Advanced English 3-4
Scripps Ranch High School
Kristine Dobeck
Room B21
Syllabus and Course Requirements
Introduction: This course encompasses literature of diverse narratives. Through extensive readings, we will create avid readers and writers, and encourage you to open your mind and examine the human condition through myriad of authors, playwrights and poets. Reading good literature allows us to see our triumphs and our tragic natures within ourselves, and our relationships with others. Rigorous reading, extensive writing and discussion form the foundations of this course. The activities and assignments in this class will create an environment where you can discover your own voice and strengthen your reading and thinking skills. The following is a tentative list of literary works that we will examine in class:
TEXTBOOKS: Prentice-Hall World Masterpieces
English Department Style Guide (online)
Selected novels
Tentative Selected Novels:
Gilgamesh Unknown Mesopotamia
Oedipus Rex/Antigone Sophocles Greece
Siddhartha Hesse Germany
The Stranger Camus Algeria/France
Things Fall Apart Achebe Nigeria
A Doll’s House Ibsen Norway
Candide Voltaire France
Othello Shakespeare Britain
Return of the Native Hardy Britain
One Day in the Life of Solzhenitsyn Russia
Ivan Denisovich
Chronicle of a Death Marquez Colombia
Foretold
Metamorphosis Kafka German
Women of the Silk Tsukiyama China
Various short stories, poetry and nonfiction readings
*This list is subject to change
In addition, students will be given a varied and diverse independent reading list from which they will be required to choose from and read on their own.
GRADING POLICY
• Intellectual Journal • In-class writing
• Final Essays • Quizzes/Tests
• Group and class discussions • Presentations
• SAT vocabulary development • Regular homework assignments
• Individual and group work
Grades are posed in Zangle approximately every week and can by viewed by you or your parent on Student Connect/Parent Connect. Be responsible and check your progress. If you find an error or have a concern, please see me to resolve issues. Don’t wait until the end of the semester to worry about your grade.
Standard Grading:
A = 100-90% B = 89-80% C = 79-70% D = 69-60% F = 59% and Below
Writing Assessments: During this course, you will keep an intellectual journal that will encompass your reflections, analysis, ponderings and classroom notes. You will receive instruction on the major writing styles required at the high school and university level. (Writing assessments should be based on original thought, not regurgitated Spark notes.)
Students will be required to submit all major writing assignments to www.turnitin.com for plagiarism and grading purposes. Students will also be required to give a hard copy to me.
These will include:
• Autobiographical Narrative
• Responses to literature
• Persuasive compositions
• Reflective Essay
• MLA Research paper
• Intellectual journal entries
Late Policy: Homework and papers are due when the due date is set. Essays and papers are due on the due date. Papers submitted late will be penalized one letter grade for each day that the paper is late.
If students miss a test or quiz, it is his/her responsibility to see me to make up within ONE WEEK of missing the test/quiz. If you are having difficulties or an emergency, please speak with me either through email or privately in class. You will be required to maintain a portfolio of all work to be left in class.
Conference Hours: I am available before or after school most days. I am also available during lunch by appointment and I can be reached by email. Be Proactive: Just ask; I am here to help.
Classroom Rules:
You are a young adult and have been in school for many years. I expect you to treat others with the same respect and dignity as you would like to be treated. You need to follow the standard SRHS rules and policies. I expect you to be to class on time, prepared and ready to positively contribute to the class.* Please do not rely on or bring Sparknotes (or their like) to class. You are required to read the material and form your own opinions and ideas. Failure to do so could result in a failing grade. In addition, it is as easy for you to plagiarize as it is for me to check to see if you plagiarize. Don’t do it.
*Class discussions are very important in this class. I realize everyone does not always feel comfortable sharing ideas, but it is vitally important to share your views about the subject matter at hand. Otherwise, we only hear the same people or me and that is not what this class is about. Everyone has something to offer and I want to hear your views on the material.
