University High School Language Arts Department

Summer
Contemporary Comp. & American Lit.
Course Syllabus
Ms. K. Mitchell, M.A. English Literature
(Semester Courses – Grade 11)
Email: kdm4952@lausd.net
Website: http://msmitchellsclasses.weebly.com

Course Description
The major purpose of this standards-aligned summer semester course is to explore ideas, issues, and themes from contemporary
fiction, nonfiction, and informational materials and to focus on writing coherent and complex texts that convey well-defined
perspectives and tightly reasoned arguments. Students will read, write, speak, and think about the structure, style, content, and
purpose of contemporary literature, expository, and visual texts through different lenses and various perspectives to investigate
personal, American, and global views on current events, issues, and themes. As a means of developing the critical thinking and
communication skills necessary for the demands of college and work, students will engage in discussion to prepare oral and
written arguments that provide all relevant perspectives and consider the validity and reliability of sources

In addition, this standards-aligned summer semester course is to provide experiences in writing that are characterized by logical
and coherent organization, clarity of expression, and suitability in style, usage, and the conventions of writing. The student is
required to read closely within and across expository and informational genres (e.g., essays, biographies, critiques, précis, and
newspaper and magazine articles) for literal and implied meaning and to demonstrate through classroom discussion, oral
presentation, and written expression an understanding of the text(s). Emphasis in this course is on expository reading and writing
and the essential skills of editing, although the course provides some practice in other domains of writing. Students will apply and
refine their command of the writing process, writing conventions, and rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion,
and description to produce texts of at least 1,500 words each.

AMER. LIT
Tis portion of the course will include a survey of American literature, concentrating on the cultural and philosophical development
of the United States’ citizens. The purpose of this course is to familiarize you with the major authors and movements of American
literature through a chronological study of major literary periods and themes. You will also learn writing techniques, research skills,
and the rules of proper grammar usage. We will explore many aspects of American literature—fiction, non-fiction, poetry, media,
art, drama, the novel and speech. Our class will include discussion, lecture, research, group work and presentations.

COMMON CORE » READING & LANGUAGE STANDARDS FOR LITERATURE Grade 11-12
Focus Standards - For explanation of California Common Core standards, please visit: http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/W/11-12/

Contemp. Comp.- Informational Texts

CCSS.ELA- R.11-12.1 - 6
CCSS.ELA- L.11-12.1 - 5
CCSS.ELA- W.11-12.1 - 2
CCSS.ELA- W.11-12.4 - 10

Amer. Lit - Literature

CCSS.ELA- R.11-12.1-9
CCSS.ELA- W.11-12.2 a-f
CCSS.ELA- W.11-12.9 a & b
CCSS.ELA- SL.11-12.1-6
Units of Study
Note: Schedule and pieces may be modified as needed

Unit # Unit Focus Possible Texts & Focus Skills Focus

Contemporary Composition
1 “I Have a Dream” – Martin Lither King, Jr.: logos, ethos, pathos / Persuasive Persuasive appeals & techniques (logos,
Persuasive (Civil Techniques ethos, pathos), rhetoric, target audience,
Disobedience) “Letter from Birmingham Jail” – Martin Lither King, Jr.: logos, ethos, pathos / diction, figurative language, tone,
Persuasive Techniques connotation, denotation, structuring
argumentative / persuasive pieces
“Resistance to Civil Government” by Henry David Thoreau: Transcendentalism,
Contemp. Comp. main argument, structure of persuasive pieces & Rhetorical strategies
-Advertisements to analyze persuasive techniques Assessment: Create persuasive pamphlets /
-Additional non-fiction pieces create persuasive ads / write a persuasive
(2 weeks) letter / Write a persuasive essay on
controversial issue (this requires research)

2 Autobiographical The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Persuasive appeals & techniques (logos,
Persuasive ethos, pathos), rhetoric, target audience,
Slave Narrative •Describe the slave narrative and its importance in the abolitionist movement diction, figurative language, tone,
•Gain experience in working with the slave narrative as a resource for historical connotation, denotation, structuring
study argumentative / persuasive pieces
(3 weeks) •Evaluate the slave narrative as a work of literature
•Examine the slave narrative and other documents in the context of political
controversy as an argument for abolition Assessment: TBA
•Analyze rhetorical structure and devices of the narrative
•Explore themes of self-actualization and spiritual freedom within the slave
narrative

