School Address: 2101 Wilmore Rd

English I

Syllabus

School Phone: 859-887-2421

School Address: 2101 Wilmore Rd

Nicholasville, KY 40356

*Please inform me ahead of time if you need to meet with me outside of class so I can plan to be in my room.*

Required Materials:

• Pocket Folder
• 3 Subject Notebook (college ruled)
• Pencil or pen (regular and colored)
• Glue stick
• Suggested: Agenda book to keep track of homework and other due dates

Your notebook will be your key to success in English I this year. The notebook, as well as your folder, will contain notes, handouts, and valuable information concerning class material. It will also contain your thoughts and comments about the subject matter. Your notebook must come to class every day. Keep it organized and up-to-date.

Your notebook must contain:

1. Cover with basic information: your name, the course, your class period, and my last name.
2. Table of contents identifying the material and page numbers in the notebook.
3. Color used in an appropriate and educational manner.
4. Two titled sections-- “Daily Starters” and “Notes and Activities.”

**All materials in your notebook must have a title, date, and page number.**

Evaluation- Your notebooks will be checked periodically. At times, I will check your notebook for the quality and quantity of writing in selected daily starters. Other times, I will grade your notebooks on thoroughness, quality and accuracy of work, organization, and visual appeal. Every assignment should be complete and neat. I encourage you to use color, pictures, and diagrams in order to reinforce class materials. It is your responsibility to obtain class notes, materials, and notebook assignments when you are absent from class. Please note that not all notebook checks will be scheduled in advance.

Grading

*In English class, all grades accumulate on a cumulative basis throughout the semester. This means that your grade DOES NOT start over each nine weeks. At the end of the first semester, if you are passing, you will receive ½ credit for English I. In January your grade WILL START OVER and will be cumulative for the entirety of the spring semester. At the end of this semester, you will receiver an additional ½ credit for English IF you are passing.

All assignments collect points. Your grade can be calculated at any time by dividing your total earned points by the possible points.

Daily Classroom Assignments: 5-50 points

Quizzes: 10-100 points

Unit Tests: 50-200 points

Writing Assignments: 100-200 points

Participation: 50 points

Notebook Check: 10-50 points

Presentations and Projects (both oral and written): 100-300 points

Nine Weeks Exams (administered by the district each nine weeks): 100-200 points

Mid Term and Final Exam: 100-200 points (Final Exam will cover skills, terms, and themes from throughout the year).

*Do not count on the possibility of extra credit. In the rare even that extra credit is given, it will be offered to the whole class, not to individuals.*

Grading Scale

A92-100% (Well-exceeds expectations)

B83-91% (Above average expectations)

C74-82% (Average expectations)

D65-73% (Below average expectations)

F 0-64% (Failing to meet expectations)

Absences and Make-Up Work

In accordance with school policy, you will have one day for every day that you are absent to make up missed assignments. After that time, your work will be considered late. Missing assignments will be entered into the computer gradebook as “MISSING” and will be calculated as a zero until the late work is turned in.

Late Work

Late work is ALWAYS accepted but with substantial penalty. I will use my own discretion, but you should not expect to receive more than 50% of the possible credit when you turn in late work. As for large writing assignments or projects, 5 points will be taken off of the final grade each day it is turned in late. If you are aware ahead of time that your assignment will not be completed on time, speak with me privately before the due date about your issue, and there is a chance you may receive an extension. Please note that late work will only be collected in the nine-week period in which it is assigned. Of course, the best way to avoid all of this is simply to be in class and keep up with daily assignments.

Food & Drinks

Water only.

Technological Devices:

This includes cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, CD players, and any other instrument not required for English class; this also includes scientific calculators. None of these items should ever be seen or heard in class. If I do see or hear any of the above after asking it to be put away, the item(s) will be taken and kept in my room for the remainder of the class. If technological device use becomes an issue, you will need to pick up this item from Mr. McConnell at the end of the school day. Please do not make this mistake. If you refuse to relinquish the device when it is seen out in class, you will receive an immediate referral.

Dress Code

I will abide by the school dress code, and I expect the same from you. If you are not dressed in accordance with the dress code, I will ask you to report to the office and return properly dressed. Please see the student handbook for further details.

Hall Passes

You have four hall passes for each semester. Use them wisely. You will need to sign out on the sheet by the door and take the hall pass lanyard each time you leave the classroom. These passes cover trips to the bathroom, water fountain, attendance office, front office, or any other departure from class. Once your hall passes are gone, you will not be leaving the room unless the front office calls for you or I send you on an errand.

