CCHSAP Language and Comp Mrs. Cordell
2015-16
JuniorEnglish Course Syllabus
CCHS MISSION STATEMENT
Culver City High School is an engaged and caring community where diversity is valued and respected. We are committed to educating and inspiring all students to become life-long learners and contributing members of our global society.
Culver City High School Believes:
Each member of our school community plays an integral part in making student success a certainty.
That all students are provided the necessary resources and opportunities to become successful Collaborative Workers, Adaptable Problem Solvers, Critical Thinkers, Involved Citizens, Quality Producers and Self-Guided Achievers.
That all students are immersed in vigorous, standards-based curricula that promote higher level thinking skills.
That all students are capable of learning and as such, we educate the whole person providing students the necessary support to achieve their fullest potential.
That we value diversity and promote tolerance and espouse understanding and compassion.
That the aesthetic value of our campus is an important part of student achievement.
We are dedicated to the SIX Pillars of Character: Respect, Responsibility, Caring Trustworthiness, Fairness, and Citizenship.
Course Description:
As a junior level course, we study mostly American writers, speakers and leaders, but there will be supplemented material from around the world. This is a rigorous course that gives students ample opportunities to examine a writer’s purpose in accordance with the writer’s use of rhetorical devices, including tone, diction, audience, organization, appeal, style, and attitude. The course teaches students how to read and evaluate primary and secondary sources in order to incorporate them into an original composition. This course also requires students to write expository, analytical, and argumentative papers in response to a variety of prose and genres. Students will read and write (formally and informally) in the following rhetorical modes: narration, description, process analysis, example, definition, classification, comparison/contrast, cause/effect, and argument/persuasion. They will learn how to link technique and meaning into well-organized, supported, logical responses to complex texts (primarily nonfiction).
California Common Core Standards:
1.Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on- one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
2.Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
3.Draw evidence from literary and or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
4.Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
5.Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portion of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
Texts:
Elements of Literature: Fifth Course, English 11 Textbook AP Edition
Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell
The Shallows, Nicholas Carr
The Social Animal, David Brooks
A wide variety of essays, political speeches, and non-fiction handouts
Expectations:
-Come to my classroom with an open mind.
-Consideration and respect are essential to a comfortable classroom community.
-Be kind to your classmates and me, name calling/laughing at others in NEVER acceptable.
-Be fully active in your learning (come prepared, take notes, participate in class).
-Ask questions and ask for help whenever you need it – I am here to help you.
Rules and Regulations:
-Do not speak when someone else is. As I state above, please respect yourself, your classmates and me.
-No cell phones are allowed. If I see your phone it will be confiscated per school rules.
-Students may go to the bathroom one at a time. I would advise you to wait until I am through with any instruction.
-I need to see your eyes. Do not lounge in class. This is a learning environment, not your living room.
-Remain seated until I dismiss the class. It is rude to pack up before the bell rings.
Assignments:
-All assignments are due on the assigned due date at the beginning of class. Do not tell me you have it, you just need to print it (this excuse qualifies as LATE).
-If you are absent, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make up your assignments upon return. You must make up a test/quiz within one week of your absence.
-If there is a special circumstance please contact me ASAP. I cannot help you after the fact.
Late Policy:
-Turn your work in on time.
-Any homework that is reviewed in class may not be turned in late.
-In the case of any other late work, you will be penalized 10% each day and cannot turn in work after 5 days. Major essays or projects will be penalized 20% each day.
Attendance:
-In order to succeed, come to class every day prepared.
-It is your responsibility to find out the missing homework assignments from the website, from a classmate, or from me. Please place the word ABSENT next to your name when turning in work.
*Tardies
-Please show up on time.
-If you are tardy do not disrupt the class, this is unfair to the other students. Walk quietly to your seat.
-If you show up habitually late,there will be consequences in accordance with school policy.
Grading:
-Students will be given guidelines for all assignments and they must be followed. Please ask questions if you need clarification.
Grade Breakdown:
Participation 15%
Daily assignments, short responses , quizzes, etc 20%
Projects, Essays, Exams 45%
Final Exam 20%
-Extra Credit might be available during the school year, at my discretion.
A=90-100% B=80-89% C=70-79% D=60-69% F=0-59%
Submissions:
-All essays and writing assignments outside of class should be typed, unless I say otherwise: Microsoft Word, 1” margins, double spaced and 12 point Times New Roman font.
-Save your work on a CD or flash drive. Do not save your work on the local hard drive of a school computer. Also, technical difficulties are not an excuse for missing work. If you do not show up to class with the hard copy of your paper in your hand, it is considered late. You will not be allowed to print your paper once you have arrived in class.
Academic Integrity:
-Cheating will not be tolerated in my classroom. This includes but is not limited to copying from another person, allowing someone else to copy your work, turning in someone else’s work or using notes on tests or quizzes.
-Plagiarizing (presenting another’s work as your own) without proper citation/documentation and adequate paraphrasing is cheating. Any student who turns in a literary analysis without appropriate citation will receive an automatic failure of the assignment and a call to your parent or guardian.
Materials Needed:
-Folder
-notebook or 3-ring binder with loose leaf to take notes
-required texts
-pen/pencil, highlighter, post-it notes
-bring in a box of Kleenex or hand sanitizer for 5 points extra credit
Film Policy:
In order to enrich the students’ education, a variety of movies and images will be shown during class to further their awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the themes and content discussed throughout the year. Many of the movies and documentaries that will be shown (“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, etc.) are rated PG-13 or R for violence and mature subject matter. Considering the sensitivity of the topics, all discussion, activities, films, etc., will require your student to have a respectful and mature attitude, otherwise, he/she will be asked to leave class.
Availability:
-I cannot say it enough; I am here to help you. I will be free during lunch, as well as before school. Please make an appointment in advance.
-You can also reach me by email: . I will try and respond to all emails within 24 hours.
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Welcome to my class! The best way to stay informed of your student’s progress is to check Aeries (Parent Portal) online and our class website. Please review the course syllabus for details about the class and sign the portion below. Support from you ensures that your student has a successful year.
Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~Please Sign & Return this Page by Wednesday August 28th~~~~~~~~~~~~
Student Name: (please print Last) ______(First)______
Period: ______
STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I have reviewed the course syllabus for AP Language; I clearly understand it and will abide by it.
Student Signature: ______
Date:______
PARENT/GUARDIAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I have reviewed the course syllabus for AP Language; I clearly understand it and will support my student(s) to abide by it.
Parent/Guardian Name (please print Last)______(First)______
Parent Signature: ______Date ______
Parent phone numbers:
Home______
Mobile______
Work ______
Parent Email Address:
______and/or ______
Questions, Comments?
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