes and
universal themes
Unit 2 Point-of-View, Characterization,
Character Motivation
 3 major types of point-of-
view as well as subtypes
 Character traits and
character descriptions
 Character motivations and
actions
Unit 3 Mood and Tone, Imagery,
Symbolism
 Recognizing the difference
between mood and tone
 Identifying mood and tone
 Identifying and explaining
symbols in literature
 Use of imagery to convey
mood and tone
Unit 4 Poetry and rhetorical devices
 Different forms of poetry
 Meaning and use of poems
 Identifying and using
rhetorical devices
Unit 5 Historical and Cultural Context
 Researching an author’s
background
 Researching the context a
story is written in
 Analyzing the impact of
history and culture on
literature
Unit 6 Author’s Purpose, Author’s Style
 Identifying an author’s
purpose
 Identifying an author’s
style
 Explaining how author
purpose and style work
together to create
literature
*Course schedule subject to change
- “Why Young Adults 'Hunger' For The Hunger
Games And Other Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian
Fiction” by Debra Donston-Miller
-“The Rights to the Streets of Memphis” by Richard
Wright (p. 116)
-“POX” by Geoff Trenchard
-“To the States” and “Pioneers O’ Pioneers” by Walt
Whitman
◊Novel Study: The Curious Incident of the Dog in 6 weeks
the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
-“Daughter of Invention” by Julia Alvarez (p. 84)
-“Incident in a Rose Garden” by Donald Justice (p.
151)
-Excerpt: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
-Excerpt: The Things They Carried by Time O’Brien
-“The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell 4 weeks
(p. 58)
-“Sorry, Right Number” by Stephen King (p. 154)
-“Georgia O’Keefe” by Joan Didion (p. 570)
-“Dancing in the Rain with Annie” by Dane Kuttler
-“I carry your heart” by e.e. cummings
-“Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe
-“Ode to My Socks” by Pablo Neruda (p. 778) 4 weeks
-“Ode to the Boom Box” by Kevin Coval
-“Egg Horror Poem” by Laurel Winter (p. 782)
-“Haiku” by Matsuo Bashō
-“Haiku” by Richard Wright
-“Your Fossil is the Shape of My Mouth” by Sarah
Morgan
-“The Meteor’s Monologue” by Alvin Lau
◊Novel Study: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part- 6 weeks
Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
-“The World on the Turtle’s Back” by the Iroquois
-“Rosa Parks” by Douglas Brinkley (p. 292)
-“Rosa” by Rita Dove (p. 298)
-“Broken Tongues” by Alex Dang
-Excerpt from A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue
Park
-“Good Form” by Tim O’Brien 4 weeks
-“Island morning” by Jamaica Kincaid (p. 560)
-“The Lost Boys” by Sara Corbett (p. 592)
-“The New Frontier” by John F. Kennedy (p. 659)
-“I have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (p.
662)
-“Parkinson’s Disease Research and Treatment” (p.
672)
Grading Policy
Grades are calculated according to the category weights listed below:

Unit Assessments: 30%

Homework: 30%
Classwork: 30%
Participation: 10%
Participation will be graded using ClassDojo.com and students will be expected to create an account and register in the
class using the code given by the teacher.

Quarter 1: 40%
Quarter 2: 40%
Final Exam: 20%

Assignment Policy
Assignment instructions and deadlines are posted regularly on RenWeb. Students are expected to check RenWeb each
day for assignment postings, class announcements, and other updates from the teacher. Students are also expected to
complete and submit assignments according to assignment instructions as posted on RenWeb. Parents will be able to
access all this information through the parent portal.

All assignments should be completed and submitted before the deadlines as posted on RenWeb. Submitting
assignments late will immediately result in a 10% penalty. Any assignment submitted more than two weeks late after
a deadline may not be accepted for credit.

All assignments that are submitted on RenWeb must be saved in the following format:
Assignment Title, Class Abbreviation, Last Name, First Name
Ex. ResearchPaper, IntroLit, DerdigerSara

Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Assignments or exams that show
evidence of cheating or plagiarism will not be accepted and will receive no credit. Serious incidents of academic
dishonesty will be subject to immediate disciplinary measures.

All assignments submitted in this class must exhibit a student’s original ideas and language. Information that is
borrowed from other authors and sources must be properly cited in MLA format. Failure to attribute ownership to
rightful authors is considered plagiarism (as this is fraudulently claiming ownership of another’s
work). Misappropriation of an artist or peer’s work and/or published images also constitutes plagiarism. Any work
that makes use of another artists’ work and/or published images must show substantial development beyond
duplication.

Behavior Expectations
CLASSROOM CONDUCT
All students are expected to respect each other, the teacher, and the classroom learning environment. This includes:
● Arriving to class on time (seated at your assigned desk with all of your materials before the bell is finished
ringing at the start of class and at the end of break time). Students who arrive late to class without an excused
pass, will be marked tardy. Tardy students are subject to the punishments outlined in the student handbook.

● Following classroom rules and procedures as outlined by instructor

Be safe.
Be respectful.
 Be responsible.

● Following behavior policies outlined in the HAS Student Handbook.

DEADLINES
Aside from excused absences, NO excuses are accepted for late work. If assignments are submitted to RenWeb,
students should prepare backup copies elsewhere online or on a USB in the event that a submission does not upload
successfully.

Students absent from class are expected to meet with the teacher the next day they are present in school to establish
new deadlines for their makeup work. Students absent on days assignments are due must submit their assignments the
next class day.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES
With the exception of electronic dictionaries, no electronic devices can be used in the classroom without the permission
from the teacher. At all times, students are expected to be attentive and prepared to participate and communicate with
their teacher and peers. In order to maintain an engaged and productive learning environment, students are not
allowed to wear earphones/headphones during class. In addition, earphones and headphones are not permitted in the
classroom and should be stored in students’ lockers.

Many assignments and class activities will require students to use computers and access the Internet. Though school
computers can be utilized for this purpose, it is highly recommended that students bring a personal laptop or other
portable computer to school. Because using smartphones are prohibited in the classroom, the use of laptops will be
permitted on a regular basis.

Devices or accessories being used without permission will be confiscated for the duration of the class period or entire
school day, at the teacher’s discretion.

CLASSROOM CLEANLINESS
No food or drink (except water) may be consumed or brought into the classroom at any time. Students may bring
water bottles to class. Any other food or drink found in the classroom will be confiscated.

DISCIPLINARY MEASURES
Failure to comply with class or school policies and expectations may result in one or more of the following, depending
on the frequency and severity of the infraction:
● Meeting with teacher outside of class to write an action plan.
● An email home to parents.
● Detention after school.
● Meeting with parents and school administration.
● Suspension from school.
● Other measures as deemed appropriate by the school administration.