Senior English Course Syllabus

Transcription

1 Senior English Course Syllabus Instructor: Mrs. Davida Patterson Phone: ext Room: Office Hrs: Web Page: PowerSchool: B107 By Appointment Only Parents can access a student s grades through our grade system. Welcome to Senior English! This year, we will be exploring literary themes and their connections to contemporary issues that you may encounter in the world after graduation. You will explore a variety of texts and have the opportunity to analyze and debate the issues raised by award winning authors during in-class discussions. Above all else, you should walk away from the year realizing that literature, as a craft, is more than fiction or non-fiction; it is a means of social commentary that reflects not only the time period in which the work was written and the author s views on society, but often has broader implications about the world in which we live today. I am so excited about this school year and I look forward to all of your wonderful contributions to this class! In this course, students will: Intensively study representative works by authors from an expansive selection of backgrounds. Students will engage in careful, deliberative reading that yields multiple meanings. Write an interpretation of a piece of literature that is based on a careful observation of textual details, considering the work's: Structure, style, and themes The social and historical values it reflects and embodies Such elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone Write and rewrite formal, extended analyses and timed, in-class responses. The course requires: Writing to understand: Informal, exploratory writing activities that enable students to discover what they think in the process of writing about their reading (such assignments could include annotation, free writing, keeping a reading journal, and response/reaction papers) Writing to explain: Informative, analytical essays in which students draw upon textual details to develop an extended explanation/interpretation of the meanings of a literary text Writing to evaluate: Analytical, argumentative essays in which students draw upon textual details to make and explain judgments about a work's artistry and quality, and its social and cultural values Develop: A wide-ranging vocabulary used appropriately and effectively A variety of sentence structures, including appropriate use of subordination and coordination Logical organization, enhanced by specific techniques to increase coherence, such as repetition, transitions, and emphasis A balance of generalization and specific, illustrative details SUPPLIES All Senior English students will need the following: Required texts (please see parent letter) ½-inch Binder (Specifically for this class) AND 5 dividers College Ruled Notebook (Specifically for this class) Pencils with erasers Pens Blue/Black, other color for grading Highlighters Access to the internet & computer (available during, before, and after school) USB Drive (optional, but highly recommended) 1

2 Class Expectations: You will come to class on time and prepared. You will be respectful, responsible, and resourceful You will conduct yourself as a young adult who is capable of managing your time and the work assigned to you. You will maintain your notes. (I strongly suggest you take and maintain good quality notes in this class). This class is a place where there will be a community atmosphere. By this, I mean that there will be a free exchange of ideas between people. This requires respect for everyone regardless of race, abilities, or opinions. Please observe the standard classroom rules of maintaining a studious atmosphere. Please listen attentively to each person speaking. Your active listening is a measure of your mature, serious attitude toward learning in this class. Writing Expectations: You will be expected to use every assignment that involves writing to practice your best composition skills. Writing assignments will include: personal journal entries, paragraphs, timed writing, and formal essays (analytical and argumentative). No matter the kind of writing assigned, your best composition skills should be practiced. We will work with various composition constructions, such as: writing to understand, writing to explain, and writing to evaluate. All assignments will include a specific grading rubric. We will go over the rubrics prior to submitting papers and review expectations for the particular composition or paper. Please utilize each rubric while writing and grade yourselves before submitting your work. You are expected to master the process of writing; therefore, skills will be taught prior to the final assessment is due. You will have at least two drafts of major writing assignments prior to submitting them. These drafts will be reviewed by your instructor and your peers. The initial paper will not count against your grade IF it meets the overall criteria of the assignment/rubric. Points will be deducted for non-submitted papers, incomplete, and/or carelessly written work. Grammar and usage: As a junior or senior in Senior English, you should have a good command of Standard Written English. There will be mini-lessons throughout the course dealing with grammar and usage issues, sentence construction, and diction. Occasionally, you may need some additional help with this. I will provide supplemental material for this prior to the assignments. We will also utilize Ebsco, Citelighter, turnitin.com, Wikispaces, and Google Classroom as a means to complete writing assignments. Directions and tutorials will be given prior to assignment dates to ensure the students success. Reading Expectations: The most important requirement for this course is that students read every assignment read it with care and within the class schedule. Due to the diverse reading/learning of individuals, students will often work in small groups and be given pacing calendars that will allow them the opportunity to not only work collaboratively, but they will also be able to work at a realistic timeframe for their learning abilities and may move forward with activities if they have finished at a faster pace than others. In connection to every assigned piece of literature, students will gain experience in close reading (annotating) and purposeful writing about the literature. The critical skills that students learn to appreciate through close and continued analysis of a wide variety of texts can serve them in their own writing as they grow increasingly aware of these skills and their pertinent uses. Mastery quizzes will also be utilized to check students comprehension skills and to check that they remain on task. Discussion Expectations: Every major unit of study includes a discussion component. Students are expected to actively participate in every discussion, contributing with insight and evidence from the literature. Each discussion will be assessed for evidence of higher level-thinking. The following formats will be employed: Socratic discussions, teacher led discussions, literature circles, and informal small group/partner discussions. Presentation Expectations: Students have many opportunities to present their analyses of the literature to the class as a means to practice speaking skills as well as to enlighten their peers. During these presentations, students will provide unique insights and perspectives of the literature and enhance the audience s understanding. These presentations also will demonstrate the student s higher level thinking and his/her ability to support opinions with numerous specific quotes and examples from the literature. Finally, presentations must be well organized; the speaker uses proper speaking techniques, grammar, and advanced vocabulary- rubrics for presenting will also be provided. All students will be assessed as a presenter and as a peer critic (based on a rubric) 2

