Course Outline: English II, College Preparatory

Ms. Lauder

Sutton Memorial High School Mission Statement

At Sutton High School, we are committed to providing a foundation on which all students have the opportunity to pursue academic excellence and personal development in a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment.

The English Department assumes responsibility for the following SHS Learning Expectations:

The Sutton High School student is an effective communicator.

The Sutton High School student is a critical thinker.

The Sutton High School student works independently.

English Department Course Description: This course reviews and subsequently expands upon the objectives set forth in English I, to help the student refine and develop his/her ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, to think independently, and to read perceptively. The curriculum aligns with the English/Language Arts Curriculum Frameworks and prepares the students for the MCAS test. Students will read, evaluate, and discuss literature in several different genres: short story, essay, biography, poetry, novel, and drama. Students will also receive careful instruction in writing a formal research paper following the guidelines of the Modern Language Association.

What I Expect: Students will be expected to work independently while also participating in the classroom curriculum. This course is an extension of the English I course. The literature that will be used in this course is selected to extend the student’s understanding and appreciation of traditional and contemporary works. Students will be expected to read, write, research, and participate in classroom activities to further their understanding of the English language, to further their mastery of basic writing skills, to develop research skills, and to gain their own insights into the literature being used.

Objectives: The student will:

Ø Read, evaluate, and discuss a variety of literature, identifying the important elements of each piece.

Ø Develop written fluency by writing regularly about personal feelings or experiences and by responding frequently to literature in formal and informal essays.

Ø Increase his/her vocabulary.

Ø Become a better listener and speaker.

Ø Recognize many sources of information available for research and become more proficient in the research process, using library resources and documenting them properly.

Ø Write original expository essays in standard edited English.

Text: Adventures in Appreciation

Areas of Study:

Ø Short story

Ø Drama: Antigone, Julius Caesar, A Raisin in the Sun

Ø The Novel: A Separate Peace, The Pearl, Fahrenheit 451

Ø Nonfiction: Night

Ø Poetry

Ø Research

Ø The Writing Process

Ø Review of grammar, usage, sentence structure, and punctuation as necessary

Ø MCAS Essay review and preparation

**Other areas of study and/or pieces of literature may be introduced throughout the year.

Required Materials:

Ø Pens (black or blue), pencils

Ø Access to a typewriter or computer and printer (computers in the library may be used after school)

Ø Three ring binder, loose-leaf paper

Ø Library access

Ø Pocket folder (as needed for handouts, etc…

**If you have difficulty in obtaining any of these materials, please see me after class by the end of the first week of school.

Reading: The course will include a variety of reading material. Most of the reading will be assigned as homework. It is essential to keep up with reading assignments, so that you will be able to complete other assignments at home or in class. WARNING! You may be quizzed on assigned reading from time to time.

Class Work: As we study various works, and work on writing skills, there will be a wide variety of class work and activities. Our work during class time is meant to increase your understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of everything we do. As mentioned above, the first and most important step in this process is for you to keep up with assigned reading. In addition to the reading, there are other elements that lead to successful use of class time.

Participation: You need to be a part of what’s happening in class everyday, whether working alone or with other students. Your best effort is expected at all times, both for your own benefit and for the class as a whole.

Just a couple of classroom rules:

Ø Be on time and be ready to do work (it can be fun, you know!).

Ø Be in your assigned seat when class begins and remain until class ends or otherwise instructed.

Ø Participate- that way class time will always be productive!

Ø Follow the rules of the school (Rules are Cool!)

Ø Keep this learning environment clean (no food, drinks, or gum).

Ø Be respectful, friendly, and keep a positive attitude.

Ø Pay attention- to the teacher and each other (it’s the best way to learn).

Substitute Teacher: If I am absent, I expect you to behave the way you do with me- on your best behavior, that is. If work is due, you must still turn it in. Work will always be left with the substitute, and I expect that the work will be done in the same productive manner that it is done in when I am there.

Disrespect: Whether you are disrespecting the teacher, your peers, being disruptive during class work, sleeping, interrupting those who are speaking, yelling, using intolerable language (cussing, derogative terms, etc…), talking over announcements, negatively criticizing someone else, or not working productively during group work you may receive detention through me or if necessary, an office detention.

Papers, projects, long-term assignments: Throughout the year there will be a variety of assignments that go along with what we are studying. As much as possible, you will be given a variety of options. Some assignments will include multiple steps and drafts. Make sure to get your work completed on time. Late work will be penalized! Each day that an assignment is late, your work will lose an entire grade. For example, if you have a paper that is worth an 95, but is passed in a day late, it will receive a grade of 85. If you are absent the day a project is due it is due the next day you return!

Test & Quizzes: Tests and quizzes will be a regular part of this class. Tests give you an opportunity to show me what you have learned. Quizzes may be announced or unannounced (‘pop’ quizzes), so be prepared everyday!

Absences & Grading:

Ø If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed, and to do any make-up work that is required of you. You must also remember to turn in any work that was due on the day of your absence. If you do not turn in work that was due the day of your absence (on the day you return) it will not count.

Ø You must make up a test and/or a quiz as soon as possible. You must set a date and time with me, the day you return to school. You should make up the test and/or quiz the day you return to school.

