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American Literature and Composition
Keeping in Touch
Phone: (313) 432-3381 Email: kathy.sexton@gpschools.org Website: http://staff.gpschools.org/sextonk/
Ø Usually, email is much quicker than the phone. Ø I want to see you succeed and can make myself available most days before and after school. A great way to ask questions or set up an appointment is to email me. You can also get help in the Student Center, which is open after school until 4 p.m. Ø It would be a good idea for you to get a phone number from someone in your hour, since I don’t always give the same assignments to all of my classes. Also, check my website daily for what we did in class and homework. We will read the following this year: The Crucible Arthur Miller The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne We will also read selections from the course textbook, The Language of Literature, and other supplemental works.
Bring Every Day ü ●pen, red pen, AND pencil ü ●loose leaf paper ü ●notebook (dedicated to this class only; perforated pages preferred) ü ●composition book ü ●binder in which to keep notes and handouts ü ●textbook and/or novel, if one is assigned YOUR GRADE will be based on the following: Class work (including participation) and homework, quizzes, minor projects or writing assignments, tests, major projects or writing assignments. I update grades on Pinnacle as they become available, so you should keep track of your progress. If you have any questions about a grade, please ask. **It is important you keep all work returned to you in case there is a grade dispute. You may only dispute a grade if you have the actual, graded assignment. 98-100 A+ 88-89 B+ 78-79 C+ 68-69 D+ 93-97 A 83-87 B 73-77 C 63-67 D 90-92 A- 80-82 B- 70-72 C- 60-62 D- Plagiarism You are expected to complete your own work. All students sign a Pledge of Academic Integrity at the beginning of the year. This indicates that you promise not to plagiarize. Plagiarism includes everything from copying another student’s homework to presenting quoted material as your own (whether it is a few sentences or an entire essay). Plagiarism will result in a failing grade on the assignment, detention, and parent contact. Repeated plagiarism could result in a failing grade for the quarter. General Class Rules Ø Be on time (in your seat, ready to go, when the bell rings). Ø Be considerate and respectful of all people and property. Ø Bring all of your supplies. Ø Pay attention and ask questions. Ø Bring water to drink. Ø Food and drinks other than water are not allowed. I will confiscate the item(s), and you may be assigned a detention with me to perform classroom community service. (Gum is not a problem as long as it’s not distracting and is disposed of properly.) Ø Phones, MP3 players, and other electronic devices are not allowed in class. Phones should be OFF—having them on silent mode is not acceptable. Any of these items that are visible during class will be taken away and turned over to administration per school policy. Ø The GPN dress code is enforced in my classrooms. If you bring a hat to class, expect that I will confiscate it. Ø Make use of the restrooms, drinking fountains, and your locker during the seven minute passing time.
Attendance & Make-up Work It is in your best interests to be on time to class each day, as class typically begins with warm-up assignments or quizzes over the previous day’s work. If you are tardy (without a valid pass), you will not be allowed additional time to complete said activities, so you may lose credit. Tardy = not in your seat, ready to go, when the bell rings. The GPN English Department enforces a 3 Gets You 30 policy. If you are tardy to class (that means you arrive without a valid pass from a staff member) three times, you must serve a 30-minute detention. If you have an excused absence, it is your responsibility to determine the assignments you missed, complete them, and hand them in. Contact a classmate, then see me upon your return, or email me while you’re absent. Quizzes and tests are usually made up before or after school. ü You will be expected to make up missed work within two days of an absence. ü If your absence is school-related (field trip, sporting event, etc.), you are expected to get your assignments before the absence and turn them in upon return. Otherwise, they are late. ü If you miss a presentation or group project, you must be prepared to give it upon return. If you are absent the day a project or paper is due, it is expected that it will be turned in upon your return. No extra time is allotted. Your work is a reflection of you. All class work should be written neatly and legibly. I reserve the right to not accept any work that is illegible or sloppy. If your handwriting is difficult to read, please PRINT or type the assignment. Remember your name, date, hour, and class number! I will not hunt for the owners of unlabeled assignments, thus you’ll lose credit for your hard work. Use complete sentences or lose points. Since this is high school, I should not need to remind you of this. Late work policy: Late homework will not be accepted, however, prior arrangements may be discussed. Grades on long-term assignments will go down a whole grade each day they are late, and they will not be accepted after three days. For larger assignments (essays, projects, etc.), your grade will go down a full letter grade per day late.
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