IB WORLD LITERATURE
 
   

Course Requirements

1.      There will be frequent readings/re-readings.  You are expected to have read all assignments carefully, have your texts with you in class, be prepared to discuss the readings on the assigned days, and have your reading work (journals, bookmarks, etc.) finished when you enter class.

2.      Participation is required.  You are expected to articulate your thoughts and questions aloud in class on a daily basis.  Participation also includes actively listening during class and small group discussions, sharing equally in small group tasks, and engaging in on-line discussions.

3.      You will write in-class essays and take AP multiple choice tests on a regular basis.  The impromptu essays range from answering an open-ended question about one or more texts we are studying to analyzing a particular passage.  These tests will familiarize you with the exams you’ll be taking in May and help you build an internal timer.

4.      You will keep a binder to hold all of your work and class handouts for this class.  The binder will become a complete document of your learning.  Use loose leaf paper in your binder so you can extract parts of your work to share/turn in without having to rip it out of a spiral.  (You may type assignments and other items that go into this binder if you wish.)

·        One section of your binder should be for your reading journal.  Your reading journal is a place for you to develop an individual and critical response to literature.  While much of your journal work will be structured assignments, you will also be expected to explore ideas beyond the parameters of an assignment.  More on this later.

·        Keep a hard copy of all your papers (proposals, drafts, reflections) in one section.  Make notes about dates you work on and complete them, dates you conference with me on them, etc.

·        Another section of your binder should be devoted to analytical work with op-ed articles.  More to come on this.

·        A fourth section should house class notes (unless you decide to intersperse these in an organized fashion into your reading journal work) and daily work.

5.      You will have a portfolio folder in the classroom where you will keep additional copies of all your writing assignments, critical reflections, and your impromptus.

6.      Conferences are a must.  You will schedule three formal conferences during the year, and you are expected to conference with me informally throughout the course of your learning.  Conferences are not a sign of weakness.  They are the sign of an intellectually engaged student.

7.      Required supplies:

·        Binder with dividers and loose leaf paper (1.5” or larger; consider this binder as your textbook for this class—you should not be using it for any other class)

·        Index cards, post-it notes/flags, and a variety of highlighters; you may also want to have a supply of colored pencils or pens

·        Access to a good dictionary (not a pocket dictionary).  Random House Webster’s College Dictionary is a very good one.  Get one now and you’ll have it when you go to college.

·        Access to a computer with word processing and the Internet.  ALL papers, including proposals and reflections, must be typed.  You will be making 3 copies of each paper:  one for your binder, one for your classroom portfolio folder, and one for me to grade.  In addition, several assignments during the year require you to use the Internet.  Be sure to make friends with the College and Career Lab and plan ahead if you do not have Internet access at home.

 
 

Evaluation & Assessment

 

Please note how your work will be weighted each quarter:

                        WRITING ASSIGNMENTS & PROJECTS                           40 percent

(proposals, papers—ALL drafts, critical reflections, key compositions)

                        READING WORK                                                                  20 percent

(journals, bookmarks, critical reading self-reflections and conferences)

                        ORALS/IMPROMPTUS/EXTENDED ESSAY*                    15 percent

(*Extended essay requirements are for Diploma Candidates only)

PARTICIPATION                                                                   15 percent

(participation in small group, whole class, and on-line discussions)

DAILY WORK                                                                       10 percent

 

                                                                                                           Total:  100 percent

At the end of each semester (yes, even second semester right before graduation) you will have a FINAL EXAM.  Your final exam will count as 15% of your semester grade.

 

General Scoring Guide

Although your grade will take a numerical form, the scoring guide below is intended to help you adjust your own level of work and your own expectations of your grade.  Keep in mind, this scoring guide defines how you are evaluated as a whole, as a learner during the course of this class, not on each and every assignment you do.

A        Students working at this level engage fully in every assignment and demonstrate a willingness to examine their own thinking and assumptions.  All work reflects a level of thinking far beyond the obvious and the superficial.  “A” students come to class fully prepared to discuss assigned readings and to participate actively in all phases of the course.  All assignments are submitted on time and all make-up work from authorized absences is managed in a timely fashion.  Obviously, all work is the student’s own.

·        Every writing assignment (paper) has undergone meaningful revisions in content, diction, style, and grammar, and writing conferences are marked by the student’s complete understanding of the assignment’s goals.

·        Proposals, drafts, and critical reflections for writing assignments are submitted once a week, and the entire process from proposal through the critical reflection is completed within a four or five week period (WL paper excepted).

·        All steps for the second World Literature paper are completed on-time, including turning in the final copies of both the first and second WL papers by the end of first semester.

·        Reading journal work is completed on-time and indicates not only the questions and problems a student has while working with a text, but an honest attempt at logical answers and solutions.  The work moves far beyond the superficial identification of rhetorical and literary devices and provide full and rich arguments on the student’s reading of the text.  The work addresses all parts of the assignment.

·        Students make and keep appointments with me.

·        Extended essay work (for diploma candidates) is kept on-schedule.

