th
INSTRUCTOR:
Ms. Silotto : Room 311
School Phone: (317) 924-4333 Ext. 359 e-mail address: msilotto@cardinalritter.org
Course Website: http://www.myhaikuclass.com/Msilotto/americanliterature
REQUIRED COURSE BOOKS AND MATERIALS
American Literature: The Reader’s Choice . New York, NY: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2009.
Elements of Language: Fifth Course . Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2001.
Vocabulary for Achievement: Fifth Course . Wilmington, MA: Great Source, 2005.
Required Materials: Composition notebook, 3-ring binder to keep handouts organized, loose-leaf notebook paper, agenda, self-selected book of your choice by an American author, and writing utensil.
Organization and Content
While the title of the course focuses primarily on the literary component of the curriculum, the course itself is designed to examine both literature and composition. The literature component spans a period from Native American oral literature through the contemporary era. The composition component focuses on developing and supporting ideas effectively through specific details, examples, research, and proper use of standardized English. Content and SAT vocabulary will be studied, acquired, and applied throughout the course. Students will apply this vocabulary throughout their study of American literature.
Class Design:
Students will read assigned short stories, novels, poems, and a variety of nonfiction works by American authors. Students will respond to the readings in a variety of ways, including discussion (both individual and group-led), writing assignments, quizzes, tests, and other less traditional assignments utilizing graphic organizers, the Socratic method, project-based learning, cooperative learning structures, presentations, and writer’s workshop.
General Policies:
School Policies - Know your student handbook and abide by all school policies. Please be mindful of
Cardinal Ritter’s policy concerning plagiarism. Plagiarism will result in a minimum consequence of an automatic zero for the assignment and a detention.
Make-up Work - If a student has an excused absence from class, he or she is responsible for the assignments/ homework that he or she missed. When absent for a day, check the make-up folder and calendar online to complete any work. If missed more than 2 days, check the folder and calendar but also consult Ms. Silotto.

Homework/Class work – ASSIGNMENTS ARE TO BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED ON TIME.
Homework and daily assignments are due upon request as assigned; they will NOT be accepted late.
Materials - Students will bring paper, agenda, self-selected book, pen or pencil, and a 3-ring binder or notebook to class each day, along with any required handouts or assignments.
Behavior - Students are expected to be mannerly, respectful of the rights of others, and attentive in class.
Whenever there is a sub in this class, everyone is expected to be respectful and cooperative. There will not be any negative reports when Ms. Silotto returns.
For more information on Ms. Silotto’s expectations concerning classroom behavior, please refer to the “Ms. Silotto’s Policies and Procedures” handout.
Passes - It is important for each student to be present for all class activities and for the class to be free from unnecessary distractions. Students leaving class distract the teacher and disrupt the flow of class.
No student is to leave the classroom without a pass. Passes will be written for emergency situations only.
Detentions If a student is being disruptive or uncooperative in class, the instructor may assign a teacher detention. Missed teacher detentions will automatically result in a school detention. If you get in trouble after your third teacher detention, you will receive a school detention. Be above reproach!
Concerns - Students should feel free to discuss concerns relating to the class with the teacher. If students have difficulty with the class work, they should seek help during tutoring. If a student or parent has any questions or concerns regarding class, please feel free to email the teacher at
Msilotto@cardinalritter.org or leave a message on her voicemail at extension 359.
Tutoring – Ms. Silotto will be available Monday from 3:30-4:30 pm specifically to tutor students. If you cannot make this time, please talk to Ms. Silotto to schedule another time for tutoring. Never be afraid to stop by and ask for help anytime you see me in my room outside of school hours.
Approximate Grade Distribution:
30% Assignments: Homework & In-Class work
– Homework and class work may include vocabulary work, question responses, graphic organizers, outlines, artistic displays, reading logs, puzzles, games, journals, or any other task designed to help students develop skills and knowledge vital to course success. No more than 20% of the students’ final grade will be based on homework.
30% Writing – Formal writing assignments include non-fiction and fiction writing developed through the writing process. These assignments will include narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive paragraphs and essays. Students will also complete at least one SAT writing assignment every month.
40% Assessments: Projects, Tests, and Quizzes
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Projects include oral or Prezi presentations and/or research based assignments.
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Tests may include any announced in-class or take-home assessment of learning. Test items may consist of brief essays or extended paragraphs, short-answer questions (1-3 complete sentences), multiple-choice questions, true-false questions, or matching items.
The Final Exam will be counted as a test grade.

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Quizzes are announced or unannounced in-class assessments of student mastery of material or skills. They may be open or closed book. Quizzes may appear in any test form, although they are relatively shorter and less comprehensive than tests.
The order of these units may be changed within the semester. Please note that the syllabus may be amended and altered as time and class needs demand. Changes will be made at the discretion of the instructor.
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