The Book List

Titles students have been reading:

1984 -- Orwell
The Historian -- Kostova
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test -- Wolfe
A Child Called It -- Pelzer
Running With Scissors -- Burroughs
The Rainbow Boys -- Sanchez
The Time Traveler's Wife -- Niffenegger
Nineteen Minutes -- Picoult
Drowning Ruth -- Schwarz
The Lakota Way -- Marshall
Stairway to Heaven -- Cole
No One Here Gets Out Alive -- Hopkins
The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency -- McCall Smith
Choke -- Palahniuk
Luna -- Peters
The Perks of Being a Wallflower -- Chbosky
Animal Farm -- Orwell
Always Running -- Rodriguez
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse -- Matthiessen
Freedom Writers' Diary -- Gruwell
The Tales of H.P. Lovecraft
I Am Legend --Matheson
White Oleander -- Fitch
American Gods -- Gaiman

The Reader’s Workshop
Course Guidelines
5th Period – Q2 – 2009-2010

The Reader’s Workshop is designed for individuals who love to read but never seem to have enough time to do it. By participating appropriately in a structured reading environment each day, it is a goal of the course that you will improve your reading rate, comprehension skills, and ability to effectively articulate responses to what you read through written, oral, and creative formats.

To earn credit in this course, you will need to:

ATTENDANCE

1. Fulfill the Shabazz attendance requirement (5th period class / no more than 6 absences; 3 tardies = 1 absence). Students are expected to have their books with them each day. No reading material = absence.

READING

2. Spend every class period reading silently or completing response projects. As a class, we will also devote class time to occasional library resource exploration. Appropriate use of class time throughout the entire semester is a requirement to earn credit. Students not following in-class reading/work guidelines will earn absences.

3. Read and finish three books by due dates for 1/4 English credit. You may choose your own titles at an appropriate reading level, but try to move beyond what you always read by selecting one book outside of your usual genre or one that will significantly challenge you.

WRITING/PROJECT COMPONENTS

4. Turn in TWO response papers/projects for each book you read. Written responses must be AT LEAST ONE, FULL, TYPED PAGE in length and may focus on your own thoughts about the book or on questions/prompts suggested in class handouts. If you are quoting material from your book, your analysis section must equal one full page in length. Consult the response suggestion list for ideas. No more than one visual/creative response will be accepted for each book.

• 12 pt. font / double-spaced / 1 inch margins max.
• ALL WRITTEN RESPONSES MUST BE TYPED and THOROUGHLY EDITED. Be sure to save your work in your Shabazz server file, on a portable drive, or in an online archive.

NOTE: PLOT SUMMARIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE RESPONSES. A very brief explanation of plot elements (1 or 2 sentences) may be used to clarify and support your own response points; however, your analysis must carry the weight of your response papers. Also, any assignments completed below a “developing” level may need to be revised for credit.


PARTICIPATION & WORK COMPLETION

5. Participate in discussions, book share talks, and writing conferences when requested. All students may be asked to work with tutors on writing mechanics. If time allows, other assignments or projects may be required.

6. Meet all deadlines and revise any response papers for content or mechanics if requested to do so.


Book Choices: You may use books from English classrooms, the LMC, home/friends, or from the public library. I only ask that you check out all books borrowed from our classrooms by noting your selections on the Book Check-Out Form on the tall gray cabinet. Each student in this class will have a different reading rate, ability, and area of interest. For that reason, books will be of varied length and difficulty. I expect you to choose books that meet or challenge your own reading level and interest. I reserve the right to request that a student change a book believed to be too easy, too short, or inappropriate for the classroom. Students may read books they have read before, but must re-read them thoroughly. Also, if you have a very heavy reading load for several classes, please tell me as soon as possible for strategies on balancing your responsibilities. Generally, students may not read books in this class that are also required for their other courses.

Note: If you are reading a single longer book that equals more than one total text, you must still complete the same number of responses for the appropriate portion of the book by the deadlines.


