English 10 Honors—Mrs



Mrs.Fossum September 2014-June 2015

Tenth Grade Honors English (British Lit Emphasis)

Contact: diana.fossum@

Block 1—Room 201A ; Blocks 2 and 3—Room 203

Welcome!

My Classroom Expectations:

• Be respectful of everyone and everything in the classroom; use absolute honesty in all academic matters; and arrive to class on time and prepared;

• Understand that any choices you make that interrupt, distract, or otherwise preclude us from having a positive classroom environment will be dealt with swiftly and accordingly;

• Abide by all BRHS policies, and respect our prerogative to institute any and all of the following rules specific to our individual classroom setting:

o Practice empathy and compassion toward others. Observe the one person speaks at a time rule and keep your sense of humor, humility, and dignity at all times.

o Attend all classes; arrive on time; and stay in class. Only if absolutely necessary, leave quickly and quietly to use the bathroom---signing out and back in again, and observing the one-person–out-at-a-time rule. Provided the privilege is not abused, I will generally allow a mid-class 5-minute stretch break, during which time, the use of cellphones will be permitted. At all other times during class, please stow away from sight any phones, Ipods, food, gum, beverages (bottled water/sealed thermos beverages ok). Unauthorized use of phones will result in an automatic 10 pt deduction on the next quiz/assignment. Keep in mind, I also reserve the right to CONFISCATE the aforementioned if necessary. Should your phone, etc. be taken, you may retrieve it from the main office at the end of the day.

o If absent, please refer to policy listed below and understand that it is YOUR responsibility, not mine, to check the website, retrieve handouts (ask a buddy!), and make up work by the next class.

o Finally, please save all questions pertaining to your late work, grades, and other personal matters for non-class hours. You may reach us by email or during our posted planning times.

Tentative List of Novels, Plays, and Major Works (some of which will be used in lit circles):

• Lord of the Flies

• Macbeth

• Beowulf

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

• Canterbury Tales

• 1984

• Frankenstein

• Angela’s Ashes

• A Modest Proposal

• Topical nonfiction selections

Materials/Supplies to Purchase*

➢ Three-ring binder (2” or larger) filled with PLENTY of loose-leaf college-ruled paper—NO SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS!!!

➢ Five divider tabs for binder:

1. Agenda Pages

2. Homework/Graded Work

3. Grammar/Usage Exercises

4. Vocabulary

5. Reading/Writing Notes/Handouts

➢ Pencils, blue or black pens,

➢ Two highlighters and/or one pack of sticky notes for annotating

*A donation of one (1) box of tissues for class use would be appreciated

**Heads Up! During 4th quarter students will be asked to purchase the memoir Angela’s Ashes (or another approved memoir of their choosing) for personal annotation---copies are available in the school—but it will be easier to annotate a personal copy.

Attendance Policy:

• Absent students are responsible for taking any quizzes and submitting any homework that was scheduled prior to their absence on the day of return. (Project due dates are final—Because it is assumed that you will have planned ahead accordingly, even a last minute, unavoidable absence is no excuse and will result in a late deduction.)

• Any work assigned during an absence should be completed in a timely manner according to school policy (one class day for every class day absent).

• Do not come in during class and ask, “What did I miss?” Instead, make a concerted effort to check homework online, to check class bin for “While You Were Out” file, or to check with me during office hours.

• Make-up quizzes and/or tests must be taken by 5 pm. Friday of the first week you have returned.

Late Work:

• Homework and classwork assignments are formative and time-sensitive and will therefore not be accepted late (with the exception of excused absences or early dismissals)

• Long-term assignments or summative assessments will be docked 10% for each day late, with a minimum half credit available if completed prior to one week of the grading report period.

(For Best Results and Highest Grade—attend every day and turn in all work ON TIME)

Grading:

Student grades for this class will be calculated on the point system. Each assignment will be worth a certain number of points, depending on the length and difficulty of the assignment. Below is an estimated point value for assignments. Students may also receive grades periodically for class participation. All grades will be entered in CLARITY at least twice a month.

Assignment Estimated Point Value

Homework (10% of grade) 5 - 10 points each

Quizzes (25%) 10 - 50 points each

Classwork (Includes Journals/Grammar

Exercises) (15%) 10- 100 points each

Tests (25%) 50 - 100 points each

Projects/Major Essays (25%) 100 - 200 points each

Remediation/Recovery

In the event that you receive a 69% or lower on a major test or quiz or other type of summative assessment, you may apply for an enrichment opportunity and/or retake of the assessment with a maximum allowable final grade of 70%. To do this, you must first ask us for a “Recovery Form” no later than one class day after receiving the grade, have the form signed by a parent or guardian, and return the signed form to us no later than the first Friday after you received the form, and complete the retake or enrichment by the agreed upon date.

