Welcome to Human Nature in Literature! This website has been created to help you succeed in this class. Human Nature in Literature offers students an opportunity to read interesting and challenging works, and to explore your own ideas about the texts through discussion, artistic expression—including creative writing and visual arts—and analytical writing. The course content is intended to provide variety, as the authors you’ll study span several continents, and the works encompass the major literary genres—novel, poetry, short fiction, and drama. An important focus of the class is on improving your reading and writing skills through guided instruction, with emphasis on building working knowledge and engagement in the writing process (For juniors, the class provides a strong foundation for the work you’ll do in Senior English).

READING
Texts studied may include: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon;  Woman in the Dune, by Kobo Abe; Othello; “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” by Flannery O’Connor; “The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas,” by Ursula K. LeGuin; “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson, “Gift of the Magi,” by O’Henry; “A Worn Path,” by Eudora Welty. 

WRITING

You will engage in the writing process (prewriting/brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing) and create the following types of writing per Vermont Standards:               
Reading responses, response to literature,  personal essay (college essay optional),  poetry, narrative (optional).
     

PROJECTS
You will create a number of projects that will allow you to visually express your understanding of a novel or a short story using your creativity, from making a map to illustrate the importance of setting to the creation of a web page for a poem and poet of your choice.  Some projects will be self-selected and others will be assigned. 

ASSESSMENT

In-class writing activities, reading responses,     30%
     and other homework      
Major writing assignments                                 20%
Projects                                                              20%
Class participation/Student performance            20%
    per Effort and Attitude Rubric
Quizzes and tests                                                10%

    POLICY FOR LATE WORK:  All work is due at the beginning of class on the day for which it was assigned.  In-class writing assignments, reading responses, and other
    homework will not be accepted late. A detention will be given after third late homework or in-class assignment. Projects and major writing assignments (mostly response to text
    essays) will be marked down a letter grade for each day it is late. A detention will be assigned each day it is late.
    


STUDENT MATERIALS
1.  One three ring binder will need to be divided into sections according to the Binder Organization Guidelines.
2.  Loose-leaf Paper-- Assignments are to be done on loose-leaf, if handwritten.
3.  Pencil and pen-- Please use blue or black ink.
4. Thumb drive
If you are unable to get any of these materials, please ask Mr.Chapin!


EXPECTATIONS
1.  Ask questions whenever you need to.
2.  Come to class prepared and on time.
    NOTE: A detention will be assigned after three tardies, and each time thereafter.
3.  Please follow the most important life rule:  Respect everyone and everything in our room, yourself included. 
All other rules flow from this. (Thanks Mr. Deffner!)