Reading & Work Environment: Most students require a silent setting for full concentration on their reading and analysis writing. For that reason, it is important that the classroom environment be quiet for reading. (See Requirement #2.) No talking will be allowed in the room once class has started on reading days. Only students who follow this guideline will receive credit for being in attendance. Students may also use computers to work on typing their responses. However, any students using computers inappropriately during class time will be marked absent in my gradebook. IPods or other MP3 player use during reading days is acceptable if the music cannot be heard by others. Video IPods are NOT allowed as all students are to be reading or writing. Cell phone sources for music ARE NOT ALLOWED. Students dozing at any time during the class hour will automatically be marked absent without warning. Consider this syllabus your warning.


Assignment Due Dates: Follow this progress schedule to be eligible to earn credit in the class:

by November 23 (M) -- Finish Book #1 and responses
November 24 (T) – Book Share Day

by Decmber 14 (M) -- Finish Book #2 and responses
December 15 (T) – Book Share Day

Curiosity Project in LMC -- December 16 - 18

by January 14 ( Thr) -- Finish Book #3 and responses
January 15 (F) -- Book Share Day
Grading Window Closes January 15 (F)


GUIDELINES REGARDING LATE WORK:
The schedule above is designed to allow for plenty of time to complete books and response writings. Students will have a short grace period following each major assignment due date to allow for unanticipated emergencies and time constraints. Missing a due date may also generate a contact home (either email or phone call) to update families of outstanding assignment obligations and determine if additional support is needed. If students miss the grace period deadline, they might lose eligibility for class credit. Grace period length will vary by class and assignment. Students must pay attention to each assignment’s dates. (The only exceptions to this guideline may occur for students with documented special education writing concerns. Those students must have a dialogue with me about those concerns in the first week of the course. Permission for extensions must be in line with a student’s IEP and requested in advance of the due dates.) Students are expected to participate in sharing sessions and may not use those days for writing or project work time.


Attendance:
• The Shabazz attendance policy will be strictly enforced in this class. Students will earn a No Credit evaluation after their 6th absence. Remember that all tardies are accounted for (3 tardies = 1 absence). Students who arrive to class more than 15 minutes late will earn an absence for that class period. Note: Students who sleep during class time or violate other work guidelines are not considered to be in attendance. No warnings will be given. Consider this handout your warning about attendance, dozing, or general lazing around. If students complete all of the assignment requirements for the course early, they still must meet the attendance requirements. They may use the class time to work on assignments due for other instructors or to read purely for their own enjoyment.


Plagiarism:
• When a student uses information (words, paper organization, and/or central ideas) from another source without proper citation it is called plagiarism. “You are therefore cautioned (1) against using, word for word, without acknowledgment, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc., from the printed [or online material] of others; (2) against using with only slight changes the materials of another; and (3) against using the general plan, the main headings, or a rewritten form of someone else's material. These cautions apply to the work of other students as well as to the published work of professional writers [either in print or online].” If it is discovered that students “borrow” text from other book reviews, essays, papers, or classmates, it will be considered direct plagiarism and intellectual theft. Such action is in violation of the MMSD Student Code of Conduct and basic guidelines of this course. Students who choose to take such inappropriate action will be required to conference with Denise (and possibly with Sally and parents) and may receive a No Credit grade/evaluation in the course.
Policy Source: Weiser, Irwin. “Academic Honesty Statement.” Purdue OWL: Avoiding Plagiarism. Online. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource


Book Return:
• Students must return all books checked out for class to be eligible for credit in any English class. If a book is lost, talk with your instructor about where you can find a replacement copy, arrange for an alternative replacement, or provide payment for the text. Books have become extremely expensive in the last few years, so in order to maintain our excellent resource libraries here at Shabazz, we must keep close tabs on all our texts.

The Reader’s Workshop
Course Guidelines
5th Period – Q1 – 2009-2010

The Reader’s Workshop is designed for individuals who love to read but never seem to have enough time to do it. By participating appropriately in a structured reading environment each day, it is a goal of the course that you will improve your reading rate, comprehension skills, and ability to effectively articulate responses to what you read through written, oral, and creative formats.


To earn credit in this course, you will need to:


ATTENDANCE

1. Fulfill the Shabazz attendance requirement (5th period class / no more than 6 absences; 3 tardies = 1 absence). Students are expected to have their books with them each day. No reading material = absence.

