This
course orientation has been prepared to explain the expectations, course
content, course requirements, policies, and any other information that will
give you the opportunity to do your best in this class. Please read it carefully, learn it, and share
it with your parent(s)/guardian(s). If
you do not understand something, or if you have any questions about any part of
this syllabus, please feel free to talk to me about it. I look forward to a brilliant year with both
you and your family.
Course Description
This
course is designed to fulfill the Las Virgenes Unified School District
Standards and the California Standards for high school sophomores honors. These reading, writing, speaking, and
listening skills will challenge and help prepare students for Eleventh Grade, a
university education, a productive career, and a successful life. Over the next school year, students will
complete the following:
Ř Read novels (British
Literature), including Beowulf (selections), an outside novel of your
choosing (from a list of British authors), Canterbury Tales (selections-8
tales), Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (selections), Candide, Lord
of the Flies, 1984, and other selections from the literature book (see
Syllabus [available online]).
Ř Read a Shakespearean Play:
Macbeth.
Ř Learn research techniques
and conduct research on literature, history, economics, science, and
mathematics.
Ř Read various poems under
similar themes.
Ř Analyze literary forms;
learn elements of literature, including theme, setting, imagery, personification
Ř Gain knowledge of literary
terms, including thesis, transition, statement of organization, context, quote,
analysis, topic sentence, citation, major, expository.
Ř Expand grammar skills,
including Ideas, Organization, Voice, Sentence Fluency, Word Choice, and
Conventions.
Ř Develop vocabulary and use
it in context; recognize Latin prefixes, roots, and suffixes; and
synonyms/antonyms.
Ř Make oral presentations, and
create and edit paragraphs and essays.
Ř Participate in small group
discussions and class Socratic seminars; become an active listener.
Required Books and Materials
1. 3-Ring Binder (1-1/2 Inch).
2. 5 Tab Dividers: Literature
(Pink), Writing (Blue), Grammar (Green), Vocabulary (Yellow), Paper (Clear).
3. Loose-leaf, 3-Hole Punched,
College-Ruled, notebook paper for class work.
4. 2 Pencils, 2 Pens (dark blue
or black ink).
5. Index Cards (1 set of 3x5, 1
set of 4x6), post-it notes (3x3).
6. Calendar/Agenda (electronic
or hard copy) for homework assignments (may be purchased from student store).
7. Journal – a spiral bound
notebook that will remain in the classroom.
8. Literature Anthology
Textbook (we will check this out as a class at the library).
9. Grammar Book (available in
class only), and Grammar Workbook (check out from library/available for
purchase).
10. Current Novel (checked out
or purchased from a local bookstore).
The
teacher will not solve problems for students because it robs students of an
opportunity to learn. Each student is
responsible for caring for books, both in the classroom and at home. Lost or damaged books must be replaced or
paid for by the student. Each student is
required to bring the appropriate materials to class each day. If the student’s printer is broken, please e-mail the
assignment to the teacher at the above e-mail address. Students that are prepared will be more
successful in the class.
Attendance policy
Students
should be in their seats and ready to work when the tardy bell rings, or
they will be marked tardy. Six (6)
unexcused tardies or three (3) unexcused absences will result in a student
being dropped from the class with a failing grade. There are no exceptions to this rule!
Classroom Management
Policies
Students
will be discussing and creating standards and consequences for classroom
behavior on the first day of class based upon the instructor’s expectations and
Agoura High School/District standards, as follows:
1. Act in a Safe and
2. Respect Yourself (compelling
State interest: Health and Safety)
3. Respect Property (compelling
State interest: Property)
4. Respect Others (compelling
State interest: Health and Safety,
Legitimate Educ. Process)
5. Take Responsibility for
Learning (compelling State interest:
Legitimate Educ. Process)
A
student’s grade is not based on a point system.
Tests and assignments are categorized and divided into various
categories. Each category is based upon
California Standards for English and is worth a percentage of the student’s
overall grade. This means that a student
must perform well in all areas of class to receive a good grade. This also means that if a student is somewhat
weak in one category, it will not dramatically weigh down his or her
grade. The Agoura High School
|
Literary
Response and Analysis 3.0, Writing Strategies 1.0, Applications 2.0, &
W&O 1.0 (narrative/response/expository/
paragraphs, literature based tests, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
40% |
|
Reading
Comprehension 2.0 (Literature Groups assignments and
literature based questions) . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
10% |
|
|
15% |
|
Written
& Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (Grammar Quizzes, class and homework) . . .
. . . . . |
15% |
|
Listening
& Speaking (In Class Discussions, Literature Groups, Journals) . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
10% |
|
Final
Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
10% |
Grades are assigned as follows
(there is no rounding-up of grades):
|
90-100% |
= |
A |
|
80-89% |
= |
B |
|
70-79% |
= |
C |
|
60-69% |
= |
D |
|
0-59% |
= |
F |
Make-up
Policy: Work not turned in due to unexcused
absences is not accepted. If you have an
excused absence, find out what you missed from a classmate and turn the
work in the next time the class meets.
If you are absent for an extended time, contact me to arrange make-up
work. Tests and quizzes must be made up
within one week of a test or quiz being given.
Failure to appear during support period for a make-up test or quiz will
result in a zero. Written work turned in
one day late for reasons other than absences will receive half-credit (50%
off), and work that is more than one day late will receive no credit. No late work will be accepted after each
5-week cut-off. It is not the
responsibility of the instructor to remind student about missed work. The student must attempt to receive work from
a student in the class, from the instructor’s web page, or see the instructor
after class.
Academic Integrity
“The
forms of virtue are: justice, courage, magnificence, magnanimity, liberality,
gentleness, prudence, wisdom.” Aristotle
(384-322 B.C.)
and honesty, integrity, freedom, perseverance, humility, fortitude, hope,
respect, and responsibility
Cheating: Cheating of
any kind will not be tolerated. Cheating
includes, but is not limited to, the following:
copying or looking at another student’s paper during a test or quiz,
talking during a test, having information that is being tested visible during a
test (cheat sheet, open textbook, notes, etc.), copying another student’s
homework or classwork is plagiarism.
Any student suspected of cheating will receive a zero on the test, quiz
or assignment and will be referred to the vice principal. The student’s parents will be notified of the
incident, and a letter will be placed in the student’s file for one calendar
year. If the student is caught cheating
a second time in twelve months, he/she will receive an F and will be dropped
from the class in which the second incident occurs. There are no exceptions to this policy. There is no excuse for cheating and the
consequences are severe!
Plagiarism: Please find and read the attached sheet
regarding plagiarism. Unfortunately,
plagiarism continues to be a problem.
Downloading and copying any writing from the Internet and claiming it as
your own is plagiarism and will be treated as such. Do not plagiarize!
PLEASE
DETACH, SIGN
I have read and understand Mrs. Anderson’s COURSE GUIDELINES: 2007 - 2008.
Date: __________________ _______________________________________________
Student
Signature
Date: __________________ _______________________________________________
Parent
Signature
_______________________________________________
Parent
Name [Please Print]
Parent Day Phone: _________________ E-mail: ___________________________________
Parent E-Mail Address
Parent Cell Phone: _________________