New Smyrna Beach High School
Course Syllabus
Course Title:English IV & English IV Honors 2015-2016
Instructor’s Information:
Name— Ms. Leonard
Contact Information—
(386) 424-2555
Course Description
English IV serves as the final English language course needed for graduation. Students must show mastery in all strands to earn credit. This course will explore both fiction and nonfiction works—including, but not limited to, traditional British Literature from old English to the Elizabethan periods. Each quarter, most texts and assignments will connect back to an overarching theme (Q1—Gender Roles; Q2—Voices of Protest; Q3—Taking Risks; Q4—Seeking Justice, Seeking Peace). This course will also include project-based/student-directed learning.
Course Materials
•Composition Notebook—used throughout the year for Daily Writing warmups
•One three-pronged folder—used throughout the year as a writing portfolio
•Class binder—can be any size, but a 1’’ is recommended
•Dividers (recommended)—binder will be divided into the following sections:
•notes
•vocabulary
•handouts
•assignments
•other
•Notebook paper
•Highlighters and colored pencils will be helpful
•Our classroom needs tissues and hand sanitizer! Donations are greatly appreciated.
Course Rules and Procedures*
- Be Prepared
•Complete assignments on time and be ready for discussions/presentations
•Have all necessary materials with you each day
- Be Effective
•Think! Try! Ask Questions!
•Participate, and support other’s participation
- Be Respectful
•Raise your hand for permission to talk (unless permission is granted otherwise—for group work, discussions, etc.)
•Turn all electronic devices off and place out of sight before entering the classroom
•Take care of school/teacher property
*See PowerPoint presentation and accompanying handout for additional information regarding specific classroom procedures.
Class Coursework Policy
-Students who are submitting late work due to absence have one day for each day absent to submit work unless the teacher determines there are extenuating circumstances which necessitate an extension. It will be a best practice for students to make up tests within a school week of the original assigned date unless the teacher determines there are extenuating circumstances which necessitate an extension.
-Aside from absence-related late work, a maximum of one late assignment will be accepted each 9-week grading period. A late-work form must be filled out in stapled to the assignment.
-Each 9-week grading period, students shall have the opportunity to retake at least one summative assessment. See “Intervention and Remediation” below.
Works To Be Studied
-Please note: The texts listed in the table below are required to be taught in this course per Volusia County. Additional rigorous texts (news articles, short stories, poems etc.) will also be used throughout the course.
-Copies will be provided (loaned) by the school/teacher; however, students may wish to purchase their own copies of Hamlet, Beowulf, and The Things They Carried in order to annotate and revisit the texts.
-Students will also watch/listen to video/audio clips from television or movie versions of the novels/plays/poems to enhance their understanding of the works.
Quarter 1Gender Roles / Quarter 2
Voices of Protest / Quarter 3
Taking Risks / Quarter 4
Seeking Justice, Seeking Peace
“The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” p. 77 in text / “A Modest Proposal,”
p. 199 in text / The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien / The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
“The Men We Carry in Our Minds,” p. 131 in text / “Third World America,” p. 213 in text / Beowulf / Hamletby William Shakespeare
Lord of the Flies
Various news articles
will be used / “Imagine the Angels of Bread,” p. 217 in text / Various supplementary texts will be used / Various supplementary texts will be used
Assessments
Formative Assessments (40%):
-Daily Writing (a warm-up/bell ringer journaling assignment) will take place the first 5-7 minutes of class each day. Daily Writing is worth 5 points per day (usually 25 points per week).
-Various class assignments such as reflection papers, reader responses (responding to the text), outlines, graphic organizers, worksheets, etc., are checked for completion, and they are typically worth 20 points. Assignments of this nature are checked by the teacher at the individual student’s desk. Incomplete work automatically receives a 10/20, and minimal to no work automatically receives 0/20. The difference between incomplete and minimally completed shall be determined by the teacher, but anything less than half of the assignment is typically considered “minimal,” and thus receives a score of 0/20. Only completed work will earn a 20/20.
