Advanced Composition
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Advanced Composition is designed to help prepare students for higher education by developing students’ skills for the ACT exam and focusing on academic writing. Students will be driven to increase their vocabulary, enhance their understanding of MLA format and grammatical rules, push their writing skills to new levels, and expand their minds.
NECESSARY MATERIALS:
- School handbook (student planner)
- Class binder divided into the following sections: MUG Shots, Vocabulary, Journal, Class Notes, and Work Space
- Loose-leaf paper for binder
- Pencils and colored pens (preferably red)
- Access to a computer with Word processing outside of class
(that includes using school computers on your own time)
FOCAL TOPICS:
- Grammar - Writing process - Peer-Editing
- Research skills - ACT preparation - Organization
FOCAL PAPERS:
- Scholarship/ACT - Demonstrative
- Persuasive - Informative/Resear
PAPER REQUIREMENTS: All assigned papers must adhere to the following rules:
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides - Font style: Times New Roman
- Font size: 12 - MLA formatting
- Titles: Centered, not bold
* Every paper will have a specific page requirement as well, which will be listed on the initial assignment description for each paper.
* Papers that require secondary sources must have a Works Cited page.
PAPER CORRECTIONS: Students must make revisions on their four graded papers until they have a clean final draft. Revisions may take multiple corrections; therefore, students are recommended to start revising as soon as they get each graded copy back. Revised papers and other writing elements will be turned in at the end of the semester in a written portfolio.
COURSE WORK LOAD:
Grades are weighted as follows: Semester grades are calculated as follows:
- Daily assignments 30% - Quarter 1 45%
- Quizzes/Tests 30% - Quarter 2 45%
- Formal Papers 40% - Semester Final 10%
GRADING SCALE:
95-100% A 86-88% B 77-79% C 68-70% D
92-94% A- 83-85% B- 74-76% C- 65-67% D-
89-91% B+ 80-82% C+ 71-73% D+ 0-64% F
LATE WORK: Because this course is designed to prepare students for college writing, it will be treated as such. As a result, all assignments need to be turned in at the beginning of class on the date they are due. Work turned in one day late will receive 50% of the grade earned. After the second day, missing work will receive 0%.
* Formal papers cannot be turned in late; therefore, they will receive a 0% if not turned in on the day they are due.
TARDINESS: All students receive 25 points at the beginning of each quarter for a punctuality grade; as a result, all students have a 100% for this “assignment.” The first tardy receives a warning. Every subsequent tardy is docked 5 points from the punctuality grade. A parent will be contacted on the third tardy. After the fifth tardy, the student will receive a 0% for his/her punctuality grade as well as an office referral for an after school detention for each following tardy.
CELL PHONES: Students who use the phone during class are to be considered disruptions to the learning process, so the phone or electronic device will be confiscated. Should a device be confiscated, it will be turned into the office to be picked up at the end of the school day. (Taken from the school handbook, page 20.)
NECESSARY MATERIALS:
- School handbook (student planner)
- Class binder divided into the following sections: MUG Shots, Vocabulary, Journal, Class Notes, and Work Space
- Loose-leaf paper for binder
- Pencils and colored pens (preferably red)
- Access to a computer with Word processing outside of class
(that includes using school computers on your own time)
FOCAL TOPICS:
- Grammar - Writing process - Peer-Editing
- Research skills - ACT preparation - Organization
FOCAL PAPERS:
- Scholarship/ACT - Demonstrative
- Persuasive - Informative/Resear
PAPER REQUIREMENTS: All assigned papers must adhere to the following rules:
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides - Font style: Times New Roman
- Font size: 12 - MLA formatting
- Titles: Centered, not bold
* Every paper will have a specific page requirement as well, which will be listed on the initial assignment description for each paper.
* Papers that require secondary sources must have a Works Cited page.
PAPER CORRECTIONS: Students must make revisions on their four graded papers until they have a clean final draft. Revisions may take multiple corrections; therefore, students are recommended to start revising as soon as they get each graded copy back. Revised papers and other writing elements will be turned in at the end of the semester in a written portfolio.
COURSE WORK LOAD:
Grades are weighted as follows: Semester grades are calculated as follows:
- Daily assignments 30% - Quarter 1 45%
- Quizzes/Tests 30% - Quarter 2 45%
- Formal Papers 40% - Semester Final 10%
GRADING SCALE:
95-100% A 86-88% B 77-79% C 68-70% D
92-94% A- 83-85% B- 74-76% C- 65-67% D-
89-91% B+ 80-82% C+ 71-73% D+ 0-64% F
LATE WORK: Because this course is designed to prepare students for college writing, it will be treated as such. As a result, all assignments need to be turned in at the beginning of class on the date they are due. Work turned in one day late will receive 50% of the grade earned. After the second day, missing work will receive 0%.
* Formal papers cannot be turned in late; therefore, they will receive a 0% if not turned in on the day they are due.
TARDINESS: All students receive 25 points at the beginning of each quarter for a punctuality grade; as a result, all students have a 100% for this “assignment.” The first tardy receives a warning. Every subsequent tardy is docked 5 points from the punctuality grade. A parent will be contacted on the third tardy. After the fifth tardy, the student will receive a 0% for his/her punctuality grade as well as an office referral for an after school detention for each following tardy.
CELL PHONES: Students who use the phone during class are to be considered disruptions to the learning process, so the phone or electronic device will be confiscated. Should a device be confiscated, it will be turned into the office to be picked up at the end of the school day. (Taken from the school handbook, page 20.)