Welcome! I Am Looking Forward to Being Your Language Arts Teacher

LANGUAGE ARTS 2-HONORS

Ms. Judy Yen

Welcome! I am looking forward to being your Language Arts Teacher!! ☺

MAIN OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this course is to provide a detailed study of language skills both written and spoken. In order to achieve this objective, we will be spending time in class reading, analyzing, and discussing literature, learning the writing process, preparing for the Advanced Placement Exam during your junior year of AP language arts, and practicing listening, and speaking skills. Students will learn literary terms, grammar, extended vocabulary, and will participate in reading various genres of literature both inside and outside the classroom.

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS: Honors English Students will:

1)Understand and effectively utilize the writing process

2)Be proficient in grammar, extended vocabulary and usage skills

3)Be able to successfully identify and understand literary terms

4)Understand, critically analyze, and respond to various genres of literature

5)Maintain an A or B in Honors English II

6)Complete rigorous, college-level work in a meaningful way.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS: Honors students are expected to:

1)Complete all assignments on time

2)Bring paper, pen, pencil and notebook everyday

3)Bring a separate notebook for journal responses

4)Find and plan access to a computer to complete assignments

5)Participate in all class activities

6)Have a positive attitude

7)Be prompt, be prepared, be polite and show respect for others

8)Take pride in their work by being creative, and working carefully and neatly

STUDENT CONDUCT

●Keep food, drinks (except water), toys, technology (IPODS, cell phones, etc.), homework from other classes, and cosmetics/hairbrushes out of sight.

●NO gum, hats, or being disruptive when others or myself are talking.

●No throwing things. If I catch you throwing anything, you will be responsible for making my classroom spotless at the end of the period.

●Do NOT wander around the room. Stay in your seat. You are expected to be in your seat when the bell rings. You are not allowed to line up by the door before the end of the period. The bell does not dismiss you; I dismiss you.

●Use the restroom before or after class. Students are allowed three passes per semester to leave the classroom to use the restroom.

●Verbal abuse of another student or teacher is neither welcome, nor will it be tolerated.

●Misconduct consequences:

○Warning

○Move seat/conference with teacher/parent contact

○Detention/parent contact

○Referral to office or counselor/conference with parent/possible suspension

PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE

Please do not even think about being absent or tardy. Since each day begins with a graded exercise, missing even a minute of class will detract from your overall success in this class. If you know you will be absent for any reason, please let me know in advance.

●Tardy Policy:

o1st tardy: Warning

o2nd tardy: Possible warning/teacher detention/parent contact

o3rd tardy: Parent contacted by phone and teacher detention assigned

o4th tardy: Referral to the Director of Attendance and parent conference

o5+ tardies: Dropped from class

GRADES: Students are expected to maintain an A or B grade in this course. If attitude or abilities do not designate success in the honors program, a student may be encouraged to transfer to another class level. Each assignment is worth points based on the complexity of the assignment. Points are earned by completing daily homework assignments, class work, quizzes and tests, attendance, projects and presentations, group work and positive class participation. Students will be informed of their current grade at least every two weeks. We will be doing weighted grades in the class with the breakdown as follows:

●Class/Homework: Literary Tasks25%

●Writing Assignments: Essays/One Pagers20%

●Projects15%

●Assessments: Tests and quizzes20%

●Participations: Class Discussions10%

●Final Exam10%

HOMEWORK: Homework assignments consist of reading and responding to literature, writing assignments, vocabulary work and creating projects for class presentation. Honors students will have homework every night.

ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TURNED IN ON TIME FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN FULL CREDIT.ASSIGNMENTS NOT TURNED IN ON TIME WILL BE GIVEN HALF CREDIT. IF A STUDENT IS ABSENT, IT IS HIS OR HER RESPONSIBILITY TO LEARN ABOUT ANY MISSED ASSIGNMENTS. IF YOU ARE ABSENT ON THE DAY AN ESSAY OR PROJECT IS DUE, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER THE ESSAY OR PROJECT TO ME BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY IN ORDER RECEIVE FULL CREDIT.YOU MAY NOT USE THE CLASSROOM PRINTER UNLESS PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.