READING

2. Spend every class period reading silently or completing response projects. As a class, we will also devote class time to occasional library resource exploration. Appropriate use of class time throughout the entire semester is a requirement to earn credit. Students not following in-class reading/work guidelines will earn absences.

3. Read and finish three books by due dates for 1/4 English credit. You may choose your own titles at an appropriate reading level, but try to move beyond what you always read by selecting one book outside of your usual genre or one that will significantly challenge you.

WRITING/PROJECT COMPONENTS

4. Turn in TWO response papers/projects for each book you read. Written responses must be AT LEAST ONE, FULL, TYPED PAGE in length and may focus on your own thoughts about the book or on questions/prompts suggested in class handouts. If you are quoting material from your book, your analysis section must equal one full page in length. Consult the response suggestion list for ideas. No more than one visual/creative response will be accepted for each book.

• 12 pt. font / double-spaced / 1 inch margins max.
• ALL WRITTEN RESPONSES MUST BE TYPED and THOROUGHLY EDITED. Be sure to save your work in your Shabazz server file, on a portable drive, or in an online archive.

NOTE: PLOT SUMMARIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE RESPONSES. A very brief explanation of plot elements (1 or 2 sentences) may be used to clarify and support your own response points; however, your analysis must carry the weight of your response papers. Also, any assignments completed below a “developing” level may need to be revised for credit.


PARTICIPATION & WORK COMPLETION

5. Participate in discussions, book share talks, and writing conferences when requested. All students may be asked to work with tutors on writing mechanics. If time allows, other assignments or projects may be required. September 26-October 3 marks the annual American Library Association’s Banned Books Week. The class will complete censorship-related activities that week.

6. Meet all deadlines and revise any response papers for content or mechanics if requested to do so.


Book Choices: You may use books from English classrooms, the LMC, home/friends, or from the public library. I only ask that you check out all books borrowed from our classrooms by noting your selections on the Book Check-Out Form on the tall gray cabinet. Each student in this class will have a different reading rate, ability, and area of interest. For that reason, books will be of varied length and difficulty. I expect you to choose books that meet or challenge your own reading level and interest. I reserve the right to request that a student change a book believed to be too easy, too short, or inappropriate for the classroom. Students may read books they have read before, but must re-read them thoroughly. Also, if you have a very heavy reading load for several classes, please tell me as soon as possible for strategies on balancing your responsibilities. Generally, students may not read books in this class that are also required for their other courses.

Note: If you are reading a single longer book that equals more than one total text, you must still complete the same number of responses for the appropriate portion of the book by the deadlines.


Reading & Work Environment: Most students require a silent setting for full concentration on their reading and analysis writing. For that reason, it is important that the classroom environment be quiet for reading. (See Requirement #2.) No talking will be allowed in the room once class has started on reading days. Only students who follow this guideline will receive credit for being in attendance. Students may also use computers to work on typing their responses. However, any students using computers inappropriately during class time will be marked absent in my gradebook. IPods or other MP3 player use during reading days is acceptable if the music cannot be heard by others. Video IPods are NOT allowed as all students are to be reading or writing. Cell phone sources for music ARE NOT ALLOWED. Students dozing at any time during the class hour will automatically be marked absent without warning. Consider this syllabus your warning.


Assignment Due Dates: Follow this progress schedule to be eligible to earn credit in the class:
by September 17 (R) -- Finish Book #1 and responses
September 18 (F) – Book Share Day
Banned Books Week -- September 28 - October 2
by October 8 (R) -- Finish Book #2 and responses
October 9 (F) – Book Share Day
by October 26 (M)-- Finish Book #3 and responses
October 27 (T) -- Book Share Day


GUIDELINES REGARDING LATE WORK:
The schedule above is designed to allow for plenty of time to complete books and response writings. Students will have a short grace period following each major assignment due date to allow for unanticipated emergencies and time constraints. Missing a due date may also generate a contact home (either email or phone call) to update families of outstanding assignment obligations and determine if additional support is needed. If students miss the grace period deadline, they might lose eligibility for class credit. Grace period length will vary by class and assignment. Students must pay attention to each assignment’s dates. (The only exceptions to this guideline may occur for students with documented special education writing concerns. Those students must have a dialogue with me about those concerns in the first week of the course. Permission for extensions must be in line with a student’s IEP and requested in advance of the due dates.) Students are expected to participate in sharing sessions and may not use those days for writing or project work time.


