Expository Reading and Writing for Seniors Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Nelson Mandela Instructor: Mrs. Darling Room: 206 Phone: (562) 920-1801 ext. 3206 Email: cdarling@busd.k12.ca.us Remind Class Code Text to: 81010 Text this Message: Course Description: The goal of the Expository Reading and Writing Course is to prepare college-bound seniors for the literacy demands of higher education. Through a sequence of rigorous instructional modules, students in this yearlong, rhetoric-based course develop advanced proficiencies in expository, analytical, and argumentative reading and writing. Students will be expected to increase their awareness of the rhetorical strategies employed by authors, and to apply those strategies in their own writing. They will read closely to examine the relationship between an author s argument or theme and his or her audience and purpose, to analyze the impact of structural and rhetorical strategies, and to examine the social, political, and philosophical assumptions that underlie the text. By the end of the course, students will be expected to use this process independently when reading unfamiliar texts and writing in response to them. Course texts include contemporary essays, newspaper and magazine articles, editorials, reports, biographies, memos, assorted public documents, and other non-fiction texts. The course materials also include modules on at least two full-length works. Written assessments and holistic scoring guides conclude each unit. The California State University (CSU) system considers ERWC as a college ready course. If a student passes this course with a grade of A, B, or C in both semesters, and is listed as Conditional or College Ready on the Early Assessment Program test (EAP), the student is exempt from taking the English Placement Test (EPT) for the CSU campuses and is automatically eligible for the first college level English course. Other four-year universities have different placement requirements, so it is good to check with them if you are planning to attend another college. At CSU Long Beach, if the student passes each semester with an A or B grade, that student is once again exempt from taking the EPT with the same conditions as above. Materials: Composition or spiral notebook Blue or black pens Pencils Highlighters College-ruled paper Binder with a section exclusively for ERWC Outside reading book of your choosing that is approved by your parent/guardian and your teacher Computer, Internet, and printer access (The school library has extended hours. See librarian for details.) Planner (recommended) *If there is an issue with obtaining any of the materials, please notify me as soon as possible.* Procedures: Students will be expected to staple papers, sharpen pencils, turn homework in, etc. before the bell rings. Once the bell rings, students should be in their assigned seats. If not, he/she will be marked tardy. If I need the class s attention, I will count down from five to one. Students should reserve using the restroom during class time for emergencies. Students should not abuse their bathroom privileges at any time. The bell does not dismiss students. Students should wait silently in their seats until they are released.
Expectations: Turn in neat work. EVERYTHING you turn in MUST be clean, unwrinkled, and have your name, date, class period in the upper right corner. Remind is an application we will use to send reminders of important due dates and assessments. Keep everything. Sometimes you ll need to show proof that you did an assignment if it is not in Aeries. No food, drinks, or gum are allowed in this class, except for water in plastic bottles. No cell phones, ipods/mp3 players, headphones, or hats are to be visible in class unless otherwise permitted by me for educational purposes. Be proactive. Be responsible. Your job is to be honest and meet the challenges of this course with your best effort. Please address any challenges you may have in a responsible manner by coming to me as soon as possible. E-mail is the best way to communicate with me regarding questions about assignments. Language and behavior are powerful indicators of how you choose to present yourself. Because this is a formal English class, it is essential that we practice formal, academic English and appropriate behavior at all times. This includes in-class discussions as well as ALL written work that is turned in for a grade. Abbreviations, texting language, and slang are to be avoided in all assignments unless instructed otherwise. Attendance in class is crucial! You are expected in class each day with all necessary materials. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up the notes and assignments within a week of your absence. Classroom Rules The 5 Ps Prompt Be on time, enter the classroom quietly, staple papers, sharpen pencils, and go to your assigned seat before the bell rings. Prepared Bring all materials and necessary work to class every day. Productive Stay on task, follow directions, and complete your work. You are responsible for producing something relevant and up to standard every day. Polite Respect yourself, your classmates, your teacher, your classroom, and your school. Swearing, teasing, talking back, and bullying will NOT be tolerated. Patient Wait respectfully and calmly for your turn to speak or ask a question. Do not shout answers or commentary. Listen and stay seated until called upon. *All school policies will also be enforced in addition to the aforementioned rules* Visible and/or audible cell phones will be confiscated and sent to the office with a referral unless you have received permission by me to use them for educational purposes. Violators of dress code will be sent to the office. Policies Attendance: Attendance is crucial to succeeding in this class. I will take attendance at the beginning of each class period. Students need to be in their seats when the bell rings. If you are in the classroom and are out of your seat, you will be marked tardy. If you are outside of the classroom when the bell rings, you should report to Tardy Sweep. Behavior & Discipline: All students will be held accountable for their actions in class. Positive and appropriate behavior is the standard of conduct. Disruptive and inappropriate behavior will be dealt with individually through a verbal warning, conference, phone call home, detention, referral, classroom suspension, etc. depending on the severity and frequency of the offense.
Grading: Class and homework assignments, essays, quizzes, tests, projects, presentations, and all other assignments will be given a straight point value; there are no weighted grade categories. A 90% to 100% B 80% to 89% C 70% to 79% D 60% to 69% F 59% and below Absences & Make-up Work: If a student is absent, it is his or her responsibility to obtain any missed notes and/or assignments. Students will have as many days as they are absent to make up the work without it being considered late (Ex. Two days absent means two days to turn in the missed work, etc.). Missing Work & Late Work: All work will have a due date. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED (with the exception of major processed essays, reports, and projects see details below). Students will receive plenty of time and assistance in class and at home in order to complete all assignments. It is the student s responsibility to make sure he or she is manages his or her time in order to complete the assignment by the due date. In regards to major essays, reports, and projects, if a student turns in the assignment one day late, he or she will receive a 10% point deduction. If an assignment is turned in two days late, he or she will receive a 20% point deduction. Major assignments will not be accepted after two days. See me BEFORE the DUE DATE in the event of an emergency. Buc P.R.I.D.E. Points: There will be opportunities for students to specifically demonstrate positivity, respect, integrity, dedication, and excellence in and out of class throughout the school year for which they will receive points. School-Issued Email Addresses: All students will be issued a school email account using Google s free gmail.com service. Email accounts will be used for the purposes of teacher-student contact, submitting assignments, classroom updates, and collaborative student assignments, but should not be used for any other non-school related content. Parents and guardian should know his or her student s username and password in order to access email at any time. We will be relying on frequent computer use and email access in order to complete assignments for this course. Students can access computers and printers in our on-campus library. Classroom Library: Our classroom library is available for students to checkout books. It is made up of both teacher-supplied and student-donated books. Any student who chooses to checkout a book must receive parent or guardian approval. Parents and guardians should monitor the books students read. If you choose to checkout a book, make sure to fill out the checkout form. Academic Integrity: Each student is expected to produce original work for this class. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student who submits work that is not entirely his/her own intellectual property will be disciplined according to the Bellflower High School Discipline Matrix. I will write a discipline referral to the office. Student will receive a zero on the assignment. The assignment cannot be made up for credit. No exceptions. Extra Help & Accommodations: If at any time you need extra help with an assignment, do not hesitate to talk to me about it immediately. Do not wait until just before an assignment is due to inform me of any potential issues.
Note: There may be changes/omissions/deletions to this syllabus during the course of the year. By signing below, I assure you that I have read Mrs. Darling ERWC Syllabus and understand the policies. Student Name (Printed) Parent/Guardian Name (Printed) Student Signature & Date Parent/Guardian Signature & Date Please add any additional information I might need to know about your child in order to best accommodate his/her needs.