ENGLISH 11 Honors

Mrs. Wilding

 

Welcome to the world of communication.  This year we will apply reading strategies to understand what applies to us and to our world in such novels as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Crucible, and The Great Gatsby.  Book reports each term will additionally expand your understanding and appreciation of specific American authors and their novels.  Writing skills, in accordance with the six writing traits, will improve various types of writing samples.  Vocabulary and grammar principles will be a daily asset in such improvement.  In the overall view of this year, we’re going to have a blast learning those skills necessary to become better Americans!

 

Throughout the year you will be reading several materials about and by a classical American author of your choice.  Please now that a significant amount of learning in the class weighs upon your keeping up with the reading and the assignments.  The author will be chosen from such as: Ernest Hemingway, Willa Cather, Mark Twain, Stephen Crane, Herman Melville, and Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Signups will be first come, first serve on the second day of class, beginning with the front row!

 

MATERIALS

Now that you know what to expect, let me tell you what I expect from you.  Daily, you will need:

v      a pen or pencil—please only black or blue ink.

v      a three-ring binder with a section for your notes, and lots of loose-leaf paper

v      a writing journal of your selection (no smaller than 4”x6”)

 

POLICIES

Attendance is vital to student learning.  I wholeheartedly support the school attendance policy.  Participation points (10) are earned each day.  Tardies will subtract 5 of those participation points, regardless of how late you are.  Late tardies and absences will subtract all of those points, which cannot be made up, although you are still responsible for the work you missed.  Made up tardies and absences from ARC does not make up participation points.  For school excused absences, the participation points will be renewed once you have made up the work.  LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED.  You will know the deadline for the assignment ahead of time and I expect you to be responsible enough to organize your time and to make to proper arrangements to get your assignment to me. 

 

Distractions are not tolerated.  Cell phones, palm pilots, CD players, pictures, and cosmetics should be left in student backpacks in the back of the classroom.  Nuisance items will be confiscated until your parent comes to pick it up during a non-teaching time.  Only the materials required for the day should be at the your desks.  If you are concerned about valuables, don’t bring them into the classroom.  Hall passes will be handed out at the beginning of the term and can be turned in at the end of the term for 10 extra credit points.

 

The students at Timpanogos High School are the best students with which I have ever had the pleasure of association.  Thus, I honor you and expect the very best in quality work and in behavior.  Mutual trust and respect in the learning environment are crucial to our success.  Please know such expectations and, if necessary, raise yourself to the occasion.

 

GRADING

Remember that LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED.  If it is not already in my hands by the deadline, it cannot be turned in.  In an effort of understanding and mercy, I do offer slacker passes at the beginning of each turn.  They will enable you to turn in ONE assignment per term one calendar week late.  (I.e., If the assignment is due on a Tuesday, the assignment with slacker pass should be turned in by the next Tuesday, whether B day or A day.

 

Grading Scale:

A             95-100

A-           90-94

B+          85-89

B             80-84

C+          75-79

C             70-74

F             0-69

 

Please note that there is no D grade.  Quality work is expected!

 

Extra credit is exactly what it says, “extra.”  I rarely give extra credit opportunities besides awarding students who purchase their own copies of the novels we read and make copious notes and marginalia therein. 


Grades are on a point system, with no extra weight attached to any assignment.  The following will give you an idea of what assignments are worth what:

            Level 3 Papers, including book reports                 at least 100 points

            Writing Journal checks                                        10 points per entry

            Level 2 assignments, homework                          25-50 points

 

COMMUNICATION

Communication is key to success.  I am available before and after school.  Parents, please arrange a time with me if you would like to talk.  The school phone number is 223-3120, my extension 117.  The easiest way to contact me is via email, wilding@alpine.k12.ut.us.  I also suggest that, if you use email, you give me an address where I can reach you to communicate any information.  I often send emails with updates on class work.  If you feel such contact is too personal, I respect your wishes.  Now, questions?  Comments?  Compliments?  Animadversions?  Great!  Let’s get going!

 

 

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Please sign, detach and turn in by Friday, August 25th (A day)/Monday, August 26th (B day).

 

Student name (printed):  _________________________________________

 

Parent phone number:  ______________________________

 

Parent email address:  _________________________________________

 

Student email address:  _______________________________________________

 

Student signature:  _________________________________________

 

Parent signature:  _________________________________________