·        Students actively and enthusiastically participate on a daily basis.

 

B        Students working at this level competently engage in every assignment and consistently attempt to examine their own thinking and assumptions.  The majority of the student’s work reflects a level of thinking beyond the obvious and the superficial.  “B” students come to class fully prepared to discuss assigned readings and to participate actively in all phases of the course.  Most assignments are submitted on time and most make-up work from authorized absences is managed in a timely fashion.  All work is the student’s own.

·        All writing assignments (papers) have undergone meaningful revisions in content, diction, style, and grammar, and writing conferences are marked by the student’s understanding of the assignment’s goals.

·        Proposals, drafts, and critical reflections for writing assignments are almost always submitted once a week, and the entire process from proposal through the critical reflection is completed within a five week period (WL paper excepted).

·        All steps for the second World Literature paper are completed, most on-time, and the final copies of both the first and second WL papers are turned in by the end of first semester.

·        Reading journal work is completed on-time and indicates not only the questions and problems a student has while working with a text, but an honest attempt at logical answers and solutions.  The work also provides an adequate argument on the student’s reading of the text.  The work usually addresses all parts of the assignment.

·        Students make and keep appointments with me.

·        Extended essay work (for diploma candidates) is kept on-schedule.

·        Students actively participate on a daily basis.

 

C        Students working at this level engage in most assignments but do not consistently attempt to examine their own thinking and assumptions.  A small portion of the student’s work reflects a level of thinking beyond the obvious and the superficial.  “C” students come to class somewhat prepared to discuss assigned readings and to participate in all phases of the course.  A majority of assignments are submitted on time and most make-up work from authorized absences is managed in a timely fashion.  All work is the student’s own.

·        Writing assignments (papers) have undergone revisions but do not show substantial improvement in content, diction, style, and grammar.  Some papers have not met the minimum number of revisions (usually 3) and some revisions ignore the specific requirements/comments given for the assignment.

·        Proposals, drafts, and critical reflections for writing assignments are not usually submitted consistently, and the entire process from proposal through the critical reflection is often not completed within a five week period (WL paper excepted).

·        Most steps for the second World Literature paper are completed, generally on-time, and the final copies of both the first and second WL papers are turned in by the end of first semester.

·        Reading journal work is completed on-time and often indicates the questions and problems a student has while working with a text, but includes only minor attempts at logical answers and solutions.  The work often resorts to a basic opinion or the text or a personal reflection rather than a supported argument on the student’s reading of the text.  Reading work is often not completed on-time or is incomplete.

·        Students make and keep appointments with me, but may occasionally arrive unprepared.

·        Extended essay work (for diploma candidates) is generally on-schedule, but the entire process may be pushed back a few weeks before completion.

·        Students sometimes participate on a daily basis.

 

D        Students working at this level often choose not to engage in assignments and do not attempt to examine their own thinking and assumptions.  The student’s work reflects a level of thinking that is obvious and superficial.  “D” students come to class ill-prepared to discuss assigned readings and to participate in all phases of the course.  Several assignments are submitted late; several assignments may be missing completely.  Make-up work from authorized absences may be missing or seriously late.  All work is the student’s own.

·        Writing assignments (papers) have undergone bare minimum revisions in content, diction, style, and grammar.  Some papers have not met the minimum number of revisions (usually 3) and some revisions ignore the specific requirements/comments given for the assignment.

·        Proposals, drafts, and critical reflections for writing assignments are not usually submitted consistently and often certain steps are missing altogether.

·        The second World Literature paper is completed, although the steps of it may be ignored.  Final copies of both the first and second WL papers are turned in by the end of first semester.

·        Reading journal work is sometimes completed on-time and might indicates the questions and problems a student has while working with a text, but seldom attempts logical answers and solutions.  They often deal with only a portion of a text or address the entire text on only a surface level (perhaps offering plot summary or personal connections to a story line or character).  In addition, reading work provides only broad judgmental statements about the text, not a supported argument on the student’s reading of the text).  Reading work is often not completed or is incomplete when turned in on-time.

·        Students ignore or otherwise miss conferences and other appointments with me; students may arrive to a conference completely unprepared.

·        Extended essay work (for diploma candidates) is not completed.

·        Students rarely participate.

 

F        This level of work is obviously unacceptable.  Work is usually not submitted at all or on time, and/or the student may completely ignore the requirements of the assignment.  Students who turn in work that is not their own (e.g., copied from another student or plagiarized) fall into this category.

 
 

Contact Information

Here is where/how you can find me.

            Free periods: 1, 3, 5, 7, and I will usually be around 9th period as well. 

          (I am not available Thursdays after school.)

            Location during free periods:  9 times out of 10, I’ll be in the English office or 262.

            English office phone: 773-535-2138

            Cell phone: 773-456-3318

            Website:  http://s.spachman.tripod.com/home.htm

            E-mail: sspach@hotmail.com

(Please put something in the subject to indicate it’s class related or I might think it’s just spam.)

            AIM and MSN messenger: sspach

            Yahoo:  s_spach