Course Description
		Coursework Schedule
		Go to Shared Workspace
		Software We Use
		Instructor Contact

The Literature and Composition class is designed to help each student grow in appreciation of great literature as well as hone writing and presentation skills. Assignments and activities are designed to produce clarity and precision in both reading and writing. Vocabulary enrichment will allow students to strengthen composition, critical thinking, and comprehension skills.  Selected novels from British and American literature, along with a few shorter works, will be studied for world view and other literary elements.  Students will learn the Modern Language Association (MLA) form of documentation and will produce one research project and two short essays per semester. 

Needed Materials: Approved editions of assigned works.  Legacy Arts Writing curriculum, Word processor, Internet access.  Numerous composition and literature materials to be accessed on the Internet.  Students may use any Internet connected computer to view and submit assignments, if the student's Internet access at home is unreliable.  Students will be invited to a password-protected shared workspace (BSCW) where files and discussion can be shared with the instructor and other students. 

Literature Activities:  Reading discussion will take place on the Internet as well as in class.  Discussion postings will be evaluated for adequate support and clarity of expression. Discussions will be moderated by the instructor at the beginning of the school year, and students will assume moderating duties as the year progresses, learning valuable skills and conventions in effective online communication.  To help students learn test-taking and note-taking skills, literature quizzes will be given each week in class.  Major literature exams are accessed through the online Legacy Arts Test Bank and will be taken at home. 

Composition Assignments: Students may expect to have homework assignments for each class period.  All assignments are due on the indicated day, whether or not the student attends class. Students will be required to post most composition assignments in the shared workspace on the Internet.  Since class meets face-to-face only once each week, some assignments will be due for posting between classroom meetings.  Due dates and assignment descriptions will be available on the class website.  Late work will not be accepted without a phone call to the instructor from parents.  Parents are asked to avoid excusing assignments, except in the case of genuine emergencies.  Conflicts with other activities are not considered genuine emergencies, since the student should plan to get work done early in those circumstances. 

Learning process:  On most occasions, skills required for homework completion will be modeled in class or on the Internet, or both.  Students will often be directed to give each other feedback on posted homework.  This process allows each student to see the expected skill exercised by a well-known author, by the instructor, and by a fellow student.  This collaborative process also requires every student to be timely in posting assignments and in giving feedback.  Late postings will affect the productivity of the entire class. 

Attendance:  Good class attendance is a must.  Students should be in class all of every class meeting.  Attendance will be checked at each class meeting, and parents will be consulted in the event of two absences or habitual tardiness.  Quizzes are given at the beginning of class, so tardiness is costly to grades!

In-Class Atmosphere: Our class will be conducted in a somewhat relaxed seminar style.  The seminar style allows some collaboration and casual conversation, at appropriate times.  Students should avoid all side-talk during the lecture portion of the class.  Students are asked to eat lunch before class, but are allowed to eat in class if absolutely necessary.  Coffee, soda, and water are allowed with one caveat…..students should take their restroom breaks before and after class, not during, if possible.  If the number of requests for a break becomes distracting, all refreshments will be banned in class. 

Unplug!  Cell phones should be put away during class.  Absolutely no texting is allowed during class.  In the case of an emergency, students should be contacted at the instructor’s cell phone number, listed above. 

Assignment Rules:  Absent students are responsible for assignments due at the next class meeting.  All assignment descriptions and due dates are posted on the class website.  Quizzes missed due to illness, emergency, or traveling are excused and will not affect the student’s average.  Other work may be excused for illness or emergency, but students who will miss class for a planned trip should complete work early or submit work via the Internet while traveling.  Parents, please do not ask that students be excused from assignments for other reasons, such as extra-curricular or work-related activities.  Because of the collaborative nature of the class, late work cannot be accepted.

Grading:  Your final grade is determined by averaging the total of each area listed below.  

When the online grade book is first updated, student and parent will receive an email notice, including a link to the student’s individual and confidential grade sheet at https://www.mygradebook.com .  Then, the student and parent can access the grade book at any time, using codes available in the grade book.  

College Board Advanced Placement Exam (AP Exam).: Students are encouraged to take the exam in May, 2010, to earn 3 hours of college credit, and place out of the first semester of Freshman English.  The cost of this optional activity is about $85 – $90.

 

Instructor: Bonnie Rowe
email: rowebo@sbcglobal.net          
Chance meetings:  I will often be available for chat meetings on the World Wide Web.  Use my email address to find me in Yahoo messenger.  If I am logged in, you are welcome to contact me with questions about assignments or class.