Adolescent Fiction
Atteberry
Spring 2012
The primary subject of literature is and has always been
human emotion, values and beliefs.
John Gardner
General Information
Instructor
Phil Atteberry
Office: 305 McKinney Hall
Phone: 827-4458
E-mail: atteberr@.pitt.edu
Office Hours:
MWF 7:30-8:00, 11:00-12:00 (Frequently, 1:00-2:00)
TuTh 9:30-11:30 (Frequently 2:00-3:00)
Also by chance and appointment
Texts
Flip,by Martyn Bedford
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
City of Orphans, by Avi
Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins
Touching Spirit Bear, by Ben Mikaelsen
Ten Miles Past Normal, by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Bloody Jack, by L.A. Meyer
The Body of Christopher Creed, by Carol Plum-Ucci
Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen
BOOK TO BE DETERMINED
The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak
Course Focus
To explore the relationship between literature and life; to become better readers and wiser people.
Course Objectives
1. To become familiar with a variety of adolescent fiction.
2. To build a basic vocabulary of literary terms.
3. To learn and practice the rudiments of literary analysis.
4. To strengthen writing skills (both structural and mechanical).
5. To enjoy and find value in what we read.
Attendance Policy
Attendance is important. Almost always a direct relationship exists between grades and class attendance.
Therefore, each student will have three excused (not unexcused) absences. Students who miss more than that may have
their final grades lowered. Students with seven or more absences will have their final grades lowered. Students
with ten or more absences will not pass. I will take attendance at the beginning of each class period.
If you arrive after I have taken attendance, remind me to mark you present. I reserve the right, however, to
mark absent anyone who is habitually late or extremely late.
Also, please understand that attendance is not just physical but intellectual.
If you sleep in class, text, surf the net, catch up on your math homework, read Sports Illustrated (or even your history lesson), you will be marked absent.
Late Policy
Missed quizzes may not be made up. Tests should be taken on time. Papers are due on time.
Normally tests may not be taken late nor papers turned in late.
If you have an emergency (a genuinely desperate situation), see me and explain the
circumstances before the assignment is due. I will then decide whether to make accommodations. Do
not simply send in a late paper. Late papers without explanations will
not be graded. Also, I reserve the right not to accept papers by students
who have not attended class regularly. In other words, if you are not in
class to receive the assignment or hear discussions and explanations
of the assignment, I will likely not accept the paper.
Grades
Grade distribution will be as follows: quiz grade 25%, tests 35%, papers 25%, participation 10%.
We will have four tests. I will provide you with thorough study guides before each one.
The papers will be short (three to five typed pages) and will not involve research. The participation grade will be determined by both the amount and the quality of your participation.
Quizzes will occur frequently (virtually every day). They are on the Internet and you may look at them anytime. They will be turned in via email before class. Any quiz not turned in before class will not be accepted. Quizzes turned in on time will not be counted unless you attend class. To access quizzes, go to my web site at www.pitt.edu/~atteberr. Click "Literature" and follow the path.
Advice
Remember: Teaching is my responsibility, learning is yours. You will get as much out of this course as you put into it. Coming to class is important, but coming ready to learn is even more so. Read your lessons on time; do your homework; be alert; ask questions, and you will be successful. View this and other classes as opportunities. Work hard and make the most of them.
Office Hours
My office hours are listed above and posted on my office door. Please feel free to come by and see me anytime I can help you.
Note: The daily syllabus which follows is tentative. Alterations may occur as the semester progresses. Those will be announced in class, and you are responsible for knowing about them, even if you are not in class when they are made.
Return to Literature page
Return to home page