Our two most important goals this year are to practice close reading and critical analysis of literature. As your instructor, I am committed to your success as an individual; I will always have time in my schedule to answer emails or arrange for a tutoring session or a conference. You may use either your personal or your school email to contact me. As a student, however, you will be expected to participate fully in all activities, assignments and discussions. Much of our writing will be process based – working from brainstorming through several revisions – with each learning objective building upon the former. One of the final projects for the year will be a portfolio of work drawing from assignments given each term; part of the challenge of this course, then, will be organization. It will be extremely important to keep your notebook up to date. Because we will write and edit our writing so frequently in class, the late paper policy will be strictly enforced. All final drafts must be word processed (typed).

Supplies:                                                                                                                                          Textbooks:                                                                                                                                        Term 1: The Bedford Introduction to Literature.                                                                       Term II: The Bedford Introduction to Literature; Anonymous, Beowulf; George Eliot, Silas Marner.                                                                                                                                      Term III: The Bedford Introduction to Literature; William Shakespeare, Macbeth Notebook: 1 or 2 inch binder. These will be graded periodically for the following criteria: Class notes, Drafts, Handouts. Vocabulary.                                                     Paper: college or wide ruled                                                                                                   Pens: black or blue; no pencils or pastel colored pens                                                          Plastic portfolio folder                                                                                                                    

Classroom Procedures:

Be familiar with the Guiding Principles, the Student Handbook, the English Department Handbook (on-line) and the plagiarism policy.

Unless otherwise indicated, essay drafts will be emailed to lmcdonald@shadysideacademy.org. This way, students can very quickly receive individual attention for each paper. It is especially important for students who are "stuck" to immediately email me. Since I am easily accessible, I will only grant extensions to those students who work with me in this regard.

Assignments                                                                                                                                   

assignments and schedule 9.10                                                                                       Assignments and schedule 9.17

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