English 11 Course Syllabus- Charlotte High School



English 11 Course Syllabus- Charlotte High School

Mrs. Beth Strait Mrs. Kristen Toadvine

School: (517) 541-5600 ext. 5657 ext. 3726

Email: andrewb@ toadvik@

Course Description:

English 11 is an 18-week literature-based course with an emphasis on critical thinking and reading. Major areas of study include Reading and Writing Rhetorically, Novel Study, Voices of Change, and Confronting Reality.

Some units may include viewing feature films, such as The Wizard of Oz, The Crucible, The Village, Tuesdays with Morrie, Call of the Wild, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and/or The Great Gatsby. Some of these films may have a PG-13 rating. One unit may include viewing Into the Wild, an R-rated movie which will be edited for content. If there are any questions or concerns, parents are urged to contact the teacher(s) for alternative arrangements.

Evaluation Methods:

*Daily class participation *Projects

*Journal entries/pre-writes/reflections/notes *Quizzes/exams

*Writing assignments *Independent/group activities

*Homework assignments *Computer lab participation/etiquette

*Oral presentations *Peer editing preparation/participation

Supplies:

Required Supplies:

Everyday in class you’ll need the following:

-i-Pad

-Lined paper

-Pencils and/or pens, dark ink only

-USB disk; remember to back your work up in multiple places!

-Student ID

Pg. 1

English Department Grading Policies

In all English courses, students’ grades will be determined by their performance on assignments that lead up to a demonstration of learning, and on their level of responsibility when it comes to completing required classroom tasks. By dividing the grade into these three categories, the department ensures that students are graded on their demonstration of knowledge, and that all parties involved, including students, parents, and teachers, can clearly see what students know as well as how well they are upholding their classroom responsibilities. To these ends, the department utilizes these grading categories:

Practice (5% of overall grade) – This category includes any and all assignments that a student must complete to generate new knowledge or practice existing knowledge. These may include, but are not limited to, in class and homework assignments, quizzes, journals, etc.

Product (90% of overall grade) – This category includes any and all assignments designed as opportunities for students to show their proficiency on the standards for the course. These include, but are not limited to, tests, projects, and essays.

Academic Responsibility (5% of overall grade) – All students are expected to produce work in a professional and timely manner, which includes turning work in on time, participating in classroom discussions and activities, and behaving in a manner that allows learning to take place. This category includes a grade associated with these behaviors.

Individual teachers will determine the specific assignments in the categories as well as the construction of the professionalism grades, and communicate these specifics to students through individual assignments and classroom policies.

ZAP/Late Work Policy

Assignments in the English department are designed to allow students to show what they have learned in a given course. Therefore, the English department’s ZAP policy reflects an emphasis on completing work that exhibits a student’s knowledge, and completing it on time. Students will be ZAPped for assignments deemed ZAPpable by teachers of a given course; these assignments will be clearly identified, in writing, as they are given. Students are expected to attend ZAP lab if it is assigned to them, unless the assignment is turned in before the end of the day before the assigned ZAP. Assignments turned in on the day of the assigned ZAP must be turned in to the ZAP coordinator.

Assignments that are turned in late, regardless of whether or not they are ZAPpable, will be governed by the Academic Responsibility category of the grade book, meaning that late points will not be deducted from the assignments themselves; rather, the student’s Academic Responsibility grade will be affected in accordance with the individual classroom policies. However, late work will only be accepted up to the end of the given unit or the last Friday of the marking period, whichever comes first.

Pg. 2

Academic Responsibility: 5%

All students are expected to produce work in a professional and timely manner, which includes the following:

• Turning quality work in on time

• Participating productively in classroom discussions and activities, both verbally and non-verbally

• Behaving in a manner that allows learning to take place without disruption or distraction for the student, the teacher or others in the class.

The above expectations will be evaluated periodically during the semester based on the chart seen below.

|Behavior |Score |Student |Teacher Assessment |

| | |Self-Assessment | |

|Reliable: Always meets or exceeds the |10 | | |

|expectations | | | |

| | | | |

|Consistent: Often meets or exceeds the |8-9 | | |

|expectations. When the student does slip, | | | |

|it is not distracting or significant to | | | |

|the overall outcome of the course for | | | |

|him/her or for others in the class. | | | |

|Inconsistent: sometimes meets the |7 | | |

|expectations, sometimes exceeds the | | | |

|expectations, and sometimes falls short of| | | |

|the expectations or meets them at a basic | | | |

|level. | | | |

|Unreliable: student often does not meet |6 | | |

|the expectations | | | |

| | | | |

|Insufficient: student does not attend or |0 | | |

|participate in enough sessions to assess | | | |

|his/her performance in these areas and/or | | | |

|he/she almost never meets the minimum | | | |

|expectation. | | | |

Pg. 3

Grading:

---If at any time you have a question regarding your grade, we will be glad to discuss it with you. It is important that you keep ALL of your papers so that if there is a dispute, you will have proof of your grade. If you believe there is a mistake in your grade, we cannot make any changes unless you have the graded assignment.

