Instructor: Mrs. Whitney Allgood Room: 39 Phone: 601-845-2205

Instructor: Mrs. Whitney Allgood Room: 39 Phone: 601-845-2205

E-mail:

Website:

Duty Morning: Thursday

Conference Hours: B Day = 4th Block, Tuesday and Wednesday=Zero Block

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Course Description: English IV covers the major periods of British literature from the Anglo-SaxonEra to twentieth century writing. The primary goal of the course is to help students develop and improve their ability to closely read and comprehend difficult texts, to effectively and insightfully write about what they have read, and to formulate their own ideas by analyzing and synthesizing the rhetoric, arguments, and stories of others.

Textbook: British Literature (Holt McDougal) *student will have access to the textbook in class and online.

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• homework assignments
• In-class individual and group assignments
• Canvas assignments
• Grammar and vocabulary exercises

Summative Grades (60%) include:

• Quizzes, tests, and graded discussions over assigned reading
• Writing Process from prewriting and first drafts through revisions and final draft
• text-based project

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ANSWERS TO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT ENGLISH IV

Does this class require much homework?

Yes. Most of your homework will involve reading and completing an assignment designed to help you better comprehend a text or to practice writing about what you’ve read. It is my goal to help you become highly skilled, confident readers and writers. Students will often ask, “Why can’t we just read, without annotating, answering questions, or analyzing every little detail?” I ask that you keep one of our goals in mind—helping you to learn how to fully comprehend tricky texts you may encounter in the future, whether it’s your college civil engineering textbook, a strategic plan for the military, a business proposal, or a French Cuisine cookbook. Homework provides essential practice.

What if I don’t like what we’re reading?

We will read significant and amazing stories, essays, and books byBritish writers; however, you may not love every text. That’s okay. We want you to be prepared for college and the workplace, which often requires reading something we don’t get to choose. If you’re not already reading books of your own choosing—just for fun and entertainment—I certainly hope you will.

Can I use guides such as SparkNotes or other online guides?

Online guides and summaries can sometimes be helpfulAFTER reading, to help you review or clarify meaning. Nevertheless, these tools can absolutely never replace the process of reading the actual text, even if—no, especially if—it’s a book you find difficult. If a marathon runner stopped at mile ten and took a cab to the mile-twenty marker, he or she didn’t really run a marathon. To be successful with the work we do, you must go the distance and commit toreading the whole text. If you are struggling, come on in before or after school for help. Also, when you are asked to write about assigned reading, I am seeking your thinking and analysis. Even if you change the wording, if you steal the ideas and thinking of an online analysis, it’s still just that—stealing. I’m not interested in the insights the folks from BookRags came up with about a novel’s theme or characters. School is about learning to take academic risks: to have the courage to formulate and express yourown thoughts.

How do I know what has been assigned for homework?

Homework assignments will always be written onthe whiteboard. Additionally, they will be posted on my teacher webpage/canvas, along with any handouts or materials presented in class. You must have a WORKING SYSTEM for recording homework assignments. Jotting down assignments on your hand or on a random scrap of paper that gets shoved to the bottom of a backpack or simply pointing to your brain is not a working system. 

Can I work on homework assignments with a classmate or friend?

This is a tricky one. Because assignments are designed to help you further develop your own reading and writing skills, it is important that your first attempt be a solo activity. However, after you and a classmate have both completed your assignments independently, it’s acceptable to discuss, debate, or help one another with challenges or confusion you may have encountered. However, simply giving someone an answer or allowing a classmate to copy your work is NEVER okay. It’s cheating and does not demonstrate P.R.I.D.E.

Moreover, even when working with a classmate, you and another student should NEVER have the same word-for-word responses on a written assignment. If two assignments are submitted that are the same—even for just a few questions out of many—both students will receive zeroes. This even

goes for assignments that demonstrate similar ideas or textual evidence choices that could not reasonably be identical. Push yourself to try. If you’re stuck, come in for help or email me. However,

don’t compromise your honesty and integrity when completing an assignment. Your work should always reflect your thinking and ideas.

Can I help out a friend while still maintaining my academic integrity?

Absolutely! BUT, just giving another student the answer, allowing your friend to copy your work—that’s not being a friend; that’s providing unfair assistance and is cheating. That also goes for telling your friend who has English IV 4th period what was on the test or quiz you took during 2nd period. That decision compromises the fairness of assessments as well as your integrity.

