Wichita Collegiate School
2013-2014
Mrs. Jillian King
316-634-0489, ext. 566 (voice mail)
For quickest response, please e-mail me at
Check up-to-date information on the English I website:
http://wcsfreshenglish.blogspot.com
All students will follow the WCS Honor Code which reads, “As a member of the Wichita Collegiate School community, I will uphold the values of honesty and integrity, and I pledge that I will not lie, cheat, steal, or plagiarize”.
Objectives
Reading: Students will read a variety of literature from classical to modern, in order to gain appreciation and understanding of all literature.
Writing:
Essay:
1.Students will write essays of narrative, descriptive, expository, compare/contrast, cause and effect, and critically analytical types.
2.Students will write mature thesis statements and support their statements with examples from the text or other outside sources; in the process they will learn to use parenthetical documentation according to the MLA standards.
3. Students will read literary criticisms and apply saidcriticisms to their own critical analysis essays.
4. Students will participate in weekly grammar exercises/assignments to enhance their writing skills.
5. Students will write on a variety of AP-style questions during essay exams.
6. Students will learn the proper format of a typed essay according to the MLA standard.
7. Students will learn turnitin.com applications.
Mechanics:
Students will:
-recognize the three types of verbals (participial, gerund, infinitive)
-understand miscellaneous problems with pronoun usage; apply pronoun-antecedent agreement rules
-master recognition of the main clause in a sentence
-know and apply subject-verb agreement rules
-master recognition of parts of the sentence (S,V, DO, IO, PN, PA)
-master recognition of parts of speech (Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb, etc.)
-master recognition and punctuation of introductory adverb clauses
-be introduced to the concept of parallelism
-use their understanding of grammatical structure and usage to discuss and improve their own writing
Vocabulary: Students will learn a variety of college-bound vocabulary in preparation for the SAT/PSAT, the ACT, and lifelong learning. Words assigned will come from both their reading assignments and Wordly Wise Vocabulary books.
Materials
Winesburg, Ohio, Anderson
Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare
Lord of the Flies, Golding
To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee
The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger
Frankenstein, Shelley
Passing, Larsen
A Doll’s House, Ibsen
Short Stories—One Note
Dictionary
Style Book
Wordly Wise, vocabulary workbook
Methods
Students will read silently and orally. Students will annotate their books to improve their “close” reading skills. Students will write essays both in and out of class and rewrite their work to improve their writing skills. Students will edit both their own work and that of their peers. They will give oral presentations, power-point presentations, and participate in class discussion and Socratic seminar. Students will use technology to enhance their learning experience. Material will be presented in lecture format, group activities, within the novels, through multi-media and library resources, and through handouts.
With our move to a one-to-one laptop campus, the English I classroom will utilize the tablets on a daily basis in the classroom. Students will be expected to use the English Blog on a daily basis for bell work, assignments, in class materials, and up-to-date classroom information. Students will be expected to maintain a One Note Notebook specifically for this class and that notebook will be checked periodically to be sure that students are organizing their work. Students will be expected throughout the year to use their tablet in order to complete the following: essay assignments, PowerPoint presentations, note-taking, internet research, etc.
Assessment
Students will be assessed by in-class essays, long term out-of-class essays, reading quizzes, vocabulary and grammar quizzes, writing portfolios, literature projects, Power-point presentations, oral presentations, and objective exams and written exams.
Throughout the year, information regarding English I can be found on my web page. The web address is as follows: http://wcsfreshenglish.blogspot.com
Grading:
Grading and assignments will be adjusted as dictated by the class progression, class participation, and the overall needs of the students.
Typically, Essays written outside of class will be worth between 100 and 200 points; projects will be worth between 75 and 100 points; exams will be worth between 75 and 100 points; quizzes will be worth 5-15 points; annotation assignments will be worth 20 points; portfolio checks will be worth 40 points.
Essays - Points will be deducted for uncorrected errors. Essay assignments are given in advance. Students will have the opportunity to choose between given topics and will have both in and out of class time to complete the essay. Essays will be graded on a six-trait scale with points being awarded for ideas and content, organization, voice, sentence fluency, conventions, and word choice. Points will also be awarded for correct MLA format. A rubric with point assignments will be given with the students’ original assignment sheet. Each paper will be submitted to turnitin.com.
Policies and Procedures:
Cell phones – Cell phone use will not be tolerated in the classroom. If a cell phone is in use for calls, texts, or internet use during class time, the phone will be picked up and the student will need to wait until the end of the school day to collect the phone. Cell phones may only be used in Mrs. King’s classroom with her permission.
Late papers – Late assignments will be subject to a deduction of points. Due dates and expectations will always be given in advance and it is the student’s responsibility to manage their time appropriately in order to ensure that assignments are submitted on time. Mrs. King has the discretion to deduct 10% each day for late homework assignments and 50% for late essays and projects where advanced notice was given concerning the final due date.
Failing grades – In the event of a failing grade, the students’ parents will be notified through e-mail or by phone, and any concerns addressed with the parents at that time. Grades will be updated weekly in PowerSchool and both students and parents should check grade progress as deemed necessary. It is CRUCIAL that students check their grades in PowerSchool as missing assignments and late assignments will be entered. It will be the student’s responsibility to make up these assignments with Mrs. King.
Planned absence – In the case of a student’s planned absence (for example, to leave for a music or sporting event), the student is responsible for gathering assignments and information PRIOR to leaving. The student may be required to turn in assignments that will be due in his/her absence prior to leaving.
Tardies – Students will be marked tardy if they are not in the classroom at the start of class. All tardies will be handled by the administration.
Unplanned Absences – Students will be required to make up work for unplanned excused absences as per the student handbook. It may be helpful for students to utilize the after school tutorial time in order to make up work missed for both planned and unplanned absences. Also, use the classroom website to view what was missed in class on any given day.
English I Tablet Expectations—
1. Students will be expected to be responsible for their own tablet PC. This means it should be charged and ready to go when they come to class or they should have their power cord handy and be ready to plug in to an available power source. If a student fails to charge their tablet or bring it to school….NO WORRIES…..paper and pencils are always available. The students will still participate in the normal class activities.
2. Students will come to class ready to work. When the bell rings, it is expected that students will be on task (doing the assigned bell work), not playing games, checking e-mail, viewing Facebook/Twitter, etc. There is plenty of time outside of the classroom for the above mentioned activities. If a student fails to stay on task they will be asked to forfeit their tablet privileges for my class for the day. Everything in our class can be done with paper and pencil if necessary. An extended display of this type of behavior will be discussed with Mrs. King, Mr. Ashbrook, and the student’s parents.
3. Students are expected to understand the Digital Citizenship of our classroom. No bullying via the tablet device will be tolerated. No plagiarism via the tablet device will be tolerated. These devices are meant to enhance your learning environment and experience, not impede upon it. Use your best judgment ALWAYS. Students who misuse the tablet device in the above mentioned ways will need to meet with Mrs. King, Mr. Ashbrook, and their parents to discuss the consequences.
4. No excuses when it comes to the functioning capabilities of your device will be tolerated. (I understand that sometimes things happen, and I know we will run into some snags this year and we will work through them together, so communicate with me.) What this means is: Back up your work (flash drive, external hard drive, cloud, etc)