Wednesday & Thursday, September 9 & 11

Welcome to the first day of class for American Lit. I am happy to see all of your smiling faces. First, we went through the course outline:

American Literature and Composition

Mr. Joe Dessert
email: jdessert@ttsd.k12.or.us
voice mail: 503-431-5396
blog: http://dessertamericanlit.blogspot.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores the myriad of cultural differences and perspectives portrayed by American writers. Students will develop their communication skills through reading and responding to American literature. The class will read and analyze novels, plays, short stories, and poetry for the influence cultural and historical events have had on American writers. Critical reading, writing in a variety of modes, and offering personal interpretations of learning will encourage students to reflect on their own American experience.

GUIDING QUESTIONS
What is the American Dream?
What does it mean to be an American?
What is the American Character?
What is the American Story?
What are the unique characteristics of American Literature?

READING
The Crucible, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Great Gatsby, Raisin in the Sun, one book of the student’s choice, and a number essays and poems/ songs from Elements of Literature, Fifth Course and other sources.

WRITING
This is the THS Language Arts Department mission statement on writing: Fostering conscientious writers who effectively express original thought, demonstrate an awareness of audience, edit and revise, and ultimately publish with pride and confidence. Writing includes a fiction or non-fiction story, multi-genre works on Huckleberry Finn, The Crucible, The Great Gatsby, and A Raisin in the Sun.

MATERIALS
Bring a pen and paper to class. Have some method of organizing class materials. Keep graded papers until they show up on Synergy. Grades will not be rounded, nor will they be weighted.

GRADES
A (90-100%) = superior, special recognition
B (80-89.9%) = above average,
C (70-79.9%) = meets minimum requirements
D (60-69.9%) = below average, fulfills most minimum expectations
F (0-59%) = failing, minimum requirements not met and lack of competence demonstrated

Participation Grade-- Criteria: Participation in class discussions and activities as an active speaker, listener, reader and writer. This grade is based on my observation of your performance

MAKE UP WORK/ LATE WORK
Work due on a day of absence is due upon your return. For work assigned on a day of absence, you are allowed the number of days absent plus two days according to school policy. This policy also applies to tests and quizzes. Late work will lose at least 10% value, with the percent continuing to increase.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This is what the Tigard High School Staff Handbook says: “Academic integrity refers not only to dishonesty on exams but to any behavior, such as plagiarism and cheating, that violates academic standards. Actions that compromise academic standards in a class assignment (paper, project, exam, etc.) will result in a failing grade for that assignment. Avoid copying from sites like sparknotes.com, cliffsnotes.com, pinkmonkey.com, essaydepot.com, echeat.com, or the many others like them.

RESPONSIBILITY
Students are responsible for keeping track of deadlines and missed assignments, and for arranging times for making up missed tests and quizzes. Check the daily agenda in class each day. Check your grade on-line at least once bi-weekly. If you are at all confused, please ask me directly.
HELP
Ask for help during appropriate times in class. For additional help, please request appointments with me for times outside of normal class meetings. These are the times I am available for appointments:fourth block on A days, second block on B days, after school most days, and weekday mornings, with Tuesdays being sometimes taken for meetings.
TARDIES
We follow school policy. Students are allowed four tardies without consequence for each semester. On the fifth tardy, students will be assigned a 30 minute detention for each tardy.

RESTROOM BREAKS
Students should attempt to take all restroom breaks during passing periods. Student should limit emergency restroom breaks to ten over the course of the semester, with the exception of those who can provide a doctor’s note indicating medical necessity for unlimited access to the restroom. Going to one’s locker to get needed materials or homework would count as a pass. Two bonus points will be awarded at the semester for each unused pass.

BEHAVIOR
To ensure an environment conducive to learning, please follow the rules outlined in the student handbook. Be safe, respectful and responsible.

FOOD AND DRINK
The THS Staff Handbook says: “Food and drink are not permitted in classrooms, unless refreshments are part of a staff supervised activity. Bottled water is allowed.” We will follow this policy with an exception for Period 3A and 3B classes.

ELECTRONICS
Except in cases in which they contribute to the academic experience, electronic devices are not to be used in class. Students are to refrain from social media at all times during the class period. No texting, tweeting. If you need to use your phone for an approved reason, ask permission each time.

FILMS
In this course we may be watching in whole or in part the following films:
Huckleberry Finn (portions from different sources)
The Crucible (starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, 1996, rated PG-13)
The Great Gatsby (starring Leonardo DiCaprio, 2013, rated PG-13)
A Raisin in the Sun (starring Danny Glover, unrated, made for Public Television)

Parent signature _____________________________


We then copied down the poem "The New Colossus" onto notebook page. Start with MLA heading on the top left of your paper. It will look like this:

Inigo Montoya
Mr. Dessert
American Lit Period 3A
29 January 2015

Double-spaced the lines as we write the words to the "Colossus."



The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"


Circle the following words:

brazen
Grek
astride
imprisoned lightning
Mother of Exiles
beacon-hand
air-bridged harbor
storied pomp
yearning
refuse
teeming
tempest-tost

Your job for next class is to explain in writing what these terms mean as used in the poem. This is a written assignment. We will delve into the poem next class.
Your only other job is to get the parent signature on the class outline.


We watched a few videos and did some responses orally.




What was the mood of this song?

Students may receive up to 28 points for memorizing "The New Colossus" and reciting to the teacher. This does not have to be done in front of class, thought that might add some points if done enthusiastically. We did watch the teacher perform the poem on video.