English
Dear Students,
Welcome to English! I’m really excited for this year and all of the things that I have planned for us to do. Regardless of whether or not you love English, I will hopefully be able to convince you that this is going to be enjoyable and that you will learn something this year! My goal is for you to be able to take the things that we talk about in class and notice them in your lives outside of our classroom. The world is full of opportunities to learn, discover, and critique, and I hope that you will bring some of those observations into our class discussions. You will read a lot of different genres, write in a lot of different styles, and present your opinions through large and small group discussions and debates. If you work hard and are prepared for class every day, you will learn and enjoy this class more than you think. In order to make sure that this happens, I’m giving you some valuable advice on how to succeed in this class and enjoy it:
1. Be prepared.
Do all of the assigned reading before coming, and no, spark notes do not count. I can tell if you’ve actually done the reading. I was a student once, and I know the difference! Do your homework and bring it to class. Out of class assignments for this class will be manageable because I would rather have you spend a sufficient amount of time on a specific concept than put no thought into a million worksheets. Do the work, and do it well.
3. Read the stuff you like
There will be certain novels, poems, and essays that our entire class will read. Those things are not optional. However, I want you to have an opportunity to find a genre, book series, or author that you really enjoy reading. The only way to become a better reader is to read more, and that will be much easier to do if you are interested in a book. If English isn’t your thing, take advantage of this opportunity. You will have opportunities throughout this year to use your self-selected works to earn class points.
2. Participate.
You will not earn participation points, and you will not learn, in this class just by showing up and staying awake. Answer questions. Volunteer to read out loud. Ask questions! Meet with me one-on-one. Engage in small group discussion. Our class will be as interesting as you make it. The more you speak up in class, the less I have to lecture, and the more you will enjoy this class.
4. Write for real
Put some effort into your writing. Don’t wait until the last minute. Take advantage of writing workshops with your peers. Take your drafts seriously. Meet with me about your writing. Revise carefully. If you view these writing assignments as an opportunity to learn and improve your skills rather than a paper to write for a grade, this class will be much more enjoyable.
Books We Will Be Reading.
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