Ms.

Fulton 16
voicemail: 461-7515, ext. 86 lfulton@pleasanton.k12.ca.us e-mail:

Room D-

Literature and the Dynamics of Social Justice

Course Outline
Description: Literature and the Dynamics of Social Justice is an interdisciplinary English Class that deals with powerful and timely themes. We will look to fields of psychology, history, and the arts in an attempt to grapple with essential questions about intense human encounters, moral decision-making, and justice. Our literary journey will challenge us to confront complex moral dilemmas inherent in the study not only of racism, violence, and genocide but also of courage, caring, and compassion. This humanities course incorporates guest speakers, film, extensive reading and writing, and in-depth discussion to encourage a critical examination of human behavior and choice. Our journey begins with an examination of issues of identity and membership in society. How is our identity formed? How do our attitudes and beliefs influence our thinking and affect our actions? What is the influence of media? How are differences institutionalized? How do these real and perceived differences affect who defines and who receives justice and who is part of our universe of obligation? Our conversations deepen as we grapple with the consequences of discrimination, racism, and intolerance by holding up the tarnished mirror of history to violent times in the 20th and 21st centuries. We will explore how authority, propaganda, conformity, obedience, and fear impact human behavior and examine the responsibility of the individual when legal and moral justice does not match. We will discover that people become brave by doing brave acts; people become compassionate by doing compassionate acts; people become good citizens by engaging in acts of good citizenship (Aristotle). Objectives: Through reading, writing, and speaking/listening activities, students will be given opportunities to use and develop skills in alignment with California English-Language Arts Content Standards. In addition, lessons will promote Foothills Expected School

Wide Learning Results (ESLRs), which place an emphasis on personal character development in concert with academic achievement. Students will be familiarized with Content Standards and ESLRs so that learning objectives are clear. A focus will be placed on oral and written response to literature and class activities. Seniors are expected to have mastered proper mechanics usage and to apply it in all written assignments. Over the course of the year, students will write at least four formal essays; one of which will be a research paper (Students will master the basics of MLA citation). (The English department requires a satisfactory submission according to assignment standards on all of the major writing assignments for each course in order for the students to have met the course requirements, regardless of other points accrued which may total to a passing grade. In order to complete the course requirements, the writing must be made up even when all of the points possible have been lost due to late work. Without a satisfactory submission of these writing assignments, the student will fail the course.) Assignments/Homework: Class and home assignments will be posted as part of the daily agenda on the board. Students must record all assignments in their organizers, and parents should encourage students to record assignments consistently. Cumulatively, homework will be worth a significant portion of the total points in a grading period: therefore, consistent and thorough completion of homework is essential. In addition, it is imperative that students are present in class consistently. A significant portion of the curriculum in presented through lecture, media, and discussion. In addition, assignments are often completed in class. Chronic absences for any reason will make successful performance unlikely. Oral Participation: The success of this course, in particular, is dependent upon active and prepared oral participation. The course content is oftentimes serious, complicated, and controversial, so preparation is vital. Accordingly, a significant portion of each students reading, speaking, and participation grades will be linked to oral responses during class discussions, which will be observed and formally assessed by the teacher. As a result, a student cannot earn a satisfactory grade without substantively contributing to class discussions. Grading:

Grading will be aligned with Content Standards in order to provide teacher, students, and parents with a meaningful measure of performance.
Reading Writing Speaking/Listening/Participation Total 30% 40% 30% 100%

Assignments, test/quizzes, essays, and projects will be assigned point values that will be allocated to one or more of the above categories. All points are equally weighted.
A B C D F = = = = = 90% to 100% of total points 80% to 89% 70% to 79% 60% to 69% below 60%

No extra credit is offered at the end of grading periods although a few opportunities may be available at the beginning of a semester to encourage proactive effort. Online Grades: An individual gradebook for each student is maintained electronically through Zangle. Full disclosure of all assignments and scores is provided. Grades will only be viewable at the end of grading periods (approximately once a month) although a updated hard copy is available at anytime upon request. Student Responsibilities: Materials - Students should bring book(s), paper, and pen/pencil to class each day. In addition, students must maintain course-related papers and graded work in an organized manner. Homework Homework must be turned in class on the date due to be eligible for full credit. Late work will not be accepted. Please note, however, that work missed due to unexcused absence(s) must be submitted for student to be eligible to earn full participation points for each grading period although no assignment points will be

awarded. Students with excused absence(s) have the same number of days to submit missed assignments. Students must take full responsibility to determine work missed when absent. Absent students will not be allowed to make up reading quizzes; an alternate assignment will be given. Participation Students must come to class on time and be ready to participate and obey all school policies, including attendance, cell phone, and dress code rules. Cell phones must be turned off and out of sight in class; any interruptions will result in loss of participation points in addition to school discipline. In order to promote the strengthening of personal character, ESLR C, students must show respect and kindness to all persons and property. This course confronts issues that will place students on different sides; tolerance for opposing views must be expressed by all students. It is essential to learning that all persons feel comfortable and safe in the classroom environment. Finally, plagiarism, the unacknowledged use, both intentional and unintentional, of another persons words or ideas, is a serious offense, which has severe consequences. Students will be familiarized with the definition of plagiarism and school policy. Participation accounts for approximately 10% of total points for each grading period. Students will lose 10 points for excessive tardiness (more than 3 per semester), 20 points for unexcused absences, and 5 to 20 points for inappropriate conduct. Please note that participation points can be negative; in this case, participation would have more than a 10% negative impact on the overall grade. Furthermore, students who are tardy on oral reading quiz days will not be allowed to make up any questions given before they are seated and ready. In addition, excessive tardiness on quiz days will result in total loss of quiz points.

----------------------------------------------Please return page----------------------------------------------We have read the above course outline and requirements and agree to abide by the stated policy. Student Name: Student Signature: Parent(s) Name(s): Parent(s) Signature(s): Parent(s) E-mail(s):

Thank you, Ms. Lisa Fulton (Please note that completing and returning this portion is worth 10 points)