“I am still learning.” Michaelangelo

 

English IV Syllabus

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This year-long literature/composition course is the final English class in Rockridge’s English curriculum. We will focus on reading through individual and group activities and writing through formal and informal assignments. Particular focus will be paid to preparation for college and/or the workforce.

 

MAJOR COMPONENTS OF COURSE

 

Literature

The study of literature could include…

• British literature (excerpts from Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales, short stories, poems)          

• Shakespeare
• At least one novel study (books will be loaned; if lost or damaged, student is responsible)

 

Independent Reading

Students will be responsible for…

• Reading one minimum 250-page novel (of any genre) a quarter
• Completing assessment as directed

MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW!

 

Career Planning/College and Workplace Preparation

Could include…

• Guest speakers
• Writing activities
• Oral presentations
• Internet research

 

Writing

Writing activities will include…

• Formal pieces that will follow the writing process and will be collected for assessment
• Informal pieces that will not be collected for formal assessment. May be journal entries or other creative outlets.
• Expository, personal narrative, persuasive, and research papers.

 

MATERIALS NEEDED

• Writing instruments (duh)
• One-inch binder (exclusive to this class)
• Folder (exclusive)
• Single subject notebook to be put in binder (exclusive)
• Jump Drive (recommended)

 

 

 

 

GRADING INFORMATION:

 

Ms. D’s Philosophy on Grades: Grades are earned, not given. If you learn the concepts I teach, you earn “good grades”, which shows everyone else that you learned the concepts. If you don’t learn the concepts, I haven’t done my job. If your grades are “not good”, they show that you haven’t learned the concepts AND that I haven’t done my job. This means, I will do everything in my power to ensure that you earn no lower than a C in this class. My grading policies are designed to ensure that you learn the concepts I set out to teach this year.

 

Students’ grades will be determined by a combination of daily work, writing assignments, tests, quizzes, participation, and responsibility.  The grading scale for this class adheres to the grading scale for the entire school.

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY: When you complete an assignment, your ideas are being graded.  If you use another person’s work or ideas, you must give credit where credit is due, usually by using MLA style documentation.  If you use others’ ideas without giving credit, it is considered cheating or plagiarism.  This will result in a zero and possible other disciplinary measures.

 

MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION WILL FOLLOW.

 

TYPES OF ABSENCES:

ARRANGED ABSENCE: You know ahead of time you are going to be gone, whether it be for a family responsibility, a doctor’s appointment, or taking your senior pictures. If you know ahead of time, I should too (and that means more than the day of).

Your Responsibility: 1. Let me know. 2. If work is due, get it to me BEFORE you are gone or else it may affect your grade. 3. If a test or quiz is scheduled, we will try to have you take it before. 4. I will give you any homework and you will have the same due date as the rest of the class.

I reserve the right to have your grade reflect your irresponsibility.

EXCUSED ABSENCES: If you have an excused absence, you may make up your take-home work. Unless you make prior arrangements, you have time equal to your absence to make up the work you missed.  You should check with your study buddy for any homework given or notes taken. Your study buddy should have everything. If he/she doesn’t, THEN see me. 

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: If your absence is unexcused, the handbook details that you may make up the work; however, all work from that day and/or due that day will be considered late and points will be deducted accordingly. Also, some classroom situations may not be made up and will result in an automatic zero for your absence. 

TARDIES: If you are not in the classroom when class begins, you are tardy. Tardies will affect your Part/Resp Grade. Chronic (more than four per semester) tardies may result in a discipline referral.

            NOTE: You will be receiving three Hallway Passes a quarter to be used as you see fit.

 

HANDBOOK REMINDERS:

FOOD/DRINK: No food or drink is allowed (unless provided by me). However, water is as long as it is kept in a closeable container. Please be careful! I will tell you to throw it away, new or otherwise.

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT: All electronic equipment pieces (cell phones, iPods, PSPs, etc) are a distraction to the learning environment and are NOT permitted. I will follow handbook guidelines by confiscating them, turning them into the office, etc. Be smart.

 

PURSES: You know the policy. I will need be holding anything up to your purse to judge the size, but if it is obviously too large, I will tell you to put it in your locker, and you will be counted tardy if you are late. If it becomes a recurring offense, I will take discipline measures. Purses should be left on the floor during instructional periods.

 

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS: All of these revolve around the idea of RESPECT. If everyone in this class is respectful of each other’s person and property, we should never have a discipline issue.  Some ideas that I feel need mentioned:

 

1. You can behave as you choose as long as your choices do not infringe upon the rights of others or cause problems for anyone else, including your fellow students, teachers, and administrators.

 

2. I expect you to participate until formally dismissed. I consider it impolite and disrespectful when students gather their belongings during the final minutes of class activities, which may continue right up until the bell rings. I will NOT allow you out of the room for personal reasons unless a Hallway Pass is used. (Physical illness is about the only exception–you are warned.)

 

3. This is an educational environment; therefore, I do not accept the use of profane or offensive language in the classroom (and I find such language use in the hallways discourteous and inappropriate, as well).

 

Behavioral consequences will follow if I believe there is a problem. These include, but are not limited to, individual conferences with the student, phone calls home, conferences with the parent/guardian, temporary removal of student from classroom, rearrangement of seats, and (as a last resort) removal of student to administrator’s office. However, my greatest wish is to keep all students in class; how else can learning occur?

 

I am always available to you. I believe open communication between us will ensure a successful school year. Please come and see me if you EVER have a question or a concern about anything, whether it be an assignment, a lecture, a discussion, or just life in general. I teach because I care about all of you and want to help you be successful.  The only way I can reach that goal is if you are willing to talk with me!