---Assignments are due and in their final forms at the start of class unless indicated otherwise; DO NOT walk into class asking to print (either in the room/lab) an assignment that is due. NOTE: WE are the turn-in basket!

---Major assignments and papers must be typed.

---When presentations are scheduled, you must be ready to present in front of the class as scheduled, otherwise you may forfeit the assigned points.

Makeup Work:

---For excused absences, you have as many days as you missed to make up the work (e.g. miss two days, you have two more days to complete the work). However, if you miss a class and already have an assignment/test due date, you are expected to complete the assignment/test by the set due date.

---You are responsible for promptly obtaining and understanding makeup work without disrupting class time. (See your teachers.)

---Missed work will not be provided for unexcused absences.

---If your absence is unexcused, work from that day and make up work will receive zero points; you are responsible for notifying teachers when absence is eventually excused (if it isn’t right away).

---Not all activities and assignments in this class can be made up. Some specific events occur only during class at a given time (discussions, presentations, etc.) Students absent during such activities may forfeit any assigned points.

---If you miss a scheduled presentation, be prepared to present on the day that you return from your absence.

Late Work:

---Technology problems do not excuse late work; students must allow adequate time to predict problems (such whether or not personal software and programs are compatible with school software and programs) and proactively address them. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain computer access or make prior arrangements with the teacher(s). Students must adequately save their work when using a computer.

---Homework extensions are possible, but they are only granted before homework due dates. Do not attempt to obtain an extension on or after the due date!

Pg. 4

Course Expectations:

---The Charlotte High School Handbook rules are always in effect in this room. No hats or headphones.

*Cell phones are always expected to be out of sight as well as hearing range. That means phones should be on “vibrate” mode and should not be used for texting or looking at pictures during class.

*If phones or headphones are being used in class, a verbal warning may be given. Then, they will be confiscated and available for pickup after school either in main office or teacher’s room.

*Headphones are permitted during computer lab time and are the only appropriate way of listening to music as you work.

*Phones or other ECDs should never be used during any testing situation.

---Class dismissal: The bell does not dismiss you; the teachers do. You are expected to remain in the “desk area” until class dismissal.

---Respect yourself, peers, faculty, and property.

*Foul language may constitute a parent contact and/or referral.

*We love to see you read, however, reading other classwork or novels during instruction is considered inappropriate.

*Sleeping in class may constitute a parent contact and/or referral.

---Snacks/drinks are permitted but you must dispose of your trash. Meals need to be consumed at lunch. We reserve the right to alter this rule if necessary.

Consequences:

If you find yourself acting inappropriately, please remember where you are and act responsibly. If you keep acting inappropriately, you will be warned to correct the behavior. Behaviors will be discussed with your teacher, and then your parent. Detentions and/or referrals may also be given if inappropriate behavior continues.

Tardy Policy:

Be in the room when the bell rings. The tardy policy is in accordance with that set forth in the student agenda.

Hall Passes:

---Hall passes are discouraged, but when given, are a privilege based on teacher discretion.

---When they must be used, have your ID ready, and use your discretion in determining when to ask us to sign out.

---If you abuse your hall passes, you will be denied permission to use them.

---ALL students are allotted TWO (2) hall passes per nine weeks without penalty; any additional passes are subject to minute-for-minute makeup time to be made up at the teachers’ convenience.

---Do NOT:

*Ask to use a bathroom hall pass at the beginning of class when you still have available passing time.

*Say, “I was just waiting for you to see if I could go.”

Pg.5

Miscellaneous

For those who are 18 and older, an Age of Majority form must be filed in the Main Office to be valid in this class.

Extra Help:

Extra help may be scheduled after school. Please ask questions if you are not certain about an assignment. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us to set up a conference time. Conference times should be arranged prior to the day you need our assistance.

Available Computers:

You will be expected to type many of your assignments. If you have extenuating circumstances, please let us know the first week of class.

Computers are available as follows:

The Media Center is open at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 3:45 p.m.

The Charlotte Public Library (517-543-8859) has computers available to EVERYONE. You do not have to have an account to use their computers. Microsoft Word and the Internet are available on those machines, as well as a variety of other programs. If you are under 18, the Internet will be filtered there, as it is at school. The hours at the library: M-F 9:00 a.m.—8:00 p.m.; Saturdays 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

ENGLISH 11

Please sign and return the following by Monday, Sept. 10th at the latest.

Pg. 6

Note to Parents/Guardians:

Please review this eight-page syllabus with your student. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the instructor(s). Contact information can be found on page one of the syllabus.

Grades are posted on Skyward and accessible to you through Family Access.