Ø You must make up any homework within 1 day of your absence. This means that the day after your return, missed homework needs to be passed in.

Ø If you are in school or on school property the day an assignment is due, no assignment will be accepted late (i.e., later on that day, at the end of class, etc…)

Ø Homework, group work, tests, quizzes, projects, papers all count as grades. You will be told before each assignment how much that grade will be counted as.

Ø Unless otherwise specified, collected nightly homework assignments will be graded as follows:

o + = 100 in grade book

o √+ = 95 in grade book

o √ = 85 in grade book

o √- = 75 in grade book

o - = 65 in grade book

§ A 65 for a homework assignment is better than a 0.

Ø Other homework will count as done ( ) or not done (/). This means that if I check homework before class begins, I will mark a star or a backslash in my grade book. At the end of each quarter, I will count those for a total “checked” homework grade. For example, if there are 12 total “checked” homework assignments, 12 stars would equal a 100 “checked” homework grade. If you have 10 stars and 2 backslashes you will receive an 83. The formula is the amount of stars divided by the total amount of “checked” homework assignments. (10/12 = 0.833333333)

Continued on the next page.

Ø Quizzes (vocabulary, ‘pop’, etc…) will be counted once in the grade book as a number grade.

Ø Tests (usually at the end of units of study) will be counted twice in the grade book as a number grade.

Ø Papers, projects, and/or group work will be counted three times in the grade book (unless otherwise specified) as a number grade.

Ø If you are on school premises the day an assignment is due, there is no excuse for not passing in that assignment. If you fail to do so, your work will receive a zero!

Ø No extra credit work will be accepted. Extra means in addition to. Without completing all assigned work throughout the year, how could anything less than that be considered ‘extra’???

Ø Everyday you can check schoolnotes.com (under ‘Lauder’ this course’s daily work and assignments will be updated at the end of everyday). Keep up even when you’re out!!

Make sure to pass in all work when it is due. You’ll always receive the grade your work deserves, you’ll never fall behind, you’ll feel good about yourself, and it will give us more time to make learning fun! Complete your make-up work as soon as possible because you don’t want to fall too far behind, and any grade is better than a zero.

An important note about honesty:

Grades are important, but how much can that grade mean when you didn’t really earn it? Make sure to do your own work. Even if you cheat or plagiarize and your work goes undetected, you will know that you cheated, and that only means that you’re cheating yourself. If anyone is caught cheating or plagiarizing, they will receive a zero on that assignment, the office will be notified, and parents/guardians will also be notified. Those are only the first steps with such an offense. Take your learning seriously. Doing it yourself will make you feel that much better at the end of the year! You will be required to sign a form during class after I inform you of what plagiarism includes.

Contact Information: This information is for school purposes ONLY

Ms. Kylie Lauder

Email: bookworm002@hotmail.com

School Phone: 508-581-1640 *4168

Leave a message and I will return your call.

You and your parent must sign the letter you receive on the first day of school. This signed and returned letter will indicate to me that you and your parent/guardian have read and understood this syllabus. It will also indicate to me that your parent/guardian approves of the literature that will be assigned this year as well as give me their contact information.

Other Things to Note:

· An agenda will be written on the board each day outlining the plan for that day’s class period as well as homework.

o Each student is responsible for copying down this calendar in a section of their notebooks designated for these daily agendas. This helps students who were absent find out what they missed by easily asking their neighbors, helps students stay organized, and it also organizes the class period because each student will know what to expect daily.

o At the end of each quarter these agendas will be collected and five random dates will be checked for a quiz grade for that particular quarter (All 5 = 100, 1 missing = 80, 2 missing = 60, and so on).

o Students are responsible for copying down agendas even if they were absent. That’s how they keep track of their missed work.

· Vocabulary quizzes are scheduled on Fridays, unless otherwise specified by the teacher. New words will be given on Mondays or Tuesday, at the latest. If the student can show me flashcards for all words on that particular vocabulary quiz, they will receive a sticker for an extra five points on that quiz. The highest quiz grade equaling 105 for vocabulary quizzes.

· Students need to bring their notebooks and the book under study each and every day. Students must also cover their textbooks.

· Extra Help and Make-ups are set for Wednesday and Thursday (2-2:30 p.m.) and by appointment for the first half of the year. Students will be informed in January of 2007 if these days change. This means that on Wednesday and Thursday I will be here without question until 2:30 (students should still inform me if they intend to come on these days). On other days, the students must set up a time to meet with me.

o If students set up a day and time to stay after school with me to make-up a test/quiz and they do not show, it is an automatic zero.

· Summer Reading Tests will be given at the beginning of the first quarter and will count as tests grades for that particular quarter.

· No student is allowed to take 2 English classes (unless an elective) simultaneously, in one year. This means that if a student fails a required English course, they must attend summer or night school in order to graduate on time.

· Participation counts. Make sure to take part in each in every class period because it can help or hinder your quarter grade.

· Keep all work throughout the year. Cumulative finals are very likely in this course.

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By signing below, you are stating that you have read through and understand Ms. Lauder’s English II College Preparatory syllabus.

Signature:__________________________________________ Date:_____________________