Overview

American Heritage (Honors English 11) is an honors level English course (grade 11) designed to reflect the best-practice methods (as defined by the National Council of Teachers of English), the national, state and local standards and the literacy initiative of the Londonderry School District. This course will provide opportunities for students who excel in English to become reflective and independent thinkers who are willing and eager to take intellectual risks.

In this course, we will further develop our critical thinking skills as we read and respond to selected literary works from each of the major periods in American literature. We will also continue to develop and expand upon our writing skills through the writing of a variety of expositional and creative papers with a special focus on the research process and the thesis-based research paper. Critical analysis of film, student presentations, and academic discourse activities will provide us with opportunities to further develop literacy in a variety of media beyond print. 

As an honors course, the pace is brisk, challenging and involves a consistent homework load of both short-term and long-term assignments.

09-10 Overall Syllabus Plan

The overall syllabus plan for the academic year is subject to change due to a conflict between time constraints and educational goals. Click here to download.

Grading & Expectations

Reading: 30% to 40% of Semester Activities

Although we will be approaching American Literature from a more thematic standpoint than a chronological one, students will have the opportunity to encounter works from each of the American literary periods throughout the course of the year and engage in research related to each of the literary periods. For a more detailed look at the periods of American literature, click here . For a more detailed look at the various research activities we will engage in, click here.

Reading Workshop –Grade reflects active participation in whole class as well as independent in-class literacy activities (independent and whole class reading of selected works; independent completion of reader’s responses). Student performance will be scored using the Scoring Rubric for Reading Workshop In-Class Activities which incorporates Londonderry High School’s mission-based school-wide rubrics.

Reader's Responses-  Full credit is awarded to responses which reflect the level of detail, depth and effort depicted in the sample responses. For a detailed explanation of the various reader's responses as well as sample responses and downloadable guides/forms, click here.

Essay  Tests – Grade reflects student response to a selected question. For a detailed explanation of essay test format, a sample essay test and essay test scoring rubric, click here.  Essay tests may not be revised/rewritten for a better grade.

Writing: 30% to 40% of Semester Activities

Throughout the course of the year, we will engage in a wide variety of research activities and we will write a variety of papers - traditional thesis-based research papers, multi-genre research papers and reflection papers. For a more detailed look at the various papers we will write as well as samples, directions and rubrics, click here. For a more detailed look at the various research activities we will engage in, click here.

Writing Workshops – Grade reflects active participation in the full writing process as a class work activity (prompts, brainstorms, research activities, drafts, edits, revisions, and conferences). Student performance will be scored using the Scoring Rubric for Writing Workshop Activities which incorporates Londonderry High School’s mission-based school-wide rubrics.

Rough Drafts – Grade reflects the degree to which each draft demonstrated a full commitment to the writing process and includes brainstorming, charting and planning activities as well as the traditional rough drafts.

Final Drafts – Grade reflects writing traits score. Most, but not all, final drafts may be revised/rewritten for a higher grade when guidelines for revisions are followed.

Publication Opportunities – Authors will have the opportunity to share their completed work in a variety of ways from online publication to in-class readings.

Listening/Speaking/Viewing: 30% to 40% of Semester Activities

Throughout the course of the year, we will engage in a wide variety of listening/speaking/viewing activities. Most of these activities are extensions of reading or writing or research activities.

Nature Journals – Grade reflects level of performance with written nature journal. For a more detailed look at nature journals, click here.

Viewing Journals – Grade reflects level of performance with written viewing journal. For a more detailed look at viewing journals, click here.

Kiosk Presentations – Grade reflects level of performance with actual kiosk presentation. For a more detailed look at kiosk presentations, click here.

Academic Discourse- Grade reflects student performance (throughout the course of a term) as it relates to formal whole class discussions and literature circle group discussions. Student performance will be scored using the Academic Discourse/Formal Discussion rubric which incorporates Londonderry High School’s mission-based school-wide rubrics.

Late Work:

Assignments submitted past the due date (for reasons other than student absence) will only be eligible for partial credit if fully and satisfactorily completed within a reasonable time period. Students who wish to submit late work should speak directly with Mrs. Juster.

Student Absence and Make-Up Work:

If a student is absent, he/she should:

• refer to the LHS student handbook (page 11) for the make-up work policy
• contact Mrs. Juster for adjusted due dates and assignment information
• refer to the class syllabus and assignment log for information regarding specific missed assignments and class work