Expectations and Class Guidelines
I expect you to come to class with a “can do” attitude. We are a community of learners and, together, we can accomplish what we seek to achieve. In order to be successful, we must all feel safe and valued in this classroom. We will be sharing our thoughts and feelings through writing and discussion, and every individual’s contributions are important. We will get to know each other very well, and we will practice respectful communication and behavior every day. Included in being respectful is choosing to use language that is sensitive to each person’s worth. Phrases like “that’s so gay” or “this is retarded” are not acceptable. Language choice affects thoughts, feelings, and actions. Please think before you speak. I also expect each of you to be a self advocate for your learning, which means I want you to talk to me any time you have questions, concerns, or praises. The most important thing for you to do is to respect your classmates, teacher, and yourself. If you are respectful, you will enjoy the class and make the class enjoyable for others! |
Course Goals
You will take risks as you share your knowledge and ideas with fellow learners. You will strive to become life-long learners through independent and class-assigned readings and activities. You will learn the elements of fiction and apply those to your discussions of literature. You will gain an appreciation for the connections between life and literature. You will add depth to your writing through the use of specific details to make your message convincing and meaningful to your audience. You will become a more sophisticated writer through the exploration of language, the application of new writing techniques, and practice writing. |