English 4H Syllabus
Walnut High School’s Mission Statement: At Walnut High School our mission is to graduate personally accountable students who think critically, communicate, work cooperatively, and use technology effectively to become productive members of a global society.
Course Description: Prerequisites: Grades of B- or better in both semesters of English 3H or English 3AP. Recommendation for enrollment: Grades of A- or better in both semesters of English 3. This class accelerates work in essay development, vocabulary and the study of American, British, and World literature as well as non-fiction. Critical analysis papers are required.
Instructional Philosophy: In order to be successful in this course, students are expected to be active participants. It is my goal to provide a positive and engaging classroom where all students have the opportunity to learn, succeed, and share their thoughts and opinions verbally without fear of embarrassment or ridicule.
Classroom Management
Consequences for Tardies: When you hit tardy #3 you will be referred to your GLC. You are tardy if you are not in your seat when the bell rings (not walking in as bell is ringing). You will receive a referral every time you are tardy after #3 so don’t be late.
Consequences for Behavioral Problems: On the rare occasion that you cannot function in the classroom, you will be referred to your GLC and I will have to call home as well.
Consequences for Not Bringing Textbook/Novel to Class: Please make sure you bring whatever supplies you need for English AND you bring your textbook and/or novel. When you fail to come prepared to class, it is difficult to participate in class discussions or follow along with the lecture.
No eating or gum chewing in the classroom. A beverage with a lid is OK.
No hats and/or hoodies worn in the classroom regardless if it is WHS apparel.
Make-Up Work Policy: Work is posted every day on the WHS website. You will receive a REMIND about the work as well (don’t rely on the text messages). When you are legally absent, you have as many days as you were absent to make up work—this is your responsibility. Field trips are excused absences and need to be treated the same as if you were out ill.
Tests, Quizzes, Essays: Do not wait for a Tutorial to make up quizzes/tests/essays (need to be made up within 24-48 hours from original date). You may also use before school (7:15-7:40) or after school (2:45-3:10). If you TA for someone, you may use that class period as well (with permission from that teacher). No lunch time is used. If you make an appointment to come outside of Tutorial and you don’t show up, you do not get extra time from the original 24-48 hours. You may reschedule if time permits.
Homework/Projects: Any assignments/projects must be completed before entering the classroom.
No late work will be accepted. Absent work is accepted if you have been legally absent from school (class cuts or truants are not legal absences and they result in a zero for each assignment/project missed).
Do not write on back of paper and use blue/black pen only (extra pens provided when needed).
A proper heading has name, date, period in upper right hand corner of notebook paper.
Since projects are given several weeks to complete, you must turn them in on the due date and not any later. If you have to be absent on the day a project is due, you need to make sure the project gets turned in with your class (not after school).
Homework and Files
I post all classwork, homework, and any documents that I have made to the WHS website. I use REMIND, but you have to sign up for it to work properly.
You will submit typed work via turnitin.com and bring a hard copy to class on the due date. Just submitting the work is not considered on time. Turnitin is only for typed work.
Tutorial
Each tutorial is a time for students to catch up on homework, get extra help from the teacher, make up tests/quizzes or essays, form study groups, study for upcoming tests, and anything else academic. It is not a time to hang out with friends and/or play on your phones. I try to set up the classroom like a coffee shop atmosphere with jazz or classical music quietly playing. You cannot listen to your own music or use earbuds unless you are listening to an online teacher lecture or such. You may use technology to work on assignments only.
If you don’t have anything to work on during the Tutorial time, bring a book to read quietly.
If you need to meet with me, please let me know ahead of time when possible. You do not need an appointment to come to Tutorial.
Do not bring friends who aren’t in my classes to Tutorial.
You need to stay in classroom for the last 10 minutes of Tutorial.
Resources
REMIND (remind.com)—I recommend you download the app for it to work properly, but it isn’t required.
