Welcome to 12th Grade IB Lit!

My name is Mr. Beddingfield.

This is my fifth year teaching high school English.

I formerly taught at Clarkston HS and North Atlanta HS.

My e-mail address is William_R_Beddingfield@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

My website (your new best friend) is http://amerlit2013.wordpress.com

My tutorial days are Thursday.

Things to know…

This is an EOCT course! :O

Classwork = 15%Homework = 10 %Projects = 20%Participation = 10%Writing = 10%Tests = 20%EOCT = 15%

First Semester Works…

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

First Semester Works…

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible

First Semester Works…

August Wilson’s Fences

Behavioral Expectations

Be seated and prepared for class when the bell rings.

No profanityOnly clear or mesh book bags in classNo cell phone or mp3/audio/cd player useNo food, drink, or groomingWear proper attire properly. No tank tops or

sunglasses.Follow the Student Code of Conduct and

Tucker School Policy.

Consequences

 First Offense: Verbal WarningSecond: Above + Parent NotificationThird Offense: Above + Detention + Signed

Infraction NoticeFourth Offense: Above + Administrative

Referral

Severe violations will earn immediate administrative referral.

Other Behavioral Stuff

10/10 Policy: Students are not allowed to leave the room in the first ten or in the last ten minutes of class.

Bathroom: Students are encouraged to use the restroom before or after class. Allowances will be made for emergencies. Students who abuse the privilege will lose it.

Tardiness: Students are locked out after the bell rings. Admittance requires students to show through the window a piece of paper that has their full name, the date, the period, the time, the number of tardies, and their reason for being late. They must sign the paper. After the fifth tardy, they will be assigned a 90-minute detention. If they do not serve it, a parent and the principal will be notified.

Academic Expectations

Consistent note-taking: Think with a pen in your hand. Open your notebook the moment you sit at your desk and take notes throughout the class period.

Consistent participation: Talking is a critical part of understanding. Listen actively, think critically, and speak thoughtfully—every class period.

Consistent review: You cannot master the material if you do not review the material. Review your notes and assignments and be prepared to show your understanding and insight.

Syllabus = First Grade!

Sign and date the last page of your syllabus.

Have your parents sign and date it.

Detach at the line and submit by Friday, August 16, 2013.

Syllabi will not be accepted after Tuesday, August 20, 2013.

This will your FIRST grade in class!

Introduce Yourself

Tell the class your name.

Say how long you’ve attended Tucker HS.

Tell us something interesting about yourself (a hobby, fun fact, notable skill you possess, etc.).

Tell us what your goal is this year.

Today’s Essential Question

What is “American” literature?

What makes something “American”? How we define what we think of as “American”??

Try and go beyond just geography. If you didn’t know who wrote a book or directed a movie, how might you still guess that it was made by an American??

Discuss this question with your groupmates and jot down a few ideas that you are willing to share with the class.

Opening

“Shug came over and she and Sofia hug. Shug say, ‘Girl, you look like a good time, you do.’

That when I notice that Shug talk and act sometimes like a man. Men say stuff like that to women, ‘Girl you look like a good time.’ Women always talk bout hair and health. How many babies living or dead, or got teef. Not bout how some woman they hugging on look like a good time.”

1. What does the author’s use of dialect accomplish in this excerpt? What traits of the speaker’s can you infer from the way she speaks?

2. What is the speaker’s attitude toward Shug? Does the speaker like Shug or not? How does the speaker feel about women? What does the speaker’s attitude toward Shug and women tell you about her?