American Literature
4 Nathaniel Hawthorne - "The Minister's Black Veil" & “Young Goodman Brown”
AMERICAN Transcendentalism, Gothic literature,
ROMATICISM & Edgar Alan Poe – narrative poetry, alliteration, assonance,
GOTHIC LIT. “Cask of Amontillado” allusion, paradox, anti-transcendentalism,
(1800 - 1860) internal rhyme, atmosphere, symbolism,
imagery, setting, elements of the short story,
fatalism, parables, individualism, period
(1 week) characteristics
Assessment: Compare & Contrast Essay
Produce COMPUTER GENERATED book on
assigned poets
Test
5 MODERNISM Eudora Welty – A Worn Path Free verse, personification, imagery, close
James Baldwin – “Going to Meet the Man” (Realism, Naturalism, Modernism) reading of poetry (analysis), poetic meter,
THE HARLEM Claude McKay - "America" & “ If we must die” iambic…, metaphor, rhyme scheme,
RENAISSANCE autobiography, dialect, idiom, metonymy,
(1920 - 1935 Langston Hughes - "Harlem"(“Dream Deferred”) irony, hyperbole, tone, rhythm, lyric poetry,
APPROX.) repetition
PART OF Various other poets Assessment: Essay, Test & Computer
MODERNISM generated project

AMER. LIT.
(1 week)
3 Historical Fiction Lorraine Hansberry A Raisin in the Sun Drama Terms, dialogue, stage direction,
theme, symbolism, characterization, conflict,
Contemp. Comp. American Dream

(3 weeks)
Representative Performance Outcomes and Skills
In this course, students will know and be able to:
 Engage in discussions to prepare oral and written arguments.
 Make reasonable assertions about the author’s arguments by using elements of the text to defend and clarify interpretations.
 Critique the power, validity, and truthfulness of arguments set forth in public documents, their appeal to both friendly and hostile
audiences, and the extent to which the arguments anticipate and address reader concerns and counterclaims.
 Analyze the way in which the theme or meaning of a selection represents a view or comment on life, using textual evidence to support
the claim.
 Analyze and interpret visual arguments in political cartoons and other persuasive visual texts.
 Write narratives, literary analyses, reflective compositions, and historical investigation reports.
 Deliver oral responses to literature, narratives, reflective presentations, reports on historical investigations, and multimedia
presentations.
 Analyze the clarity and consistency of political assumptions in a selection of literary works or essays on a topic (e.g. suffrage, women’s
roles in organized labor). (Political approach)
 Interpret and evaluate the various ways in which events are presented and information is communicated by visual image makers (e.g.,
graphic artists, documentary filmmakers, illustrators, news photographers).
 Analyze the techniques used in media messages for a particular audience and evaluate their effectiveness.
AMERICAN LIT.
 Analyze ways in which poets use imagery, personification, figures of speech, and sounds to evoke readers’ emotions.
 Write responses to literature and historical investigation reports.

Materials Needed
3 ring binder (NO SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS PLEASE), paper (lined and white computer paper), colored pencils or crayons, black or blue
pens, red pen (for grading only), #2 pencils, flash drive & report covers with three-hole metal clasps.

Grading Scale – NO CURVE / NO ROUNDING

A= 90-100% D= 60-69%
B= 80-89% F= 59% and below
C= 70-79%

Grading / Assessments - Note: Your work will be assessed based on quality, not simple
completion.

 Teacher-designed quizzes  Homework

and tests  Oral presentations and
 Essays and other student discussions  Class work
written texts  Participation  Group & individual projects

Late Work:
 I DO NOT accept late work. Turn it in on time, or you will earn a zero for the assignment. Those on a
team are expected to turn work in on the day that it is due – being on a team is not an excuse to turn in
assignments late.

LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED – NO EXCEPTIONS

Tests:
 Tests on the literature consist of multiple choice questions and may include an essay prompt. There will be a
test at the end of each unit. You will need to make arrangements to take it early in the event of a planned
absence.

***Please be aware that timeliness is of the utmost importance. Tardiness may affect your grade by causing you to
miss assignments given at the beginning of the period. Further, excessive tardiness will result in reduced credit for
homework and or detention.

