Vista Murrieta High School English II (10Th Grade)

Vista Murrieta High School English II (10th Grade)

Ms. Lê Room EE15 951-894-5750 x6505 email:

*Students, please use formal communication skills when contacting me through email. Include pertinent information such as first and last name, class period, and your polite request.

*I am available before and after school most days. However, late start Monday mornings I have teacher meetings before school begins and will be unavailable. I also have National Honor Society meetings every Wednesday morning and will be unavailable.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Welcome to English II. This course is a high school English course designed to meet state and district standards in English Language Arts. Furthermore, the fundamental premise of this course is to prepare students for the eleventh grade. English II is a course that emphasizes further development in the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking within a curriculum that adheres to Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.

Students will be exposed to a variety of literary genres, including poetry, drama, short stories, novels and non-fiction texts. Students will be expected to read and comprehend grade-level-appropriate texts, and compose oral and written literary responses to historically and culturally significant works of literature. In addition, students will be expected to write coherent and focused essays that convey a well-defined perspective, tightly-reasoned argument, awareness of audience and purpose, and a command of English conventions. The following information gives a general overview of the areas of study for the year.

HOMEWORK/ABSENCES

Homework will be assigned when it is necessary to hone skills taught in the classroom, or when course work is not completed during class time. Homework must be turned in on its due date, at the beginning of class.

If a student is absent for any reason, the student may ask for missing assignments before school or after school—PLEASE DO NOT ASK DURING BREAK OR LUNCH. Teachers need breaks throughout the day, too. ALSO, PLEASE DO NOT ASK DURING CLASS since the focus should be on the current day’s lesson.

Students must have a documented excused absence when asking for make-up work; the student will have the same number of days to make up work as were missed. Extended (excused) absences and special circumstances may require new deadlines. Please keep in mind that valuable class discussions, lectures, and presentations may be missed learning opportunities that cannot be made up. Therefore, excessive absences will result in a lower grade. IF THERE IS A MAJOR ASSIGNMENT DUE, BE PRESENT OR HAVE SOMEONE DROP IT OFF ON ITS DUE DATE OR LOSE POINTS.

*TIME MANAGEMENT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE*

COURSE MATERIALS

Bring required materials to class every time we meet. Failure to bring required materials to class will result in the loss of points.

·  Binder designated for ENGLISH CLASS with 5 dividers; loose-leaf lined paper; blue/black/red pens; highlighters; sticky notes; colored pencils (optional); white out (optional).

·  The English notebook should be arranged as follows: Section (1): Grammar/Vocabulary; Section (2): Notes/Handouts; Section (3): Writing; Section (4): Syllabus/School policies/Etc.; Section (5): Returned Work.

COURSE TEXT AND CORE NOVELS

Glencoe Literature Textbook (10th Grade Literature Anthology): Selected short stories, excerpts, and poems; Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

Core Novels:

·  Selected short stories, excerpts, and poems from various sources.

·  Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

·  Animal Farm by George Orwell

·  Night by Elie Wiesel

INDEPENDENT READING

In addition to reading core text and core novels, advanced students independently read throughout the year. STUDENTS SHOULD BRING THEIR INDEPENDENT NOVELS WITH THEM EVERY CLASS. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN AN “UNPREPARED FOR CLASS” DETENTION.

Reading and assignments related to the reading will be done PRIMARILY as class work, although there may be times when the activity/lesson carries over to homework. Independent reading is designed so students hone critical thinking and higher level thinking skills. See DEPTHS OF KNOWLEDGE (DOK) circle. Novels are self-selected.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

* If a student ever misses class, it is the student’s responsibility to get the missing notes/assignment from a classmate.

Students should come to me the day after their absence with their work stating “Here’s what I missed,” as opposed to “What did I miss?”

Students are always expected to follow school wide policies and regulations as stated in their Student Handbook. Depending on the severity of offense, the teacher reserves the right to issue immediate consequences, including confiscations, detentions and/or referrals, ETC.

Be polite: Respect your teacher, your classmates, and the learning environment.

Be prompt: Be in your seat when the bell rings.

Be prepared: Bring necessary materials every day.

Be productive: Use class time for working on assignments or SSR reading.

Be honest: Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and will be treated as such.

No food!

Keep electronics OFF and AWAY!

Please remove all hats/visors/etc. when entering the classroom.

No earbuds should be visible.

GRADES

All grades are based on a cumulative and weighted point system. Categories include the following:

Participation 10% 90 – 100 = A

Class Work 15% 80 – 89 = B

Homework 15% 70 – 79 = C

Quizzes/Tests 25% 60 – 69 = D

Essays/Projects 25% 0 – 59 = F

Semester Final 10%