Course: ELA 5-6E-mail:

Teacher: Andrea WallachVoice Mail: 623-445-7208

Tutoring: Mondays 7:00AM-7:30 AM Canvas: dvusd.canvas.instructure.com
Tuesdays 7:00AM-7:30AMRoom: 404

ELA Mission Statement:

The mission of Sandra Day O’Connor High School’s Language Arts Department is to offer students extensive opportunities for learning in language skills that prepare them for life after high school.

ELA Target Learning Goals:

Reading

  • Students will read, evaluate and use literary and informational texts at or above grade level.
  • On their own, students will read and understand a variety of texts ranging from simple to complex.

Writing

  • Students will write a variety of texts clearly and coherently using research collaboration and revision over varying lengths of time for a range of audiences.
  • Students will use technology to produce and publish writing and interact and collaborate with others.

Language

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of correct grammar in writing and speech.
  • Students will apply knowledge of newly learned words and phrases to reading and writing.

Speaking and Listening

  • Students will listen actively to a variety of types of presentations, interpreting and evaluating them with proficiency.
  • Students will verbally present information in a variety of forms to a variety of audiences verbally, demonstrating command of formal English when appropriate.

Course Description: This course is primarily an American Literature course that includes fiction and emphasizes the non-fictional genres: essay, letter, pamphlet, speech/sermon, journal, autobiography/biography, etc. It is aligned with district and state standards and incorporates common core components. It also supports the school wide efforts in increasing student achievement.

Course Objectives/Goals: By the time students complete this course of study, they will know and/or be able to evaluate and write personal narratives, short stories, letters, essays, poems, reports, research projects and/or papers, and evaluations (i.e. critiques/persuasive writing).Personal Growth in this course will be assessed through: an ability to analyze texts, to recognize and use rhetorical strategies and stylistic devices, to analyze, formulate, and develop arguments, and to write clear, coherent prose.

Grading Policy

A – 90% – 100%

B – 80% – 89%

C – 70% – 79%

D – 60% – 69%

F – 50% – 59%

*0% No attempt made; no submission

1

  • Grades are cumulative for each semester. The grade book categories(which comprise 80% of your overall course grade) are:

Reading assessments 35%,

Writing assessments 35%

Language assessments 20%

Listening and speaking assessments 10%

  • The final exam will account for 20% of the overall course grade.
  • No extra credit will be accepted and grades are not rounded per district policy.
  • Note: In an effort to allow every opportunity to succeed, zeros may be replaced with an earned grade, based on teacher discretion; however, student will still receive a 20% deduction for lateness.
  • A 20% deduction from the grade is given forall late assignments.

Powerschool Access

The Powerschools site allows parents/guardians and students to access the student’s grades, attendance, and other information. If you need your access information, please stop by the front desk during business hours. You will need a photo I.D. The web address is: ps.dvusd.org/public. Students must access Powerschool themselves to be successful in this course.

Make-Up Work

Upon return to class after an absence, a student has one school day for each day missed to make up work/test assigned during his/her absence regardless of the number of days absent. For example, if a student is absent on Thursday and Friday, he/she will have Monday and Tuesday of the following week to make up work and must turn in the work that was assigned during the days absent on Wednesday (Unless another arrangement has been made with the teacher). It is the student’s reponsibility to check with teachers immediately upon return for work missed. Teachers may choose to schedule an appointment with the student to formulate a plan for the completion of make-up work. Every Thursday students will have an MTSS-A period that can be used to make-up the missing work, retake tests and quizzes or get extra help.

MTSS-A Period is the best time to make-up missing assignments, retake tests or quizzes and to get extra help.

Make-up work for extended absences may be requested through the Counseling Office and picked up there.I keep my website updated. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain make-up work from my teacher website and to schedule an appointment to discuss missing work/schedule make-up date. BEING IN SWEEP DOES NOT COUNT AS AN ABSENCE; you will be sent back to class from sweep.

Note: No revised work and/or retakes will be permitted during the last two weeks of a semester.

Classroom Behavior Expectations & Consequences:

  1. Enter the class in a manner that demonstrates respect for the academic endeavor, for the institution of public education and for the struggle for democracy and freedom to which it is intimately bound, for Sandra Day O’Connor High School, for the adultswho have dedicated themselves to your well-being, and for yourselves. This behavior is characterized as an attitude of quiet, respectful scholarship.
  2. Have your materials for this class (and for this class alone) on your desk by the sound of the tardy bell.
  3. Respect the teacher’s prerogative to dismiss the class. Expect class to end when the bell sounds for class to be dismissed. Individual concerns should be presented after class. Under no circumstances should you

pack your materials away until I have indicated that it is appropriate to do so.

  1. Be prepared to learn throughout every class period.
  2. Establish and maintain a learning environment:

Do nothing that would either suggest inattentiveness or interfere with your attention (no hoods, sunglasses, ear buds,personal electronic devices unless directed by teacher, etc.).

