English Composition Fall Syllabus

“The Treachery of Images” by Rene Magritte (1928-29)

Contact information: heatherchandler75@gmail.com

Course Description:

This course is designed to help a student write effectively for both college and the work place. We will use a variety of texts and critical approaches to providing both practice and models for essay writing strategies, structure, and research methods. Our focus will include grammar, vocabulary, analysis, rhetoric, and MLA citations. Students will compose academic paragraphs, argumentative essays, a research paper, critical analysis, a resume, a business letter, and a PowerPoint presentation. Our class will meet once a week for 90 minutes, but we will also have a class blog to continue our discussions, questions, and information throughout the week. Parents are always welcome to check in and see what the students are learning. $60/month. Class meets Aug-May, Tuesdays mornings 10:00-11:30. No classes in December.

Objectives:

Students will learn to organize thoughts into clear, grammatically correct sentences. They will organize those sentences into paragraphs that expand a central thought. Those paragraphs will then be organized into essays that communicate ideas to readers. The students will learn to cite any sources used in research. They will progress and demonstrate close reading skills and analysis of a variety of texts, evaluate research as it makes and supports academic arguments, and develop strong thesis statements. But here’s the thing: They will actually enjoy this process. I will not assign letter grades to their work unless explicitly asked by the parent. The only competition is their previous assignment. I will provide detailed feedback geared toward your child’s current level and help them to become a better writer.

Course Texts:

Assorted poems, short stories, and articles will be handed out in class

Elements of Style by William Strunk

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Watson’s Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Hatchet by Gary Paulson

Night by Elie Wiesel

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Our final book will be selected by the students

Other Supplies Necessary:

Folder

Three Ring Binder with plenty of college-rule paper

Pens

Highlighters

Colored Pencils

Post-It Notes

Access to class blog online for discussions or questions between classes.

Class Schedule for Semester 1:

September 6- Introduction, syllabus, grammar, vocabulary, in-class writing assignment, introduction to the academic paragraph and topic sentences. Elements of Style.

September 13- grammar, vocabulary, introduction to literary terms, music, poetry and art analysis, in-class writing assignment, poetry reading assignment and academic paragraph assigned for homework. Elements of Style.

September 20- grammar, vocabulary, in-class writing assignment, literary terms, review of the previous assignment, short story assigned with academic paragraph for homework. Elements of Style.

September 27- grammar, vocabulary, in-class writing assignment, literary terms, short story in class, thesis statements. Assign The Hatchet Chapters 1-5 for October’s reading assignment. Vocabulary Quiz lists 1-3.

October 4- grammar, vocabulary, in-class writing assignment, literary terms, Introductory and Concluding paragraphs, beginning MLA citations, class discussion over The Hatchet, short writing assignment and Chapters 5-10 for homework.

October 11- grammar, vocabulary, transitions, MLA citations, class discussion over The Hatchet. Chapters 11-15 assigned with academic paragraph using MLA citations.

October 18- grammar, vocabulary, cohesion and organization, class discussion over The Hatchet. Chapters 15-end of the book assigned. Re-Write and correct previous assignment and add another MLA cited paragraph. Study for vocabulary quiz next week!

October 25- grammar, vocabulary, revision, class discussion over The Hatchet. Putting it all together into a five paragraph essay with MLA citations due next week. Vocabulary Quiz over lists 4-7. Introduction to The Giver by Lois Lowry and dystopian and utopian literature. Read Chapters 1-5 for next week.

November 1- grammar, vocabulary, gathering textual evidence. Discussion over The Giver. Read Chapters 5-10 for next week. Write two academic paragraphs demonstrating textual evidence and MLA citations.

November 8- grammar, vocabulary, intro to rhetoric. Discussion over The Giver. Read Chapters 11-16 for next week and pick one of last week’s paragraphs to revise and one to argue against also using textual evidence.

November 15- grammar, vocabulary, organizing the essay with outlines. Discussion over The Giver. Read Chapters 17-22 (end of the book). Complete your outline and revise returned paragraphs.

November 22- In-class workshop on critical analysis. Bring your book, paper, outline, and revised paragraphs. You will complete this essay over the week and turn it in November 29.

November 29- Vocabulary quiz/game. Turn in your 3 page paper over The Giver.  Writing proper emails. Analyzing Christmas Carols. NO HOMEWORK OR READING ASSIGNMENT OVER CHRISTMAS BREAK!