Mrs.Fossum/Mrs. Leta (Room 203)
September 2014
Eleventh Grade Academic English (American Literature/Composition)
Contact: diana.fossum@lcps.org
Welcome to English 11
Classroom Expectations:
 Be respectful of everyone and everything in the classroom; use absolute honesty in all academic matters;
and arrive to class on time and prepared;
 Understand that any choices you make that interrupt, distract, or otherwise preclude us from having a
positive classroom environment will be dealt with swiftly and accordingly;
 Abide by all BRHS policies, and respect our prerogative to institute any and all of the following rules
specific to our individual classroom setting:
o Practice empathy and compassion toward others. Observe the one person speaks at a time rule and
keep your sense of humor, humility, and dignity at all times.
o Attend all classes; arrive on time; and stay in class. Only if absolutely necessary, leave quickly and
quietly to use the bathroom---signing out and back in again, and observing the one-person–out-at-atime rule. Provided the privilege is not abused, we will generally allow a mid-class 5-minute stretch
break, during which time, the use of cellphones will be permitted. At all other times during class,
please stow away from sight any phones, Ipods, food, gum, beverages (bottled water/sealed
thermos beverages ok). Unauthorized use of phones will result in an automatic 10 pt deduction on
the next quiz/assignment. Keep in mind, we also reserve the right to CONFISCATE the
aforementioned if necessary. Should your phone, etc. be taken, you may retrieve it from the main
office at the end of the day.
o If absent, please refer to policy listed below and understand that it is YOUR responsibility, not
ours, to check the website, retrieve any handouts (ask a buddy!), and to make up work by the very
next class.
o Finally, please save all questions pertaining to your late work, grades, and other personal matters
for non-class hours. You may reach us by email or during our posted planning times.
Tentative List of Novels, Plays, and Major Works (some of which will be used in lit circles):
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A Raisin in the Sun
Jake Reinvented (Modern Spin
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on The Great Gatsby)
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The Crucible
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Speeches, Essays, Short
Stories, and Poems from
selected American writers
The Things They Carried
Fallen Angels
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Catcher in the Rye
The Secret Life of Bees
A Lesson Before Dying
Fat Kid Rules the World
Freedom
Writer
Diaries
Materials/Supplies to Purchase
 Three-ring binder (2” or larger) filled with PLENTY of loose-leaf college-ruled paper—NO
SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS!!!
 Five divider tabs for binder:
1. Agenda Pages
2. Homework/Graded Work
3. Grammar/Usage Exercises
4. Vocabulary
5. Reading/Writing Notes/Handouts
 Pencils, blue or black pens,
 Two highlighters and/or one pack of sticky notes for annotating
*A donation of one (1) box of tissues for class use would be appreciated
Attendance Policy:
 Absent students are responsible for taking any quizzes and submitting any homework that was scheduled
prior to their absence on the day of return. (Project due dates are final—Because it is assumed that you
will have planned ahead accordingly, even a last minute, unavoidable absence is no excuse and will result in a
late deduction.)
 Any work assigned during an absence should be completed in a timely manner according to school policy (one
class day for every class day absent).
 Do not come in during class and ask, “What did I miss?” Instead, make a concerted effort to check
homework online, to check class bin for “While You Were Out” file, or to check with us during office hours.
 Make-up quizzes and/or tests must be taken by 5 pm. Friday of the first week you have returned.
Late Work:
 Homework and classwork assignments are formative and time-sensitive and will therefore not be accepted
late (with the exception of excused absences or early dismissals)
 Long-term assignments or summative assessments will be docked 10% for each day late, with a minimum
half credit available if completed prior to one week of the grading report period.
(For Best Results and Highest Grade—attend every day and turn in all work ON TIME)
Grading:
Student grades for this class will be calculated on the point system. Each assignment will be worth a certain
number of points, depending on the length and difficulty of the assignment. Below is an estimated point value for
assignments. Students may also receive grades periodically for class participation. All grades will be entered in
CLARITY at least twice a month.
Assignment
Homework (10% of grade)
Quizzes (25%)
Classwork (Includes Journals/Grammar
Exercises) (15%)
Tests (25%)
Projects/Major Essays (25%)
Estimated Point Value
5 - 10 points each
10 - 50 points each
10- 100 points each
50 - 100 points each
100 - 200 points each
Remediation/Recovery
In the event that you receive a 69% or lower on a major test or quiz or other type of summative assessment, you
may apply for an enrichment opportunity and/or retake of the assessment with a maximum allowable final grade of
70%. To do this, you must first ask us for a “Recovery Form” no later than one class day after receiving the grade,
have the form signed by a parent or guardian, and return the signed form to us no later than the first Friday after
you received the form, and complete the retake or enrichment by the agreed upon date.