Cheating
Cheating is defined as practicing fraud or deceit. It is a person who acts dishonestly, deceives, or defrauds. All of these behaviors
are frowned upon and prohibited in this class, as they display a lack of character and strong moral fiber. Anyone who is caught
cheating (looking at someone else’s test; attempting to use pre-copied notes or electronic devices to answer test questions; copying
someone else’s homework; or allowing someone else to copy their homework will receive an automatic zero on the assignment and
will be suspended from class for 2 days.

Plagiarism Policy:
I take plagiarism & cheating very seriously. Using someone else’s words as your own is immoral, unethical, and does nothing
to further your education. With the availability of search engines like Google that search in-text for documents, it is easy to
catch someone if they have bought or copied information from the Internet.

My definition of plagiarism is:

 Buying or borrowing a paper from someone and turning it in as your own work.
 Extracting the exact words from a document without placing the text in quotation marks and citing the
author.
 Using someone else’s published ideas without giving them proper cited credit.
 Having a parent, friend, etc. write part or all of your paper for you.

If you are caught violating my rules on plagiarism, you will receive an automatic zero (0) on the assignment and
be referred to the proper authorities. Make sure your work is your own!

“What Makes Plagiarism a Serious Offense?

Plagiarists are seen not only as dishonest but also as incompetent, incapable of doing research and expressing original
thoughts. When professional writers are exposed as plagiarists, they are likely to lose their jobs and are certain to
suffer public embarrassment, diminished prestige, and loss of future credibility. The same is true of other professionals
who write in connection with their jobs, even when they are not writing for publication. The charge of plagiarism is
serious because it calls into question everything about the writer’s work: if this piece of writing is misrepresented as
being original, how can a reader trust any work by the writer? One instance of plagiarism can cast a shadow across an
entire career.

Schools consider plagiarism a grave matter for the same reason. If a student fails to give credit for the work of others in
one project, how can a teacher trust any of the student’s work? Plagiarism undermines the relationship between
teachers and students, turning teachers into detectives instead of mentors, fostering suspicion instead of trust, and
making it difficult for learning to take place. Students who plagiarize deprive themselves of the knowledge they would
have gained if they had done their own writing. Plagiarism also can undermine public trust in educational institutions,
if students are routinely allowed to pass courses and receive diplomas without doing the required work.”

