English I02
Mrs. Glaser (English Office, 123)
School Phone: (847) 755-2716
School E-mail:
"There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories."
– Ursula K. Le Guin
English 102 Overview & Description
Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year! The English 102 class at FremdHigh School has been designed to provide students with exposure to, guided practice in, and mastery of critical reading, writing, and thinking skills that will prepare them for further development in future English classes. It is a challenging curriculum that will allow students to examine all aspects of literature and language through critical reading, analytical writing, personal response, group discussion and presentation, individual speaking, and critical listening activities. The course is divided into nineunits with a major work of literature being the focal point – though not the only learning tool – covered in the thematic study. Various short stories, nonfiction, poetry, research, lecture, etc. will be used as introductory material to the major work.
The Critical Learning Standards for the English 102 course are listed below:
1. Explain central meaning using key details from a text
2. Cite appropriate textual evidence to support both literal and inferential analysis
3. Explain how the author uses literary elements to construct meaning
4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text
5. Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
6. Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English
The units and the accompanying major works are listed sequentially below:
First Semester
Unit 1: Foundations of LiteratureSummer Reading and Short Stories
Unit 2: JusticeOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Unit 3: Expanding HorizonsSelected Poetry
Unit 4: Dreams DeferredA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Unit 5: Struggle and PerseveranceOld Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Second Semester
Unit 6: The Power of StorySelected Mythology
Unit 7: Facing ChallengesThe Odyssey by Homer
Unit 8: Relationships Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Unit 9: Visions of the Future Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Required Materials
Students are expected to bring the following materials to class daily: required text for the day (may include current novel, distributed textbook, or handouts), black or blue pens and number 2 pencils, a folder for English materials (handouts) only, a writing folder (manila file folder) for English materials only, a notebook that will be dedicated solely to this class, loose leaf paper, and other materials as assigned.
Grading Scale
The English 102 grading scale will follow Fremd’s English department grading scale, which is as follows:
99-100A+
94-98A
92-93A-
89-91B+
84-88B
82-83B-
78-81C+
74-77C
72-73C-
69-71D+
65-68D
64 and belowF
Grading Breakdown
Assignments will beweighted according to the following:
Major Writing30%
Tests/Quizzes30%
Projects/Presentations15%
Homework15%
Participation10%
Extra Credit
Extra credit will be used only to enhance the students’ understanding of, mastery of, or appreciation for the material covered in class. It will be used solely as an extension of the learning process; thus, it will not be given to “save” or “raise” a grade at the end of a unit, quarter, or semester. Additionally, there is no guarantee pertaining to extra credit opportunities—they will be made available solely at the teacher’s discretion.Only students who have no missing work are eligible for extra credit.
Late Work Policy
All assignments are “due” when requested by the teacher; thus, anything submitted after the time of the request is considered late.
- MAJOR ASSIGNMENTSthe equivalent of one letter grade will be dropped per day late
- MINOR ASSIGNMENTShalf-credit will be given for 5 days after the assignment is due, after which no credit will be given
Communication and Self-Advocacy ***see classroom website information on front page of syllabus
If during the course of the semester students wish to discuss a grade that they have earned on an assignment, the appropriate time to discuss
this issue will be before school, after school, or during one of my free periods. In order to ensure my availability to meaningfully meet
with a student, it is essential that students set up meeting dates, times, and locations at least twenty-four hours in advance. It is
imperative that students advocate for their own success in class—this means students must be willing to independently contact me to discuss
matters pertaining to class, as well as utilize all available resources to assist them as they work through the school year.
Attendance
Nothing contributes more to success in freshman English than regular attendance and homework completion. Absences impede progress. When students are absent they miss important class discussions for which they may be responsible for on a test. Class work missed due to an excused absence must be made up in one day unless an administrator grants an extension. If you are in class when a test or presentation is announced, you are expected to take the test or deliver the presentation if you are in class whenthe test is given or the presentation is dueregardless of any recent absences.
Tardies
Being in class on time is a matter of respect and responsibility; thus, the school tardy policy will be strictly enforced. Students must be in their seats when the bell rings or they will be considered tardy.
Behavior
The Student/Parent Handbook covers all areas of behavior, discipline, and consequence. I encourage students and their parents to read, understand, and refer to the handbook with regard to these areas. The expectations for Fremdstudents are simple and will ensure that a student’s experience in English is an enjoyable one. The following guidelines will help students be successful:
-Be responsible for your own success / -Be prepared for class at all times-Respect the property, words, and ideas of all people at all times / -Follow instructions the “first time, every time”
-Electronic devices must be turned off and put away (out of sight) AT ALL TIMES / -Absolutely NO food or drink is allowed in the classroom…with the exception of bottled water
Academic Dishonesty Policy
Academic dishonesty refers to cheating, copying, plagiarizing, or otherwise representing the work of others as one's own through verbal, written, graphic, electronic, or other means. Forms of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following:
- looking at another student’s answers, or using a “cheat sheet” during a test; or, providing other students with the means to copy answers;
- downloading material verbatim from an online source and representing it as one’s own without citing sources or crediting the author;
- copying in any form another person’s computer program or software file and representing it as one’s own;
- submitting work received through purchase or transfer as one’s own;
- copying text in any form from a source, without proper citation, and submitting as one’s own;
- falsifying, or attempting to alter, course grades, test grades, rank in class, grade point averages, credits earned, or other confidential information about oneself or others;
- acquiring and/or distributing tests, answers to tests, answer keys, class projects, research papers, reports, or school-owned materials through verbal, written, graphic, electronic, or other means.
Students determined to have been academically dishonest are subject to disciplinary action. Depending on the severity of the offense, the number of offenses, the impact on other students and teachers, and/or the curriculum, students may lose credit for a project or test, lose class or course credit, be suspended pending a parent conference, or be recommended for expulsion.
Final Exam
The final exam for this class consists of two components that are outlined below:
Section IAn in-class timed essay evaluated by the teacher over the mastery of writing skills, connection to literary works, and mastery of answering the prompt.
Section IIA multiple choice section which includes grammar and grammar sections as well as close read questions of several passages of literature where students apply their knowledge of literary devices, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills.