Syllabus

 
 

Sophomore English – Clackamas High School
Mrs. Barbara Wagner: Wagnerb@nclack.k12.or.us
503-353-5810 xt: 38162

Course Objectives
Improve your skills in the area of reading, writing, discussion, questioning, and grammar. We will be reading novels, short stories, essays, poetry, as well as viewing some films. We will work on writing through Writer’s Workshop as well as bi-weekly literary reflection papers. You will write a minimum of four CIM-scored papers throughout the year, and maintain a Writing Portfolio. You will be required to attempt one piece for publication in a literary magazine or by entering writing contests. The main focus of the course will be exploring man’s place in society.

Text: Elements of Literature: Fourth Course. Austin: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston, 2000.

The following are the novels we will be reading based on availability. See hard copy handout for descriptions.

Sept./Oct. : Lord of the Flies
Golding, William

November: Separate Peace, A
Knowles, John

December: Antigone
Sophocles

January: Ricochet River
Cody, Robin


February: Tale of Two Cities, A
Dickens, Charles

March: Literature Circles with the following potential novel choices:

Anthem
Rand, Ayn

We
Zamyatin

Handmaid’s Tale
Margaret Atwood

Brave New World
Huxley, Aldous

Fahrenheit 451
Bradbury, Ray

April/May
Choice books on the Holocaust.

* All novels subject to change based on availability.


Notice: Students and parents have the right to request a substitute for any piece of literature they find objectionable. Please sign below and return this form to me if you have any questions about the use of a book.

Book Title: ______________________________________________________

Parent’s Name: ________________________ Phone: ___________________

Student’s Name: _________________________________________________

E-mail Address (print clearly): _____________________________________

Policies:

Attendance
1. Come to class every day with a great attitude. This class in based on activities that cannot be made-up.
2. It is your responsibility to find out from a classmate what you missed - questions will be clarified by the instructor. Check Handout Drawer for any missed handouts during the week.
3. Work that was due the day of the absence will not receive additional make-up days. Long-term projects will also not receive additional time.
4. I will personally contact your parent after 3, 5 and 8 absences or chronic tardies.

Late Work
1. Assignments are due when called for in class.
2. If a student submits an assignment late, Mrs. Wagner will save it until the end of the semester. The student’s final letter grade may be raised one level (a C to a B, for instance) if warranted. There will be a due process review of any student who has chosen to submit work late. Work submitted late will not be responded to or graded.
3. There will be no opportunity to make up work for an unexcused absence.
4. Long-range projects and assignments are due on the assigned date regardless of absence. Exception may be made when a parent or a guardian personally contacts me.

Grading/Evaluation
1. Formal essays will be evaluated according to the CIM Writing Traits Scoring Guide (Conventions, Sentence Fluency, Voice, Ideas and Content, Organization, and Word Choice) or a similar rubric and holistically. Grades will be based on formal and informal essays (this is the largest portion of the final grade), tests, quizzes, oral participation, presentations, and supplemental reading. I do not offer extra credit. However, I do allow opportunities to rewrite some formal essays. The process for rewrites and final grades on essays will be laid out for each specific essay.

2. Percentages are converted to letter grades based on the following scale:

90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
0% - 59% = F

3. Grades will be posted every two weeks on ESIS. Hard copies may be obtained if you do not have access to Internet.
4. Assignments, calendar due dates, requirements, etc. may be found on my website. Check often. http://poster.4teachers.org/worksheet/view.php?id=122086&page=1 or you can access through CHS Teacher Website.




Plagiarism
Plagiarism or cheating includes giving or receiving information during a test, copying others’ work, and passing off others’ work as your own by failing to cite sources, properly quote, etc. Any student who plagiarizes or otherwise cheats on an assignment automatically receives a zero for all work associated with that assignment with no opportunity to make up the assignment. A second offense will result in a lowered grade or course failure along with disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the teacher and the high school administration. Above all, be honest. Please, see me if you have questions or concerns about plagiarism. This will be discussed in class.

Vocabulary Test Prep Books
This school year, your student will be participating in a SAT vocabulary preparation program. This program will consist of various activities, exams, and vocabulary words that will appear on the SAT. Each student is required to purchase his or her own workbook; because all students are required to complete their own work, students are not able to use books from previous CHS English students. The book is called: Vocabulary Power Plus for the New SAT: Vocabulary, Reading, and Writing Exercises for High Scores, by Prestwick House Publishing. You may purchase this book at the Clackamas High School Bookkeeper’s office for $9.00. Please make checks out to Clackamas High. If for any reason it is not feasible for your family to make this purchase, please let Mrs.Wagner know by Tuesday, September 9.
Each student is required to have this book in class on the following dates:
Day 1: Thursday, September 11
Day 2: Friday, September 12

English 10: Book Two (Blue)



Communication
Students and parents are encouraged to contact me with any questions or concerns throughout the year. I am willing to help and can do so best when issues are addressed early on. Be your own self-advocate and keep me informed! My website is a great way to stay informed about assignments and due dates. I will send out periodic broadcast emails alerting you to tests and/or important due dates.

Mrs. Wagner’s contact info: Located in the 100 pod; Phone: 503.353.5810 ext. 38162;
e-mail: wagnerb@nclack.k12.or.us.

Please keep all above pages, but detach this one and return it to Mrs. Wagner.
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I understand and I will abide by Mrs. Wagner’s classroom rules and expectations:


________________________________ ________________________________
Student Name (printed) Parent Name(s)

________________________________ ________________________________
Student Signature Date Parent signature

_____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Parent Email *

* Please indicate if you prefer not to receive broadcast emails.


My student DOES DOES NOT have access to the internet and computer use.



 


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