Syllabus
Course Syllabus: English IV 2015-16
Ms. Rochelle Stanley [email protected]
Room 6101 980-343-6450
Course Overview
As a student in English IV, you will develop and hone reading, writing and research skills in a setting that prepares you for a freshman-level writing course in college while fulfilling state requirements for completion of the course. The course will introduce you to a deep study of fiction, drama, and poetry. You will learn to interpret and evaluate literature by critically analyzing a work’s structure, style, and theme, while evaluating the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, diction and tone. English IV Honor students will also complete an independent novel study and project(s). They will critique their peers and present lengthier oral presentations.
During the semester, you will build a foundation of skills that may be applied to all forms of literature. You will learn to analyze for meaning, style, diction, syntax, point of view, tone, setting, plot and literary devices. In addition, you will complete the personal essay and college/career readiness project, as well as the speech, service learning experience and portfolio portions of your Graduation Project.
Objectives and Skills
Reading
This course emphasizes the reading and analysis of non-fiction and imaginative literature, including fiction (novels and short stories), drama and poetry. You will need to become familiar with the forms, techniques, and terminology used in these genres in preparation for college and/or a career.
Writing
You will learn to write at an academic and professional level appropriate for college and beyond. Writing assignments will include in-class informal responses, timed writing assignments, and formal papers. For the latter, you will create drafts of each paper, incorporating feedback from peers and the teacher. All final drafts will be evaluated using a writing rubric.
Emphasis will be on the mastery of standard written English and development of a sophisticated writing style. This includes:
Research
You will conduct outside research in order to enhance your Graduation Project presentation as well as to add outside perspectives to your formal analysis papers.
Speaking and Listening
You will be expected to participate in large group and small group discussions, initiate and participate in student-directed instruction and make oral presentations, especially in preparation for the Graduation Project.
Methods
Exams
Students enrolled in English IV are expected to take the end of year district exam at the end of the semester. In addition, you will take common assessments, a midterm, and complete the senior exit presentation during the semester; these scores will contribute to your final grade for the course.
Grading
Grading Scale: A: 90-100 B: 89-80 C: 79-70 D: 69-60 F: Below 60
Per CMS policy, grades are weighted as follows:
Formal assessments: (papers/tests/projects) 70%
Informal assessments: (quizzes/homework/classwork) 30%
Formal Papers
When assigned, you will read five poems on your own time. You will choose one of these poems to respond to in your writers/day book. Your response will include your personal reaction to and reflection on the poem’s meaning. It will be at least one page, handwritten, in length.
Multiple Choice Drills
Multiple choice drills include a passage and set of questions culled from previous reading comprehension exams. They will offer you a chance to track your progress in a timed setting. Grades will be based upon completion. Incomplete or missed drills will result in a zero until they are completed after school.
Homework Grades
Much of your homework will revolve around independent reading in order to prepare for class discussions. It may result in a pop quiz. Some assignments will be graded on a check scale and will have one of the following marks:
Mark Explanation
√+ The assignment was exceptional (exceeds expectations). You earned a grade of 100.
√ The assignment was satisfactory (meets expectation). You earned an 80.
√- The assignment was completed with minimal effort (weak, misses meeting expectation). You earned a 70.
Late The assignment was handed in late. You earned a 50.
0 The assignment was not handed in.
Missed Tests and Quizzes
If you are absent on the day a test or quiz is administered, you have 5 school days (not class periods) to make the test up without it impacting your grade. After that, you will earn a zero until it is completed. Tests or quizzes not made up by the end of the marking period will receive permanent zeros. You must take responsibility for making up missing assignments.
Plagiarism
Student work that is plagiarized, whether copied from a researched source without citation or copied from another student, will receive a grade of 0 for the first offense. Second offenses will be referred to administration.
Texts/Supplies
Students must come to class each day with a three-ring binder organized with dividers, notebook paper and a pen or pencil. Recommended items include:
Graduation Project
All seniors are required to complete the Graduation Project. Some class time will be devoted to developing the portfolio, product, and oral presentation; however, most of the work will be completed independently. Students will present their projects near the end of the second or fourth quarter. It is worth 20 percent of your quarter grade.
Learning Expectations
You are required to master the objectives in order to pass this course. Since we each learn in different ways and at different rates, I will support you in ways that work for you. I do not expect everyone to learn an objective by the same date, so there will be many assessment opportunities to help you be successful.
Quality Expectations
Just as in the world of work, there are standards for work to be considered neat and complete. If your work does not meet the standard when you submit it, you will be expected to revise it until it does.