Summative Assessments (60%):
-Traditional assessments (tests, quizzes, essays, etc.) will be offered to assess understanding; however, alternative assessments (projects, speeches, discussions, etc.) will be used at times throughout the unit.
-Vocabulary quizzes will be recorded as 10-point summative assignments. Vocabulary lists will range from 8 to 10 words, and they will be comprised of new and challenging words found within the context of what students read in class.
-The table below outlines tentative summative assessments. Additional summative assessments may take place as needed to assess mastery of content.
Quarter 1 / Quarter 2 / Quarter 3 / Quarter 4VLT: Informative Essay / VLT: Argumentative Essay / VLT: Literary Analysis Essay / VLT: None
Group Discussion / Write a Satire / Present a Speech / Media Activity
Vocabulary Quiz (multiple) / Vocabulary Quiz (multiple) / Vocabulary Quiz (multiple) / Vocabulary Quiz (multiple)
Project—Gender Roles / Project—Voices of Protest / Project/Exam—Beowulf / Project/Exam—The Things They Carried
Intervention and Remediation:
The focus of instruction should be on getting students to achieve their full learning potential.
•When students demonstrate a lack of proficiency on standards they must receive intervention(s), which may lead to assessment retakes or alternative assignments.
•When students demonstrate a lack of mastery on standards they may receive intervention(s) that require them to attend office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week. Office hours take place during the first thirty minutes of the lunch period on the four assigned days listed above.
•Each 9 week grading period, students shall have the opportunity to retake at least one summative assessment. All retakes require that the student attend office hours for intervention assistance on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in order to retake a test during office hours on Fridays. Additional retakes shall be determined based upon individual student data.
Grading Practices:
Students and parents need timely and accurate feedback in order to effectively monitor learning progress.
•Best practice: Grade book should be updated weekly (except in the case of extensive assignments or unusual circumstances).
•When a student’s score on a retake is less than the original score, the higher score should be used. Scores should not be averaged.
Letter grades are a reflection of the student’s level of academic achievement on the courses’ performance standards as defined in the high school curriculum guides/maps. The following grade scale shall be used to determine a letter grade and the following quality point system shall be used to determine grade point average and honor roll:
Grade / Grade Range / Quality Points / DescriptionA / 90-100 / 4.0 / Outstanding Progress (Mastery)
B / 80-89 / 3.0 / Above Average Progress
C / 70-79 / 2.0 / Average Progress (Proficiency)
D / 60-69 / 1.0 / Lowest Acceptable Progress
F / 0-59 / 0.0 / Failure
I / 0.0 / In progress toward grade level proficiency
in skills and concepts
Class Participation:
All students are expected to take an active part in the learning environment of the classroom. This means coming to class on time and being prepared to learn.
Academic Dishonesty:
The Volusia County School Board’s Code of Student Conduct has defined AcademicDishonesty as a level II offense. Academic Dishonesty is defined as “Dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the school district. Such behavior may result in reduction in grades, classroom discipline as determined by the instructor, suspension or expulsion from school and/or school activities including student organization”.
Student Contact Information
English IV Regular & Honors
2015-2016
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I hope you will take a few minutes and review the course requirements for this year. In addition, if you would please fill out the following information and have your student sign and return the completed form to me. Should you wish to contact me, I can be emailed at . You may also call the front office at (386) 424-2555 and leave a message. Up to date grades, assignments, and attendance can be viewed on Pinnacle(VIMS). Contact guidance if you need a log in and password to Pinnacle.
Sincerely,
Ms. Leonard
______
Please return lower half to English IV teacher:
I have read and understand all aspects of the guidelines and procedures for Ms. Leonard’s English class and have shared them with my parents or guardians. I agree to abide by these policies.
Students name (printed): ______Period:______
Student’s signature:______
Parent/Guardian Name(s): ______
Contact Information:Daytime #______
Evening/Cell #______
Email Address:______