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English 10 Syllabus

2008-2009

Julie Larsen

Email:  larsenj@issaquah.wednet.edu (school) or julielarsen2@hotmail.com (home)

Office Phone: 425-837-4838         Home Phone: 253-638-1305 (ok to call before 9 pm)

Website:  www.liberty.issaquah.wednet.edu/teachers/larsenj

About the Course

Welcome to English 10!  This course will further emphasize the development of skills in writing, reading, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation, and critical thinking.  You will need these skill-sets for future courses in English, the Humanities and beyond.  This year you will read works from a variety of European authors. In the spring, you will take an important test called the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning). Throughout the year, we will work to prepare you for the writing and reading sections of the test. Get ready to work hard and have fun. Your other teachers and I are here to work with you and help you on the road to success.  Please feel free to talk with me about any concerns or questions that you may have.  Again, welcome to English 10!

Learner Outcomes

This year you will:

• Learn about world famous authors and read their works so you can grow both intellectually and culturally. 
• Participate in meaningful class discussions and function effectively as part of a team.
• Write thoughtful multi-paragraph essays about the writers and themes presented in our units of study thereby demonstrating mastery of reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and the ability to make connections between the things you read and your own life.
• Learn and use time management and organizational skills needed for increased success in all of your classes.
• Study, practice, and apply proper writing conventions in all tests and assignments (a.k.a. spelling, grammar, and punctuation counts).

Grading Scale

Your grade is based on the number of points you earn out of the total number of points possible.  For example, if the total number of points for a quarter is 1000, and you earn 900 points, then your grade would be a 90%.

93-100  A              87-89  B+              77-79  C+              67-69  D+   

90-92   A-             83-86  B               73-76  C               63-66  D       

                             80-82  B-              70-72  C-              58-62  D-      

(anything less than a 58% is an F)

Extra Credit

          You will be given numerous opportunities to earn extra credit points.  However, no more that 5% of your overall grade can be earned through extra credit. 

Class Expectations

Students who wish to be successful will:

• Participate:  positively contribute to oral discussions (sharing opinions and/ or asking questions), stay on task throughout the class period, and follow the classroom rules.
• Be Organized and Prepared: keep your planner up-to-date; organize your handouts, etc in a binder; complete your homework on time with a high degree of quality; come to class on time; head your papers with your first and last name, period, date, and title of the assignment. 

·        Follow the Classroom Rules: treat others with respect and kindness; be a courteous listener; don’t eat food during class (drinks in closed containers are allowed); keep your cell phone turned off and put away; keep your ipod/ headphones turned off and put away unless you have quiet working time

Hall Passes

Students may only leave the class with instructor permission.  You must sign out, take a hall pass with you, and return within 7 minutes.  If you have to be gone more than 7 minutes (to go to the health room, etc) you must bring back a signed pass.  Please be considerate of other classmates. Other students may be waiting on you to return before they are allowed to depart.  If you abuse the hall pass privilege, expect to have the right to leave class restricted or revoked.

Absences

When you are absent:

• Make sure your absence is excused through the attendance office.  You cannot make up and will receive a score of zero on any work (including quizzes and tests) you missed for an unexcused absence.
• Check the published schedule and website to see what assignments were assigned or completed that day
• Check with me BEFORE or AFTER school (not during or right before class) to clarify any missing assignments
• Remember, if you are more than twenty minutes late to class, it counts as an absence.

Excused Absences:  Any work due the day you were gone must be turned in the day you return or it will be marked late.  It is your job to remember to turn it in (and to check with me immediately about work you missed while you were gone).  Any work that was assigned in class on the day you were absent is due the class period after you return, unless you are otherwise informed.  Remember Liberty’s policy—after seven absences, you lose class credit.

Unexcused Absences:  You may not make up any work missed during an unexcused absence or tardy.  This includes quizzes and tests.  Any work due on the day of your unexcused absence that is turned in the next class period will be marked late.

Prolonged Absence: In cases of long-term absence and family emergencies, you and I will work out a reasonable timeline of due dates for assignments.

Late Work

          All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the announced due date, unless otherwise stated.  If an assignment is not handed in by the deadline, then it is considered late and 25% of its total value will be deducted from your score.  Once the semester is over, no assignments will be accepted.

Amnesty Cards

Everyone forgets to turn in an assignment, occasionally. You will get one amnesty card for each semester. An amnesty card allows you to turn in one late assignment. You can turn in any unused amnesty cards for five extra credit points at the end of either semester. Note: the amnesty cards don’t excuse you from completing the assignments. They allow you to hand it in late and still earn up to full credit if it is quality work.  

Basic Academic Integrity/Honesty Policy

          A student shall not attempt to earn credit or receive a grade for coursework (tests, quizzes, assignments, projects, essays) in a manner other than defined as acceptable by each instructor.  

Academic Integrity violations include, but are not limited to:

·    Plagiarizing or submitting any part of another person’s work as representing ones’ own scholarship

·    Collusion – supporting the lack of integrity/honesty by another student, as in allowing one’s work to be copied or submitted for assessment by another.

·    Technology Malpractice – any misuse or abuse of private or public technology in relation to grades or in acquiring an academic advantage, including cell phone messaging or picture transmission.

Consequences for Violation of Academic Integrity/Honesty include, but are not limited to:

·        failing grade for the assignment/ test/project,

·        possible short-term suspension,

·        parent contact

Course Units

·        Writing Units:  At least two multi-paragraph essays; Expository essays and Persuasive essays for WASL prep; a 3-4 page Research paper (possibly)

·        Required Reading:  Night (Elie Wiesel); Lord of the Flies (William Golding);  Macbeth (William Shakespeare); Elements of Literature: Literature of the United States (Fourth Course)

·        Addition Unit Possibilities:  Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens);  1984 (George Orwell);  All Quiet on the Western Front (Erich Maria Remarque)

Tips for Academic Success

1.   Set goals and design a plan that will help you accomplish your goals.

2. Be organized and use your planners- writing down assignments, tests, and school events will help you to adjust to the alternating schedule at Liberty.

3. Complete your homework on time and come to class with your questions, thoughts and opinions.  Be ready to participate.

4. Use the time provided in class to work on your assignments.

5. If you have questions, set up a time to discuss grading with me outside of class time.

~ I’m looking forward to working with all of you this year.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns! ~