English 1

Course Description and Grading Criterion

Ygnacio Valley High School

2011 - 2012

Teacher and Contact Information:

Teachers: Mrs. Stark and Ms. Evans

Emails: starkg@mdusd.org  and evansn@mdusd.org

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School: 685-8414 x2474

Course Description:

English 1 is a required one-year English class. This course places an emphasis on the four language arts: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Exposure to various types of literature and an emphasis on developing written expression are stressed. The course includes a review of district-adopted competencies in reading and writing. Skills and concepts are taught in an integrated way to be mutually reinforcing.

Major Goals:

• To develop permanent habits of critical and appreciative reading.
• To develop the ability to listen critically and effectively.
• To speak clearly, fluently, and thoughtfully.
• Develop written and oral compositions that are well-organized and mechanically and structurally sound.
• To understand how language works and how it develops.

Teaching Resources:

Ygnacio Valley’s English department has selected the anthology Prentice Hall Literature: Gold Edition as the primary text for this course. Usage and skills will be selected from the adopted texts Grammar and Writing, Daily Language Practice, and Grammar in Context.

Journal Writing:

Students will write on journal topics from a suggestion list:

http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/handouts/258journal.html

Journal writing will be used to assess students’ writing skills. Journals will be collected and graded weekly.

Evaluation:

Grading: All assigned work will receive credit: tests, quizzes, essays, in-class writing, oral presentations, journals, etc. In addition, class participation will be subjectively noted. Grades will be determined by totaling the number of earned points and dividing by the number of assigned points.

Attendance:

Regular attendance is necessary for success in school and in this class. Classroom discussions, instruction, and activities are critical aspects of learning and cannot be adequately made up or duplicated when a student is absent. Daily participation points will be deducted for a tardy. No points are awarded for unexcused absences.

Late Assignments:

Late work is NOT accepted. Major assignments must be turned in on the assigned due date or no credit will be given, even in the event of an absence. Extra credit is NOT offered.

Required Materials:

You will be required to maintain a thorough and organized notebook for this class. You must have your notebook in class every day. Points will be deducted for not having your notebook in class with you. Please have the following supplies for your notebook:

1. 1” 3-ringed binder
2. Black or blue pens for written work
3. Pencils and erasers
4. A set of four notebook dividers marked as follows:
5. Course Syllabus/ Notes
6. Journal
7. DLP
8. Assignments (Tests/ Quizzes/ Homework/ Classwork)
9. White college-ruled notebook paper

We will conduct periodic binder checks to be sure that you are properly maintaining your binder.

Daily Participation Points:

You will receive twenty (20) points each day for being in class and actively participating. Points will be deducted each day for not having your binder, a pen or pencil and paper, sleeping, talking, passing notes, using electronics, being tardy, and any other disturbances during class. Zero (0) points will be given to those who talk during tests or quizzes or who are sent out on a support call.

Outside Reading:

In addition to the reading of course material, you will be responsible for reading 500 pages of outside reading per quarter. You may read novels or non-fiction of your choice; however, any novel assigned in class may NOT be read to satisfy this requirement. A book review will be assigned each quarter.

Classroom Rules and Procedures:

1. Students are NOT to bring food or drinks of any kind to class. Food and drink items are to be enjoyed during brunch and lunch ONLY. This is important as there is evidence of cockroaches and ants in the classroom. Water will be the only exception to this rule.
2. Chewing gum is not allowed in class. Students who are caught chewing gum during class will receive a detention.
3. Cellular telephones, mp3 players and other electronic devices are not allowed to be on during class time. Electronic devices used during class time will be confiscated. Parents will be asked to pick up electronic devices that are confiscated. PLEASE NOTE: If it is necessary that a student be contacted by an outside source, all calls must be placed through the main office.
4. A student is never to mock, put down, or threaten another student in any way. Students who choose to do this will be sent immediately to the office with a support call, and a call home will be made by one of the teachers with the student present.

ALL students deserve the right to learn in a safe environment. Our classroom affords all students that opportunity. Any student who chooses to not comply with any of these classroom rules, the school, and/or district rules, will be handled appropriately depending on the severity of the action.

Academic Integrity:

Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, or misrepresentation of information in oral or written form. Such violations will be dealt with severely by the teachers and the administration. Plagiarism means presenting someone else’s idea or writing as if it were your own. If you use another person’s idea or writing, be sure the source is clearly indicated.

The following steps will be followed with regards to plagiarism on papers, visual presentations, projects, etc.:

1^st time                   Failure on assignment

2^nd time                 Failure on assignment

                                Suspension from class

                                Referral to Administration

3^rd time                  Failure of class