COURSE CONTENT:

FIRST SEMESTER

A)Collection/discussion of summer reading assignment

B)A Separate Peace by John Knowles

C)Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

D)To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

E)Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

F)Sound and Sense Poetry

G)Vocabulary Development

H)Research Projects, presentations and MLA standards

I)Essay Writing both inside and outside the classroom

J)Document Based Questions (DBQ)

SECOND SEMESTER

A)Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare

B)Oedipus The King by Sophocles

C)Bless Me Ultima by Rudolph Anaya

D)Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

E)Document Based Questions (DBQ)

F)Advanced Placement Practice Essays

G)Essay writing both inside and outside the classroom

H)Research project and MLA standards

I)Rhetoric Practice

Films to Coincide with Major Works of Literature

During the course of the year, students will view a number of movies related to the major works of literature studied. While these movies are considered appropriate for children aged 13 and older, school policy requires that parents are notified when movies will be shown in class that have a rating of PG or PG-13 and that you provide your permission for students to watch the films. By signing the form attached to this syllabus, you are indicating that your child has permission to view the following films:

∙ “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) directed by Robert Mulligan, not rated

∙ “The Taming of the Shrew” (1967) directed by Franco Zeffirelli, not rated

∙ “Of Mice and Men” (1992) directed by Gary Sinise, rated PG-13

∙ “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999) directed by Gil Junger, rated PG-13

∙ “Oedipus Rex” (1992) directed by Julie Taymor, not rated

∙ “Minority Report” (2002) directed by Steven Spielberg, rated PG-13

PREPARATION: I strongly recommend that students purchase their own copy of each book (one at a time) that we will be reading, discussing and analyzing this year. This will make annotations and explication of the novel easier. That being said, IT IS NOT MANDATORY to purchase your own copy of the novel. A copy of each novel read in this class will be provided to you if you do not have your own.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Any student attempting to take credit for knowledge that he/she does not possess in the form of cheating or plagiarism will result in a 0 on the assignment, a referral and parent contact.

QUESTIONS OR CONFERENCES:

If you have any questions or concerns about Language Arts 2 Honors, or would like to schedule a conference, please feel free to contact me at (714) 996-4970 ext. 10504 or by email at . I look forward to working with you to make the 2013-2014 school year an exciting and meaningful experience in language arts.

August 28, 2017

Dear Students,

Welcome to the first day of school! My name is Ms. Yen and I am will be teaching Honors Language Arts 2 and Psychology/AP/IB Psychology. This is my 12th year teaching at Valencia High School. This will be a fun and rewarding year. I graduated from the University of California, Irvine and majored in psychology and minored in education. During my years at UCI, I participated in the Education Abroad Program, where I lived and studied in Rome, Italy for four months. After graduation, I decided to go right back and get my Single Subject English Teaching Credential. Then I proceeded to spend the majority of my summer taking classes for my Masters in Arts in Teaching.

In 2014, I graduated with my second Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Currently, I do counseling at Hope Counseling Center in Anaheim and I have a private practice in Brea. I apologize in advance if I appear to be tired and cranky more than usual. When I am not grading your assignments or completing my own, I enjoy reading, watching movies, going out to dinner with friends and family, playing poker, and taking barre and kickboxing classes. Although it may not be the best for my health, I shamefully admit that I am obsessed with carbs, boba, and Coffee Bean/Starbucks iced tea. I enjoy laughing and being around sarcastic and witty individuals.

Some of my pet peeves include: chewing with your mouth open, bad tippers (I was once a waitress), not washing your hands after using the bathroom, being late, and people who do not listen (students included). I hate repeating myself so please try and LISTEN the FIRST time! As we spend more time together, you will become well acquainted with my anal-retentiveness and germ phobia. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you and to make this an amazing school year.

Sincerely,

Ms. Yen

Personal Letter Prompt

You will write a personal letter and address it to me, Ms. Yen. This is your opportunity to share a little piece of yourself with me. You are free to divulge as much or as little information as you would like as long as you meet the guidelines listed below. You can include information about your background, hobbies, pet peeves, family, friends, learning style, biggest fear, favorite foods, feelings about school, favorite music, pets, summer vacation, future goals and etc…

The letter must be:

●Properly formatted (letter)

●At least one full page double spaced

●12 pt Times New Roman font

●***Reminder: MLA Heading

Name: First, Last

Ms.Yen

Class/Period

Day Month Year

Due: ______

Student/Parent Feedback Form

After reading the general information and class rules, please place an X in the space below, write any comments or questions you may have, and then sign and return this form tomorrow. Your signatures indicate that you understand students are financially responsible for any books checked out from the classroom library that are later lost and/or stolen. A parent signature on this form also provides your permission for students to watch all of the PG and PG-13 movies listed on the syllabus, which will be shown in class throughout the year.

______I (we) have read and understand the general information and class rules for Language Arts II Honors

Comments or Questions: ______

Student Name:______

Signature: ______

(Please Print)

Parent Name:______

Signature: ______

(Please Print)

Parent contact information:

Home phone number ______

Work phone number ______

E-mail address ______

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