Mrs. Fenstermaker
Google Classroom Code: egglxcfRemind: Text @4dgfg9 to 81010

Dear Student and Parents,

Welcome to an exciting new school year at Valencia High School! I look forward to working with you and getting to know you throughout the year. As an honors student, I know that you are accustomed to a rigorous academic environment and already have a strong work ethic, advanced study skills, and a strong ability to manage your school work and extracurricular activities. As such, I have high expectations of you but also know you are highly capable of meeting them.

Honors Philosophy

Most importantly, the Language Arts II honors curriculum is geared toward preparing you for the intensive AP curriculum you will begin next year, as well as improve your performance on standardized tests such as the SAT.

Literature-Based Learning

In Language Arts II−Honors, literature is used as the basis for expanding upon your current skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and language. Class assignments and activities will be based on these areas, which encompass the California Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (grades 9-10). In addition, we have developed the following school site goals for this course:

  1. expose students to four different genres of literature (fiction, nonfiction, drama and poetry),
  2. include works that reflect different a) cultural viewpoints and b) historical time periods, and
  3. adequately prepare students for the material to be covered during theAP programs/exams
Literature Selections

The literature for Language Arts II−Honors was selected to build upon the material covered in Language Arts I, as well as prepare you for literature to be encountered in your junior/senior year. This year, you can expect to read the following works of literature. In addition to these works, poetry analysis will be a major focus and is typically studied in combination with a major work that has similar themes. Should you wish to purchase your own copies, a digital version of this syllabus is available on Google Classroom with live Amazon links to the correct versions.

1st Quarter ⎯

❑A Separate Peace by John Knowles

❑To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

❑Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck

2nd Quarter ⎯

❑Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

❑Sound and Sense Poetry and Pablo Neruda Poetry

3rd Quarter ⎯

❑The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare (Folger Edition)

❑Oedipus the Kingby Sophocles (Enriched Classic Edition)

4th Quarter ⎯

❑Magical Realism

❑Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

❑DBQ Writing

Films to Coincide with Major Works of Literature

During the course of the year, students will view a number of movies related to the major works of literature studied. While these movies are considered appropriate for children aged 13 and older, school policy requires that parents are notified when movies will be shown in class that have a rating of PG or PG-13 and that you provide your permission for students to watch the films. By signing the form attached to this syllabus, you are indicating that your child has permission to view the following films:

∙ “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) directed by Robert Mulligan, not rated

∙ “The Taming of the Shrew” (1967) directed by Franco Zeffirelli, not rated

∙ “Of Mice and Men” (1992) directed by Gary Sinise, rated PG-13

∙ “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999) directed by Gil Junger, rated PG-13

Films to Coincide with Major Works of Literature (continued)

∙ “Oedipus Rex” (1992) directed by Julie Taymor, not rated

∙ “Minority Report” (2002) directed by Steven Spielberg, rated PG-13

Grading System Based on Weighted Average

Students receive achievement grades based on a scale of A, B, C, D, and F. Grades are calculated using a weighted system:

Curriculum Component / Percentage of Overall Grade / Curriculum Component / Percentage of Overall Grade
Class/Homework
❑Literary Tasks
❑Conventions, Vocabulary / 25% / Assessments
❑Tests
❑Quizzes / 20%
Writing Assignments
❑Essays
❑One-Pagers / 20% / Participation
❑Class discussions
❑Task Reflections
❑Socratic Seminars, Literature Circles / 10%
Projects / 15% / Final Exam / 10%

A weighted grading system requires students to perform well across all five categories and allows me to easily pinpoint areas where a student should work harder or may need extra help. Students should know in advance that opportunities for extra credit points are rare. Students, however, can and should check their academic progress regularly. Grades are updated approximately every two weeks.

Homework –As honor students, you are expected to turn in all homework on time.

Homework, or individual time spent studying outside of class, is an essential part of the learning process. Students should expect to have homework five nights a week (including Sunday night). In addition, long-term projects are often assigned that require students to work independently and outside of class over a two to four-week time period. Updates to the agenda are written on the board each day. Homework will be accepted up to one day late for 50% credit. Students who do not have homework ready when it is due will be asked to leave the class during the discussion of the assignment and will not receive participation points for that activity.

Absences and Make-Up Work

Students with an excused absence are given one day for each day they are absent to make up class/homework and one week to make up tests. Students with unexcused absences, or who fail to make up their work according to the above timeframes, will receive a zero. If students are absent, it is their responsibility to check Google Classroom BEFORE returning to class and also check in with the teacher regarding missed work or tests BEFORE CLASS BEGINS. All make-up tests are given either before or after school and must be scheduled in advance with the teacher. Students will have one week to make up any missed tests due to an absence. If tests are not made up within one week, they are an automatic zero.

Supplies

Students are expected to be prepared and ready for class to begin when the tardy bell rings. Part of this means having the necessary supplies for work to be done in class. Students are required to bring the following materials with them to class on a daily basis:

●Novel currently being read and discussed

●At least a finger’s width of lined standard sized paper

●Two blue or black ink pens and two pencils with erasers

●Three highlighters of different colors

Academic Honesty

All students are expected to strictly adhere to the VHS Academic Honesty Policy. Failure to do so may include, but is not limited to, the following consequences: loss of points, referral to counseling, and/or removal from the academy.

Language Arts II Honors

Mrs. Fenstermaker

Valencia High School

Student/Parent Feedback Form

After reading the general information and class rules, please place an X in the space below, write any comments or questions you may have, and then sign and return this form tomorrow. Your signatures indicate that you understand students are financially responsible for any books checked out from the classroom library that are later lost and/or stolen. A parent signature on this form also provides your permission for students to watch all of the PG and PG-13 movies listed on the syllabus, which will be shown in class throughout the year.

______I (we) have read and understand the general information and class rules for Language Arts II.

Comments or Questions:______

Student Name:______

Signature: ______

Parent Name:______

Signature: ______

Parent contact information:

Home phone number ______

Work phone number ______

E-mail address ______

Confessions from former students:

“Don’t procrastinate, and make sure you keep up with all the homework.”

“The large amount of emphasis and repetitive usage of literary terms and vocabulary was useful.”