Instead, care about your friend’s learning and consider some of the following suggestions when offering help on an assignment: point your friend to a particular paragraph, page, or passage to re-read where the answer can be found; ask your friend some guided questions that could help him or her arrive at a conclusion; talk about the process you went through.

However, when a friend hasn’t done the reading or attempted the assignment—that’s not about needing help, that’s about not having done the work. On the other side of the coin, if you haven’t done the work and ask a friend for “help,” when what you really want is to copy—that’s exploiting your friend. This includes asking your pal who’s a senior if you can borrow his or her essay or project from the previous year. Would you steal your friend’s car or phone or cat? No. So, don’t steal his or her ideas, thinking, or writing.

“I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.” ~Sophocles

Can I turn in my homework late if I have a truly excellent excuse?

No. Late work is not accepted. Here’s the deal. We’ve got to be fair to all students. If you don’t have your homework because you didn’t get home from practice until 10 PM, there are undoubtedly at least fifteen other students who have equally legitimate reasons why completing the homework was a challenge: they worked the closing shift at Whataburger, they were watching their crazy little brother who refuses to go to sleep, their musical rehearsal ran late, they were up all night building their MapProject for Mr. Phillips, they left their B-day backpack at their uncle’s house, their pet hamster escaped, they were grieving because their girlfriend broke up with them via text message, they went to Duling Hall and hung out with their favorite band until sunrise, they ate too much at Taco Bell and felt queasy all night, etc. We all lead busy lives that are often filled with challenges and stress, but we still must find a way to get our jobs done…and school is a full-time job!

Okay, but every so often there is really a legitimate reason why I didn’t do myhomework!

True. Because life can be messy and unpredictable, English IV students can use TWO FUDGIES (named after Fudgie’s Bail Bonds in Mineral Wells, TX) each grading period that can be used to turn in a daily grade assignmentfor a maximum grade of 70%. The best decision would be to turn it in the following class. However, you have until the end of the three-week progress report window to turn in an assignment that was initially assigned within that three-week period.For example, if a homework assignment was due 9/22 and you choose to use a Fudgie, the last day the work will be accepted isFriday 10/2, the final day of that particular progress report period. Simply write ‘Fudgie’ at the top of the assignment and ask me to sign off on itbefore you turn in the late assignment. Major grades and quizzes are NOT Fudgie-able.

“I was absent last class, so did I miss anything?”

Let’s make it easy. You never have to ask that question. If you are absent from English IV, you missed something—something significant that you must make up. It is yourresponsibility to find out about boththe instructionthat occurred as well as the homework that was assigned the day you were gone. While A/B block scheduling allows us the luxury of longer classes, when you are absent, it’s really like missing two classes on a traditional schedule. Therefore, taking responsibilty for make-up work and missed instruction is essential to your success in this class.

Four easy methods to discover what was assigned when you were absent: (#1 is the best option!)

1. Visit my webpage on the high school website and read the entry for the day you missed. All handouts, Power Point presentations, etc. will be available (in MS Word and PDF)

2. Send me an email at

3. Talk to me before or after school the day you return. (Absent Mon. Come Tuesday!)

4. Call or text a friend from class.

What should I NOT do when it comes to make-up work? What will get me in the doghouse?

If you were absent Monday, it is not acceptable to wait until class on Wednesday to find out what you missed. Go to my webpage. Or, if you return to school Tuesday, come see me before or after school or during passing period. I ask that you please not come up to me at the beginning of class and ask, “What did I miss last time?” 1) This stresses me out when I’m attempting to make sure class begins on time and that everything is ready to go for our lesson. 2) If you’re asking me, then it means you didn’t take responsibility for your absence by using one of the four options listed above. Also, unless you have permission from me, please do not show up and interrupt another class period to inquire about make-up work.

NEVER EVER EVERrely on looking at Powerschool onlineto determine what you’ve missed. Sometimes, it takes time for me to grade your work. Waiting until you see a zero in the gradebook and then asking me, “Hey, I think I was absent that day, so I need the assignment” is too late.

The best way to know what you missed is to visit my webpage immediately after your absence.

Planned Absences vs. Unplanned Crisis

There is a big difference between knowing you are going to be absent from class because of your participation in an FHS athletic or extra-curricular event or going on a cruise versus waking up to discover you have Chicken Pox or that the hamburger you ate last night contained e coli bacteria. In fact, for a school-related event, such as a game or field trip, technically you are not considered absent from school. If you know you will not be here,you should speak to methe class beforeyou will be gone to find out what you will miss and to get the homework assignment. This also goes for dentist appointments, college visit trips, getting your driver’s license, etc. As long as I can provide you with what you need in person or on my website, you will be expected to have your homework finished and ready when you return to class.