Attendance:
• The Shabazz attendance policy will be strictly enforced in this class. Students will earn a No Credit evaluation after their 6th absence. Remember that all tardies are accounted for (3 tardies = 1 absence). Students who arrive to class more than 15 minutes late will earn an absence for that class period. Note: Students who sleep during class time or violate other work guidelines are not considered to be in attendance. No warnings will be given. Consider this handout your warning about attendance, dozing, or general lazing around. If students complete all of the assignment requirements for the course early, they still must meet the attendance requirements. They may use the class time to work on assignments due for other instructors or to read purely for their own enjoyment.


Plagiarism:
• When a student uses information (words, paper organization, and/or central ideas) from another source without proper citation it is called plagiarism. “You are therefore cautioned (1) against using, word for word, without acknowledgment, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc., from the printed [or online material] of others; (2) against using with only slight changes the materials of another; and (3) against using the general plan, the main headings, or a rewritten form of someone else's material. These cautions apply to the work of other students as well as to the published work of professional writers [either in print or online].” If it is discovered that students “borrow” text from other book reviews, essays, papers, or classmates, it will be considered direct plagiarism and intellectual theft. Such action is in violation of the MMSD Student Code of Conduct and basic guidelines of this course. Students who choose to take such inappropriate action will be required to conference with Denise (and possibly with Sally and parents) and may receive a No Credit grade/evaluation in the course.
Policy Source: Weiser, Irwin. “Academic Honesty Statement.” Purdue OWL: Avoiding Plagiarism. Online. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource


Book Return:
• Students must return all books checked out for class to be eligible for credit in any English class. If a book is lost, talk with your instructor about where you can find a replacement copy, arrange for an alternative replacement, or provide payment for the text. Books have become extremely expensive in the last few years, so in order to maintain our excellent resource libraries here at Shabazz, we must keep close tabs on all our texts.

Summer !

Please keep reading and learning during the summer months. There's no better time to grab a beach book and bask in the sun with a good story.

Remember that libraries are air conditioned !!

There's also no better time than summer to pay your fines at the public library. Start next year clear of obligations.

Bottom Line -- Enjoy your summer reading !!!

Even More of What We've Been Reading

The final book set of the quarter revealed reading interests in the following:

• On the Rez -- Ian Frazier (again!)
• Dead Until Dark -- Charlaine Harris (again!)
• The Nature of Jade -- Deb Caletti
• American Gods -- Neil Gaiman
• The White Horse -- Cynthia Grant
• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- Rachel Cohn
• Black Swan Green -- David Mitchell
• Infinite Jest -- David Michael Wallace
• MirrorMask -- Neil Gaiman
• The Truth About Forever -- Sarah Dessen
• Blink -- Malcolm Gladwell
• Hep Caps, Narcs, and Pipe Dreams -- Jill Jonnes
• Thirteen Reasons Why -- Jay Asher (again!)
• Satan: A biography -- Henry Ansgar Kelly

More of What We've Been Reading

Book Set #2

Titles read and shared by students:

• On the Rez - Ian Frazier
• Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge A Radical History of Plants, Drugs, and Human Evolution - Terence McKenna
• Life for Me Ain't Been No Crystal Stair: One Family's Passage Through the Child Welfare System - Susan Sheehan
• No One Here Gets Out Alive - Jerry Hopkins
• Rubyfruit Jungle - Rita Mae Brown
• Story of a Girl - Sara Zarr
• Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
• City of Glass - Cassandra Clare
• Tales of the City -- Amistad Maupin
• Go Ask Alice - anonymous
• Some Remarks on Kafka's Funniness... - David Foster Wallace
• Dante's Inferno
• Dante's Purgatorio - Sandow Birk
• Grendal - John Gardner

What Have We Been Reading?

Here are some of the books students read for their first book requirement:

• Thirteen Reasons Why -- Jay Asher
• On Killing: The Pschological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society -- Dave Grossman
• Someone Like You -- Sarah Dessen
• On the Rez -- Ian Frasier
• No One Here Gets Out Alive -- Jerry Hopkins
• Mauve Gloves & Madmen, Clutter and Vine -- Tom Wolfe
• Hero -- Perry Moore
• Angels and Demons -- Dan Brown
• Wicked Lovely -- Melissa Marr
• The Chicago Way -- Michael Harvey
• The Rise and Fall of John Gotti -- Jerry Capeci
• Catch 22 -- Joseph Heller
• Dead Until Dark -- Charlaine Harris
• You are So Undead to Me -- Stacey Jay
• Friday Night Lights -- H.G. Bissinger
• The Long Hard Road Out of Hell -- Marilyn Manson

Curiosity Project

Although we did not get to all students for their presentation of their curiosity findings, I felt that this mini unit was a success for the Reader's Workshop class. Students seem to be engaged in their learning. They were truly curious! I also thought their findings from their brief research were presented articulately. I think we learned something from everyone!

Course Guidelines -- Quarter Four -- 2008-09

The Reader’s Workshop
Course Guidelines
5th Period – Q4 – 2008-09

The Reader’s Workshop is designed for individuals who love to read but never seem to have enough time to do it. By participating appropriately in a structured reading environment each day, it is a goal of the course that you will improve your reading rate, comprehension skills, and ability to effectively articulate responses to what you read in written, oral, and creative formats.

To earn credit in this course, you will need to:

1. Fulfill the Shabazz attendance requirement (5th period class / no more than 6 absences; 3 tardies = 1 absence). Students are expected to have their books with them each day. No reading material = absence.

2. Spend every class period reading silently or completing response projects. Appropriate use of class time throughout the entire quarter is a requirement to earn credit. Students not following in-class reading/work guidelines will earn absences.

3. Read and finish three books by due dates for 1/4 English credit. You may choose your own titles at an appropriate reading level, but try to move beyond what you always read by selecting one book outside of your usual genre or one that will significantly challenge you.

WRITING/PROJECT COMPONENTS

4. Turn in TWO response papers/projects for each book you read. Written responses must be AT LEAST ONE, FULL, TYPED PAGE in length and must focus on your own thoughts about the book or on questions/prompts suggested in class handouts. If you are quoting material from your book, your analysis section must equal one full page in length. Consult the response suggestion list for ideas. No more than one visual response will be accepted for each book.

12 pt. font / double-spaced / 1 inch margins max.

ALL WRITTEN RESPONSES MUST BE TYPED and THOROUGHLY EDITED.
Be sure to save your work in your Shabazz server file,
on a portable drive, or in an online archive.

NOTE: PLOT SUMMARIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE RESPONSES. A very brief explanation of plot elements (1 or 2 sentences) may be used to clarify and support your own response points; however, your analysis must carry the weight of your response papers. Also, any assignments completed below a “developing” level may need to be revised for credit.

All 6 response projects must be completed to be eligible for credit.


5. Participate in discussions, book share talks, writing conferences, and other library activities when requested. All students may be asked to work with tutors on writing mechanics.

6. Meet all deadlines and revise any response papers for content or mechanics if requested to do so.


Book Choices: You may use books from English classrooms, the LMC, home/friends, or from the public library. I only ask that you check out all books borrowed from our classroom by noting your selections on the Book Check-Out Form on the tall gray cabinet. Each student in this class will have a different reading rate, ability, and area of interest. For that reason, books will be of varied length and difficulty. I expect you to choose books that meet or challenge your own reading level and interest. I reserve the right to request that a student change a book believed to be too easy, too short, or inappropriate for the classroom. Students may read books they have read before, but must re-read them thoroughly. Also, if you have a very heavy reading load for several classes, please tell me as soon as possible for strategies on balancing your responsibilities.

Note: If you are reading a single longer book that equals more than one total text, you must still complete the same number of responses for the appropriate portion of the book by the deadlines.