Communication

Communication is vital to a successful classroom system. If you have any questions or concerns, or if there has been some kind of misunderstanding between you, me, and/or your parent, please come see me before of after school as soon as possible so we can clear up any miscommunications as quickly and peacefully as possible. For extra help or to see a classroom calendar, please refer to my classroom wiki page. It is available under my name on the school website or at:

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

(6 simple ways to respect the people and environment around you)

1.)Be in your assigned seat when the bell rings.

2.)Bring all books, assignments, and necessary materials to class.

3.)Ask for permission before leaving your seat.

4.)Follow directions the first time they are given.

5.)Use appropriate and respectful language and voice level.

6.)Treat each person with dignity and respect.

Consequences:

1st Offense: Teacher Warning

2nd Offense: Teach will call parent/guardian to inform of misbehavior.

3rd Offense: Silent Lunch (students will be assigned to an isolated room as they each their lunch). This detention will be overseen by one of the principals. Teacher will call parent/guardian to inform of misbehavior.

4th Offense: Office Referral and Phone Call Home by principal.

*Note: Each day is a new day, which means the sequence of consequences starts over each day. However, consistent disrespect towards the rules and procedures of the classroom will result in more serious action (to be determined by teacher and principal.

Severe Clause: There are times when the severity of a first offense will result in an immediate referral and removal from the classroom. My hope is that you will abide by our community principles and this issue will not have to be dealt with. Any student who uses profanity, fights, damages school property this includes the property of the teacher and other students), or is disrespectful or defiant (as defined by the teacher) will be escorted to the office IMMEDIATELY with a referral.

English I Unit of Study

1st Nine Weeks: Short Stories

This unit will focus on reviewing the basic elements of literature. We will be reading a wide variety of short stories from different time periods and cultures as we look for the common features that make up a good story. Our overall goal is to understand the stories we read by analyzing the literary elements that the authors use to create their stories. Our classroom set of literature textbooks will be our main source for these stories.

Writing: We will be reviewing the parts of an essay and writing an analytical essay over piece of literature.

2nd Nine Weeks: Novel

In this unit we will discuss the themes of heroes and journey as we read Harper Lee’s

novel To Kill a Mockingbird and Homer’s The Odyssey. Together we will examine how the

characters in these classic writings embody the characteristics of heroes and how unique

cultures and time periods affect a person’s view of a hero.

Writing: We will learn how to analyze literature through the writing process by learning and

continuing to perfect the form of an analytical essay in response to literature.

3rd Nine Weeks: Poetry and Drama

These nine weeks will be split up into two distinct but interdependent units. We will

first study poetry and familiarize ourselves with the literary devices poets use to make meaning.

Then we will use what we have learned from our poetry unit to unlock the poetic forms of

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In addition to reading this famous tragedy we will study

Shakespeare himself, his life, his world, and the audience that found his plays to be the most

exciting, controversial, and relatable entertainment of that time. We will also discuss why

Shakespeare is so important for us to read today even if his writings are really, really old!

Writing: As a part of our poetry unit each of you will be creating a poetry anthology which will

include poems you have found and enjoyed as well as some poetry which you have written.

4th Nine Weeks: Non-fiction Texts

In this unit we will be working with various real-world texts. Understanding non-fiction reading materialthat we will encounter on a daily basis for the rest of our lives will help each of us no matter what career we choose. We will be decoding specialized vocabulary, judging between fact and opinion, identifying the author’s purpose for a text through analyzing the style and tone of a piece. Students will be reading a non-fiction novel: Night. We will use our study of this autobiography as the basis for a Research article on the Holocaust. In addition, students will read and discuss articles and different media sources pertaining to the United States’ current food supply.

Writing: We will use our knowledge of non-fiction texts to create our own non-fiction texts: an argumentative essay and an informative research article.

**Grammar and vocabulary will be taught throughout each unit.**

**One of the English department’s goals is to create life-long readers of its students. Although we have assigned reading in class, it is important for students to read outside of class as well. Each semester, students must turn in a report as well as present a book of choice to the class.Therefore,students must independently read (at least) one book per semester. All books for this project need to be approvedby me to check for accurate reading levels and appropriateness. Presentations will take place near the end of the semester grading period.**

Student

Name______

Signature ______

Parent/Guardian

Name______

Signature______

Phone number______

Email______