MYTHOLOGY &

FOLKLORE COURSE
SYLLABUS 2014

Teacher: Ms. Shah Course Description: Mythology and Folklore is a semester-long

Room: C209 course that focuses on mythical stories from different cultures. It will use
Phone: (520) 836-8500 x3649 short stories, videos, audios, and a variety of other media tools in order
to teach students the literary content. Grammar, vocabulary, and essays
Email: hshah@cguhsd.org will be reviewed and further mastery created. The class will be heavily
Website: http://www.hshahteaches.com driven by discussion, reader theaters, community learning, projects, and
Office Hours: by appointment journals (written responses). There will also be a mini-research paper.

The course will include but is not limited to mythical and folkloric stories
from the following cultures: Native American, Japanese, Chinese, Indian,
Hawaiian, Celtic, Norse, Greek/Roman
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The course will follow Common Core Curriculum (for more information, please visit: http://www.corestandards.org). An
overview of skills that will be focused upon are:
• Textual analysis, including providing evidence and citing • Research, gather, and synthesis resources and materials
sources. from varied sources.
• Determining themes, as well as analyzing impact of literary • Support an argument and construct a thesis statement in
elements and author intentions to a story and theme. parallel structure.
• Analyze and compare/contrast myths from different cultures. • Go through the Writing Process to strengthen written work.
• Connotative meanings and denotative meanings. • Use technology, outside sources, and multi-modal sources
• Speaking and listening skills. to present ideas and information.
• Write, identify, and understand expository, informative, and • Discuss and share input using collaborative skills.
functional texts.

GRADING SYSTEM:
Grades will be computed on a point system consisting of the traditional letter grades:
A: 100-90% D: 69-60% Please Note: A zero is recorded for each missing assignment and will remain
B: 89-80% F: 59% and below a zero until the work is submitted. If an assignment is turned in late, it will go
C: 79-70% on the bottom of the pile and the zero may remain until it is graded.

CLASSROOM RULES:
I expect my students to be leaders in their own learning. What you get out of this class depends on what you put into it.
I cannot “make you” learn anything. We are a learning community! Come into class with an inquisitive and open mind,
and a smile! ☺
1. Be here and on time. “On time” means in the classroom when the tardy bell rings. If you are more than 10
minutes late, the tardy becomes an unexcused absence.
2. Be respectful. Respect yourself, your classmates, and the teacher; respect the room we are using and clean up
after yourself. Raise your hand if you have a request and wait to be called upon to begin talking. The teacher
dismisses the class, not the bell. Students may only pack up when the teacher gives permission.
3. Be responsible and control your outcome. Complete work with honesty, effort, and thoroughness. Use
your planner/calendar and check the whiteboards for assignments. Turn in neat and complete work by the due
date and seek the teacher’s help if you do not understand course content or objectives.
4. Be safe. Be conscious of your choices and decisions. Purposefully choose things so that the results will not
endanger you, your classmates, or your teachers.
Mythology & Folklore Course Syllabus 2014 – Page 1 of 4
 5. Be prepared for class! Bring your classroom supplies. If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to get the
work that has been listed on the agenda. Check the “Pick Up Missed Work” folders first. If you are still confused,
ask the teacher (during a time that does not interrupt class).

FOOD POLICY:
In order to keep the classroom clean and accessible to all the students and the teacher, uncovered drinks and food of any
type is not permitted in the classroom. Students may bring a water or soda/drink bottle with a leak-proof lid. Documented
medical needs will be addressed on an individual basis.

DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES (all subject to severity of offense)

st
1 offense: The “look” or a verbal warning; redirection.
nd
2 offense: Behavior Action Plan written and signed by student and teacher; call home.
rd
3 offense: Discipline Referral and call home.

ABSENCES / MAKE-UP / RETAKE POLICY

You are responsible for making up your own work.
You may look in the “Pick-up Missed Work” class folders for missed work according to the day (they are located
near the teacher’s desk), or get notes from a classmate.
Another resource to check what you missed is the class website. The URL is http://www.hshahteaches.com. It is
usually updated by 6:00 PM.
To make up missed instruction, student must schedule an appointment with the teacher or come in for help during
Reteach.
For all excused (documented) absences, the student has the same amount of time missed from class in which to
make up work (e.g. 1 day missed = 1 day to turn in work, retake tests, etc.). Tests MUST be made up within 1
week of excused absence, or the score will become a zero.
If the student has an unexcused absence, the student will not receive credit for late work.
Weekly assessments and tests (except for Pre-Tests, Midterms, and Finals) with a score of “D” or “F” can
be retaken once for a better score. The higher score will be used.
Excessive absences and/or tardies will result in parent contact.

LATE WORK/ACCEPTABLE WORK

You will be given three “Late Homework Passes” each quarter.
These passes can be used to turn in work up to two days past the deadline and still receive full credit.
If work is not turned in with a “Late Homework Pass” or a note from a parent/guardian, I DO NOT ACCEPT IT! I
will not issue new passes if you lose yours.
If you have an excused absence, you can turn in work without it being late (please see “Absences Policy” above).
The Late Homework Passes DO NOT give you an automatic score; you must still complete the assignment in
order to receive credit. A Pass simply allows you to turn in an assignment late and still receive credit.
In order for me to accept the work, the following criteria must be met: All work must be neatly written. The
handwriting must be legible; the paper shouldn’t be torn or stained, etc. Only notes, worksheets, and rough drafts
will be accepted in pencil, everything else must be written in blue or black pen (unless otherwise stated). Your
full name (first and last) MUST appear on the top of any work. You will also lose points if you do not head
your paper correctly.

