Essay
WritingEssay
Writing
Fall 2004
Miss Hansra
Email address: rhansra@ncusd203.org
Voicemail: 420-6966 x 1090
Available: TBA or before and after school by appointment
Welcome to Essay Writing! During each unit this year, you will learn through reading, writing, and responding to your peers. Your success in this class will stem from your willingness and ability to work hard, to come to class prepared, and to stay on top of the reading and writing assignments. To help you along the way, I have constructed a web page to keep you and your parents up to speed on the happenings of our Essay Writing class. Take advantage of this! It is there to help you. The exact web address is: http://www.ncusd203.org/central/html/what/hansra/index.html. You can also access it by going to the Naperville Central home page, clicking on Academic Departments, and then clicking on Miss Hansra.
Enduring Understandings:
Students will understand that
F A writers voice reflects self. (Essay)
F Texts enrich understanding and appreciation of the human experience (Lit. Analysis)
F Research provides a basis for understanding and decision-making (Research)
Daily Materials:
F Blue or black ink pen
F Pencil
F A 3 ring binder for this class only.
F 7 tabs to separate your binder into sections
F Non-spiral loose leaf paper in your binder
F Current text
F A spiral notebook (70 pages is fine) to be kept in the classroom.
Make-up Work:
For authorized absences, please see me the day you return, checking for missing assignments, homework, tests, etc. Tests/quizzes can be made up before or after school. One day is allowed for each excused absence. One day is allowed for each excused absence. Unauthorized or truant absences are subject to consequences established in the red book. 3 fieldtrip absences are permitted for one class during a semester. You are expected to turn in assignments before attending a fieldtrip. Tests scheduled for a fieldtrip day are to be made up BEFORE the scheduled field trip day.
Grades:
Grades are based on a point system, divided into the following categories:
1. Essay tests .. ..30%
2. Objective Test/Quizzes . .25%
3. Homework . ..20%
4. Journals/Projects/Discussion .. ...15%
5. Participation 10%
The above components are worth 80% of your final grade. The remaining 20% of your semester grade comes from your final exam score. The 4th quarter points are continually added to the 3rd quarter points so that students can easily assess where they are at any point in the semester. The percentage at the end of the 4th quarter is your 4th quarter grade and is also equal to 80% of your semester grade.
Classroom Behavior:
You are expected to contribute as a student by doing the assignments and contributing in a positive manner to classroom discussion. Respect others contributions as well. Should a concern arise about classroom behavior, repercussions will be inevitable.
You are expected to do your own work as well. Please note the following Academic Integrity statement from the student handbook:
Naperville Central students are challenged to address the academic process enthusiastically, diligently, and most importantly, honestly. The Naperville Central community expects that students do their work honestly, without cheating or plagiarizing. The integrity of the academic program depends upon an honest approach by our students. It is the responsibility of our students, teachers, and administration to protect the integrity of our academic program.
Cheating or plagiarizing at any level, at any time, will not be tolerated. Consequently, when evidence of cheating or plagiarism exists, the assignment will receive no credit, the student has no opportunity to make up that work, and the dean will be notified.
In addition, any student who chooses to share his or her work with another will also lose credit. That credit will be lost even if the student claims to have no knowledge of the other persons using the original paper.
Plagiarism defined: Naperville Central High Schools A+ Manual sates, Plagiarism is cheating. It is the act of using another persons ideas or expressions in your work without acknowledging the source. In other words, to plagiarize is to give the impression that you have in fact borrowed from someone else. Plagiarism is essentially theft-the stealing of someone elses intellectual property.
Units of Study
Unit I-Personal Essay
Essential Questions:
F How does the writer discover a personal motivation to write?
F How does a writer address and adapt writing for a public audience?
F How do diction, style, and attitude contribute to the writers authentic voice?
F How does the writer develop ownership during the writing process?
Targets:
F To identify, develop and use a natural, effective, and appropriate voice.
Activities:
F Introduction to 6 Traits writing
F Multiple writing pieces demonstrating knowledge of the 6 Traits and the writing process
F Personal Essay
Unit II-Cry the Beloved Country
Essential Questions:
F How does a reader make meaning out of a text?
F How does reading heighten awareness of self and community?
F How does literary analysis illustrate the reciprocal nature of reading and writing?
Targets:
F To make connections between text and self, text and text, and text and the world.
F To compose an analytic essay based on literary element(s) of a text.
Activities:
F Pre-reading, reading, and discussion of the text
F Demonstrate knowledge of the 6 Traits and the writing process
F Literary Analysis essay
Unit III-Research
Essential Questions:
F How does the research process connect to the self to the wider world of knowledge and experience?
F How does the writer discover and use information to answer questions about the human experience?
Targets:
F To generate, explore, and refine a viable topic or issue for research.
F To create an arguable thesis.
F To select and analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources to support the thesis.
F To evaluate the credibility of sources and use the material effectively and responsibly.
F To effectively organize and develop the information.
F To effectively balance direct quotations, paraphrase, summary, and personal analysis.
F To use MLA format to respect intellectual property and add credibility to their writing.
Activities:
F Research demonstrating knowledge of the 6 Traits and the writing process
F Research essay
Final Exam- Format to be announced
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Please sign indicating that you have read this syllabus and understand the goals for this course, the materials needed for class, and an idea of the course material we will be covering.
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