Plagiarism and Honor Code:

Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s words and ideas as your own—even a slight twisting of words must include proper citation. Plagiarism will not be tolerated; effective this year, students will be expected to sign and/or write the BRHS Honor Code on every summative assessment. Violations will be handled per school policy.

Contact Information & Office Hours:

I have my schedule posted on the door of Room 203 and available online. I will also be available after 2:30 pm on A Days. Please feel free to contact me at any time should you have a concern, or need more information: Diana.fossum@ Broad Run High School Phone: 571-252-2300

Tentative Course Outline:

First Nine Weeks—Acknowledging the Power of Fear and Persuasion

Big Question: Is Fear Our Worst Enemy?

Thematic Sub-questions: Why do people seek power? Why does power corrupt? Which is more powerful: love or hate? What separates good from evil? Does fate control our lives?

• Reading: Lord of the Flies/ Macbeth

• Writing: Smiley-Face Tricks/The Hook/ Varied Modes of Writing/Appositives/ Punctuation/Sentence Structure

• Research: The Big Question—finding sources/MLA citation

• Vocabulary: SAT Vocabulary Lessons 1-2/Word Roots

• Communication: Group Project—Scene Selection Videos

Second Nine Weeks—Searching for Truth and Justice---Tackling the Challenges

Big Question—What Makes a True Hero?

Thematic Sub-questions: Can people live up to high ideals? Whose life is it anyway? What do we owe others?

• Reading: Beowulf/ Sir Gawain and the Green Knight/ Canterbury Tales

• Writing: Chaucer-ize Poem/ Dangling Modifiers/Adverbial Clauses

• Research: Literary Analysis/In-text quotations

• Vocabulary: SAT Lessons 3-4/Word Roots

• Communication: Socratic Seminars/ Scene Selection Videos

Third Nine Weeks---Writing for Change—Seeking Transformation

Big Question—What is the ideal society?

Thematic Sub-questions: How has technology changed us? What can fix society’s problems? When is progress a problem? Can science tell us how to live?

• Reading--Lit Circles:1984/Brave New World/Frankenstein; A Modest Proposal/The Rocking Horse Winner

• Writing: Honors Assessment Writing Reflection Essay; Satire/Proposal/ Active-Passive Voice/Word Choice/Case

• Research: Honors Assessment Multi-Genre Project

• Vocabulary SAT Lessons 5-6/Word Roots

• Communication: Coffee House---Sharing Selected Creations

Final Nine Weeks—Finding Strength and Purpose—The Revelation

Big Question—Are we all alone?

Thematic Sub-questions: What enables humans to survive horrific conditions or events? How important is culture? Who really shapes society?

• Reading: Annotating Angela’s Ashes or other memoir/coming of age literary classic; Memoir and autobiography selections

• Writing: Introductory BQ paper (Part 1 of multi-genre project)/Grammar Focus— Pronoun and Tense Consistency

• Research: Honors Assessment Research Project

• Vocabulary: Lessons 7-8/Word Roots

• Communication: Socratic Seminars/Lit Circle Book Talks

Text Provided:

 McDougal Littell, Language of Literature: British Literature 2nd Edition

NOTE:  Back to School Night—September 8, 2014 (6:30 pm) PSAT—October 15, 2014

Acknowledgement of Receipt of Syllabus----English 10 Honors ---Mrs. Fossum BRHS

Please turn in by September 8th for 5 pts.

Student Name—(First and Last) : ___________________________________

Student Signature

I have read the course overview (see attached page). I realize that I must comply with all academic and disciplinary rules in order to have a successful year. If I do not follow these rules, I understand the consequences and will accept responsibility.

PRINT FIRST AND LAST NAME X ____________________________________

SIGNX ______________________________________

For Parents/Guardians:

I have read the course overview. I realize that my child must comply with all academic and disciplinary rules in order to have a successful year. If my child chooses not to follow these rules, he or she must accept responsibility. I understand that I can contact Mrs. Fossum at any time at diana.fossum@ or by calling the BRHS main office 571-252-2200 (after school hours—due to trailer location).

Child’s Last Name especially if different from parent/guardian ___________________

Parent/Guardian---PRINT X ____________________________________

SIGNX ______________________________________

Comments/Questions/Concerns: diana.fossum@

 

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