3 Classroom Procedures Entering Class Students will enter class and be seated with necessary materials and homework already complete. They will begin the warm-up activity as stated on the board or smart board without talking. Homework is not given in this class; therefore, students should utilize and maximize class time in order to complete reading and writing assignments. While homework is not given, it is highly recommended for students to use time outside of class to review material/skills for improvement as well as to work on any major papers or projects that they were unable to complete during class time. Absent work It is the student s responsibility to turn in makeup work and schedule for make-up exams. Notes must be copied from another student or from website if applicable. You will be given one day to complete absent work for each day you miss. Dismissal A bell does not dismiss the class. The teacher will excuse students to leave. All materials need to be returned and workspaces clean before students are dismissed. Transitions Transitions between activities must be made swiftly and with minimal disruption. Moving from one task to another should be done without unnecessary talking and within the allotted time. Passes There is a time and place to ask to use the bathroom. If and when I am in the middle of direct instruction, please do not ask to go to the restroom unless it is a dire emergency. The door will be locked; therefore, continuous leaving and returning to and from the classroom will become a disruption and impede the learning process. Discipline Policy: Parent contact by phone or will be made for any offense. Please see student handbook for more information regarding discipline. Attendance: Research shows that attendance directly impacts grades. Please check the Student Handbook for additional information. It is very important that both the students and parents understand school attendance policies. An extreme example is that a number of absences can create a loss of the class credit. Students must attend on the PHHS scheduled days for both midterm and final exams. Alternative dates for testing are not given in order to maintain the integrity and validity of the exams. Not taking these exams as scheduled results in a grade of zero points. Late & Make-up Work (Adopted from Student Handbook): Late work is defined as any work completed and turned in after a designated due date. Late work will be accepted up to TWO DAYS AFTER THE DESIGNATED DUE DATE FOR THE WORK. Extended time may be given due to extenuating circumstances such as major family illness, car accidents, etc. However, NO LATE WORK will be accepted one week prior to the end of the quarter. Students will receive credit for work as follows: Work turned in on time- Graded based on the rubric Work turned in one day late- 75% of earned credit (based on rubric) Work turned in two days late- 50% of earned credit (based on rubric) Work turned in three or more days late- 0% of earned credit Make up work is defined as any assignments or tests students need to complete due to an excused absence. Students will be allowed the same amount of days equal to the number of excused absent days to make up assignments for full credit. EVALUATION: Rubrics will be given for all writing assignments. Throughout the writing process, I will be measuring your knowledge and ability to apply specific objectives to your work. So, please make sure you give your best effort in addition to seeking support from me and/or your peers if you do not understand class material. Again, mastery quizzes will be given throughout reading assignment to check that you are reading and for your comprehension of the reading. 3

