Course Syllabus

Course: World Literature, 2nd semester

Freeman's Email: jennifer.freeman@jenksps.org

Using Canvas: The Home page in Canvas will show this page, the syllabus, and any assignments, quizzes, or discussions below. Notice the tabs menu on the left side of your screen. You can also use this to locate assignments, quizzes, and discussions. You will need to access the Announcements tab from time to time to see the detailed schedule for the week.

Literature: Dante's Inferno, Theories of Relativity

Films: What Dreams May Come (1998), With Honors (1994)

Assignments: Artifacts #1-10

1. Obituary: 

Due Dates: You will have enough class time to work on assignments during class. However, if an assignment isn't finished during class, a student is expected to complete the assignment as homework outside of class. Assignments can be submitted for grading through Canvas and the submission window will be one week. It cannot be turned in after the final submission date.

Tests & Quizzes: All tests and quizzes will be available in Canvas. Most often, they will be graded by computer immediately upon completion and a score given. Tests and quizzes missed to due absences, etc. may be made up for up to one week after the due date. After that, the test or quiz can no longer be taken.

Daily Grades: A grade will be given each day based on attendance, behavior, productivity, attitude, and coherence to school policy. For example, if a student is absent or sleeps through class, they may not receive the daily grade for that particular day. Daily grades are 10 points/day. Students in In-House Suspension can only achieve up to 70% each day on the Daily Grade if they are marked as present in the attendance records.

Classroom Policy: 

1. Cell phones are allowed in class, but should not be used during instruction including movies or powerpoints.
2. No food, whatsoever. Honestly, it's rude to eat in front of others without food and during class, even in college, unless it's an organized potluck. You will never see me eat during a class unless it is a special occassion and there is enough for all. Drinks are allowed only if it has a cover (like bottled beverages from the vending machine, for example). Please abide by this rule. Don't make me take your food and drink because you chose ignore it.
3. Laptops: log off every time you're finished using one and make sure you plug it back in to charge for the next user. If you borrow a mouse, return it. If something is wrong with your laptop, report it. If you look at or partake in inappropriate use of the laptops, you will lose your privileges. Inappropriate use can be using the laptop for anything other than it was intended such as gaming, videos, surfing when you're supposed to be working, etc.
4. No vulgarity or profanity. Vulgarity constitutes inappropriate discussion, not necessarily bad language.
5. No sleeping. Truthfully, if all your work is done in EVERY class, I probably won't harp on you for sleeping. Just know, though, that those students who have their lives completely together with nothing to do in ANY class, rarely exist. You're probably not one of them. We can always find something to do to occupy our time or better ourselves. Study, read a book, a newspaper, help another student, off to assist a teacher, draw or doodle, get ahead on your assignments, ask for extra credit, etc. There is no such thing as boredom, only BORING people. Don't be boring.
6. Clean up after yourself and take care of our learning environment. If you leave a mess for others to clean up, that's a passive aggressive way of saying "You are lower than me and I expect you to take responsibility for my messes." Your classmates are your peers and your equals, and I am your teacher--we're not here to pick up after you. It's insulting and degrading to think we're going to be okay with that.
7. Bathroom breaks and personal errands are intended to be before and after class. I'm not a stickler on this one, but if you're the type of student who needs to leave class every day, especially more than once a class period, we're going to have a problem. Either you have a medical condition that I need to be aware of that requires you to use the bathroom facilities more than once in a 70 minute period, or you're not using your time wisely on your breaks. Please don't make me start a sign-in and out sheet, or link Daily Grades to the amount of times you leave the classroom. It's insulting... to you and me.
8. Be responsible for all make up work. If you're absent, no matter the reason, it is you're responsibility to stay on top of what you missed and what you need to make up. By "stay on top of," I mean finishing your makeup work in a timely manner. Don't expect to make up work weeks after it was due, especially without some kind of penalty. Life doesn't work that way, and neither does this class.
9. Be kind to the property in the classroom. Some of the things in here belong to the school. Our taxes pay for them. Some of the things in here belong to me personally or were student-crafted and has sentimental value. This is my second home. Respect it. I would like to be able to keep my room fun and unique. I can't do that if students disrespect the decor, vandalize the desks and books, and trash the room. Please don't make me resort to boring, grey walls.
10. Try! Come to class with a willingness to learn and better yourself. Have a productive attitude when you walk into the building. We all have off days. We all have personal issues outside of here, but JAC is your ticket to success in life. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here. Don't be lazy. Lack of effort comes across like you don't care about this program or your future. I can't care about your grades, your education, and your success more than you do. Help me help you!