Plagiarism and Honor Code:
Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s words and ideas as your own—even a slight twisting of words must include
proper citation. Plagiarism will not be tolerated; effective this year, students will be expected to sign and/or write
the BRHS Honor Code on every summative assessment. Violations will be handled per school policy.
Contact Information & Office Hours:
Both Mrs. Fossum and Mrs. Leta have schedules posted on the door of Room 203 and available online. Both teachers
are available after 2:30 pm on B Days. Please feel free to contact either or both of us should you need more
information: Diana.fossum@lcps.org; lisa.leta@lcps.org
English 11 Academic Course Description from LCPS Online http://cmsweb1.lcps.org/page/335
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Reading Analysis
Survey American literature; read a variety of genres; continue to develop reading skills;
engage in daily reading; use video and audio materials to promote understanding and
appreciation of texts; apply associated literary terms; read and analyze nonfiction texts.
Writing
Practice timed responses to a variety of prompts; continue to develop reflective,
argumentative, creative, analytical, and research-based writing skills; practice revising and
editing; develop single and multi-paragraph essays emphasizing persuasive writing; write
clear and correct sentences using vivid verbs and modifiers.
Research
Focus on analyzing and evaluating information from traditional and on-line resources;
evaluate and synthesize the usefulness of information for inclusion in a documented paper;
include parenthetical citations; develop a works cited page.
Communication
Prepare and present individual informative and persuasive presentations; listen critically
and assess the effectiveness of oral presentations; examine values and points of view in
media; examine how media influences beliefs and behaviors
Vocabulary
Develop vocabulary through reading and writing, and speaking with an emphasis on
understanding and using new vocabulary; use knowledge of word origins and figurative
language to understand new vocabulary; practice PSAT and SAT-type questions.
English 11 A—(Tentative) Course Syllabus
First Quarter:
What Does it Mean to be an American? Understanding the American Dream
 What is the American Dream and to what extent is it achievable for all Americans?
 In what ways does the American Dream mean different things for different Americans?
 How has the American Dream changed over time with respect to race and economics?
Reading:
Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun
Jake Reinvented
Writing:
Grammar/Usage (Warm Up Sentences for Revision—Introducing Smiley Face Tricks)
Timed Writes/Daily Journals
Personal Narrative
Second Quarter
The American as Citizen—Values, Conflicts, and Protest (Rebellion and Conformity)
Reading
The Crucible
The Things They Carried
Letter from a Birmingham City Jail
Persuasive Speeches—Jonathan Edwards to Sojourner Truth, Richard Nixon to
Barak Obama
Emerson and Thoreau—excerpts from Walden and Self Reliance
Writing:
Grammar/Usage (Smiley Face Tricks--sentence variety, phrases and clauses)
Parallel structure, rhetorical devices
Persuasive Writing—thesis statements and defense
Literary Author Survey Research Paper Begins
Third Quarter
In Pursuit of Justice for All—Race, Ethnicity and Class in America
Reading:
Ernest J. Gaines,’ A Lesson Before Dying
selections from the anthology Growing Up Ethnic in America and Nickel and
Dimed, and America Beyond the Color Line.
Smoke Signals and Jackie
Writing: Process Writing—sentence clarity continued
Literary Research Continued
Incorporating Quotations, MLA Citations
Fourth Quarter
The Ongoing Search for Identity, Equality, and Independence
Reading: Lit Circles
Freedom Writers Diaries
Secret Life of Bees
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin ; “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte
Perkins Gilman ; “Prologue” by Anne Bradstreet
“On the Pulse of Morning” by Maya Angelou; “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther
King, Junior ;“I, Too” by Langston Hughes
“My Bondage and My Freedom” by Frederick Douglass (slave narrative)
Writing:
I-Search a Career paper/project
Resumes
Text Provided:
McDougal Littell, Language of Literature: American Literature 2nd Edition
NOTE:
Back to School Night—September 8, 2014 (6:30 pm)
PSAT—October 15, 2014
SAT's—October 11, November 8, December 6 (2014)
January 24, March 14, May 2, June 6 (2015)
English 11 A---Fossum and Leta
Turn in for 5 point grade:
Student Signature
I have read the course overview (see attached page). I realize that I must comply with all academic and disciplinary
rules in order to have a successful year. If I do not follow these rules, I understand the consequences and will
accept responsibility.
PRINT FIRST AND LAST NAME X ____________________________________
SIGNX ______________________________________
For Parents/Guardians:
I have read the course overview. I realize that my child must comply with all academic and disciplinary rules in
order to have a successful year. If my child chooses not to follow these rules, he or she must accept responsibility.
I understand that I can contact Mrs. Fossum at any time at diana.fossum@lcps.org or by calling the BRHS main
office 571-252-2200 (after school hours—due to trailer location).
Child’s Last Name especially if different from parent/guardian ___________________
Parent/Guardian---PRINT X ____________________________________
SIGNX ______________________________________
Comments/Questions/Concerns: diana.fossum@lcps.org