College Prep. English 1-- American Literature
Instructor: Ms. Melissa Surber, B.A. Eng. & M.A.E. Eng. Sec.Ed.—Truman State University
Phone Number: 636-462-5148, room 214
Prep Times: 4th Purple and 5th Gold, before school from 6:45-7:45, after school from 2:30-3:15
Email: surberm@troy.k12.mo.us
Course Description:
Students will study selected American short stories, poems, plays, and novels. Students will
improve their writing skills as they create and revise various essays, including persuasive (research) and
literary analysis essays.
Course Objectives:
College Prep English 1 students will study and analyze a variety of literature and will use these
works as examples to improve their own writing. The focus of American literature will allow students to
gain a broader perspective on changes in writing style and the impact historical events have had on the
literature in our country. Students will be:
 reading and responding to a variety of literary genres written from many perspectives.
 becoming active observers of language in the world today.
 organizing, producing, and presenting oral, written, and visual materials for a variety of
audiences and purposes.
 extending vocabulary through predicting, determining, and confirming meanings of words from
context, structural analysis, or use of appropriate sources.
Evaluation:
All students must complete all assignments. Parents, although I am reluctant to bother you
and hope your teenage son or daughter won’t need to do so, I will ask them to call you during class to
ask for your help remembering to complete or bring a missing assignment. Academic lab time, before
and after school time, and (in drastic cases) in-school suspension are additional safeguards to ensure
each student completes each assignment. In order for the report card grade to accurately reflect
knowledge and ability, scores will appear as “incomplete” until no zeroes remain in the grade book.
Assignment Type
daily assignments
quizzes, tests, projects, and formal essays
final exam
Portion of Total Grade
around 20%
around 60% (80% if exempt from final)
20% (if applicable)
 Students will receive credit for participating in class discussion and turning in all assignments on
time.
 DO NOT depend on extra credit; it is not guaranteed or required.
Supplies:
Students should always have the following:

pen or pencil

college rule note paper

folder or binder for organization (notes, returned work, etc.)
Recommended: a set of highlighters and a flash drive-- if you word process at home and at school
College Prep English 1 Content
anthology: McDougall Littell’s The Lanugage of Literature
Most short works are available online.
The list of basic titles below does not include supplementary articles, stories, criticism, poems, or essays.
Quarter 1
Quarter 3
emphases: imagery, ethos, pathos, logos, voice,
emphases: setting, theme, mood, character
tone, theme, historical context, grammar, traits of
quality writing
development, symbolism, grammar, traits of quality
writing
titles:
The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano
Speech in the Virginia Convention
Lecture to a Missionary
The Crucible (play)
titles:
The Masque of the Red Death
The Raven
significant writing assignment:
personal narrative/college admission essay
The Yellow Wallpaper or Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment
A Rose for Emily
To Kill a Mockingbird (novel--If students have studied
this, another novel or group of short stories will be substituted.)
various poems
significant writing assignment:
TBD (The research essay will occur during third or fourth
Quarter 2
emphases: tone, theme, voice, perspective,
quarter.)
drawing conclusions, social commentary, grammar,
traits of quality writing
Quarter 4
titles:
A Psalm of Life
Walden
Self Reliance
Into the Wild (non-fiction book)
development, historical context, grammar, traits of
quality writing
significant writing assignment:
opinion essay
emphases: theme, social commentary, character
titles:
The Great Gatsby (novel)
The Story of an Hour
The End of Something
The Man Who was Almost a Man
Ambush
significant writing assignment:
TBD (The research essay will occur during third or fourth
quarter.)
Independent Reading Requirement
On a quarterly basis, students will choose and read an American novel from a pre-determined list of distinguished
titles. Most of these will be available from our school library, although students are welcome to obtain them
elsewhere. Fifteen minutes of reading time will be provided each class, though it is expected that students also
regard reading as homework. There are three components to earning quarterly reading points: daily time on task,
an SRC test, and a book talk with the teacher prior to the quarter’s end.