CONTEMPORARY ISSUES ELECTIVE: 2018-19 - Oakland School for the Arts
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Google Classroom Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTYwNzk1MzYxMTVa
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES ELECTIVE: 2018-19
“Mental fight means thinking against the current, not with it. It is our business to puncture gas bags and discover the
seeds of truth.” Author – Virginia Woolf
Instructor: Mr. Rosenberg (Mr. R) OSA phone: (510) 873-8800 EXT: 8507
Email: drosenberg@oakarts.org Blog - http://teachers.oakarts.org/~drosenberg/
Course Description:
In keeping with OSA’s tradition of high academic standards, this course engages students with contemporary
issues and multitude of texts and media in order to prepare them for the expectations in OSA’s High School
and in college. Through our study of these contemporary events and breaking news, which are representative
of global regions, perspectives, and varying genres the class will develop a deeper understanding of the world
around them. To enhance our metacognitive understanding, we will study these works in the context of the
larger framework and subcategories introduced in quarter#1. The class sequences are meant to hone
metacognitive skills through independent research, leading to insightful discussions and written work. These
assignments and the built in freedom within a solid framework will enrich our overall perspectives and ability
to draw informed/astute critiques of the world constantly changing around us.
My approach to to this course is to provide the critical thinking tools and framework for students to
build their own opinions and create a safe intellectual space for them to come together and discuss their
viewpoints with respect and patience. I want to foster these skills for incoming freshman to approach their high
school experience, allowing each student to form their own opinions. In keeping with this philosophy, class
activities will range far beyond lecture and discussion. Every student is expected to participate in
dramatizations, presentations, debates, and other group activities designed to bring the content to life. Students
will also be required to study the connections between geography, history, culture, and economics. In addition
to the term paper, students will write impromptu essays modeled from AP prompts (format), as well as
informal assignments with options such as poems, creative writing, speeches, journal entries, editorials, and
reviews. To aid students in the development of a fluid command of written English, we will review sentence
structure and introduce new vocabulary and terms words bi-weekly (this will likely happen on a daily basis
organically). However, my goal is not merely to prepare students for a test or future classes, but to awaken in
each student a love to work for a cause they can passionately support and promote. This requires a brief
overview of many regions, geographic information, and international political background to enrich the context
of areas of study. College and career preparation exercises will be integrated into the course framework to
prepare students for the college/employment application process, aid them in deciding their college lists and/or
career paths, gathering important information (what is expected to receive letters of recommendation,
transcripts, important dates, scholarships, FAFSA, EOP, etc…), career choices, and extracurricular
opportunities and community involvement. This course is not required, but was your choice so I am excited!
Course Objectives:
1) To develop the ability to identify and analyze contemporary issues drawing sophisticated parallels
2) To understand and appreciate the interplay between the aforementioned topics in stated in #1.
3) To undertake close readings and daily research, perceiving connections between geography/history/society
4) To develop fluency in complex discussions, including working in groups and the class as a whole.
5) To develop a mature writing style employing syntactical variety, appropriate rhetorical strategies and
sophisticated diction while maintaining an authentic voice.
6) To develop a personal speaking skills, listening to alternative views, and applying research to support claims.
7) To increase and spark students to actively inform their perspectives about contemporary issues.
Mr. Rosenberg
9th Grade Contemporary Issues Elective 1Google Classroom Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTYwNzk1MzYxMTVa
8) Through writing and reading, to discover and confront issues and questions that are generally important to
you, and in this way grow to respect the life of the mind and intellectual endeavor and MOST
IMPORTANTLY CREATE AND PROVIDE a space for students to DIGEST and DISCUSS current events
in relation to their lives (with tolerance and respect for differing beliefs) and their futures.
9) Using project based learning to bring the material/issue/region to our own lives, experiences, and era.
Materials Needed:
A 3-ring binder, complete with regular-sized lined paper and a blue or black pen that writes clearly. Essays,
poems, articles, research docs, and other formal writing will returned in the classroom box by my desk and
you must keep documents in your own personal writing portfolio. Your writing portfolio will represent a
portion of your grade at the end of each semester, so it is important that you keep all of your graded writing
assignments, important articles, research documents/links, and notes. If you take an assignment home to
show your parents, please do not forget to bring it back as even one lost or misplaced paper could hurt your
final grade considerably.
Course Requirements: (SEE STUDENT HANDBOOK)
Since all of you have been in school for many years, you know how to behave properly in the classroom.
However, here is a short list of expectations to refresh your mind: Remember this is High School!
• attend class regularly and be part of the discussion
• if you have an excused absence = OSA school policy (exempt for the amount of time you were absent)
• missed tests and quizzes will be administered at lunch or after school (BY APPOINTMENT IN ROOM).
*NO UNEXCUSED LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.
• be prompt and ready to have productive discussion about difficult topics
• be in your seat, ready to work, when the bell rings – Focus on the content (Contemporary Issues)
• homework is due immediately after the bell rings; please pass it up to the head of the row.
• come prepared for learning and listening (*especially to different perspectives)
• bring your binder, pen, books and completed assignments to each class.
• chronically unprepared students will have their parents and art instructors contacted.
• turn in assignments on time and depict depth of thought and insightful connections
• due dates will be marked on the weekly calendar and the daily agenda posted on the board
• in an emergency, you may request an extension before a deadline on an essay.
• group projects must be presented on the assigned day *(even if a group member is absent)
• know and follow class rules
• demonstrate academic integrity at all times (do not cheat, copy or plagiarize)
• please be kind, courteous and respectful of each other's opinions – this may be difficult at times!
• please turn off your cell phone before entering class or SILENT MODE. DO NOT DISTRACT.
