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FOR INFORMATION
ABOUT GRADING AND SPECIFIC UNITS.
English IIA/B Syllabus
Course Description:
Students in this course will read and evaluate short stories, poems, informational texts, and novels as representatives of their literary types. Students will employ the writing process to develop paragraphs and essays emerging from material read. Students will complete a research project that prepares them for writing a research paper.
Instructional Philosophy: The course and the classroom are organized in a manner to optimize learning utilizing procedures and routines. Students will be assessed on a regular basis according to the quality of their work, as well as their readiness for the workplace. Depending on the unit, students will be working independently and/or as a member of a group.
Instructional Strategies:
A variety of strategies will be used including the following: brainstorming, cooperative learning, demonstration, guided practice, inquiry, instructional technology, lecture, memorization, note-taking, presentations, problem-based learning, research, teacher questions, and work-based learning.
Major Course Goals:
1. Interpret meanings of unfamiliar words using vocabulary strategies.
2. Recognize and evaluate the text features in a variety of texts to assist in interpreting the author’s purpose.
3. Determine and analyze literary techniques and literary elements in a variety of texts.
4. Develop and apply skills to evaluate informational texts.
5. Produce well-developed writings in various forms and types, including timed and un-timed writings.
6. Incorporate conventions of Standard English into writing.
7. Read and apply multi-step directions to perform complex tasks.
8. Develop and apply effective research process skills to gather, analyze, and evaluate information.
9. Develop and apply effective listening and speaking skills for various audiences and purposes.
Major Objectives:
1st Quarter-Text features, 6 + 1 writing traits, persuasive business letter, prepositions, independent & dependent clauses, roots & affixes
2nd Quarter-Organizational patterns, faulty reasoning, proposed solutions, accuracy and adequacy of evidence, tone (non-fiction), point of view (non-fiction), research process skills, active and passive voice, verb tense, parallelism, roots and affixes
3rd Quarter-Plot and setting, character and point of view, irony and allusion, theme, literary analysis
4th Quarter-Poetry, style, persuasive speeches, End of Course Exams
Major Course Projects:
Students can expect to complete a variety of assignments designed to implement the literary skill covered. Projects include, but are not limited to, written assessments, presentation of a speech, research a topic, type a works cited page, individual reading, class work, home work, and quarterly and common assessments. Nearly all graded work will be kept by the teacher or destroyed. Students may check the contents of their classroom folders or see assignments, but the folder and all graded work must remain in the classroom unless otherwise designated by the teacher.
Reading for Enjoyment: Students are expected to bring an additional library book to class when requested by the teacher. Outside books will be read at times set by the teacher (daily starter, between assignments, end of class, etc.). Students are encouraged to find a genre they enjoy reading. A reasonable goal is different for everyone, but we suggest you try to read at least three books per semester. Be prepared to write responses or summaries to the independent reading material.
Level of Challenge:
The successful completion of the mentioned projects and activities will enable students ample opportunity to demonstrate what they should know and complete for passing of the course. Some assignments will require students to read and demonstrate an understanding of what was read, written, or presented in presentations. The assignments are designed for students to apply what they learned to real world problems and situations.
Classroom Expectations:
1. Be in class seated and quiet when the bell rings. Remain that way unless otherwise instructed by your teacher. (Only one warning tardy will be given. Unauthorized absences from class will result in a zero grade for that day’s work.)
2. Bring books, paper, pen, and pencil, and assignments to class.
3. Raise your hand to be recognized before speaking.
4. Keep hands, feet, mouthy or foul remarks, and objects to yourself. (All topics must be school appropriate during class and private discussion.)
5. Follow directions the first time they are given.
6. Please no food or drinks in the classroom. Bottled water is the only exception. Please be careful because even spilling water puts a stain on the carpet.
7. All electronic devices (cell phones, MP3 players, i-Pods, etc.) must be off and out of sight during school hours. This is now School Board policy throughout the district.
Consequences:
First offense: Warning/Points from class activity may be lost
Second offense: Final warning or detention and parents notified
Third offense: Detention and parents notified
Fourth offense: Immediately sent to principal
Materials Needed:
1. One folder or three-ring binder with white loose leaf paper—this will be left in the classroom. Students must keep this folder or binder organized into units. The syllabus and all other work, handouts, and resources should be kept in the classroom.
2. Blue or black pens, #2 pencils: Papers and projects must be typed or written in blue or black ink.
3. Planners should be brought to class every day. You must sign out, wear the teacher pass around your neck, and sign back in as a matter of routine.
**Additional items will be needed during certain projects. A list of these materials will be given in a timely manner. If any student has a problem obtaining any of these materials due to lack of financial resources, the student should have a private discussion with me, and I will provide the materials.
Bellringers:
Although it may change depending on what we’re studying in class, the bellringer each day is to do whatever is necessary to be prepared for class. The teacher will announce the bellringer daily. This includes getting out folders, assignments, books, and pens or pencils. Sharpening pencils should also be done at this time. Students should take care of this business and then sit down and be quiet to await the start of class.
Homework Policy and Grading Scale: All assignments must be turned in on or before the due dates. You may be given four late passes per semester by your teacher. If so, you may use one late-day pass to turn in any assignment the next school day. Failing to complete assignments will result in a homework lab assigned by your teacher. The homework lab will take place after school 2:30 – 3:30 until the assignments are complete.
It is your responsibility to find out what assignments you have missed after an absence; please ask before or after class. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, but you were in class on the day the assignment was made, you must turn in the assignment the first day you return after your absence. When you are absent more than one day in a row, you will be allowed one make-up day for each day that you were absent.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a five-dollar word for cheating, specifically, copying material and presenting it as your own. This cheating may be in the form of copying material from another student, from a book, or from the Internet. Everyone has cheated on something, but that fact does not make the practice acceptable. When you copy something and fail to indicate where you got it through appropriate documentation, you’re guilty of plagiarism. Any assignment plagiarized either totally or in part will earn a zero.
Weights - Formal Assessments = 60%
Workplace Readiness = 20%
Mid-Term/Final = 20%
Scoring guides and rubrics
Scoring guides and rubrics are used as often as possible. These scoring guides should be kept in the students’ folders as a reference throughout the semester.
See the attachment for the scoring guides. I usually create a separate scoring guide for projects in the assessment category.
An emphasis is placed on learning instead of completing assignments.
Workplace Readiness is 20 percent and includes those skills needed to be a successful employee and adult. Any assignments that are connected with participating in class, attending class, working with others, following classroom rules, and completing assignments go in this category. Any assignment considered "practice" goes in this category.
Activities and assignments that are placed in the Assessment category comprise 60 percent of the total grade and are an assessment of skills that have been taught to students. Whenever possible, items in this category will be separated by skill instead of assignment. For example, when we complete research and write an outline, there are five skills assessed for the outline. These are assessed individually and will appear in the gradebook separately so that we can tell which skills still need improvement.
The Final Exam category will consist of different items depending on the semester. In the fall semester, 10 percent of this category will be a mid-term or first quarter common assessment. This is called a common assessment because every English II class takes the same assessment. The other 10 percent will be the final exam or second quarter common assessment. In the spring semester, 10 percent of the final exam category is the English II End-of-Course Exam from the State of Missouri. The final exam administered during finals week will comprise the other 10 percent.
**Please feel free to keep track of your son/daughter's grade on Infinite Campus, as I update grades at least once a week. If you do not have a username for Infinite Campus, please contact the high school office.**
HHS Grading Scale
A……………100-90
B……………...89-80
C……………...79-70
D……………...69-60
F……………...59-0
Extra Help:
Tutoring is available after school Monday through Friday. Please see the tutoring schedule located outside every language arts teacher’s door. Failure to complete assignments will result in a mandatory homework lab assigned by the teacher. Failure to attend will result in one day in school suspension.
Some of the selections deal with mature themes and use “mature” language. We have chosen these works because we feel they make valuable contributions to literature and can help students interpret the connections between literature and real life. Please encourage your parents to read these selections along with you. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the teacher.
Works to be Read:
During the course of the semester the following materials (as well as others not listed) may be read:
Collection 1:
“Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket”
“The Pedestrian”
“Double Daddy”
“Diary of a Mad Blender”
“The Child’s View of Working Parents”
Collection 2:
“Everyday Use”
“Two Kinds”
Collection 4:
“And of Clay We Are Created”
“The Man in the Water”
“If Decency Doesn’t, Law Should Make
Us Good Samaritans”
“Good Samaritans U.S.A. Are Afraid to
Act”
Collection 5:
“Lamb to the Slaughter”
“Into Thin Air”
“Explorers Say There’s Still Lots to
Look For”
Collection 6:
“Through the Tunnel”
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy
Evening”
The Novel: To Kill a Mockingbird or Ender’s Game
English II A/B Teacher contact information:
Mrs. Gillespie Mrs. Wathen
gillespie_stephanie@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us wathen_stephanie@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us
636-789-0010, ext. 1202 636-789-0010, ext. 1206
Ms. Thurman Mrs. Dix
thurman_angie@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us dix_stephanie@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us
636-789-0010, ext. 1207 636-789-0010, ext. 1109
The best way to contact me is via e-mail. If you do not have access to e-mail, you may call my extension and leave a message. It may take a day or two for me to return your call, so please be patient. I do care about you and your student and I want to communicate with you as often as my schedule permits.
Please print clearly.
Student name ______________________________________________________ Hour _______
After reading the course syllabus, please sign below and return this sheet to me.
Both of these assignments will be a Workplace Readiness grade for your student.
Please print the following information for me:
Parent name: _____________________________________________________
E-mail address: ___________________________________________________
Cell phone number: ________________________________________________
Home number: ____________________________________________________
______________________ _________ ___________________ _______
Student Signature Date Parent Signature Date
Please cut and save the contact information below:
________________________________________________________________________
Mrs. Gillespie
gillespie_stephanie@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us
636-789-0010, ext. 1202
Many resources and materials are available on my web site. I will continue to update it throughout the school year:
http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/SGillespie/
Please use Infinite Campus to keep up-to-date with your student’s progress in English II. We are preparing for the End-of-Course Exam.
The best way to contact me is via e-mail. If you do not have access to e-mail, you may call my extension and leave a message. It may take a day or two for me to return your call, so please be patient. I do care about you and your student and I want to communicate with you as often as my schedule permits.
