Language Arts 11B
Mr. DeVitis
Room 105– (330) 896-7575 extension 616018
Dear Student,
Welcome to Language Arts 11B. This course combines the study of literary genre with composition, vocabulary, grammar, and reading skill development. You will be reading novels, short stories, plays, poems, and non-fictional speeches and narratives. You will also be required to respond to literature and expand your reading, writing, and research skills. Expect this course to be both challenging and rewarding.
Instructional Philosophy
Instructional models used will include direct instruction, discussion, oral presentations, and cooperative learning. Students will be expected to complete group work as well as independent assignments and projects.
Classroom Guidelines
1. Show deference
2. Be seated or in the classroom and en route to seat at the sound of the tone
3. Arrive prepared for class and have only class-related personal effects atop desk
4. Raise your hand and be recognized before speaking or leaving your seat
5. No theft, vandalism, or littering
6. No noisemakersor electronics
7. No sleeping
8. No negative colloquialisms
9. No food or candy; the lone acceptable drinkable is water; the lone acceptable vessel is a
clear bottle; all other items will be confiscated
10. No airborne projectiles
11. Do not leave your seat or the classroom until dismissed by the instructor
12. Do not do homework during class unless granted permission; it and any host papers will
be seized and the affiliated teacher will be notified
If you wisely choose to follow the classroom guidelines, then you are choosing the following consequences:
1. An amicable learning environment for all students
2. Quality education for each individual
3. A safe working environment
If you poorly choose not to follow the classroom guidelines, then you are choosing the following consequences:
1. Detention2. Office referral
Materials
notebook and folder
college-ruled loose-leaf paper
two ink pens (traditional blue or black only)
textbook (Holt Elements of Literature: Essentials of American Literature)
vocabulary book (Vocabulary Workshop—Level F)
paperback books, handouts, journals, and any other supplemental materials
No. 2 pencils, crayons or colored pencils (on exam or art days)
Principal Works Covered
The Crucible
The Great Gatsby
The Catcher in the Rye
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Sundry Early American literature selections, short stories, and poems
Major Course Assignments and Projects
Laws of Life essay
class and independent reading assignments
in-class writing assignments
formal papers, essays, and projects
vocabulary and grammar assignments
tests and quizzes
Course Assessments and Grading Scale
Students will be assessed on a point system. Approximately 80 percent of the final mark will be derived from academic achievement; the remaining 20 percent, academic practice. Each assignment will be awarded a specific number of points based on the extent and difficulty of the assignment. Students will also be assessed on their level of participation in the course. The GreenHigh School grading scale will be employed. The grading scale is as follows:
98-100 = A+87-89.99 = B+77-79.99 = C+67-69.99 = D+ < 60 = F
93-97.99 = A83-86.99 = B73-76.99 = C63-66.99 = D
90-92.99 = A-80-82.99 = B-70-72.99 = C-60-62.99 = D-
The final mark will be determined by doubling the sum of the four nine-week percentages and adding the midterm and final exam percentages. The resulting figure will be divided by ten to determine the final percentage. This number will then be rounded (averages ending in .50 and above will be rounded up to the nearest whole number; averages ending in .49 and below, down to the nearest whole number). The corresponding letter grade will be assigned. Percentages are rounded only to determine the final mark.Quarter/semester percentages will not be rounded.
Example Report Card
First Nine Weeks:89.32 = B+
Second Nine Weeks84.65 = B
Midterm Exam78.88 = C+
Third Nine Weeks89.91 = B+
Fourth Nine Weeks87.71 = B+
Final Exam80.04 = B
Final Percentage86.00 (rounded down from 86.21)
Final MarkB
Principal’s Addendum
At GreenHigh School, grades are calculated in all classes based on the 80/20 Policy.As a result, a student’s grade is divided into two categories:Academic Achievement and Academic Practice.After a student has had sufficient instruction and practice on a topic, it is then reasonable to judge his/her mastery of the information or skills in the form of academic achievement assessments. The purpose is to evaluate how well a student has learned the material. Eighty percent of the total course grade comes from academic achievement and will consist of tests (oral, written and performance), some quizzes, some homework, writings, projects or presentations.Whenever a student learns new material he or she goes through a time of wrestling with the material before eventually mastering the information or skills. It is expected that a student will make some mistakes during this learning process. Work completed during this learning period is considered academic practice. Twenty percent of the total course grade comes from academic practice and will consist of some quizzes, homework, first drafts of writing, teacher questions during instruction, some worksheets, informal observations or pre-testing.
Assignment Heading Format
Your Name
Teacher’s Name
Class Name
Date
Title (or assignment)
Sample Heading
Newton Orchid
Mr. DeVitis
Language Arts 11B
23 August 2012
Unit 1 Vocabulary Sentences
*All submitted assignments must be penned in blue or black ink. Do not use pencil or any other colored ink; it will not be accepted. I will let you know which assignments must be typed.