Cellular Phones, Pagers, and Other Electronic Signaling Devices: Students may only use cell phones, pagers, and other electronic signaling devices on campus before school, during lunch, and after school. These devices must be kept out of sight and turned off during the instructional program. Unauthorized use of such devices, including issues of academic honesty, disrupts the instructional program and distracts from the learning environment. Therefore, unauthorized use is grounds for confiscation of the device by school officials, including classroom teachers. Confiscated devices will be given to Mrs. McCartney in the counseling office. Only parents may retrieve the devices from the counselor. Repeated unauthorized use may lead to disciplinary action. If a student refuses to give the cell phone or any electronic device to the teacher, the matter will be referred to the vice principal for additional consequences (i.e. detention, Saturday school, suspension).
*School personnel, including school police, do not have resources to investigate instances of lost or stolen property unless suspect information is provided. School Police will not conduct a police investigation or take a police report.
DRESS REGULATIONS
Introduction
Scripps Ranch students are expected to dress professionally, with respect for themselves and their classmates.
Attire
Students are expected to exercise good judgment, safety, good taste and modesty regarding their dress and grooming. Any clothing considered to be disruptive to the educational process is inappropriate for school.
Attire should fit properly and show modesty. Violations include, but are not limited to:
· Clothing must cover backs and midriffs. Strapless tops, halter tops, (undergarments worn as outer garments (including A-frame t-shirts).
· Revealing attire that is sexually suggestive or distracting.
· Excessively baggy pants or pants sagging below the rear, (clothing that reveals undergarments).
· Athletic participation is not an excuse for a dress code violation off the field of play. Shirts must cover sports bras at all times.
· Athletic gloves may be worn with legitimate athletic equipment and activities only. Knit gloves or mittens are permitted during inclement weather only. No other gloves may be worn on campus.
· Sleepwear and pajamas are not permitted.
· Footwear (sandals or shoes) must be worn at all times while students are at school or at school-sponsored activities.
· Any garments, backpacks or book covers deemed to incite confrontation, to be demeaning or disruptive are not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to: racial, ethnic, religious or sexist slurs; messages promoting drugs, alcohol, or tobacco; gang related graffiti; profanity, sexually suggestive or obscene language or pictures; images depicting violence.
Headwear
· Official SRHS headwear and sunglasses may ONLY be worn outdoors during passing periods, at lunch, and/or during PE.
· Only hats/head coverings worn for religious convictions are allowed to be worn indoors. Any other head coverings will be confiscated.
Consequences
· Upon any violation, students will be sent to the nurse and required to change into school-provided clothing. Borrowed clothing needs to be washed and returned the next day. Students will be given their clothing back to take home.
· Any further violations will be subject to administrative disciplinary actions.
Return of Confiscated Items
· Confiscated items may be picked up only by a parent after school.
Errors in scheduling and inappropriate level placement: Students select their classes in the spring during articulation with the clear expectation that the schedule created is final and changes are made only because of an error in scheduling or an inappropriate level placement. Changing your mind about the classes you want to take does not constitute a scheduling error. Please refer to the school website www.srhsfalcons.org, Students/Counseling Center/ Course Catalog for more detailed information.
Free Public Education
The Constitution of the State of California requires that we provide a public education to you free of charge. Your right to a free education is for all school/educational activities, whether curricular or extracurricular, and whether you get a grade for the activity or class. Subject to certain exceptions, your right to a free public education means that we cannot require you or your family to purchase materials, supplies, equipment or uniforms for any school activity, nor can we require you or your family to pay security deposits for access, participation, materials, or equipment. You may be required to attend a fundraising event; however, if you are unable to raise funds for the event, you will not be prevented from participating in an educational activity.
ACADEMIC HONESTY - INTEGRITY POLICY
The Scripps Ranch High School ASB and staff wish to be on record as opposing all cheating, plagiarism, and dishonesty. To support this policy, certain safeguards are in place for elections and for academic security. However, for a policy to be meaningful, the support of all students and parents is required. Although it is said "honesty is its own reward," the ASB and staff appreciate the integrity of Scripps Ranch High School students especially in the face of temptation and the pressure to excel.
1. Cheating--Any giving/discussing/using of external assistance relating to an assignment, examination, test or quiz, without express permission of the teacher.
2. Fabrication--Any intentional falsification or invention of data, citation, or other authority in an academic exercise.
3. Unauthorized collaboration--Intentional collaboration of an assignment between a student and another person, if such collaboration is not permitted.
4. Plagiarism--Any use of another's ideas, words, or work as one's own. Plagiarism includes the misuse of published/copyrighted material whether written or visual, the work of other students, and/or downloading from the Internet.
5. Theft or alteration of materials--Any unauthorized taking, concealment, or alteration of student, teacher, office, library or electronic materials/resources (includes theft by camera-phones).
6. Pattern of test avoidance--A pattern of absences on test days or major report due dates for the apparent advantage of performing better on the make-up test or for gaining extra working/studying time.
7. Pressure for unsubstantiated grade changes*--Any student request for a raised grade that is not based on mistakes in correction, recording, averaging, or other clerical error.
8. Abusive conduct with computers and the network--Such conduct would include, but not be limited to, prohibited use, damage or theft of system hardware or software; the altering of any system software or software configurations; placing unlawful information, computer viruses or harmful programs on any computer; and pirating copyrighted software (see Network Use Agreement and Contract).
Prohibited Use: Transmission of any material in violation of any federal or state law is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, distribution of:
a. Taking pictures or texting of any tests or answers to test material.
b. Information that violates or infringes upon the rights of any other person.
c. Defamatory, inappropriate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, or illegal material.
d. Advertisements, solicitations, or political lobbying.
e. Information that encourages the use of controlled substances or the use of the system for the purpose of inciting crime.
Warning: Inappropriate use may result in the cancellation of network privileges. The site system administrator(s) or district security administrator may close an account at any time deemed necessary. Depending upon the seriousness of the offense, any combination of the following will be enforced: Education Code, district procedure, and school site discipline/network use policy.
9. Unauthorized electronic entry--Any entry without permission. Any access, downloading and/or printing of materials that would be considered pornographic, unlawful, obscene, or otherwise objectionable by any staff member.
10. Gambling and/or card playing is prohibited on campus. Cards will be confiscated on the first offense and a referral may be written for continued violation of this rule.
* Note: Other than incomplete make-ups, grade changes in the (CIF) San Diego Section for athletic eligibility (except for clerical or typographical error) will not be considered for scholastic eligibility purposes (CIFSDS Rule 205).
All students will have due process in the handling of the above infractions. Possible penalties for infractions include: parent notification, lowering of citizenship and/or academic grade, failing grade for the assignment, removal from class with F/U, detention, Saturday school, suspension, and expulsion.
Tardy Policy – Six Week
Students arriving late to school are required to sign in at the Attendance Office. A note from the doctor or dentist is required for the tardy to be excused. Consequences for excessive unexcused tardies will be assigned through our normal attendance procedures, including Senior Review for 12th grade students.
Tardy #1 • Teacher counsels student.
Tardy #2 • Teacher counsels student and assigns detention in classroom.
• Parent may be contacted.
Tardy #3 • Teacher counsels student, assigns classroom detention and/or lowers citizenship.
• Progress report may be issued to student
• Parent called.
• Referral to counselor
Tardy #4 • Referral to Vice Principals
• Citizenship grade no higher than “N”
• Saturday School assigned
Tardy #5 • Teacher counsels student and lowers citizenship grade to “U"
• Student referred to vice principal.
• Saturday School assigned (or in school suspension)
Overall Tardies
· Cumulative tardies in excess of five (5) may result in Saturday School or placement on a Loss of Privilege List.
Please have this form signed and returned to me by the end of the first week of class.
Course: Advanced English 3-4
Instructor: Kristine Dobeck
School: Scripps Ranch High School
Student Signature: ______
Parent Signature: ______
Date: ______
The above signees have read the course syllabus, understand the course’s goals and objectives, and are familiar with the school’s Academic Honesty Policy and Tardy Policy.