Mrs. Rita Swenson
2006/07
Disclosure Document
English 11
English
Dept. Mission Statement: English
classes at Timpanogos High School will provide relevant English language
opportunities in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and critical thinking
in a student-centered environment in order to prepare students for life.
Course
Description: Junior English is
designed to improve and refine general English skills. The class emphasizes the study and analysis
of a variety of texts, i.e., novels, short stories, essays, and poems, with
American Literature as the focus of the course.
As a course in effective writing, students will write both analytically
and persuasively, demonstrating their ability to think fluently and express
ideas clearly. Grammar and vocabulary
will be integrated into the curriculum as an important component of effective
writing and speaking.
Course
Objectives are
a. to critically
analyze and discuss fiction and non-fiction literary works, including poetry, and to encourage independent,
thoughtful interpretation;
b. to write
clear, unified essays on a variety of topics with an emphasis on
developing a
strong writing style and voice;
c. to foster
and encourage a passion for reading and language; and
d. to skillfully
and artfully use the English language in both its written and spoken f
form.
Texts: Class novels
may be chosen from the following list:
Huckleberry Finn The Good Earth A
Separate Peace
The Crucible My Antonia Buried Onions The Great Gatsby
Prentice
Hall Literature: The American Experience
Materials:
t A separate English notebook
t In your
notebook, plenty of plain looseleaf paper or you may want to purchase a
“neatbook” (the paper tears out cleanly). The papers torn from spiral notebooks
interlock and look sloppy.
t A pocket
dictionary is encouraged. Expanding
students’ vocabulary is a
priority
of mine.
Homework: Homework
will vary in nature and will be given a point value. Junior English students can expect to be
assigned homework on a regular basis and will also be required to read
independently one novel per term.
Extra
credit is not an option because,
philosophically, I do not believe in it.
Please do not ask for additional assignments to compensate for poor
performance on regularly assigned work.
Attendance
and tardies: Students who are
consistently absent and/or tardy, excused or not, miss valuable instruction and
generally do not do well in class.
Tardies are a major disruption to the educational process, and there
exist few legitimate reasons for a tardy.
Accordingly, I fully support the THS Attendance Policy.
Grading: Each graded assignment, essay, test, quiz, etc., will
be given points rather than a letter grade.
Students earn their grades according to the grading scale indicated
below (in percentages):
93-100 = A 73-75
= C
90-92 = A- 70-72 = C-
86-89 = B+ 67-69 = D+
83-85 = B 63-66 = D
80-82 = B- 60-62 = D-
76-79 = C+ 0-59 = F
Graded assignments are
weighted as follows:
Tests,
quizzes, and writing assignments = 90% of the total grade
Participation
(includes in-class group and
individual work and some
non-essay
homework assignments. I also consider a
student’s involvement in class discussions.) = 10% of the total grade
Important note: I set standards that are high but achievable
and hold every student to those standards.
I expect nothing less than full participation and excellent work
(meaning a student’s best effort) all the time and on time. That level of performance deserves an “A”. Anything short of this will be graded
accordingly.
Late Work Policy: No late work is accepted for unexcused
absences. For excused absences, this is
how I handle assigned homework:
1) If a student has an
excused absence on the day an assignment is due, he/she is expected to turn in
the assignment the day he/she returns to class.
2) If a student has an
excused absence on the day an assignment is given, he/she is expected to check
the Make-up Log and see me for any handouts the day he/she returns to class.
3) #1 and 2 also apply to
making up tests and quizzes.
4) If a student is
involved in an assembly, he/she is still responsible for class work that day,
and he/she is expected to come in and see me the day of the assembly.
I
reserve the right to accept NO late work, excused absence or not, for major
assignments where the student has had sufficient advance notice of a due
date. If a student cannot be in class on
the day a major assignment is due, he/she should have someone turn in the
assignment for him/her on that day. I will always inform students if a
particular assignment fits in this category.
Class rules:
· No food or drinks are allowed in the
classroom.
· All students are expected to be in
their assigned seats and ready for work by the time the tardy bell rings. If you are more then 15 min. tardy, you are
marked absent.
· Each student needs to be prepared each
day with his/her English notebook, pen and pencil, and any assigned text(s).
· ABSOLUTELY NO CELL
PHONES, HEADPHONES, or IPODS IN CLASS. They impede both the teaching and
learning process. Should a cell phone go off in class, I keep it until a parent
comes to retrieve it.
· Respect for one another in the
classroom is expected at all times.
One last note: Honesty is very important to me and a virtue I hope to
encourage and instill in all of my students.
I expect my students to be honest.
Cheating on a quiz or test or dishonesty in any other form, including plagiarism,
on assignments will result in an automatic zero.
These are the policies that
keep our class organized and running smoothly.
I am so happy to be your teacher!
I look forward to a wonderful year with great young people such as you.
****************************************************************************************************
Cut
here, sign, and return. This is worth 10 participation points.
I have read Mrs. Swenson’s
disclosure document for English 11.
Student name_____________________________ Class period_____
Student
signature__________________________
Parent/guardian
name__________________________
Parent/guardian
signature_______________________