English IVPorter 1
EastWakeSchool of Health Science
Wendell, North Carolina
English IV Syllabus
Mr. Zane G. Porter
Fall 2012
Room S158
Twitter: @PorterEWHS
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to English 4 with an emphasis on British Literature! This semester we will be learning many new ideas and strategies to read, write, and communicate effectively in the adult world. However, this final semester of English will also culminate in a project that will reflect 12 years of English/Language Arts education.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The state of North Carolina has adopted the National Common Core Standards for Junior and Senior English. These Common Core Standards include analyzing literature, analyzing informational texts, writing, speaking and listening, and language. You may access these standards in more detail on my website (
WRITTEN PAPERS and PROJECTS
All papers and projects must be computer generated unless otherwise instructed. When in doubt, type it. Use the Times New Roman font, 12 pt., following the format for college papers (see the example below). WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! Papers and projects must be submitted at the beginning of the class (within 20 seconds of the tardy bell). A paper turned in 21 seconds after the tardy bell will receive an 8 point deduction, even if the student is late to class. Late papers will be penalized eight (8) points per day(including weekends). You will have plenty of notice as to when the papers are due; there is no excuse. If you think you may be ill or out of town, turn the paper in early or have a reliable friend turn it in for you.
Doe 1
John Doe
Mr. Porter
AP English III
25 Aug. 2012
Title
This is where you will begin your research assignment. Make sure that you have one
inch margins all the way around your document. The top left header should be your last name
and the page number.
RESEARCH PAPER
Students will, in addition to essays and regularly scheduled papers, write a research paper approximately 4-6 pages in length. This practice will assist students in formulating varied, informed arguments for the assignment, the exam, and future writings. Research topics will be an approved student topic. The form of the paper will be written in the MLA format. Several class periods will be devoted to the techniques of writing a research paper, organization, note taking, and documentation. The research paper will be part of the final project in Unit 5.
EVALUATION AND CREDIT
A93-100
B92-85
C84-77
D76-70
FBelow 70
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Five principles shape our East Wake School of Health Science’s culture. We refer to these as “The 5 P’s of Success”:
Pride (in oneself and in one’s work)
Be POSITIVITY! Being positive is infectious and it will yield results for everyone in class. Your attitude and motivation are the essential elements of our classroom environment.
Perseverance
Pursuit of Knowledge (not just information)
Personal Responsibility
Be POLITEto and respectfulof Mr. Porter and your peers. Actively listen (without speaking) when others are speaking, and be respectful of different points of view. Raise your hand before speaking when the speaker (Mr. Porter or a student) is talking to the class.
BePREPARED by being in your seat and working on the bell work when the bell rings. Bring all materials to class (including your binder/notebook, loose leaf paper, and a pen).
Preparing for My Future Today.
BePROACTIVE in all of your work so that you excel and do not fall behind. It is easier to stay on top of your work than to try and catch up. Your education is completely dependent upon YOUR desire to achieve greatness.
DISCIPLINE
I do not plan on discipline being a problem in the classroom. However, sometimes, students choose to act out or disrupt the class. These actions will result in consequences including but not limited to preferential seating, student conferences, morning/lunch/after school help sessions, counselor referrals, peer tutoring, agenda use, remediation, 1:1 meeting for an action plan, parent phone call and/or conference, and administrative referral. My goal is that upon correcting an action, the student recognizes the disruption to themselves, to the class, and to the teacher, and decides to help the class with positive participation.
CAMPUS POLICY FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES
The following guidelines will be enforced on all four campuses at East Wake: Cell phones and other electronic devices such as iPods, MP3 players, computer games, etc. are prohibited from the beginning of the school day - 7:25 – until dismissal at 2:18. Each school will allow electronic devices to be used during lunch. Students who call, text or contact students in another school will have the device confiscated and may face additional consequences.
Any devices, including ear buds and blue tooth devices, should be kept out of sight and turned off during the instructional day, including class changes between 8:05 – 3:00 except lunch time. Devices that are visible or heard will be confiscated and returned to parents only. (See Board Policy 6426 on page 20 of the WCPSS Handbook).
MATERIALS
1” or 1.5” Three Ring Binder*
5 Tab Dividers for the Binder*
(Readings– Grammar/Vocabulary– Notes/Handouts– Writings– Quizzes/Tests/Reviews)
1-Subject Spiral Notebook (College Ruled)*
Plenty of Loose Leaf Paper (College Ruled)
Flash Drive (at least 2G)
Blue or Black Pens and a Highlighter (any color)
*These materials should solely be used for English IV.
Classroom Donation Items: facial tissue and hand sanitizer
GRADING POLICY
40% - 1st 9 Weeks
50% - Minor Assessments (Quizzes, Homework, Classwork, Participation, Drafts, etc.)
50% - Major Assessments (Unit Tests, Final Drafts, Projects)
40% - 2nd 9 Weeks
50% - Minor Assessments (Quizzes, Homework, Classwork, Participation, Drafts, etc.)
50% - Major Assessments (Unit Tests, Final Drafts, Projects)
The Final Project will count as two (2) Major Assessments.
20% - Semester Exam
100% - Final Grade
*Any disagreement with a grade must be submitted in writing within two days of the grade being distributed. I will not change any grade without a letter expressing your concern.