EXTRA CREDIT:
• Extra credit will occasionally be available.
• Early turn-in is available on some homework assignments (these will be announced in class), and will add 10%
of the final score achieved on the homework as extra credit to the assignment. All early turn-in assignments
must be handed to Ms. Shah DIRECTLY, unless otherwise specified, in order for the extra credit to count.

RETEACH / AIMS PREP:

• Information will be given during class about this year’s Reteach and AIMS Prep policies.

Mythology & Folklore Course Syllabus 2014 – Page 2 of 4

CLASSROOM SUPPLIES
Students will be required to obtain* and bring the following materials for this class by _________________________:
• 1” 3-ring binder
• College ruled, hole punched paper (or college ruled notebook with perforated *NOTE: If you are unable
paper) to afford any of these
supplies, please let me
• 1 pen (blue or black ink) and 1 pencil with eraser know or ask your parents
• Highlighter (Recommended: 3 highlighters in different colors) to let me know, and we’ll
• Kleenex/tissue box or hand sanitizer bottle (optional) arrange to get you
prepared!
• Students may need to bring materials for classroom projects during the school year.

Class Contract: Academic Integrity

Plagiarism Policy
Definition
Plagiarism is defined as claiming or using another’s work as your own without proper attribution (credit). This act includes
the copying of information word-for-word from any source, changing a few or some of the words by inserting
synonyms, and/or representing an idea as your own without citing the source. Acts of plagiarism do not always have to be
complete essays, reports, or projects, but a sentence, phrase, or two that are taken from another’s work and not properly
cited. Plagiarism is also presenting someone else’s writing, ideas, music, or photography as one’s own without crediting
sources.

How serious is this problem?

“A study of almost 4,500 students at 25 schools, suggests cheating is . . . a significant problem in high school - 74% of the
respondents admitted to one or more instances of serious test cheating and 72% admitted to serious cheating on written
assignments. Over half of the students admitted they have engaged in some level of plagiarism on written assignments
using the Internet.” ~ Based on the research of Donald L. McCabe, Rutgers University

Two Types of Plagiarism

1. Intentional: This form of plagiarism on an assignment will receive an automatic zero, a note in their academic
record, and disciplinary action to be determined by the administrative team. Teacher will attempt to contact the
parent or guardian of the student. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Copying a friend’s work
Buying or borrowing papers
Cutting and pasting blocks of text from sources without documenting (copy and pasting etc)
Media “borrowing” without documentation
Using direct quotes, but not placing them in quotations
Using information from a source, but not crediting the original source
2. Unintentional: This form of plagiarism on an assignment will receive an automatic zero, a possible note in their
academic file and possible disciplinary action if deemed a serious offense by the teacher of record. Teacher will
attempt to contact the parent or guardian of the student. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Careless paraphrasing: where most of the words are those of the student.
Poor documentation
Quoting excessively
Failure to use your own “voice”

Rationale for academic integrity:

1) When you copy, you cheat yourself. You limit your own 5) Citing makes it possible for your readers to locate
learning. your source.
2) The consequences are not worth the risks! 6) Education is not an “us vs. them” game! It’s about
3) It is only right to give credit to authors whose ideas you use. learning to learn!
4) Citing gives authority to the information you present. 7) Cheating is unethical behavior!

Mythology & Folklore Course Syllabus 2014 – Page 3 of 4

Please complete the attached “Class Contract” with your Parent/Guardian and turn it in to me by: __________________

Class Contract
Ms. Shah – Mythology & Folklore

As a student, I understand the above policy and while in Ms. Shah’s class and completing assignments for her
class, I will pursue my academic studies with integrity and honesty knowing that if I violate the classroom rules
and procedures, as well as the plagiarism policy further action may be necessary. I have read the Syllabus and
agree to comply with its expectations. Refusal to sign the Class Contract is still taken as an agreement to the
class rules and procedures. I understand that changes to the Syllabus may be made and I will be verbally
informed.

________________________________ _______________________________________________
Student’s Name (print) Student’s Signature

Parent/Guardian Contact Information:

___________________________________ ____________________________________
Parent/Guardian FULL NAME (print) Relationship to student

___________________________________ ___________________________________
Daytime Phone Number Evening Phone Number

______________________________________________________________________________
E-Mail Address(es) (if any)

When is the best time to call? Between the hours of _______________AM / PM___

What is the primary language spoken in the household? __________________________

PERMISSION TO VIEW VIDEO CLIPS AND / OR MOVIES RELATED TO CLASS STUDY:

Occasionally, we will view videos to support our curriculum. Parent signature is required for students to view
PG-13 movie features and all video clips longer than 10 minutes. Please be assured that the teacher will use
professional discretion in the choice of these video materials, and if you have any questions, please feel free to
inquire via phone or email. R-rated movies will require separate permission slips, which will be provided to the
student if/as necessary.

As a parent I have read and understand the plagiarism policy, and will do my best to support
an academic environment that is based upon honest, integrity, and excellence. I consent to
my student watching PG-13 level movies and/or video clips in the classroom. I have read and
understand the syllabus, and agree to contact Ms. Shah with any concerns.

_____________________________________________________ ______________________
Parent Signature Date

_____________________________________________________ ______________________
Printed Parent / Guardian Name Relationship to student

(Continued on the back page.)

Mythology & Folklore Course Syllabus 2014 – Page 4 of 4