Monday A Day Tuesday B Day Wednesday A Day Thursday B Day Friday A Day

Knowing you will be absent Wed. for a BB game, you speak with me. / You are absent from class and at the BB game hit seven homeruns! / You return to class and have the homework that was assigned on Wed. completed. AND you have the Wed. HW

What if I’m absent the class before a reading quiz or miss a reading quiz?

If you were given a reading schedule in advance (which we pass out when works are assigned), you are still responsible for taking the reading quiz over the assigned chapters,even if you were absent the class before. If you are absent for a quiz, you have one week to make it up or you will receive a zero. So…if you were absent for a Wednesday reading quiz, you have until the following Wednesday to make it up. You may not make up a quiz during class time.

What if I am absent the day a major grade such as an essay or project is due?

You will still be required to submit your writing to turnitin.com by the deadline. You can also give your essay or project to a friend to turn in. In the case of a lengthy or serious illness or surprise shark attack, the project or hard copy of your essay must be turned in before first period the day you return to school—regardless of whether it is an A or B day.

What happens if I turn in a major grade essay or project late?

Ten percent will be deducted from a major grade that is one day late and then five percent per day after that. To be clear—if a paper/project is due Tuesday and you hand it in on Wednesday, it is one day late. Thursday would be two days late, etc. Fudgies may not be used for major grades.

What if I am absent the day of a test?

If you are absent on the day of a test, you have exactly the number of class days you were absent to make it up. The day you return to school (regardless of whether it is an “A” or “B” day), you should come take the test before or after school or see me to arrange a time to make up the test. If you missed a test on Thursday but return to school on Friday, waiting until Monday to make up the test or to communicate with me is too late. Again, consider fairness to all students. It simply is not right for one student to have more time to prepare for an exam than everyone else. If you are not present for the make-up time you agreed to, you may only receive a maximum grade of 70on the test.

**If you are absent the class before a test or a quiz that is over material you were assigned before your absence, you will still be required to take that test or quiz on the day you return.

Ugghhh! These sound like high expectations.

You are correct. Honestly, I care about you and your future. If this class was really easy and didn’t

challenge you, there would be no reason for you to show up. 

First and foremost demonstrate P.R.I.D.E.

1. Be on time.
2. Bring required materials with you. **See list below
3. Stuff superfluous to scholarship stays stashed out of sight! (unless you have prior permission) (cell phones, iPods, other electronic devices, grooming accoutrements, work for another class) Will Mrs. Crowder seize your cell phone if you have it on your desk?Yes, she will! 
4. Be kind and respectful to everyone and everything in class—even when it’s difficult.

1. One person speaks; the rest of us listen.
2. Take care of personal business outside of class.
3. Take care of yourself so that during class you are an awake, alert, and active learner.

POSSIBLE CONSEQENCES FOR NOT FOLLOWING CLASS EXPECTATIONS:

• being moved to another seat or area of the classroom
• meeting with Mrs. Allgood after class or before/after school to make a plan for change
• phone call or email home to parent/guardian
• trip to the AP’s office with an office referral
• confiscation of items/devices/electronics
• assigned morning detention

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE REQUIRED FOR EVERY CLASS MEETING:

1. Loose-leaf notebook paper (spiral notebook paper will not be accepted)
2. Blue, black, or dark colored ink pens (pencils will be needed for Scantron tests)
3. A pink, green, blue, and orange highlighter
4. A two-pocket folder OR a section in a binder that is for English IVonly
5. A working system to record homework—such as a planner
6. English III handouts and whatever we are reading—novel or copy of short stories.

FLORENCE HIGH SCHOOL

MRS. ALLGOOD’S ENGLISH IV CLASS

STUDENT

I have read, am familiar with, and accept the requirements and expectations of the entire syllabus packet for Mrs. Allgood’s English IV class

Student signature: ______

Printed student name: ______

PARENT/GUARDIAN

You have two options. You can sign and fill out the form below, or you can email me at to acknowledge that you have read the syllabus packet. If you email me, make sure to identify the name of the student in the subject line. Also, please respond to the video consent form on the back. This also gives you an opportunity to communicate any information you feel is important for me to know so that I can help your son or daughter to be successful in English IV this year.