Do not sleep in class.

Be kind and courteous to others.

Do not eat or drink in class (only exception – bottled water).

Use language appropriate for the classroom. Formal language is the standard, and even the least profanity is not tolerated.

Dress appropriately; I follow the dress code.

  1. Be at all times aware of the nature of class discussion and participate accordingly.
  2. Debate with great fervor ideas about literature and life; accept and respect your teacher’s expectations, procedures, and evaluation.
  3. Trust and respect yourself, your classmates, and your teacher at all times.

If you do not adhere to the above expectations, detentions will be assigned and/or parent phone calls will be made. If you act in a disrespectful manner, a student disciplinary report will be filed with the conduct office, where the school’s disciplinary code will be enforced.

Electronic Device Use: Technology (cell phones, iPods, hand-held devices, etc.) use in the classroom is intended to enhance the learning environment for all students; however, any use of technology that substantially degrades the learning environment, promotes dishonesty or illegal activities, is prohibited. If the instructor determines that the use of technology is a distraction to the learning process, either of the student using the technology or to those around him/her, the student may, at the discretion of the teacher, be asked to

discontinue the use of technology in the classroom.

Personal Electronic Devices include cell phones, iPods, other mp3 players and similar technology devices used for entertainment and communication/social media. Students are expected to refrain from the use of electronic devices for personal entertainment and/or communication (i.e email, instagram, facebook, etc.) during instructional time and will place their electronic devices in an assigned and numbered cell phone pocket upon entering the classroom. Students will retrieve their own personal devices 5 minutes before the end of the class period or when permitted by the teacher. While students may freely use these devices before and after school, during passing periods, and at lunch, the teacher will limit the use of personal devices and for which purposes during class to ensure that all students are focused and ready to learn.

Use of Electronic Devices to Facilitate Learning:

Sandra Day O’Connor High School utilizes iPads (and smartphones) as a learning tool in the classroom. The technology tools are added to the classroom for learning, the classroom teacher will inform students as to when they may use their device and for which purposes. Students must adhere to their teacher’s guidelines for use and appropriate times for use. Any student who violates the teacher’s guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action.

Please note- students may not access their personal devices, whether for entertainment or learning, if the teacher has stated that the classroom activities at that time do not warrant use. For example, during testing or assessments.

Academic Integrity: Adherence to the O’Connor Academic Integrity Code

All students enrolled in ELA 5-6 will adhere to the framework and Adherence to the O’Connor Academic Integrity Code. Cheating and Plagiarism will not be tolerated. The purpose of this code is to promote a positive learning environment for all involved. As humans, we will make mistakes as we grow. It is understood that we can learn from those mistakes and become better individuals in the future. Any student who violates this code will be referred to the Students Rights and Responsibilities handbook and assignment of appropriate consequences.

Plagiarism and Cheating: In cheating, a student is taking the work of another, on any assignment, and claiming it as his/her own. At SDOHS, cheating includes but is not limited to:

  • copying and/or offering homework verbally, in written form, or by electronic means from/to another student.
  • copying and/or offering questions and/or answers on tests or quizzes verbally, in written form, or by electronic means from/to another student.
  • pressuring other students to copy and/or offer homework, answers and/or questions on tests or quizzes verbally, in written form or by electronic means.
  • bringing in and using unauthorized information during class time, including information stored in any electronic device.
  • offering or receiving information under circumstances in which information is not to be shared.
  • having anyone, including parents or tutors, complete assignments and submitting the work as one’s own.
  • presenting collaborative work as independent work and independent work as collaborative. (In group work, one person should not and will not bear the burden for the entire group assignment.)
  • copying answers from answer guides in texts.
  • fabricating data, information, or sources. Presenting made up material as authentic.

Plagiarism and/or Cheating will result in disciplinary actions and a 0%, with no option to redo/retake. No exceptions.You are expected to demonstrate the highest level of academic integrity. Cheating of any sort will not be tolerated. Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary actions. If you violate my trust, expect the consequences. Trust, if lost, is a difficult thing to recover. Remember that in regard to cheating and all things else, you can never know beforehand all the possible consequences of your actions

Loss of Credit Due to Absences: Upon reaching 5 unexcused absences or a combination of 12 unexcused and/or excused absences, a student may lose credit in any given class.

Any student may be placed on an Attendance Contract upon accumulating multiple excused and unexcused absences. Any student with excessive absences may:

  • lose credit in one or more classes.
  • lose parking privileges.

COMMUNICATION:Please contact the teacher for any student concerns. It is crucial that students, parents, and teachers maintain open lines of communication in order to ensure the best support for student success. Please respect the professional “chain of command” for communication: always talk to me first. The “chain of command” is teacher, dept. chair, counselor, administrator. Contact information is provided at the top of the first page of this course guide.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN THIS CLASS:

  1. All assessments (essays, research papers, etc.) must be turned in at the beginning of class on the designated due date. Please come prepared to turn in hard copy assignments when asked, having printed the assignment and stapled any pages together before you arrive in my classroom. In

many instances, I will not ask for or accept hard copy assignments, only papers submitted to turnitin.com. Always write down the instructions, your e-mail address used to create your account (and your password), and/or check my teacher website. No late work is accepted.