Reading & Work Environment: Most students require a silent setting for full concentration on their reading and analysis writing. For that reason, it is important that the classroom environment be quiet for reading. (See Requirement #2.) No talking will be allowed in the room once class has started on reading days. Only students who follow this guideline will receive credit for being in attendance. Students may also use the computers in the library to work on typing their book responses. Computer “plat, surfing, or work for other classes is NOT allowed during the Reader’s Workshop time (unless specific approval is given by Denise). Walkman, Discman, IPod (or other MP3 player ) use during reading days is acceptable if the music cannot be heard by others. Cell phone sources for music ARE NOT ALLOWED. Students dozing at any time during the class hour will automatically be marked absent without warning. Consider this syllabus your warning.


Assignment Due Dates:
Follow this progress schedule to be eligible to earn credit in the class:
April 1-3 – Library Activity
by April 27 -- Finish Book #1 and responses
April 28 – Book Share Day
by May 12 -- Finish Book #2 and responses
May 13 – Book Share Day
by May 28 -- Finish Book #3 and responses
May 29 -- Book Share Day
June 1 – Denise’s Grading Window closes
June 1-5 – Library Activity


NOTE: GUIDELINES REGARDING LATE WORK
The schedule above is designed to allow for plenty of time to complete books and response writings. Students will have a short grace period following each major assignment due date to allow for unanticipated emergencies and time constraints. Missing a due date may also generate a contact home (either email or phone call) to update families of outstanding assignment obligations and determine if additional support is needed. If students miss the grace period deadline, they might lose eligibility for class credit. Grace period length will vary by class and assignment. Students must pay attention to each assignment’s dates. (The only exceptions to this guideline may occur for students with documented special education writing concerns. Those students must have a dialogue with me about those concerns in the first week of the course. Permission for extensions must be in line with a student’s IEP and requested in advance of the due dates.) Students are expected to participate in sharing sessions and may not use those days for writing or project work time.

Attendance:
• The Shabazz attendance policy will be strictly enforced in this class. Students are no longer eligible for credit after their 6th absence. Remember that all tardies are accounted for (3 tardies = 1 absence). Students who arrive to class more than 15 minutes late will earn an absence for that class period. Note: Students who sleep during class time or violate other work guidelines are not considered to be in attendance. No warnings will be given.

Plagiarism:
• When a student uses information (words, paper organization, and/or central ideas) from another source without proper citation it is called plagiarism. “You are therefore cautioned (1) against using, word for word, without acknowledgment, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc., from the printed [or online material] of others; (2) against using with only slight changes the materials of another; and (3) against using the general plan, the main headings, or a rewritten form of someone else's material. These cautions apply to the work of other students as well as to the published work of professional writers [either in print or online].” If it is discovered that students “borrow” text from other book reviews, essays, papers, or classmates, it will be considered direct plagiarism and intellectual theft. Such action is in violation of the MMSD Student Code of Conduct and basic guidelines of this course. Students who choose to take such inappropriate action will be required to conference with Denise (and possibly with Sally and parents) and may receive a No Credit grade/evaluation in the course.
Policy Source: Weiser, Irwin. “Academic Honesty Statement.” Purdue OWL: Avoiding Plagiarism. Online. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource

Book Return:
• Students must return all books checked out for class to be eligible for credit in any English class. If a book is lost, talk with your instructor about where you can find a replacement copy, arrange for an alternative replacement, or provide payment for the text.

Response Reminders

Please remember the following when completing your responses:

1. Put the # of your response choice (from options page) on your response.
2. Put your name on your response.
3. No plot summaries. If you feel you need to give background information on what is happening in the book or with a character in order to make your response clear, keep the summary to only 2 or 3 sentences.
4. You must complete 2 responses for each book. I will accept longer essays that are 3+ pages, but they must follow a strong thesis and essay format.
5. Make sure your response includes the book's title and author's full name.
6. Edit your response before turning it in. Are you using your best writing possible?

THANK YOU!

Course Guidelines -- Quarter Three -- 2008-09

The Reader’s Workshop
Course Guidelines
5th Period – Q3 – 2008-09

The Reader’s Workshop is designed for individuals who love to read but never seem to have enough time to do it. By participating appropriately in a structured reading environment each day, it is a goal of the course that you will improve your reading rate, comprehension skills, and ability to effectively articulate responses to what you read in written, oral, and creative formats.