Thank you for your support. We are looking forward to working with your student and having a great semester!

Students:

I have read and understand the classroom expectations and requirements for

English11. I will apply myself, challenge myself and be a benefit to the classroom environment. Furthermore, I agree to abide by the rules and expectations for

English11.

Student Name (please print): ___________________________

Student Signature:______________________________ Date:________

Parents and Guardians:

I understand the requirements and expectations for English 11 as noted in the eight-page syllabus. My student has permission to read the listed texts and watch the listed films, unless otherwise noted below (Into the Wild permission slip on back side of this paper). My student will obtain access to computers; any extenuating circumstances will be discussed with the instructors the first week of the course, so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

Parent/Guardian Name (please print): ___________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________ Date:________

Parent/guardian e-mail address: ________________________

Parent/guardian phone number(s): ______________________

Best time of day to contact you: _________________________

Comments:

Please flip over!

Pg. 7

Film Permission Form

Into the Wild 2007/R

We will be watching this film in English 11. Please read the following and feel free to let us know if further questions or concerns need to be addressed. Thank you!

Review from : A superb cast and an even-handed treatment of a true story buoy Into the Wild, Sean Penn's screen adaptation of Jon Krakauer's bestselling book. Emile Hirsch stars as Christopher McCandless, scion of a prosperous but troubled family who, after graduating from Atlanta's Emory University in the early 1990s, decides to chuck it all and become a self-styled "aesthetic voyager" in search of "ultimate freedom." He certainly doesn't do it halfway: after donating his substantial savings account to charity and literally torching the rest of his cash, McCandless changes his name (to "Alexander Supertramp"), abandons his family (William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden as his bickering, clueless parents and Jena Malone as his baffled but loving sister, who relates much of the backstory in voice-over), and hits the road, bound for the Alaskan bush and determined not to be found. For the next two years he lives the life of a vagabond, working a few odd jobs, kayaking through the Grand Canyon into Mexico, landing on L.A.'s Skid Row, and turning his back on everyone who tries to befriend him (including Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker as two kindly, middle-aged hippies and Hal Holbrook in a deeply affecting performance as an old widower who tries to take "Alex" under his wing). Penn, who directed and wrote the screenplay, alternates these interludes with scenes depicting McCandless' Alaskan idyll--which soon turns out be not so idyllic after all. Settling into an abandoned school bus, he manages to sustain himself for a while, shooting small game (and one very large moose), reading, and recording his existential musings on paper. But when the harsh realities of life in the wilderness set in, our boy finds himself well out of his depth, not just ill-prepared for the rigors of day to day survival but realizing the importance of the very thing he wanted to escape--namely, human relationships. It'd be easy to either idealize McCandless as a genuinely free spirit, unencumbered by the societal strictures that tie the rest of us down, or else dismiss him as a hopelessly callow naïf, a fool whose disdain for practical realities ultimately doomed him. Into the Wild does neither, for the most part telling the tale with an admirable lack of cheap sentiment and leaving us to decide for ourselves. --Sam Graham

Purpose: Teaching Naturalism and Transcendentalism via Thoreau and Emerson can be difficult for students to grasp in this day and age. This film is paired with the Jack London short story, “To Build a Fire,” to express the power of nature and its unconquerable reality. This movie, based on a true story, also exemplifies an attempt (though a very cautionary one) to live up to a freethinking, self-reliant, transcendent philosophy. We will view, analyze, and discuss the film, comparing and contrasting it with the texts we study. It is rated R for adult language and some nudity (a swimming/bathing scene), which we personally edit from viewing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parents: Please sign in the space below if your son/daughter has permission to view this film. If you do not want your child to view this film, or if no permission slip is returned, an alternate assignment will be provided.

Student Name (printed) _____________________________________

Parent/Guardian Name (printed) ______________________________________

Parent/Guardian Name (signed) ______________________________________

Pg. 8

-----------------------

iPad Policy

iPads offer a tremendous opportunity for students to learn material in new ways and for the school to offer instruction using 21st century skills and methods. They are an instructional tool that should be used to their maximum benefit. You should be using your i-Pad to benefit your academic performance, not for entertainment purposes. For that reason, the following guidelines are in place for using iPads within the classroom:

1. NO food or beverages will be allowed on the desks while iPads are out.

2. iPads are to be used ONLY when instructed or by special permission. This means that unless we are using iPads as a class, they should be in your bags or flipped upside down on your desk. If you use your iPad inappropriately, we will keep it in our (or the main office’s) possession until the end of the class period or the end of the school day. If gaming becomes a problem, gaming apps will be removed by the main office.

3. Keep track of YOUR iPad- perhaps put a school-appropriate photo as your background to identify your iPad as yours.

4. Keep your iPad fully charged.

ENGLISH 11 SYLLABUS DUE DATE:

_______________________________________

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download