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English II A/B Syllabus
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English IIA/B Syllabus Course Description: Students in this course will read and evaluate short stories, poems, informational texts, and novels as representatives of their literary types. Students will employ the writing process to develop paragraphs and essays emerging from material read. Students will complete a research project that prepares them for writing a research paper. Instructional Philosophy: The course and the classroom are organized in a manner to optimize learning utilizing procedures and routines. Students will be assessed on a regular basis according to the quality of their work, as well as their readiness for the workplace. Depending on the unit, students will be working independently and/or as a member of a group. Instructional Strategies: A variety of strategies will be used including the following: brainstorming, cooperative learning, demonstration, guided practice, inquiry, instructional technology, lecture, memorization, note-taking, presentations, problem-based learning, research, teacher questions, and work-based learning.
Major Course Goals: 1. Interpret meanings of unfamiliar words using vocabulary strategies. 2. Recognize and evaluate the text features in a variety of texts to assist in interpreting the author’s purpose. 3. Determine and analyze literary techniques and literary elements in a variety of texts. 4. Develop and apply skills to evaluate informational texts. 5. Produce well-developed writings in various forms and types, including timed and un-timed writings. 6. Incorporate conventions of Standard English into writing. 7. Read and apply multi-step directions to perform complex tasks. 8. Develop and apply effective research process skills to gather, analyze, and evaluate information. 9. Develop and apply effective listening and speaking skills for various audiences and purposes.
Major Objectives: 1st Quarter-Text features, 6 + 1 writing traits, persuasive business letter, prepositions, independent & dependent clauses, roots & affixes
2nd Quarter-Organizational patterns, faulty reasoning, proposed solutions, accuracy and adequacy of evidence, tone (non-fiction), point of view (non-fiction), research process skills, active and passive voice, verb tense, parallelism, roots and affixes 3rd Quarter-Plot and setting, character and point of view, irony and allusion, theme, literary analysis 4th Quarter-Poetry, style, persuasive speeches, End of Course Exams
Major Course Projects: Students can expect to complete a variety of assignments designed to implement the literary skill covered. Projects include, but are not limited to, written assessments, presentation of a speech, research a topic, type a works cited page, individual reading, class work, home work, and quarterly and common assessments. Nearly all graded work will be kept by the teacher or destroyed. Students may check the contents of their classroom folders or see assignments, but the folder and all graded work must remain in the classroom unless otherwise designated by the teacher. Reading for Enjoyment: Students are expected to bring an additional library book to class daily. Outside books will be read daily at times set by the teacher (daily starter, between assignments, end of class, etc.). Workplace Readiness points will be deducted if the book is not brought to class. Students are encouraged to find a genre they enjoy reading. A reasonable goal is different for everyone, but we suggest you try to read at least three books per semester. Be prepared to write responses or summaries to the independent reading material. Level of Challenge: The successful completion of the mentioned projects and activities will enable students ample opportunity to demonstrate what they should know and complete for passing of the course. Some assignments will require students to read and demonstrate an understanding of what was read, written, or presented in presentations. The assignments are designed for students to apply what they learned to real world problems and situations.
Classroom Expectations: 1. Be in class seated, and quiet when the bell rings. (Only one warning tardy will be given. Unauthorized absences from class will result in a zero grade for that day’s work.)
2. Bring books, paper, pen, and pencil, and assignments to class.
3. Raise your hand to be recognized before speaking.
4. Keep hands, feet, mouthy or foul remarks, and objects to yourself. (All topics must be school appropriate during class and private discussion.)
5. Follow directions the first time they are given.
6. Please no food or drinks in the classroom. Bottled water is the only exception! 7. All electronic devices (cell phones, MP3 players, i-Pods, etc.) must be off and out of sight during school hours. Consequences:
First offense: Warning/Points from class activity may be lost
Second offense: Final warning or detention and parents notified
Third offense: Detention and parents notified
Fourth offense: Immediately sent to principal Materials Needed: 1. One folder with white loose leaf paper—this will be left in the classroom. 2. Blue or black pens, #2 pencils: Papers and projects must be typed or written in blue or black ink.
3. One subject notebook—this will be left in the classroom.
4. Planners must be brought to class every day. Don’t ask to leave class if you do not have your planner. You must use your planner, sign out, wear the teacher pass around your neck, and sign back in as a matter of routine. As the students’ daily bell ringer, I require them to write the agenda that is posted on the board into their planners.
**Additional items will be needed during certain projects. A list of these materials will be given in a timely manner. If any student has a problem obtaining any of these materials due to lack of financial resources, the student should have a private discussion with me, and I will provide the materials.
Homework Policy and Grading Scale: All assignments must be turned in on or before the due dates. You are given four late passes per semester. You may use one late-day pass to turn in any assignment the next school day. Failing to complete assignments will result in a homework lab assigned by your teacher. The homework lab will take place after school 2:30 – 3:30 until the assignments are complete.
It is your responsibility to find out what assignments you have missed after an absence; please ask before or after class. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, but you were in class on the day the assignment was made, you must turn in the assignment the first day you return after your absence. When you are absent more than one day in a row, you will be allowed one make-up day for each day that you were absent. All assignments are posted on the calendar at the front of the room and kept up to date on my website.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a five-dollar word for cheating, specifically, copying material and presenting it as your own. This cheating may be in the form of copying material from another student, from a book, or from the Internet. Everyone has cheated on something, but that fact does not make the practice acceptable. When you copy something and fail to indicate where you got it through appropriate documentation, you’re guilty of plagiarism. Any assignment plagiarized either totally or in part will earn a zero.
Weights - Formal Assessments = 60% Workplace Readiness = 20% Mid-Term/Final = 20%
**Please feel free to keep track of your son/daughter's grade on Infinite Campus, as I update grades at least once a week. If you do not have a username for Infinite Campus, please contact the high school office.**
A……………100-90 B……………...89-80 C……………...79-70 D……………...69-60 F……………...59-0
Extra Help: Tutoring is available after school Monday through Friday. Please see the tutoring schedule located outside every language arts teacher’s door. Failure to complete assignments will result in a mandatory homework lab assigned by the teacher. Failure to attend will result in one day in school suspension. Some of the selections deal with mature themes and use “mature” language. We have chosen these works because we feel they make valuable contributions to literature and can help students interpret the connections between literature and real life. Please encourage your parents to read these selections along with you. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the teacher. Works to be Read: During the course of the semester the following materials (as well as others not listed) may be read: Collection 1: “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” Collection 2: Collection 4: “And of Clay We Are Created” “The Man in the Water” “If Decency Doesn’t, Law Should Make
Collection 5: Collection 6: The Novel: To Kill a Mockingbird or Ender’s Game
English II A/B Teacher contact information:
Mrs. Gillespie Mrs. Wathen Gillespie_stephanie@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us wathen_stephanie@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us 636-789-0010, ext. 1202 636-789-0010, ext. 1206
Miss Thurman Mrs. Dix Thurman_angie@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us dix_stephanie@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us 636-789-0010, ext. 1207 636-789-0010, ext. 1109
The best way to contact me is via e-mail. If you do not have access to e-mail, you may call my extension and leave a message. It may take a day or two for me to return your call, so please be patient. I do care about you and your student and I want to communicate with you as often as my schedule permits.
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After reading the course syllabus, please detach the second page and keep my contact information in a convenient place. Please sign the form below and return the parent contact information sheet to me.
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Best way to contact you: Home Phone Work Phone (Please circle) Cell Phone Email
English II & English III
Hillsboro R-3 School District
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