Welcome to World Literature

Students will read and study a variety of literature from around the world and examine themes of cross cultural understanding and social justice. This class will:

· Increase your knowledge, appreciation and respect for multicultural literature.

· Stimulate your awareness of the way literature reflects diverse cultures around the world.

· Encourage you to look at the cultural context in a work of literature.

· Challenge you to reflect and discuss the issues surrounding racism, social justice, and the exploitation of children and women.

· Increase media literacy

Course Goals/Learning Objectives

Students will engage in meaningful discussion of texts through

careful reading and rereading of text

analysis of historical and cultural context

Students will learn how to write academic papers:

emphasis on structure

clarity of ideas

incorporating quotes smoothly

clear and insightful commentary

concise language

strong transitions within and between

paragraphs

Students will write narratives and other creative texts based on imagined experiences or true events. They will demonstrate knowledge of rising action, epiphany and resolution in stories.

Students will analyze and create poetry that demonstrates:

understanding of figurative language

imagery

symbolism

structure

tone

Students will develop confidence in public speaking through:

formal presentations

reading of written work

Novels studied in class may include:

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Sold by Patricia McCormick

Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

A Variety of Short Stories from around the world

Poetry

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Frankenstein

Collection of creative non-fiction essays

Classroom Procedures/Policies

Tardies: Don’t be late. Consequences…(you don’t want to know).

Papers and Projects: Papers must be typed, double spaced, 12 pt. font. Papers are due on time. They drop to a B if one day late, and an F after that. Please set up an appointment with me for after school if you need extra help. I do not accept e-mailed papers. If a printing problem arises, you are responsible for e-mailing it to yourself and then printing it in the media center before school or during lunch-not during class.

Homework: Expect homework everyday. Homework will receive full credit on the day it is due. If you turn it in one day late it will drop a grade. I will not accept it after the second day. If you have an excused absence the day homework was due, it will be given full credit upon your return to class.

Honor before Grades: Cheating and turning in work that isn’t your own simply isn’t allowed. I will inform parents. You will receive an F for the assignment.

Electronic Devices: Not allowed. Cell phones and iPods will be conviscated and given back after school. Second time the device will be given to your friendly Assistant

Assessments

Rubrics for individual assignments can be found on my website.

Assignments

· Creation of commercial advertisement, or refutation of offensive advertisement

· Written analysis of commercial ad

Storyboarding and Creation of comic

· This I Believe Essay

· Comparison paper on Sold and Born into Brothels

· Essay on how music saved my life

· Poetry Portfolio

Student Code of Conduct

All students are expected to adhere to the Southwest High School and Minneapolis District Citywide Discipline Policy, designed to promote a safe and respectful learning environment. For more information about your rights and responsibilities consult your Southwest Student/Parent Handbook

Academic Integrity: Plagiarism/Consequences

It is expected that members of this class will observe strict policies of academic honesty and will be respectful of each other. Any instances in which cheating, including plagiarism and unauthorized use of copyrighted materials, computer accounts, or someone else’s work is determined, will be referred to Student Services and will be investigated to its full extent.

Consider providing a definition of plagiarism and examples if desired or referring students to page 10 of the Southwest Handbook