Senior final exam exemptions are a combination of absences and grade. Seniors may be exempted if:
They have an A average and have 3 or fewer absences (both unexcused and excused)
They have a B average and have 2 or fewer absences (both unexcused and excused)
They have a C average and have 1 or fewer absences (both unexcused and excused)
Also, three (3) tardies equals one absence. Absences are NOT waived due to extended illness or family emergencies.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is a student’s first priority. Classes will be a mixture of lectures, group work, independent work, small group reading discussion, large group reading discussion, peer editing, etc. and participation in the activities are vital to the student’s grade and growth as a reader, writer, and collaborator. Participation cannot be made up and the grade is counted as a minor assessment (see above). If one is not in class, they cannot participate in the daily activities. The easiest was to fall behind is to have poor attendance.
MAKE-UP AND LATE WORK
If an assignment is due on a day a student is absent, it must be turned in on the first day back; after that, it is late.Major reports and papers must be turned in the day it is due or it will be subject to a late penalty of 8 points a day regardless of the reason. When a student is absent, it is her/his responsibility to obtain missed assignments. Come see me before school, at lunch, or after school to collect make-up work (NOT DURING CLASS).
Turn in all make-up and late work to the appropriate basket. DO NOT GIVE IT TO MR. PORTER! I will lose any paper you give me that is not part of the daily agenda. Expect make-up and late work to be graded much slower than work that is turned in on time.
If you are in extra-curricular activities that require you to be out for the class, get your work ahead of time so that you can turn it in on time. Again, come before or after school to get your work.
LATE WORK that is not a project requires a late fee of 25 words per day late (including weekends). For example, if the homework is due Friday and you turn it on Monday, you will be required to explain the reason it is late in at least 75 typed and properly formatted words. Without the late fee, the late work will not be accepted.
ADVISORY
Advisory will be held every other Wednesday from 8:45 to 9:45 in my classroom. It is your responsibility to recognize if you need extra help. I cannot see inside of your head to see if you understand everything that we are doing in class. Therefore, if you need extra help, sign up for advisory, before school tutoring, or after school tutoring. I will place students on the list myself if I notice a need for extra help. I will focus on students who need extra help over students who are simply making up work in advisory. While I am at school for about an hour after school everyday, I will make every attempt to be available for extended tutoring on Tuesdays (unless you sign up for another day).
CHEATING
Students who plagiarize papers or commit other forms of academic dishonesty will be disciplined according to school policy. A zero may be given on the assignment, and proper disciplinary action will be taken. Students must not share work or steal writing from published authors. When outside sources are used in writing, students must document properly.
When writing a process paper, students will complete and submit all steps of the writing process before receiving credit for the final paper. Downloading papers from the Internet and/or “sharing” other students’ writing will not be tolerated. All papers must be submitted according to the instructor’s direction.
Students talking, passing notes, using a cell phone, or communicating in any way during testing will be regarded as cheating and the students involved will be dismissed from the test and disciplined in accordance with the school policy.
FOOD AND DRINKS
Students are allowed to have a drink in class, but do not bring in or eat any overly noisy/odorous food or drink. The classroom is not a restaurant or movie theatre and I reserve the right to tell you to put your food or drink up.
RESTROOM AND LOCKER POLICY
Use the restroom and gather all of your materials before coming to class. You will not be allowed to go to your locker during class. Anything that is left in the locker will have to wait until the class is over. You may use the restroom when abiding by the 20/20 policy, but do not make a habit of going to the restroom everyday in this class or you will be limited in the times you are able to leave the room.
COURSE OUTLINE
Unit 1: Narrative
Analyzing Literature(Major Works) / Beowulf
Canterbury Tales
Analyzing Informational Texts / Cultural Contexts
Motivation
Comparing and Contrasting
Critical Comments
Writing / Due Date: ______
Speaking & Listening / Presenting group research with limited technology
Using notes to learn from a speaker
Language / Fragments and Run-ons
Words as different parts of speech
Combining sentences with Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions
Unit 2: Informational
Analyzing Literature(Major Works) / Hamlet
Macbeth
Analyzing Informational Texts / Point of View
Essays
Histories
Organization
Axioms/Maxims
Sacred Texts
Writing / Due Date: ______
Speaking & Listening / Presenting with Powerpoint, Prezi, or Slideshare
Main Idea from Audio
Language / Additional Clauses: Adjective Clauses, Adverb Clauses, Appositives
Subject-Verb Agreement
Verb Tense Agreement
Pronoun and Antecedent Agreement
Unit 3: Argumentative
Analyzing Literature(Major Works) / Frankenstein
Pygmalion
Analyzing Informational Texts / Political Influences
Magazine/Newspaper
Letters
Rhetorical Devices
Syntax
Debate
Argumentation
Persuasion
Writer’s Position
Writing / Due Date: ______
Speaking & Listening / Giving a speech on a Political Stance
Language / Passive/Aggressive Voice Verbs
Parallelism, listing, and colons
Unit 4: Analysis
Analyzing Literature(Major Works) / 1984
Lord of the Flies
Analyzing Informational Texts / Cultural Commentary
Memoirs
Speeches
Writing / Due Date: ______
Speaking & Listening / Sharing an analysis of a section of literature or an article
Reacting appropriately to a peer’s analysis of literature/Article
Language / Dangling Modifiers
Connecting Ideas
Unit 5: FINAL PROJECT (Due Date: ______)
Analyzing Literature / Student ChoiceAnalyzing Informational Texts / Student Choice
Writing / 4-6 page research paper per student
Speaking & Listening / Presenting Final Project
Language / 4-6 page research paper per student
East Wake School of Health Science
5101 Rolesville Road
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 365-2625