---"The MLA Style Center." Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty –. Web. 17 Aug. 2016
Student Expectations
1. Students will come to class on time and be prepared to work (have all necessary materials). I define on time as in
your seat and ready to work BEFORE the tardy bell rings. BE HERE ON TIME. If you cannot be here on time,
summer school may not be for you. Repeated tardiness may lead to dismissal from summer school.
2. Students with unexcused tardies may not receive full credit for the previous nights’ homework. If homework has
already been discussed when you arrive, your work is late, and LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
3. Coming to Attention: When the bell rings you are expected to end all conversations, immediately.
4. When Class Begins: You must be in your seat, quiet, and beginning your daily warm up activity when the bell
rings. If you are not in your seat ready to start your work, you are tardy. Being tardy three times earns a U in
cooperation on your report card. These may also impact your ability to stay enrolled in summer school.
5. There should not be anything on your desk except the materials you are working with.
a. No cellphones on your desk.
b. No backpacks or purses on the desks.
c. No backpacks or purses in your lap.
d. These things belong on the floor or on the rack under your desk. If the floor looks dirty, feel free to ask
to sweep it.
6. Homework is an obligation for this class. Failure to complete your homework will result in a lower grade.
7. Take care of your beauty and bathroom needs BEFORE you get here – if you need to go before class starts, check
in with me first. Otherwise, YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME BETWEEN CLASSES AND/OR DURING NUTRITION. There
will be NO HALL PASSES ISSUED….DON’T ASK. *In the event of an extreme emergency, you will be allowed out of
class. However, for every minute that you are gone, you will owe double at the end of class.
8. There is no eating allowed in class. You may, however, have gum and drink water (no sweet drinks, please)
9. Raise your hand to speak or if you need help. DO NOT YELL across the room.
10. Moving around the classroom: You may only leave your seat with permission from me.
a. NEVER just get up to do anything unless I have given you permission.
b. Do not raise your hand to ask about throwing trash away. Hold it at your desk until the end of class.
c. If you sit near a trashcan, do not throw papers in there from your seat.
d. Do not crumple up papers when you make mistakes. It is loud and disrupts the class; just set that piece
aside and throw it away as you leave the room.
11. Respect: In this classroom, every student has the right to express his or her opinions, thoughts, and ideas. This
should be done in a thoughtful and RESPECTFUL manner. Although disagreements will certainly arise, it is never
acceptable to attack another person for his/her opinions.
12. DO NOT USE FOUL, OBSCENE, OR OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE in this classroom. Find another way to make your
point. The use of such language can hurt you severely in the future, so learn how to control your mouth, now.
Additionally, when you use those words, you show a severe lack of respect for whomever you are talking to.
Swearing may be a habit of yours, but learn how to control it now. For every word your say that is a swear
word, you will owe me outside-of-class time, during your lunch or after school. A no-show will also affect your
participation grade.
A research essay will be assigned to the whole class if profanity is used. There is a time and a place for
everything. School is not the place for the actions listed above.
13. Everything on my desk is my personal property. If you need something that is on my desk (the stapler, hole-
punch, or tissue) please ask, do not just take things.
14. Copy your homework upon entering class and then begin the warm up activity, IMMEDIATELY. Failure to do so
will result in loss of positive participation points.
15. Do all homework and classwork on time. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. There are deadlines in the real
world and you will practice meeting them, now. Three missed assignments will severely affect your grade.
16. No makeup exams will be given. Be here on test days or make prior arrangements for excused absences.
17. Bring your own class supplies.
 18. Honesty is the best policy: No matter what the circumstances, always be honest. Even if you have done
something wrong, it is best to admit it, because I will respect that, and may forego disciplinary measures
because of your honesty. I, however, cannot respect a liar - do not lie. Take responsibility for your actions. If
you do something and I ask you about it, own up to what you did. This will be good practice for when you
become an adult.
19. Everything else: Before you do something, please consider whether it might be rude to others, including the
teacher. DO NOT SLEEP DURING CLASS, no personal grooming during class (I will confiscate these items), and
please DO NOT CONDUCT ANOTHER CONVERSATION (VERBAL, VISUAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, OR WRITTEN) WHILE
I AM SPEAKING. Especially do not do these things when your classmates are speaking to the class. They are all
very rude. Do not write or pass notes in this class. If you need to tell someone something, do it during the
appropriate times, not during class. DO NOT SPEND YOUR TIME DRAWING.
20. TURN ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES OFF and keep them put away. No electronics may be used in this room unless
specifically assigned to do so by me. These items will also be confiscated and turned in to the Dean's Office.
THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE ON DURING CLASS TIME AT SCHOOL.
21. Dismissal: You may begin to pack up to leave when I tell you to. If you pack up early, I might make you get
everything back out.
22. THE BELL DOES NOT DISMISS YOU, I DO.
23. CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF. Look around before the bell rings to make sure your area is clean so I will not hold
you after the bell to clean.

Thank you for reading and abiding by the rules and procedures of this classroom. These
rules will not change, so if you decide to follow them now, we will all have a better summer.
 Contemporary Composition &
American Literature
University High School
Summer 2019

Please DETACH AND Return SIGNED CONTRACT

to Ms. Mitchell
Classroom Contract
I, ______________________________, have read the information in this syllabus. I have also reviewed it with
(Student’s name)
my parent/guardian. I understand and agree to the academic, behavioral, electronic and other UHS and
classroom policies addressed in this syllabus.

Parents/guardians: I understand my student will need to attend summer classes, regularly – absences are
detrimental to my child’s success. I understand that if I need information about grading, lectures,
assignments, due dates, homework, or performances, this letter, Ms. Mitchell’s website, or my student’s
notebook contains that information.

I have read and understand the contents of this syllabus, and am fully aware of the (student please initial each):

 Grading policy & distribution ______

 Attendance ______

 Assignment deadline requirements ______

 Class rules and expectations ______

 Plagiarism & cheating policy stated within ______

PRINT student name ___________________________________________ Period #________

Parent/Guardian Signature _______________________________________ Date__________

Student Signature ______________________________________________ Date__________

Parent Phone Number: Home__________________ / Cell_________________ / Work__________________

**Please provide an accurate e-mail that you check regularly**

Student E-mail: __________________________________________________

Parent E-mail: ___________________________________________________