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If you are having trouble accessing any document or file, please send me an email ASAP so that I can fix it.

Grammar & Composition is a course dedicated to helping you develop your writing, reading and critical thinking skills. The focus will be on composition. The study of grammar components, texts, vocabulary, and learning skills will be organized to maximize your written and verbal communication. You will have regular opportunities to write, revise, and edit your work. A portfolio of your written work will be maintained. Periodically, you will be required to conduct a thoughtful self-assessment of your progress as a writer, reader, and thinker.

“Our meaning as Americans lies less in which we spring from than in who we are in the process of becoming... The governing idea is that we are--America is--all possibility. Everything is open, unlimited; the Dream stretches endlessly forever toward the horizon,
the lure of ‘more’ and ‘better’ pulling us on. No matter what we accomplish, individually or collectively, it lies forever out of reach. Consequently, we can never wake up. We must remain, however self-consciously at times, however ironically, a nation of Dreamers.”
-Anthony Brandt, ‘The American Dream‘--History Of a Cliche.

OVERVIEW:
The goal of this honors course in American Literature is to expand students’ knowledge of the literary culture of this country and to improve their skills in writing essays and term papers. Towards this dual purpose we will be surveying a number of literary artists that have helped shape and reflect the American voice and the American identity. Students will be expected to take the ELA Regents Exam in June.

This is a transition year as we begin aligning our curriculum with Social Studies. The first semester will be a mixture of American and British literature. By second semester, we will immerse ourselves in British literature.

Announcement!
We were so into our Final Jeopardy game last Monday that I forgot to make an announcement. My period 2 class will be taught by Ms. Iorio, a student from Teachers College, Columbia University. I will still be in the room and available for help/tutoring, but she will be your primary teacher. Ms. Cantu, my student teacher from the fall, has completed her degree and will be pursuing a teaching career outside of LaGuardia. I will be resuming the teaching of 7th period.

Also, I will be presenting at our Open House for prospective LaGuardia students on February 17th. If ANY 10th grade student from either period 2 OR 7, want to help me--let me know. There will be snacks and EXTRA CREDIT available. I believe the time would be from 5-8 pm, in room 609.

Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Ms. Washburn