11th Grade English-American Literature

Harper Senior High School

Year: 2016-2017
Ms. Lanni
Room 306
Period 4 12-1:15pm
Contact Information:
I welcome both parents and students to contact me at any time
via my email, jclanni@gmail.com or make an appointment with me
before or after school to express any questions, comments, or
concerns. If you are having any trouble with this course, please come
to me immediately and I can work with you. If you wait until the end of
each quarter, it will be TOO LATE. Your success in this course is highly
important to me, and I will do my best to be available to you.

Course Description:
Welcome to Ms. Lannis 11th grade American Literature class!
This year we will be journeying into the Alaskan wilderness, sailing
through the Mississippi river, and walking the bustling streets of New
York City. Unfortunately not literally, but through literature of course!
By examining both fiction and nonfiction texts, students will gain a
better understanding of American culture as it evolves from the early
American settlers, to present day modern Americans. Our course will
be centered on common themes that are present throughout all of the
course content. Students will share and connect previous knowledge,
personal experiences, and current events in our class discussions as
we analyze various texts. The ultimate goal of this course, is to help
students reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills develop in
order to achieve college and career readiness.

Course Readings:
Texts:
1. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
2. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3. Huckleberry Fin by Mark Twain
4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
5. Jaz by Toni Morrison
Poems:
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening- Robert Frost
Birches-Robert Frost
Sonnet 16-William Shakespeare
Sonnet 18-William Shakespeare
The Dry Salvages TS Elliot
***As the teacher, I reserve the right to change the syllabus at any
time***

Middle Passage Robert Hayden

Song of Myself Walt Whitman
Still I Rise Maya Angelou
I too Sing America Langston Hughes
We wear the mask Paul Laurence Dunbar

Course Materials:

English Binder for notes and assignments

Journal for daily entries and bell work
College ruled paper
Pen and pencils
Any additional materials will be upon teachers request

Grade Scale:
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%
F = 59% or below
**** Parents and Students can check their grades at any time on
Chalkboard.org with their Student ID and Password. Throughout the
year your performance will be evaluated in a variety of ways. We will
do classroom discussions, performances, analysis essays, research
projects, and/or other authentic assessments. Please contact me via
email if any questions or concerns arise regarding grades. ****

Classroom Policies:
Expectations for Students:
1. Arrive to class on time
2. Be prepared
3. HAVE FUN
4. Show respect to both peers and teacher
5. Be active and engaged in classroom discussions
6. Do not pack up early, the bell does not excuse you
7. Follow all other rules and expectations in HSHS Code of
Conduct
Late Work:
Late work will be accepted but will lose one letter grade each day it
is late. Students will have four days to turn in late work until
receiving a zero. If you provide me with written documentation or
communicate with me at least one week in advanced about why
***As the teacher, I reserve the right to change the syllabus at any
time***

you cannot turn in an assignment, you will receive a zero for the
assignment.
Absences:
Come to class! Attendance is very important! Each day students will
receive 5 points for coming to class, being on task, and participating
in classroom activities and discussions. If you do not come to class,
you will loose your participation points for the day (multiple offenses
will highly affect your grade). If you do not come to class, I will need
written documentation in order to excuse your absence.
Technology:
There is a time and place. I welcome technology, and we will be
using it frequently throughout the year. However, if I see students
misusing their technology I will confiscate it and it will be returned
to them at the end of the period.

Additional Resources:
Library AccessM-F 7am-7pm LB 322
Computer AccessM-F 7am-7pm CCOM 125
Tutoring CenterM-F 7am-8pm TCN 312
*For additional school policies, please refer to HSHS Code of
Conduct*

***As the teacher, I reserve the right to change the syllabus at any
time***

Syllabus Signature Sheet

Students: Please read the course syllabus and share it with your
parents. After reading, please sign below to show that you have read
and understand course expectations and policies. Please return this
sheet by Monday August 12 for 10 participation points.
I have read the policies and expectations for Ms. Lannis class and
understand them. If I choose not to meet these expectations, I am
willing to accept the consequences.
Student Printed Name:
______________________________
___
Student Signature:

Parent/Guardian Printed Name:

_________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature:

______________________________
___

_________________________________

Date: ________________

Date: ________________

Parent/Guardian: If you have an email address and/or a phone number

you would like me to use to communicate with you about your child's
progress, please include it here:
__________________________________
Comments/Concerns:

***As the teacher, I reserve the right to change the syllabus at any
time***