4 GRADING BREAKDOWN: Grades are determined by following a standard percentage breakdown as follows: % A (4.00) 80-89% B (3.00) 70-79% C (2.00) <69% Failing: No credit shall be earned if a student fails to achieve 70% or higher. Formal Assessments: This category will counts for 60% of your final grade. Tests, quizzes, projects, and final copies of essays. Mid-term and Final Exams: This category will count for 15% of your grade. Mid-term Exams are a collection of questions relating to material that has been taught up to that point in the semester. Final Exams are a collection of questions relating to material that has been learned all year. Classwork: This category will count for 25% of your final grade. Journals, Small group assignments, Timed writing, Peer reviews All papers must be clean, neat and readable. (Typed when assigned) Be sure to put your name, date, and assignment title on all assignments. Assignments must be your own work. Submit ALL papers to ALL major papers are due on or before 11:59 pm of your due date! Please do not wait until the last minute to submit a paper, because problems usually happen at the last minute. Remember: all work, including papers will lose 10% for each day that it is late. (See procedures for paper submissions below): Procedures for submitting to 1. Upload your paper by copying and pasting it OR uploading the file. Don t worry about the formatting; it doesn t matter to You never need to submit your title page or your works cited. Be certain you print out your receipt. 2. Can t get into your account? You can always use another address or create a new account. Remember you can get a free account through Hotmail or Gmail. Also, keep in mind the webpage has assistance if you forgot your password. Can t access at all, or something else isn t allowing you access, and you are way too stressed to figure it out? your paper to me and be sure you CC yourself on the . You must still get your paper to me via by 11:59 pm on the due date! My is: dpatterson@paradiseschools.org. THIS IS NOT TO BE YOUR FIRST STEP TO TURNING IN YOUR PAPER! 3. Your computer has crashed, and you have no idea what to do because you have no access to what should you do? Call me before 11:59 pm on the due date, and explain the situation on my voice mail. Please keep in mind that my voice mail is time stamped. 4. I will always urge you to submit your paper before you even print it out. If you ever have troubles on the morning a paper is due, you can always stop by my room before school and print it out. Just bring it in on a flash drive. Important: When you select the that you use for your account, please select one that you check often! I might send you reminders for long-term assignments, and I might sometimes send links or readings for homework. If I send you the link via , it saves you the step of hunting it down on the Internet. Registration Information: Every student enrolled at PHHS must gain access to his/her specific class on to do this, go to the link, and click on user log in. If you don t already have an account, click on new users, and then follow the directions. You will need to create a user name and password. WRITE IT DOWN someplace safe! When you register, you will need your class identification number and your enrollment password. When you submit a paper to you must allow yourself plenty of time before the due date. 4

5 Technology Code of Ethics: Students shall not alter or attempt to alter school or private property, including hardware and software. This includes: 1. Changing desktop setting or control panels on PHHS computers. 2. Removing or damaging mouse tracking balls, keys, cables, connectors, network jacks, or any other hardware. 3. Modifying computer software. 4. Damaging computer discs, CD-ROMS, or other media. EXTRA CREDIT POLICY: Extra Credit is not available for this class. All work done for this class is more than sufficient to assess the understanding of material presented in the course. NOTE: ANY ASPECT OF THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE INSTRUCTOR S OR ADMINISTRATOR S DISCRETION. ANY CHANGES WILL BE COMMUNICATED VERBALLY AND/OR A NEW SYLLABUS WITH THEAMENDMENT/OMISSION WILL BE PROVIDED. Senior English Course Syllabus Again, Welcome to Senior English! I expect you to be successful in my class. I have very high expectations for my students both behaviorally and academically and I am very confident that you will meet or exceed those expectations! Please acknowledge that you have read the course syllabus. I understand the course parameters and will meet/exceed the expectations of my teacher. Student Name (Please Print) Student Signature Student Student grade level Dear Parents: Please take the time to read the syllabus and complete the information below. If you have any questions or concerns, please note them or contact me via . Please do not contact your child during the day via cell phone or text. Cell phones and texting are disruptive and unacceptable in the classroom. Any electronic device that is seen or heard will be confiscated and sent to the principal s office for parents to pick up. Parents, please read the Student Handbook. Keep in mind that students must be in attendance on scheduled mid-term and final exam days. (Read attendance section above) Please sign the bottom portion and return to me. Students returning this form by the educator set deadline will receive BONUS points to begin the class! I look forward to working with you and your child this school year! I have read the course syllabus. Parent Name (Please Print) Parent Signature Parent s phone number Parent s Comments: 5