• please do not use class time to complete work for other classes
Grading: NOTE - Skills Based Grading
Mr. Rosenberg
9th Grade Contemporary Issues Elective 2Google Classroom Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTYwNzk1MzYxMTVa
¶ My philosophy of grading is very simple. I ¶ The number of points for any particular
believe every student is an "A" student until assignment depends upon its length and
that student proves to me that this is not the difficulty. Quarter and final grades are based
case. This is not to say that my expectations of on a percentage of the total number of points.
you are not high – they are. It's just that I Assignments not submitted or presented are
believe you are all capable of excellent work, graded as "0," which means that it damages
all of the time. Please don't prove me wrong. As the grade average to ignore an assignment.
far as nuts and bolts: the grading for this class is Tentative breakdown of points/grades (subject
based on a point/percentage system: to change):
89.6% to 100% A range • Vocabulary and Geography Development 15%
79.6% to 89.5% B range
69.6% to 79.5% C range • College and Career Readiness 10%
59.6% to 69.5% D range • Critical Reading and Research 25%
*Students who drop below a C- will have a parent • Presentation and Speaking Skills 25%
and art teacher contacted if they do not reach 69.6%
• Writing Techniques and Analysis 25%
Sign up for APPOINTMENTS: Made for meetings during Office Hours Wednesday at lunch
• Please make an appointment for any specific meetings on the board and show up!
• *Contact me directly, erase your name from the office hours board in room and/or Email to cancel.
• All make up work must be excused and completed within the allotted time.
General Major Assignments and Coursework (THIS IS A DISCUSSION BASED ELECTIVE)
• Teach 2 formal Major Final Lessons S#1 and S#2 – Culmination of the course with “Twist”
• Formal and Informal Assessment(s) – homework and quizzes are considered assessments.
• Research and Discussion – research, analyze, and discuss events and material presented in class.
• Socratic Seminars – Student led discovery that is facilitated and executed 100% by class.
• Creative Projects, Written Reflections that connect projects with material and present to class.
• Vocabulary Development, Research of Multi-Source Documents, Incorporating MLA standards.
DATES:
QUARTER#1 COURSE OVERVIEW/FRAMEWORK – World Events and Identifying our place and role.
QUARTER#2 THE ISSUES - Current, Historical, Political, Social, Environmental, Technological & our own
QUARTER#3 STUDENTS BASED CONTENT – Research and discussion based on Semester#1 format.
QUARTER#4 PROJECT BASED LEARNING – Future Forward, Building Artistic Bridges, & Teach lesson
SKILLS: Persuasive Essay Writing/Debate/Peer Collaboration/Supporting Claims/Research/Speaking
THEMES: Race, Health, Media, Arts, Religion, Personal Narratives, Evolving Perspectives,
GRADEBOOK ATTENDANCE CODES:
AB = Absent; student is not in class and work can be made up in allotted time (Must be Excused)
M = Missing; CANNOT be made up for credit UNLESS it has been excused.
P = Pending; Can be made up for credit
T = Unexcused Tardy; Cannot be made up for credit
TBR = To Be Returned (many possible reasons – typically to be redone/typed due to name/format issue/off topic)
Plagiarism and other cheating
Mr. Rosenberg
9th Grade Contemporary Issues Elective 3Google Classroom Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTYwNzk1MzYxMTVa Plagiarism is taken seriously in all assignments. You should know what it is and that it is grounds for a zero on work. Plagiarism is to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own, to use (another's production) without crediting the source, to commit literary theft, to present as new and original idea or product derived from an existing source. In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward. If you feel there might be a chance that you are plagiarizing, ask me. Reading/Research List – General Sources to Inform Daily Discussions and Support Assertions/Writing Contemporary Issues 9th Grade Elective 2018-19 Please return this Syllabus Acknowledgement Form no later Friday of Week #1 (for credit) STUDENT By signing this I acknowledge that I have read the course syllabus, and that I agree to follow classroom rules and expectations. Student Name___________________________________________________ Student Signature________________________________________________ PARENT/GUARDIAN By signing this I acknowledge that I have read the course syllabus. Parent/Guardian Name_________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature_____________________________________________ Phone Number_________________________________________________ Email_______________________________________________ Mr. Rosenberg 9th Grade Contemporary Issues Elective 4
Google Classroom Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTYwNzk1MzYxMTVa
I prefer to be contacted by: Phone ! Email !
Please note:
As many of you know, California public schools have been hit hard by the state budget crisis.
As a result, parent donations of school supplies are especially important.
I have created a “wish list” of supplemental supplies such as student scissors, lined paper, construction
paper, poster paper, markers, pencils, crayons, whiteboard markers, Lysol disinfectant spray, tissue, hand
sanitizer, post-its, and Pilot Precise V5 Roller Pens (my personal grading pen of choice).
☺ Any donations you are able to make would be greatly appreciated ☺
*Though I will not be reaching out to parents with minor behavioral concerns, for a student to
receive a letter of recommendation as a senior exemplary conduct is expected. If at any point
you would like an update as to the status of your student's progress in these regards, please do
not hesitate to contact me.
*OPTIONAL *Preferred Pronoun
Please write a short statement describing this student’s personality, how they learn
the best, and how I can support all forms of academic progress. Please list anything I
should know before teaching this student (allergies, past learning challenges,
strengths, etc. or any other pertinent information).
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Mr. Rosenberg
9th Grade Contemporary Issues Elective 5Google Classroom Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTYwNzk1MzYxMTVa _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ NOTE: This syllabus is subject to CHANGE based on Contemporary Issues… Mr. Rosenberg 9th Grade Contemporary Issues Elective 6
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