American Literature

Junior English

 
Instructor:  Peggy Henderson Murphy

 
Weblog:  www.writingforfun.edublogs.org

 
E-mail address:

 
Journals:  We will journal/freewrite almost every day this year.  You will need a notebook to write in.  I prefer that you choose a journal that is basically the size of regular paper.  Each of you will be given a folder in the filing cabinet where you will keep your writing you may store your journal in the cabinet.  But keep in mind that your classmates will have access to the cabinet.  Although I would consider it an extreme breech of privacy to read someone else’s journal without permission you need to be aware of the possibility if you choose to leave your journal in the classroom. (Anyone found removing a journal from the cabinet that is not their own or reading someone else’s journal without the owners permission will loose 100 journaling points.)  Also, the journals must be retrieved from the cabinet BEFORE class begins.  If you do not retrieve your journal before class begins you will have to write in another notebook and transfer your writing into your journal at another time.  Loose pieces of paper stuck into journals will not be accepted.  Each journal entry must have a date written on it in ink.  At the end of the year all journal entries for the entire year will be turned in. 

 
Journal entries are worth 10 points each.  You are expected to write for the entire journaling time (5-7 minutes).  For even the slowest writers 5-7 minutes of writing should result approximately into a page of writing.  As you write regularly your quantity and quality will improve, but in the beginning just write what ever comes to mind. 

 
WEBLOG:  This year each of you will produce many pieces of writing.   Many of those pieces will be informal writings or drafts of possible polished pieces.  Those pieces that you choose to work on and present as a “finished” piece will be posted to your weblog.  You will each create a weblog that will be linked to class weblog listed above. 

 
Also on the class blog will be a copy of each assignment sheet and a summary of classroom events each day.  Each day a student will be assigned the job of recording the days events and then posting it to the blog on the next day of class.  If you are absent do not ask me what you missed.  READ THE BLOG!

 
What You Need To Know About Me

 
1.  I do not accept late work for any reason!  If an assignment sheet is given which states a due date then I expect you to turn in your assignment on time.  Let me reiterate I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE WORK FOR ANY REASON.  Know your schedule.  If you have a big game the night before the assignment is due think ahead.  If you are not going to be in school the day an assignment is due turn it in early.  You are juniors and I expect you to take responsibility for your own education.  Worst-case scenario:  You wake up the morning the big research paper is due and you are so sick you can’t get out of bed.  E-Mail the paper, get your best friend to pick it up and drop it off, pay your little brother to bring it to me.  Obviously if you are absent the day an assignment is given that must be turned in the next day or so you will be given an appropriate amount of time to complete the assignment.  However, an assignment given in advance of your absence DOES NOT entitle you to extra time.   Also remember if you are absent you can check the blog so that you will not get behind. 

 
2.  I do not want to hear the following excuses:

            I had a game last night

            My computer wasn’t working

            My printer ran out of ink

            The computer will not read my disk or memory key

            My dog eat it

            My little brother/sister tore it up

            I left it at home

All of these problems are the result of either poor planning or lack of motivation to find a solution.

 
3.  I will not loan books, pencils, pens, paper etc.  I return to:  You are juniors! Take responsibility for your own education.

 
4.  I am here to help you in anyway I can, but I will not do it for you.

 
5.  I believe that each and every one of you has the potential to be successful, but you must choose success.