American Authors B

Miss Raetz: anne.raetz@isd518.net

Course Description: This class will focus on American Authors that published
work after the American Civil War. As we work through several pieces of
literature chronologically, we will continually be looking at the themes and
the authors style common in American literature. We will begin to
understand how history can be reflected through various forms of literature
poetry, non-fiction articles, and fictional novels.
Course Website: www.raetzenglish.weebly.com
Schoology: 7BFXR-BGRC3
Unit Schedule
1. Slavery & the Civil War:
o My Guilt Maya Angelou
o Remembering Maya Angelo
o The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass
o Theme Essay
2. War Perspective
o Night Elie Wiesel
o Common Themes Essay
3. Modern Genocides
o Personal Research
o Verbal Presentation

Assessments:

1. Daily Participation (Not part of cumulative grade affects credit)

5 Daily Participation points will be awarded every day for a total of 25
pts/week. To earn participation points, you must:
1. Come prepared to class (homework done, have materials
needed, be on time, have tablet charged)
2. Participate in discussions to the best of your ability
3. Take notes when needed
4. Work cooperatively and collaboratively in small groups
5. Do not abuse your daily passes
6. Act appropriately in class (no side conversations, no
sleeping/head down, etc.)
Note: If you are absent, you will earn NO participation points.
2. Reading Assignments (daily worksheets, reading comprehension
questions, group activities) (25% of grade)
- All reading assignments must be completed before class begins.
- Students not prepared for gallery walks will receive a 0 and be
unable to make-up lost points.
3. Writing Assignments (4-sentence essays, Frederick Douglass Essay,
Night/Common Themes Essay) (50% of grade)
- All writing assignments must be written in MLA format. (Times New
Roman, 12 pt. font, Double Spaced)
- Any writing assignment handwritten will not be accepted.
- Any writing assignment that has been plagiarized or copied will
receive a 0 (zero) with 1 chance to re-do.
4. Research Project (Modern Genocides) (25% of grade)
- Must be verbally presented to the class
- Must use credible resources accurately cited
- Any misuse of a resource (plagiarism) will result in a 0 (zero) for
the project with no chance to re-do.

Grade Break Down

Research Project; 25%

Reading ; 25%

Writing; 50%

Late Work Policy:

All late assignments must be turned in by 3:00PM Friday of the grading week.
-

No assignment will be accepted after this time.

1 pt. will be taken off the earned score for every day it is late
All late assignments must have an Its Late sheet attached to earn
credit.

Credit

Students will earn 0.5 credit if they:

-

Have earned 80% or higher in participation points AND

Have fewer than 7 absences AND
Have 60% or higher on all cumulative assignments AND

Students will earn 0.25 credit if they:

-

Have earned 50%-79% in participation points OR

Have 7 or more absences OR
Have 60% or higher on all cumulative assignments OR

Students will earn no credit if they:

-

Have earned less than 50% in participation points OR

Have 10 or more absences OR
Have less than 60% on all cumulative assignments OR

You agree to abide by the expectations and grading criteria of this syllabus
by signing below. Failure to do so, will result in removal of course.
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Signature
Date