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Welcome to the Hgh School English A course. This year we’ll spend time writing essays and stories while also reading stories from 19th-century writers.

I will post syllabus, assignments, readings, and other items of interest on this site. If you have questions, email. I haven’t posted it here because I don’t want a spammer to send email to that account.

For the syllabus and links to class assignments, click the semester link below. Pages are dynamic and will be updated weekly.

Fall 2017

Spring 2018

Goals/Objectives

  • Learn the basic tools for appreciating and interpreting literary works within a historical period
  • Apply tools in analysis of specific literary works
  • Improve written and spoken communication skills through a series of writing exercises.

 Expectations

  • Classes will feature time for discussion and a review elements of literary interpretation.
  • Students will be expected to read each day for 30 minutes.
  • Students will be expected to write one assignment outside of class each week that will cover topics discussed in class.
  • Students will keep a reading journal and record responses to readings including quotes they like, and what they like or dislike about the reading and the author.
  • Students will read and write in multiple genres.
  • Students will write one longer paper at the end of each semester.

 Grading

  • Participating in class discussions
  • Writing and editing stories and essays

Submission of Papers

In the past, I’ve used online tools to submit papers and post assignments, but there are usually several people who have difficulty with those tools. To simplify, I am asking you to submit papers through email to me at dougfloyd@me.com. I will send back edits to the parents’ email and if requested I will also send back to a student’s email.

Please name papers based using assignment number, student name and date. For example – essay1-dougfloyd-august19.doc.

 Texts

The literature we will read is in the public domain and should be easily accessible. I will send out links for readings.

 Optional Texts

On reading literature – How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster

On writing – http://grammarly.com, http://www.grammarbook.com/,

Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite by June Casagrande

Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Image by Janaina C. Falkiewicz (used by permission via Creative Commons ).