  1. Materials:

Please bring the following materials with you to class every day:

  • iPad charged and ready for class.
  • Ink pens
  • Any assignment that is due
  • Paper, notebook to use as journal
  • Folder
  1. DISCIPLINE POLICY

Discipline will be administered on an individual basis as needed. Discipline is a necessary part of life and

sometimes many of us do not like to “play by the rules.” Unfortunately, when this occurs, we infringe upon other people’s rights. It is the right of every student to have an environment that is conducive to learning.

Therefore, I will not accept behaviors that have a detrimental effect on the overall feeling tone or learning

atmosphere of my classroom. If you are disruptive or disrespectful, I will send you to another teacher’s

classroom and will follow up with the discipline policy listed below.

Repeat: No student has the right to interfere with another student’s learning opportunities.

Failure to follow all course expectations as outlined within the course description will result in a student being disciplined using the following procedure:

  • Teacher-student conference regarding the inappropriate behavior and possible reassignment to another teacher’s classroom.
  • Teacher-student conference regarding the inappropriate behavior, teacher-parent conference via telephone or e-mail.
  • Teacher-student conference regarding the inappropriate behavior, teacher-parent conference via telephone or e-mail, AND incident report to discipline office.
  1. COMPUTER PROBLEMS:

We all have them. Please let your parents know well in advance when you have an assignment due; no parent wants to “run out” to get a new printer cartridge or deal with computer problems the night before an assignment is due--especially if YOU did not tell them the due date for an assignment. You must be responsible; your parents are not taking this course—you are!

There are some things you can do if your computer/iPad“fails” the night beforesomething is due: 1) Try a Kinko’s printer or a computer at a friend’s house. 2) Hand-write your paper neatly in black ink and turn it in on time to show me that you have the assignment; you must resubmit it typed the next day.

DO NOT e-mail me your paper and expect me to format it, save it, and print it out for you.

DO NOT ask me the day your assignment is due to go to the library to print out your paper there during class.

ANCILLARY NOVELS: The following novels may be used to supplement the adopted curriculum in this year’s English language arts class:

Novel Title: The Scarlet Letter (selected chapters) Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter is famous for presenting some of the greatest interpretive difficulties in all of American literature. After it was published in 1850, critics hailed it as initiating a distinctive American literary tradition. The main character of the novel is condemned to wear a scarlet “A” for her adultery and tries to resolve her inner torment. The novel subsequently explores the theme of sin and traces the consequences of different kinds of sin for three different characters. For this reason, the novel is called the first psychological novel in American Literature. Hawthorne’s rich use of theme, symbol, characterization, irony, and story development will be the focus of our class study.

Novel Title: The Great GatsbyAuthor: F. Scott Fitzgerald

The whirlwind pace of the post-World War I era is captured in Fitzgerald's Gatsby, whose tragic quest and violent death foretell the collapse of that era and the onset of disillusionment with the American dream. The discrepancy between Gatsby's dream vision and reality is a prominent theme in this book. Other motifs include Gatsby's quest for the American Dream, class conflict (the Wilsons vs. the Buchanans and the underworld lowbrows vs. Gatsby), the cultural rift between East and West, and the contrast between innocence and experience in the narrator's life. A rich aesthetic experience with many subtleties in tone and content, this novel can be read over and over again for new revelations and continued pleasure.

Novel Title: Of Mice and MenAuthor: John Steinbeck

This is a novel set on a ranch in the Salinas Valley in California during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was the first work to bring John Steinbeck national recognition as a writer. Steinbeck conceived Of Mice and Men as a potential play. Each chapter is arranged as a scene, and each scene is confined to a single space: a secluded grove, a bunkhouse, and a barn. The action of the novel occurs over the course of three days and portrays a class of ranch workers in California whose plight had been previously ignored in the early decades of the twentieth century. In fact, George and Lennie are like mice in the maze of modem life. The great friendship they share does not prove sufficient to allow them to realize their dream.

Novel Title: Cold Sassy TreeAuthor: Olive Ann Burns

The fabric of Southern community life at the beginning of the 20th century is convincingly narrated by the 14 year old protagonist, Will Tweedy in the fictional town of Cold Sassy, Georgia. A May-December romance scandalizes the rural community as one of the town's leading citizens, E. Rucker Blakeslee, marries a milliner employed at his store, only three weeks after the death of his wife of 36 years. The marriage brings not only the disapproval of the townsfolk but of his two married daughters as well. An emerging portrait of love amid scorn is recounted by Will Tweedy as he poignantly comes of age.