Reading Checkpoints
As you move through the course, you will encounter reading checkpoints (quizzes) that will appear without warning in order to ensure that you are reading. Passing the checkpoints should not prove difficult provided that you have completed the reading. If you have not completed the reading, you will fare poorly on reading checkpoints. You will also be ineffective during classroom discussions. Students are responsible for making up missed reading checkpoints; be aware that make-up quizzes are almost certain to be different versions.
Homework
You can expect to have homework virtually every day. You will have a variety of homework assignments that will be outlined in a weekly syllabus that I will post in the classroom. It is the student’s responsibility to make up missed homework assignments. I will not accept late homework for any reason. No excuses, whether they involve a malfunctioning computer printer or a dry inkstand, will be accepted.
Papers
All major papers must be typed using 12-point Times New Roman and be 1.5-spaced throughout. Please put only one space after end punctuation. Papers are required to have one-inch margins on all boundaries. Do not attempt any legerdemain in an endeavor to stretch your paper. You will be discovered and penalized. Channel your efforts on the content and quality of your writing—not its length. I will accept papers one day late at a fifty percent penalty. Simply stated, a perfect paper that is a day late cannot earn a passing grade. I accept only hard copies of papers placed in the smoked herring box; any other means of submission are futile.
Make-Up Work
Only those who missed due to an excused absence are eligible to submit make-up work. Do recall, it is the student’s responsibility to seek out and complete make-up work. If your absence is excused, you must complete your missing work in the time allotted. Any work that is not submitted will receive a zero.
Plagiarism
Any work produced wholly or partly through cheating/plagiarism receives a grade of zero. Those involved in plagiarism receive a call home and attend a conference with Mrs. Brown.
Cliffs Notes, SparkNotes, and other supplementary guides
Students may often find Cliffs Notes and other supplementary materials to be helpful in understanding the text, reviewing the sequence of events, and getting ideas for papers and classroom discussion. Nonetheless, reading Cliffs Notes alone will not help you pass reading checkpoints (often based on quotes) and will be of little help for papers and tests. Do not bring any such aids into the classroom.
Tenth Period
Two-hour after-school enrichment session focusing on the unit at hand. Times to be announced.
Restroom Policy
Do not ask to use the restroom unless it is necessary. Sign out and wear a hall pass.
Pen Pal Policy
Pens and pencils are rented at a rate of 25 cents per period or block of use. Rental requires a down payment of 50 cents, 25 cents of which is returned upon remittance of the rented pen. A pen that is unreturned at the end of the session will be considered purchased, and all monies are forfeited to the lender, who thus becomes the seller.Exquisite pens will be sold at market price. Any work produced with a shared pen will result in a zero for all involved parties.
Cellular Telephones and Electronic Devices Policy or Do Not BYOD Policy
Communicative and entertainment electronics, including but not limited to cellular phones, iPods, and video games, are not permitted in the classroom. If such a device is seen, heard, used, or even detected, the following four steps will be incontinently taken:
1. Device will be immediately surrendered to the instructor
2. Student will be assigned a detention to be served that afternoon from 2:30-2:50 p.m. Provided
the detention is served in its entirety, the device will be restored to the student’s possession at 2:50 p.m.
3. Credit accrued during the block or period in which the violation takes place may be forfeited
at the discretion of the instructor
4. An office referral will be submitted
Retesting Policy
Each student is allotted one retest of a grammar quiz over the course of the school year. In order to be eligible, a student must complete a supplementary exercise germane to the unit and have entirely attended the Tenth Period in conjunction with the unit. Exercises are to be submitted on Friday of the week following the original assessment. The said Friday will double as the date of the retake. The percentage scored on the second assessment, whether greater or less than the original, will replace the existing percentage. Any student with an unexcused absence or outstanding assignment is ineligible.
Detention Policy
Twenty-minute detentions are readily assigned to those whose offenses merit punishment. When a detention has been levied, the violator’s name, the date of the offense, and the nature of the offense are written in the detention log. All detentions are to be served after school from 2:30-2:50. You are responsible for arranging transportation. Students must be prompt, and detentions must be served in their entirety. Multiple offenses will inevitably result in an office referral. Office cards are submitted daily.
Conference
I am available to answer questions and provide assistance during second period. Outside soccer and track season, I am available to meet you after school. In the event that you wish to arrange a meeting, speak with me in my classroom. Meetings will be held in 105 during second period. Please indicate the nature of the meeting so I can have the necessary materials at the ready. I will be available most days before school.
Parent Signature Form
Language Arts 11B
Please sign and return this portion.
I, the undersigned parent or guardian of ______, have reviewed the attached course description and understand the rules and procedures for Language Arts 11B. If I have any questions or concerns, I know that I can reach you by e-mail at or telephone you at (330) 896-7575 extension 616018.
Signature of parent or guardian: ______
I, the undersigned student, have read the above course information and understand my responsibilities in this class.
Signature of student: ______
*Students must return this signed form no later than Friday, August 31. Failure to return the signed form will result in detention.
To access course description: 1. Begin at 2. Select “GreenHigh School” in pull-down 3. Click “Teachers” on the grey bar 4. Click “DeVitis, Mr.” 5. Click “Classroom Procedures” 6. Open“English 11”