Behavior
I respect my students and I expect my students to do the same. Disrespectful behavior, including profanity, bullying, destruction of property and disruptiveness, is not acceptable. Cell phones/Personal Technology Devices (PTDs), are to be used for instructional purposes only and with teacher permission/directive. Consequences for negative behavior are as follows:
Attendance, Tardies and Recovery
According to North Carolina law, students may miss no more than 10 days of school. Students who are absent more than 10 days must recover those days after school. Students who arrive to class after the bell will report to the cafeteria to receive a tardy pass and consequence. Students will not be admitted without a pass or staff escort. Also, students may not leave pass during the first and last 15 minutes of class and without an escort.
Tutorials
It is my mission to do everything possible to make each student succeed. Those who need extra help may request it by appointment. Tutorials may also serve as recovery.
Photograph & Video Release
I hereby grant permission to the rights of my image, likeness and sound of my voice as recorded on audio or video tape without payment or any other consideration for Garinger High School. I understand that my image may be edited, copied, exhibited, published or distributed and waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product wherein my likeness appears. Additionally, I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising or related to the use of my image or recording. I also understand that this material may be used in diverse educational settings within an unrestricted geographic area.
Photographic, audio or video recordings may be used for the following purposes:
By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the expectations and requirements for English IV as outlined in the course syllabus; as well as, the above photo release and agree to be bound thereby. I hereby release any and all claims against any person or organization utilizing this material for educational purposes
Print student name:______________________________________________________
Student signature:_______________________________________________________
Print parent(s) name:_____________________________________________________
Parent(s) signature: _____________________________________________________
Street Address/P.O. Box________________________________________
City ________________________________________________________
Prov/Postal Code/Zip Code______________________________________
Parent(s) phone number:________________
Parent email address:__________________________________
Date:_______________________________________________
Ms. Rochelle Stanley [email protected]
Room 6101 980-343-6450
Course Overview
As a student in English IV, you will develop and hone reading, writing and research skills in a setting that prepares you for a freshman-level writing course in college while fulfilling state requirements for completion of the course. The course will introduce you to a deep study of fiction, drama, and poetry. You will learn to interpret and evaluate literature by critically analyzing a work’s structure, style, and theme, while evaluating the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, diction and tone. English IV Honor students will also complete an independent novel study and project(s). They will critique their peers and present lengthier oral presentations.
During the semester, you will build a foundation of skills that may be applied to all forms of literature. You will learn to analyze for meaning, style, diction, syntax, point of view, tone, setting, plot and literary devices. In addition, you will complete the personal essay and college/career readiness project, as well as the speech, service learning experience and portfolio portions of your Graduation Project.
Objectives and Skills
Reading
This course emphasizes the reading and analysis of non-fiction and imaginative literature, including fiction (novels and short stories), drama and poetry. You will need to become familiar with the forms, techniques, and terminology used in these genres in preparation for college and/or a career.
Writing
You will learn to write at an academic and professional level appropriate for college and beyond. Writing assignments will include in-class informal responses, timed writing assignments, and formal papers. For the latter, you will create drafts of each paper, incorporating feedback from peers and the teacher. All final drafts will be evaluated using a writing rubric.
Emphasis will be on the mastery of standard written English and development of a sophisticated writing style. This includes:
- developing a wide-range of vocabulary;
- varying sentence structure , including appropriate use of subordinate and coordinate constructions;
- effectively using rhetoric, controlling tone, maintaining a consistent voice, and achieving emphasis through parallelism; and using the writing process.
Research
You will conduct outside research in order to enhance your Graduation Project presentation as well as to add outside perspectives to your formal analysis papers.
Speaking and Listening
You will be expected to participate in large group and small group discussions, initiate and participate in student-directed instruction and make oral presentations, especially in preparation for the Graduation Project.
Methods
- Socratic seminars/ Literature Circles/ Group paraphrasing
- Group analysis, deconstructing, and evaluating multiple choice responses
- Major writing assignments: timed writing, literary analysis, poetic comparison essays, critical responses, reflective responses and research presentations
- Peer-editing
Exams
Students enrolled in English IV are expected to take the end of year district exam at the end of the semester. In addition, you will take common assessments, a midterm, and complete the senior exit presentation during the semester; these scores will contribute to your final grade for the course.
Grading
Grading Scale: A: 90-100 B: 89-80 C: 79-70 D: 69-60 F: Below 60
Per CMS policy, grades are weighted as follows:
Formal assessments: (papers/tests/projects) 70%
Informal assessments: (quizzes/homework/classwork) 30%
Formal Papers
- A major focus of writing in English IV will be on the writing process of invention, drafting and revising. For every formal paper, you will submit a rough draft to receive teacher feedback and a peer evaluation. Your final submission usually will be evaluated using the given writing rubric.
- All formal papers must be typed in 12 pt. Times New Roman font and double-spaced. The use of quotations, MLA format of introducing quotations and internal citations is required in some cases.
