British Literature Class Policies

 

PHILOSOPHY AND FOCUS

 

The principal reason for studying British Literature in a suburban, American high school is to understand our historical and literary roots which have plainly and subtly created who and what we are today. I think you'll be surprised at just how direct those influences can be, from our basic governmental and societal structures to our basic beliefs regarding religion, philosophy, and just plain old adventure. Underlying this principal reason, we will also find multicultural influences and understandings -- and you thought Brit Lit was just a bunch of Anglo-Saxons writing for themselves -- historical contexts, and literary evolution. This is an exciting class which will help you understand yourself, no matter what your personal heritage, as well as the forces that helped create a country eventually known as America. Oh, and the literature is amazing!

 

COURSE MATERIALS

 

The required materials for this course are:

 

     your textbook

     a place for your stuff – notebook or notebook section should be fine

     white, smooth-edged paper

     pencils and blue/black pens

     if a separate journal is desired, a spiral notebook

     possible purchase of Hamlet

 

Website & Contact: www.maitespace.com – Words and Wit – British Literature

 

GRADING AND WORK SUBMISSION POLICIES

 

Nine Weeks' Grades (subject to revision as needs dictate)

 

Your nine weeks' grade is determined by a combination of the following areas:

 

     60% Mastery Work: papers, projects, tests

     40% Developmental Work: drafts, peer reading, exercises, quizzes, class participation, etc.

 

Due Dates, Make Up Work, & Late Work

 

·         Late Mastery Work graded at a penalty of 10% reduction per day late with a lowest score of 50% after five days.  If the teacher finishes grading a Mastery Work before you submit yours, you cannot receive any credit for it. Other work is graded at 50% off for one day late, no credit after that.

·         Late or make up work due to any type of excused absence has no late penalty if you turn it in within the same number of days as your excused absence.

·         Late work due to unexcused absence is graded as regular late work.

·         If you miss work due to cutting class, I will not accept it -- if it's due when you cut, you get a zero; if it's assigned when you cut, you can't make it up.

·         If you are absent, there is a procedure for getting assignments and notes. First, with this website, you should probably already know what we did. Second, ask a classmate. Then, if all this still leaves you with questions, see me before school. Do not take up class time with such requests.

·         One extension per nine weeks is allowed with prior consent. Do not ask me the day something is due for an extension.

·         I will not accept cyberscuses for late work. A cyberscuse is the claim that something -- anything -- went wrong with your computer so you can't turn in your work. If your printer breaks, bring your work in on disk and print it here or write it out by hand. Save often and in at least two places in case of a crash (I have 3 backups of everything I have on computer!); better yet, print each page as you finish it in case everything crashes.

 

STANDARDS FOR WRITTEN WORK: All final copies are to be in MLA style.

 

ATTENDANCE:  I strictly adhere to the school's attendance policy.   Further, be in your seat with materials ready when the bell rings; otherwise, you are tardy - no questions asked. Three tardies = a referral.