To earn credit in this course, you will need to:
1. Fulfill the Shabazz attendance requirement (5th period class / no more than 6 absences; 3 tardies = 1 absence). Students are expected to have their books with them each day. No reading material = absence.

2. Spend every class period reading silently or completing response projects. Appropriate use of class time throughout the entire quarter is a requirement to earn credit. Students not following in-class reading/work guidelines will earn absences.

3. Read and finish three books by due dates for 1/4 English credit. You may choose your own titles at an appropriate reading level, but try to move beyond what you always read by selecting one book outside of your usual genre or one that will significantly challenge you.

WRITING/PROJECT COMPONENTS

4. Turn in TWO response papers/projects for each book you read. Written responses must be AT LEAST ONE, FULL, TYPED PAGE in length and must focus on your own thoughts about the book or on questions/prompts suggested in class handouts. If you are quoting material from your book, your analysis section must equal one full page in length. Consult the response suggestion list for ideas. No more than one visual response will be accepted for each book.

12 pt. font / double-spaced / 1 inch margins max.

ALL WRITTEN RESPONSES MUST BE TYPED
and THOROUGHLY EDITED.
Be sure to save your work in your Shabazz server file,
on a portable drive, or in an online archive.

NOTE: PLOT SUMMARIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE RESPONSES. A very brief explanation of plot elements (1 or 2 sentences) may be used to clarify and support your own response points; however, your analysis must carry the weight of your response papers. Also, any assignments completed below a “developing” level may need to be revised for credit.

5. Participate in discussions, book share talks, writing conferences, and other library activities when requested. All students may be asked to work with tutors on writing mechanics.

6. Meet all deadlines and revise any response papers for content or mechanics if requested to do so.

Book Choices: You may use books from English classrooms, the LMC, home/friends, or from the public library. I only ask that you check out all books borrowed from our classroom by noting your selections on the Book Check-Out Form on the tall gray cabinet. Each student in this class will have a different reading rate, ability, and area of interest. For that reason, books will be of varied length and difficulty. I expect you to choose books that meet or challenge your own reading level and interest. I reserve the right to request that a student change a book believed to be too easy, too short, or inappropriate for the classroom. Students may read books they have read before, but must re-read them thoroughly. Also, if you have a very heavy reading load for several classes, please tell me as soon as possible for strategies on balancing your responsibilities.

Note: If you are reading a single longer book that equals more than one total text, you must still complete the same number of responses for the appropriate portion of the book by the deadlines.

Reading & Work Environment: Most students require a silent setting for full concentration on their reading and analysis writing. For that reason, it is important that the classroom environment be quiet for reading. (See Requirement #2.) No talking will be allowed in the room once class has started on reading days. Only students who follow this guideline will receive credit for being in attendance. Students may also use the computers in the library to work on typing their responses. Walkman, Discman, IPod (or other MP3 player ) use during reading days is acceptable if the music cannot be heard by others. Cell phone sources for music ARE NOT ALLOWED. Students dozing at any time during the class hour will automatically be marked absent without warning. Consider this syllabus your warning.

Assignment Due Dates: Follow this progress schedule to be eligible to earn credit in the class:
by February 10 (T) -- Finish Book #1 and responses
February 11 (W) – Book Share Day
by February 24 (T) -- Finish Book #2 and responses
February 25 (W) – Book Share Day
by March 13 (F)-- Finish Book #3 and responses
March 17 (T) -- Book Share Day
March 18-20 – Library Activity

NOTE: GUIDELINES REGARDING LATE WORK
The schedule above is designed to allow for plenty of time to complete books and response writings. Students will have a short grace period following each major assignment due date to allow for unanticipated emergencies and time constraints. Missing a due date may also generate a contact home (either email or phone call) to update families of outstanding assignment obligations and determine if additional support is needed. If students miss the grace period deadline, they might lose eligibility for class credit. Grace period length will vary by class and assignment. Students must pay attention to each assignment’s dates. (The only exceptions to this guideline may occur for students with documented special education writing concerns. Those students must have a dialogue with me about those concerns in the first week of the course. Permission for extensions must be in line with a student’s IEP and requested in advance of the due dates.) Students are expected to participate in sharing sessions and may not use those days for writing or project work time.