- Papers must be submitted during the class period due. Late papers – no matter the reason (computer failure, etc.) will be penalized 10 points per day, even if they are only one period late. Make arrangements in advance if you have extenuating circumstances. However, as long as a paper is completed (and contains quality work) before the end of the marking period, it will receive a passing grade.
When assigned, you will read five poems on your own time. You will choose one of these poems to respond to in your writers/day book. Your response will include your personal reaction to and reflection on the poem’s meaning. It will be at least one page, handwritten, in length.
Multiple Choice Drills
Multiple choice drills include a passage and set of questions culled from previous reading comprehension exams. They will offer you a chance to track your progress in a timed setting. Grades will be based upon completion. Incomplete or missed drills will result in a zero until they are completed after school.
Homework Grades
Much of your homework will revolve around independent reading in order to prepare for class discussions. It may result in a pop quiz. Some assignments will be graded on a check scale and will have one of the following marks:
Mark Explanation
√+ The assignment was exceptional (exceeds expectations). You earned a grade of 100.
√ The assignment was satisfactory (meets expectation). You earned an 80.
√- The assignment was completed with minimal effort (weak, misses meeting expectation). You earned a 70.
Late The assignment was handed in late. You earned a 50.
0 The assignment was not handed in.
Missed Tests and Quizzes
If you are absent on the day a test or quiz is administered, you have 5 school days (not class periods) to make the test up without it impacting your grade. After that, you will earn a zero until it is completed. Tests or quizzes not made up by the end of the marking period will receive permanent zeros. You must take responsibility for making up missing assignments.
Plagiarism
Student work that is plagiarized, whether copied from a researched source without citation or copied from another student, will receive a grade of 0 for the first offense. Second offenses will be referred to administration.
Texts/Supplies
Students must come to class each day with a three-ring binder organized with dividers, notebook paper and a pen or pencil. Recommended items include:
- Highlighters
- Sticky notes
- Gmail address (first /last name)
- Composition Notebook
- USBs are not allowed!!!!
Graduation Project
All seniors are required to complete the Graduation Project. Some class time will be devoted to developing the portfolio, product, and oral presentation; however, most of the work will be completed independently. Students will present their projects near the end of the second or fourth quarter. It is worth 20 percent of your quarter grade.
Learning Expectations
You are required to master the objectives in order to pass this course. Since we each learn in different ways and at different rates, I will support you in ways that work for you. I do not expect everyone to learn an objective by the same date, so there will be many assessment opportunities to help you be successful.
Quality Expectations
Just as in the world of work, there are standards for work to be considered neat and complete. If your work does not meet the standard when you submit it, you will be expected to revise it until it does.
Behavior
I respect my students and I expect my students to do the same. Disrespectful behavior, including profanity, bullying, destruction of property and disruptiveness, is not acceptable. Cell phones/Personal Technology Devices (PTDs), are to be used for instructional purposes only and with teacher permission/directive. Consequences for negative behavior are as follows:
- Warning
- Intervention
- Parent contact
- Referral
Attendance, Tardies and Recovery
According to North Carolina law, students may miss no more than 10 days of school. Students who are absent more than 10 days must recover those days after school. Students who arrive to class after the bell will report to the cafeteria to receive a tardy pass and consequence. Students will not be admitted without a pass or staff escort. Also, students may not leave pass during the first and last 15 minutes of class and without an escort.
Tutorials
It is my mission to do everything possible to make each student succeed. Those who need extra help may request it by appointment. Tutorials may also serve as recovery.
Photograph & Video Release
I hereby grant permission to the rights of my image, likeness and sound of my voice as recorded on audio or video tape without payment or any other consideration for Garinger High School. I understand that my image may be edited, copied, exhibited, published or distributed and waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product wherein my likeness appears. Additionally, I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising or related to the use of my image or recording. I also understand that this material may be used in diverse educational settings within an unrestricted geographic area.
Photographic, audio or video recordings may be used for the following purposes:
- conference presentations
- educational presentations or courses
- informational presentations
- on-line educational courses
- educational videos
- Social media sites/channels (Twitter, Instagram,YouTube, Gofundme etc.)
By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the expectations and requirements for English IV as outlined in the course syllabus; as well as, the above photo release and agree to be bound thereby. I hereby release any and all claims against any person or organization utilizing this material for educational purposes
Print student name:______________________________________________________
Student signature:_______________________________________________________
Print parent(s) name:_____________________________________________________
Parent(s) signature: _____________________________________________________
Street Address/P.O. Box________________________________________
City ________________________________________________________
Prov/Postal Code/Zip Code______________________________________
Parent(s) phone number:________________
Parent email address:__________________________________
Date:_______________________________________________