Class Name: English 4H
Class Code: @9g49f (text this code to 81010)
Turn It In (turnitin.com) MAKE SURE YOU SIGN UP FOR CORRECT CLASS PERIOD.
Class ID: 12984641 PERIOD 4 ONLY
Enrollment Password: lyons4 PERIOD 4 ONLY
Class ID: 12984663 PERIOD 5 ONLY
Enrollment Password: lyons5 PERIOD 5 ONLY
WHS website (walnuths.net): Click on LYONS for daily work (no email or sign-up required)
Cell Phone Policy: No cell phone/camera in class unless teacher has given permission. Absolutely no photographs or videos during class time. Phone use during passing periods is done outside the classroom.
In the slight chance there is an emergency (fire, earthquake, etc.), you may access your phones.
Ways to Communicate with Me
Email: . This is the best way to communicate with me for parents. Students may also email me if needed. I do not check my email after 5:00 p.m.
REMIND: This app allows you to text me. I do respond to texts, but remember that since there is a no cell phone policy in the classroom, my cell phone is only out during before/after school, passing periods, and lunch. I do not respond to texts after 5:00 p.m.
Before or After School: You may come to my room between 7:15-7:40 or after school from 2:45-3:10. You do not need an appointment to meet with me. Parents need to make an appointment through the GLC if a meeting is needed. I encourage communication through email.
Tutorial: If I am not helping a student, I am usually grading papers at my desk. Please interrupt me to get the extra help you need. Tutorial is time set aside for you to get any help you need from me.
No lunch time is used for meetings or extra help. Enjoy your lunch with your friends!
Course Syllabus: We will read 4-6 novels, a selection of short stories/essays from the textbook and/or close reader, a Shakespeare play (Hamlet), and a selection of poetry from textbook or from me.
The exams for the novels/play are essays. Quizzes will be given throughout a reading to confirm that you are keeping up with the class. Most quizzes are unannounced. Essay prompts are usually provided 3-5 days prior to writing essay in class.
You will also be responsible for one literary device every two weeks (around 5-7 for first semester and 8-10 for second semester). Directions provided separately. Each literary device takes about an hour to complete.
A TPS-FASTT method is used for poetry analysis. Directions provided separately. Each poem analysis takes 1-2 hours to complete.
Important Dates
September 5th: Labor Day
November 11th: Veterans’ Day Be sure to check WHS website
November 23rd, 24th, 25th: Thanksgiving Holiday & ASB announcements to keep
December 14, 15, 16: First Semester Finals (2 hour finals) up with senior events and
December 19th-January 2nd: Winter Break deadlines.
January 16th: Martin Luther King Day
February 20th: Presidents’ Day
February 24th: Non-Student Day
April 10th-14th: Spring Break
May 15th-19th: Senior Finals (55-minute finals)
May 25th: Graduation
Grading Policy
Assignments/tests/essays will have varying credit. All assignments are graded on a point basis. Grades are not weighted. Always remember that grades are not given, but earned. Extra credit is not offered in an honors course. The end of a grading period or semester is not a time to negotiate a grade increase. Please keep up with the work and check your grade every 2 weeks.
The following grading policy is used to compute grades:
A 95-100%
A- 90-94%
B+ 86-89%
B 85%
B- 80-84%
C+ 76-79%
C 75%
C- 70-74%
D+ 66-69%
D 65%
D- 60%-64%
F 59% or below
Sign that you have read the class syllabus and have a parent/legal guardian sign below as well. Be sure to keep this syllabus in your notebook all year. You will need to refer to it periodically. You will tear off this last page and turn in for credit.
Your Printed Name Date
Your Signature
Parent Signature Date
About You: Write something about you that makes you unique. Something that will help me remember your name. For example, I am the oldest of 5 kids and all of our names start with K: Kellee, Kory, Kasey, Kassidy, Kaydee. The girls end in two e’s and the boys all end with y. No reason. My parents just thought it was fun. You may tell me more than one thing. J
Who I Am: