Course Description:
This course will help students improve reading and writing skills through a variety of texts. Students will be expected to read various genres of literature: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In addition to reading literature, students will improve their writing skills by concentrating on correct grammar usage, sentence structure, and paragraph structure.
Course Standards: *All the following are from the new Common Core Standards (reading, language, and writing) and correspond to the College and Career Readiness (CCR) anchor standards adopted by the state of Kansas.
Course Expectations:
Credits:
English I is a two-semester course (1/2 credit per semester). This course is required in order to graduate from high school. Grades will be an accumulation of each six-week’s grades in addition to a final exam. Each six weeks will be worth 30% of the final grade with the other 10% of the grade coming from the final examination at the end of each semester.
Work Policy:
All assignments are expected to be turned in on time and complete. Reassigned work must be completed or revised before the test over the material in order for the student to receive up to 70% credit. Late assignments will be worth 50% of points earned. Parents/guardians will be notified in advance of the assignment to the After School Program.
Tardy Policy:
See student handbook for school tardy policy.
Required Texts:
Elements of Literature, Fourth Course
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
Night by Elie Weisel
Plagiarism:
The sharing of homework assignments, cheating during an exam, or submitting someone else’s work on a composition will NOT be tolerated. If you are caught engaging in any one of the above acts, it could result in a zero (0) for that assignment or exam AND you will not be allowed to make up the work. This applies to both individuals involved! Plagiarism is also considered taking more than three words in succession, following the organizational or thought pattern of someone else, or taking work from other students or electronic/printed sources.
Required Materials for English 1:
Late Work Policy:
Students should develop the habit of meeting deadlines. Late work will be accepted for half credit only until the end of the six weeks. However, major projects will not be accepted late. Not turning work in at all is the quickest way to fail!
After School Program:
The Freshman Academy After School Program will provide academic assistance for students needing additional support. Students may voluntarily seek this assistance or they may be assigned at the request of the parent, teacher, counselor, or administrator. Attendance is mandatory is assigned. The same attendance and discipline policies that govern students during the regular school day will be in effect during program time. Students will attend assigned time until they have completed all assigned work. After School Program will provide a teacher from English, math, and science after school from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week.
Before School and After School Hours:
I will be in the building by 7:40 a.m. each morning and remain at school until at least 5 p.m. each afternoon. This may fluctuate a little at times during the semester, but if you need to visit with me or catch up on missing homework then before school or after school is the time to do that.
Additional Notes:
This course will help students improve reading and writing skills through a variety of texts. Students will be expected to read various genres of literature: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In addition to reading literature, students will improve their writing skills by concentrating on correct grammar usage, sentence structure, and paragraph structure.
Course Standards: *All the following are from the new Common Core Standards (reading, language, and writing) and correspond to the College and Career Readiness (CCR) anchor standards adopted by the state of Kansas.
- Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it.
- Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
- Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
- Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
- Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text relate to each other and the whole.
- Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
- Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually as well as in words.
- Explain and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text.
- Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the author takes.
- Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and competently.
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- Demonstrate understanding of figurative language and word relationships.
- Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
- Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
- Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focus questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
- Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Course Expectations:
- Use class time effectively and productively.
- Complete all major and minor assignments in order to receive credit for the course.
- Work cooperatively.
- Be respectful of other students as well as the teacher.
- Participate, participate, participate.
Credits:
English I is a two-semester course (1/2 credit per semester). This course is required in order to graduate from high school. Grades will be an accumulation of each six-week’s grades in addition to a final exam. Each six weeks will be worth 30% of the final grade with the other 10% of the grade coming from the final examination at the end of each semester.
Work Policy:
All assignments are expected to be turned in on time and complete. Reassigned work must be completed or revised before the test over the material in order for the student to receive up to 70% credit. Late assignments will be worth 50% of points earned. Parents/guardians will be notified in advance of the assignment to the After School Program.
Tardy Policy:
See student handbook for school tardy policy.
Required Texts:
Elements of Literature, Fourth Course
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
Night by Elie Weisel
Plagiarism:
The sharing of homework assignments, cheating during an exam, or submitting someone else’s work on a composition will NOT be tolerated. If you are caught engaging in any one of the above acts, it could result in a zero (0) for that assignment or exam AND you will not be allowed to make up the work. This applies to both individuals involved! Plagiarism is also considered taking more than three words in succession, following the organizational or thought pattern of someone else, or taking work from other students or electronic/printed sources.
Required Materials for English 1:
- Pencil
- Blue or Black ink pen
- Highlighters
- Post-It Notes
- Notecards
- Loose leaf paper
Late Work Policy:
Students should develop the habit of meeting deadlines. Late work will be accepted for half credit only until the end of the six weeks. However, major projects will not be accepted late. Not turning work in at all is the quickest way to fail!
After School Program:
The Freshman Academy After School Program will provide academic assistance for students needing additional support. Students may voluntarily seek this assistance or they may be assigned at the request of the parent, teacher, counselor, or administrator. Attendance is mandatory is assigned. The same attendance and discipline policies that govern students during the regular school day will be in effect during program time. Students will attend assigned time until they have completed all assigned work. After School Program will provide a teacher from English, math, and science after school from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week.
Before School and After School Hours:
I will be in the building by 7:40 a.m. each morning and remain at school until at least 5 p.m. each afternoon. This may fluctuate a little at times during the semester, but if you need to visit with me or catch up on missing homework then before school or after school is the time to do that.
Additional Notes:
- Students will not be allowed a restroom pass during the first ten (10) minutes of class or the last ten (10) minutes of class. Please take care of this during the five-minute passing period.
- Students will not be allowed to leave the classroom without a signed agenda. No planner, no pass, don’t ask!
- Bottled beverages (water and PowerAde) are the only things allowed in the classroom. Sonic drinks, McDonald’s coffee (or something comparable), snack food, etc. will not be allowed in the classroom. If a student brings one to class it must immediately be thrown away. This is a distraction to other students as well as the teacher.
- If you miss a day of class, don’t ask if we did anything. Of course we did something!