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JJ Botta's Homepage! Stop Making Excuses. Successful People Do What Unsuccessful People Are Unwilling To Do! General Paper 2011/2012:         Summer Reading: One Writer's Beginnings by Eudora Welty. Students are expected to read this book BEFORE the start of the First Quarter session. There is no summer written assignment, but students will be given an assignment based on the summer reading during the first week of class. General Paper Syllabus – 2011-2012 JJ Botta, Instructor Cambridge University program for the General Paper exam is primarily a writing course and covers a wide range of topics. Students will learn to synthesize information. These topics are divided into two main themes for the year: 1st   Semester: Pop Culture and Technology 2nd Semester: Political Science and Current Events General Rules for Assignments: Students will submit four major research-based writing projects for the year. All projects must communicate ideas effectively, draw inferences and conclusions from a variety of sources, and make cross-cultural references. Students will focus on improvement of writing skills with each project. Students are required to keep a Portfolio of all work completed in this course. The Portfolio will contain all class notes taken and all papers prepared for each assigned topic. The Portfolio must NOT contain work from any other course. Except for the major projects, which must be typed in MLA format, all work MUST be done on loose leaf paper. Major Course Topics: Defining Pop Culture Defining World Culture Cultural Values and Viewpoints Effect of Social Networking on Culture Defining Art and Exploring its Effect on Culture The Effect of Film on World Culture The Importance of Museums to Culture Philosophical Thought and Counter-Cultures Defining Technology Technology and History Technology and Globalization Effect of Medical Technology Technology and the Environment Technological Trend Predictions Technology and Philosophy New Technologies Defining Political Science Political History Political Philosophy Exploring World Politics World Government War International Relations Future Political Trends Defining Current Events News World Events v. Local Events Multi-cultural Perspectives on Current Events World Continents Nuclear Powers Terrorism Censorship Socratic Seminars Students will participate in a series of student-led class discussions designed to enhance their learning experience. The following questions will be considered for discussion: In your opinion, what was the most important form of art or music to emerge in the 20th Century, and why was it important? Why does graffiti appeal to so many people, and why does it offend others? Do you agree or disagree that good books are rarely turned into good films? If writings from the past and writings from other countries do not seem relevant to us, why should we bother to study them? How does technology impact human life positively or negatively? In what ways does technology impact world economics? In what ways do you believe technology might be used inappropriately? Why do you suppose some cultures have rapidly advanced technologically, while others have advanced technologically at a much slower pace? Political science is a social science concerned with the theory and practice of politics. What are the general principles about the way the world of politics works? What is the relationship between modern politics and philosophical thought? Do you agree or disagree that political science is essentially a study of human behavior? Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership of capital. Socialism is an economic system based on state ownership of capital.  Which system is better for the USA in the 21st Century? The term current events is often defined as “those events and issues of interest currently found in the news.” News is often defined as “the communication of information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience. Are the terms news and current events synonymous? Is the newspaper a dying media form? What do you believe is meant by the concept of newsworthiness? In your opinion, what has been the most significant current event of the first decade of the 21st century? Other Assignments: Students will receive specific directions for each of the four major writing projects, and the directions will be thoroughly reviewed in class. Students will be asked to write on various topics each week to assess their individual writing skills. Topics will be assigned as required. 10th Grade Standard 2011-2012:         Summer Reading: Choose ONE book from the following list. Students are expected to read this book BEFORE the start of the First Quarter session. There is no summer written assignment, but students will be given an assignment based on the summer reading during the first week of class: 1. The Hunger Games Series (choose one) by Suzanne Collins         The Hunger Games         Catching Fire         Mockingjay 2. King of the Screw Ups by K.L. Going 3. Romiette and Julio by Sharon Draper 4. The Compound by S.A. Bodeen 5. Crackback by John Coy 6. The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez bby Alan Lawrence Sitomer 7. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien 8. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 9. Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel 10 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 11. The Greatest Coach Ever by Tony Dungy, David Robinson, et al. 10th Grade Standard Syllabus – 2011-2012 JJ Botta, Instructor Pursuant to the Florida Sunshine State Standards, this course will focus on: Reading, Writing, and Grammar Skills Poetry, Prose, and Drama General Rules for Assignments: Students will submit four major research-based writing projects for the year. All projects must communicate ideas effectively, draw inferences and conclusions from a variety of sources, and make cross-cultural references. Students will focus on improvement of reading, writing, and grammatical skills with each project. Students are required to keep a Portfolio of all work completed in this course. The Portfolio will contain all class notes taken and all papers prepared for each assigned topic. The Portfolio must NOT contain work from any other course. Except for the major projects, which must be typed, all work MUST be done on loose leaf paper. Major Course Topics: Author’s Perspective Author’s Purpose Author’s Point of View The Short Story Essay Writing Thesis Statements Introductions Main Idea Inferences Drawing Conclusions Summarizing Transitions Topic Sentences Paragraph Building Paraphrasing Identifying Relevant Details Adding Interest to Writing Supporting Sentences Relationships within Text Cause and Effect Comparison and Contrast Order of Importance Writing Conclusions Details and Context Facts vs. Opinions Validity and Reliability of Texts Writing about Literature Elements of Poetry Synthesizing Information Elements of Drama Elements of Prose The Novel Socratic Seminars Students will participate in a series of student-led class discussions designed to enhance their learning experience. The following questions will be considered for discussion: Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground? Are the stories of the past relevant to today’s society? "The trouble with life isn't that there is no answer. It's that there are so many answers." "Everyone must row with the oars he has." -- English proverb. What does this mean? Has technology adversely affected reading and writing proficiency? In what ways does technology impact world economics? In what ways do you believe technology might be used inappropriately? Do you agree that “"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body"? "Beware of a wolf in sheep's clothing." – Aesop. What does this mean? "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." -- Chinese proverb. Do you agree? "We may all have come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now." -- Martin Luther King Jr. What does this mean? "Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration." -- Thomas Edison. What does this mean to you? "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the guy Who'll decide where you go." -- Dr. Seuss. Discuss this poem. Reading English is more difficult than writing English. Do you agree? Rock ‘n’ Roll is the best kind of music. Do you agree? Television is the leading cause of violence in today’s society. Do you agree? Other Assignments: Students will receive specific directions for each of the four major writing projects, and the directions will be thoroughly reviewed in class. Students will be asked to write on various topics each week to assess their individual writing skills. Topics will be assigned as required. Students will also focus weekly on improvement of their reading skills, especially reading comprehension. Videos Check out this terrific video!  Did You Know? Cornell Notes video!  You Can't Study This! Permission Forms & Class Rules: St. Augustine High School 2011-2012 Class Rules and Permission Slips Instructor: Mr. JJ Botta         -  E-mail: bottaj@stjohns.k12.fl.us Appointment Times: 8:30-9:00 am & 3:45-4:00 pm. All appointments must be arranged in advance. Classroom Rules: All students are expected to adhere to the county and school regulations listed in the SAHS Student Handbook and the county-issued Code of Conduct Handbook. These regulations include dress code violations, and also prohibit cell phones, iPads, iPods, musical devices, and eating & drinking (except water) in the classroom. All school and county policies are enforced. Students are expected to show respect for their teachers, their fellow students, their school, and themselves, and are expected to follow the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. Grading: The grading process will be based on a combination of each student’s performance in all ORAL and WRITTEN work, including but not limited to Writing Portfolios, Academic Projects, Class Participation, and Examinations. Some assignments will be worth more points than other assignments, depending on their length, difficulty, and importance. All assignments are due on the date specified by the instructor or points will be deducted from the assignment grade. STUDENTS MAY NOT LEAVE WORK ON THE TEACHER’S DESK WITHOUT PERMISSION. STUDENTS MUST HAND ASSIGNMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE TEACHER OR THEY WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED SUBMITTED. Attendance & Make-up Work: It is NOT possible to make up an absence. Only assignments can be made up, not class experiences. All students are responsible for making arrangements with the teacher for submission of make-up work. Students with excused absences will receive full credit. Students with unexcused absences will receive 50% credit for their late assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for make-up tests or submission of make-up work WHEN THE STUDENT RETURNS TO CLASS, and make-up tests MUST be taken OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME. I have read the above policies, understand them, and agree to abide by them. ____________________                           ___________________                            ________   Clearly Printed Name                                   Student Signature                                      Date                                                           Parent/Guardian Permission slip: I hereby give permission for my son/daughter to view G, PG and PG-13 rated movies and documentaries in English class. ___________________                                            _________     Parent/Guardian                                                    Date MLA Format: mla owl guidelines.pdf