10th Grade Ms. Lehrer/Ms. Bertos (Room 2320) Email: elia.lehrer@sccpss.com veronica.bertos@sccpss.com Tutorial Day- Wednesday 2:30-3:15 by appointment only Course information: This course focuses on the study of literary genres and informative texts; additionally, the students will develop an initial understanding of both the structure and the meaning of the focused works. The students will explore the effect of the literary form in regards to textual interpretation. Throughout the course, the students will read across the curriculum in an effort to develop academic and personal interests in a variety of subjects. In addition, students will demonstrate their competency in different writing genres that include argumentative, informative and explanatory. The students will engage in research, timed writings, and the writing process; furthermore, their daily writing will prepare them for their Literature classes in the future. For full standards, please visit the Georgia Standards website, or ask me for a copy. https://www.georgiastandards.org/georgia-standards/frameworks/ela-9-10-grade-9-literaturecompositi on-standards.pdf Objectives: By the end of this course, you should be able to: Create effective argumentative and persuasive essays Understand the features of different literary genres Analyze how a writer s voice and tone influence the meaning of a work Understand the effects of various elements of literature such as irony and figurative language Write effective analytical, persuasive, reflective, and descriptive essays Distinguish between objective and subjective ideas and perspectives Formulate a thesis statement and support it with specific, relevant evidence Follow the writing process, with special emphasis on constructive revision Required Supplies : Please purchase required supplies as soon as possible and bring them to class each day. Pens blue or black (no metallic or pastels, please) Pencils ( ONLY FOR: scantron tests & proofreading) Highlighter pens Post-It Notes Three ring binder with dividers (Sections for Vocabulary, Classwork, and Homework) Loose leaf paper Journal (marble/composition notebook) -- will be used for daily journaling Optional : Index cards (recommended for vocabulary study)
Grading Policy: A 90-100 Tests/Projects/Major Essays/Speeches/Debates 40% B 80-89 Quizzes/Smaller Writing Tasks 20% C 70-79 Class Work 30% F 69-0 Class Participation/Homework 10% Essays process pieces, impromptu pieces, and creative writing. Essays must be submitted on due dates. I will accept an essay late, but the penalty will be 10 points off for every day it is late. I will not accept an essay if it is more than 2 days late. I am available after school for consultation on your writing. Be sure to let me know in advance when you would like to meet with me. Any essay that receives a grade of C- or below may be rewritten if you speak to me, and both grades will be averaged together. Careful proofreading for content, grammar, and spelling is essential. Excessive errors will result in a lowered grade. ALL writing assignments must be typed unless otherwise specified by me. Quizzes three types: (a) reading check, (b) vocabulary, and (c) class notes/lecture. Vocabulary quizzes will always be announced in advance. Reading quizzes may or may not be announced. It is in your best interest to keep up with the reading, even when you are absent. Keep in Mind: If you are absent on a quiz day, the make-up quiz will be different from the one your classmates took. Homework There is no set number of nights for homework. I do not assign busywork. Homework will be used to reinforce what was learned in class and/or to prepare for the next day s lesson/activities. Although I will not always collect your homework, I will expect it to be done because homework is essential for effective class work. No late homework will be accepted unless, of course, you are absent on the due date. Class Work Effective daily class work means that you will come to class on time prepared with homework, projects, essays, pens, novels, literature texts, etc. You will not be permitted to go back to your locker for books or homework. Effective daily class work means that you will make meaningful contributions to whole class and small group discussions. Effective daily class work also means that you will be a good citizen in class. Students are dismissed by the teacher, NOT by the bell. If you are consistently late to class your participation grade will suffer. Eating/ drinking- No eating or drinking is permitted in this classroom. Water is permitted, but it must be a container that contains a lid or a cap. Class Participation -- Coming to class on time with required materials and being a good citizen is the minimum requirement. I expect you to be an active participant in our class. Your classwork will be monitored. Classwork grades will be assigned based upon your work in group activities, whole class discussions, and individual class work assignments. Sleeping in class, cell phone use, or any other off task activity will warrant point deductions for class participation for that day. Make-up Work It is your responsibility to see me for missed work when you return to school after an absence. Keep in mind that it is in your best interest to make up your work sooner rather than later (usually within two days after you return is preferable). It is a good idea to keep reading when you are out sick. When you are absent, check Google Classroom and your school e-mail for assignments or other
materials so that you do not fall behind in your work. You should also check the absent folders for any worksheets/handouts. Keep in Mind: If you are absent on a test/quiz day, the make-up test or quiz will be different from the one your classmates took. Due Dates Essays/projects are expected to be turned in on the due date.i do not accept late work. Of course, I do understand that there are extenuating circumstances. In such events, talk to me privately, write a note or send an e-mail to me. If the need arises, you may email your work to me at: elia.lehrer@sccpss.com. When you e-mail work to me, share it as a google doc and attach it to your e-mail. Please don t paste the assignment into the e-mail message. Electronics - -- No electronic devices or headphones are to be used in my classroom unless otherwise specified by the teacher. If I even see an unauthorized use of an electronic device or headphones out in my classroom, the following procedure will take place: First offense : Student will be warned and device will be taken for the remainder of my class. Second offense : Parent will be called and device will be taken until the end of the day. Third offense: Office referral and device will be taken and turned into the office until a parent comes to retrieve it. Note: Any refusal to hand over electronic devices or headphones to the teacher will result in an automatic office referral. Contact With Your Teacher If you need to reach me after school hours, you can send me an e-mail at elia.lehrer@sccpss.com. I cannot guarantee an immediate response to e-mails, but I will try to respond to all e-mails in a timely fashion. (aka Don t expect me to email you back at 2am I go to sleep early.) Please include a reference to our English class in the subject line of your message along with your first and last name. Ex: American Lit Essay -- John Green Please include a salutation in the e-mail: Dear Ms. Lehrer, Hi Ms. Lehrer, etc. Include a brief message: Please print out my essay rather than sending only the attachment. Also be sure to include your name at the end of your message. Tutorial: Tutorials will be held Wednesdays 2:30-3:15. This is voluntary time that I have taken out to spend helping students. Therefore the following rules apply: The student must sign-up by Tuesday in order to attend. The student must know exactly what he or she would like to work on. If it requires me to print an assignment or prepare a lesson, please notify me the day you sign-up what you will need. Students that have been a disciplinary problem during are not allowed to stay for tutorial. Students that were in class but refused to do work during class time cannot stay for tutorial. Students that were caught using an electronic device during the instructional lesson cannot stay for tutorial. PLEASE REMEMBER: I am understanding. If you have a problem please come to me so that we can figure out the best course of action for you. I want to help you, but if I do not know about it then I cannot be of use to you.