Attendance:
• The Shabazz attendance policy will be strictly enforced in this class. Students are no longer eligible for credit after their 6th absence. Remember that all tardies are accounted for (3 tardies = 1 absence). Students who arrive to class more than 15 minutes late will earn an absence for that class period. Note: Students who sleep during class time or violate other work guidelines are not considered to be in attendance. No warnings will be given. Consider this handout your warning about attendance, dozing, or general lazing around. If students complete all of the assignment requirements for the course early, they still must meet the attendance requirements. They may use the class time to work on assignments due for other instructors or to read purely for their own enjoyment.

Plagiarism:
• When a student uses information (words, paper organization, and/or central ideas) from another source without proper citation it is called plagiarism. “You are therefore cautioned (1) against using, word for word, without acknowledgment, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc., from the printed [or online material] of others; (2) against using with only slight changes the materials of another; and (3) against using the general plan, the main headings, or a rewritten form of someone else's material. These cautions apply to the work of other students as well as to the published work of professional writers [either in print or online].” If it is discovered that students “borrow” text from other book reviews, essays, papers, or classmates, it will be considered direct plagiarism and intellectual theft. Such action is in violation of the MMSD Student Code of Conduct and basic guidelines of this course. Students who choose to take such inappropriate action will be required to conference with Denise (and possibly with Sally and parents) and may receive a No Credit grade/evaluation in the course.
Policy Source: Weiser, Irwin. “Academic Honesty Statement.” Purdue OWL: Avoiding Plagiarism. Online. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource

Book Return:
• Students must return all books checked out for class to be eligible for credit in any English class. If a book is lost, talk with your instructor about where you can find a replacement copy, arrange for an alternative replacement, or provide payment for the text.

Obama and Books

Reading can take you to the top . . .

Check out this New York Times article on the influence of books and reading on President Barack Obama's rise to leadership.

Pronouncing Palahniuk

The question of pronouncing Chuck Palahniuk's name came up in our Reader's Workshop discussion on Wednesday. According to CP's "official" website, the name is pronounced by the author as PAUL-AH-NIK. The site also notes that the "old world" pronunciation is PAH-la-NYOOK.

Pending Book Responses

Due to the closing of Madison schools for the past two days, some of you may be concerned about pending assignments in my classes, especially with the end of the semester looming. The only students who still have outstanding work obligations are some enrolled in the 5th Hour Reader's Workshop class. It is expected that all students will have those assignments ready to hand in to me at the start of class time on Tuesday. (Keep in mind, you do not have classes on Monday in observation of the MLK holiday.)

If you wish to email your assignment to me, you may do so at daulik@madison.k12.wi.us. I will reply to all emails to let you know the assignment is received and readable. Don't assume your email went through until you receive a confirmation reply from me.

My student teacher, Katy Ainslie, has a plan for her students. Follow the guidelines she established on Wednesday before the cold weather hit us.

A Fun Series for the Vampire Lover

If you like vampires and the possibility of the supernatural, you will love this series (now adapted for television as HBO's True Blood). The main character, Sookie Stackhouse, is a mid-twenties bar waitress with a "gift." She's a telepath. Having been able to read people's thoughts all of her life, she has been ostracized by the normals for her different ability. Such treatment leaves her empathetic and open to the life situations of other "beings" (living and dead) who traverse the margins of human society. Sookie's world has just publicly and legally accepted the presence and civil "human" rights of vampires. So, it seems only natural that Sookie would find her first real love in the form of the undead--Bill Compton, who lost his first life shortly after the Civil War. Her new relationship quickly opens up her eyes and heart to vamps, shapeshifters, weres, witches, demons, fairies, and others. Set in the New Orleans area, Charlaine Harris successfully melds mystery, horror, a small bit of sex and gore, and humor in her books. Once you bite into the first book, you'll be hooked for life -- and death. (I'm dying to get my hands on Sookie #8 from the public library. And, #9 will be released in May.) Warning: #7 has some disturbing connections to 9/11 and Oklahoma City domestic terrorism, but it's not gratuitous.