English 12 Honors Course Expectations
Ms. Burke
Legacy High School
A Global Studies School
Contact Information
Instructor: Rachel Burke
LHS Room: Room 1204
Phone: (702) 799-1777
Email: [email protected]
School Website Address: www.legacyhigh.net
Course Overview
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This one-year course (Post-Secondary Composition and Universal Themes in Text) provides instruction in the English Language Arts strands identified by the Common Core State Standards as reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language. This course is designated as honors level by the accelerated instructional pacing and depth of content. The writing focus in this course includes analysis, synthesis, and argumentation as they relate to post-secondary education and/or careers. Instruction focuses on refining the skills required for post-secondary success. A framework structured around universal themes that connect people across cultures and time anchors texts to real-life reading, writing, and speaking and listening opportunities likely to be experienced beyond high school. Instructional practices incorporate integration of diversity awareness including appreciation of all cultures and their important contributions to society. The appropriate use of technology and digital media are integral parts of this course. This course fulfills one of the English credits required for high school graduation.
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Course Scope and Goals
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Please refer to the Common Core State Standards for English 12.
In this course, students will be expected to do all of the following:
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Texts and Textbooks
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Most of our readings will be distributed in class. Some background information will come from the textbook approved for this course.
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Text Appropriateness and Controversial Subjects
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This course is intended to prepare senior students for further work at the college level, and in keeping with that level of academic sophistication, the texts -- essays, excerpts, written pieces, textbook examples, and other written work recommended or provided during the course -- are of a nature and quality appropriate to most college-bound seniors. Frankly speaking, this means that from time to time our texts or discussions may address controversial issues, or may be chosen from controversial sources. If texts and issues of this nature might offend you or your family to the point where you feel you will not be able to read the texts fully, write about them, and discuss them with others, you and your family are urged to consult with me to find a mutually appropriate alternative.
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Remind and Gmail
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Student Responsibilities
Remind.Com
Gmail
Homework Page
NOTE: If you are absent, the responsibility of coming to class already prepared is your responsibility. |
Supplies
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Students are expected to bring in all of the following all of the time:
For the most part, this is a pencil-free classroom. You are expected to turn in all written work in pen or typed. Students are expected to bring all notes, notebooks, necessary texts, and work with them on a daily basis. The notebook will contain homework, notes, returned work, and class handouts. In the event of a grade dispute, the student's graded work is proof that s/he has completed the work and received a grade. Without that proof, the student may be required to resubmit or redo an assignment. |
Tardiness
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Tardiness is a serious disruption to the educational program. Every student is required to be in his/her seat when the tardy bell rings. With that in mind, the Legacy High School Tardy Policy will be strictly enforced.
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Grades
What are the weighted grades in this course?
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Grading Scale
Tests and Summative Assessment= 60% Summative assessments may include some or all of the following:
Formative Assessments = 40% These formative assessments may include some or all of the following:
More About Speaking and Listening A crucial element of any English course in composition and literature is the discussion of texts and ideas. Without frequent, active engagement in discussion, comprehension tends to suffer. It is not sufficient to listen politely to others without responding to their ideas. Speaking and listening may include any or all of the following examples:
More About Preparation and Classwork Preparation is an important element of smooth class participation and organization. Preparation for class may include some or all of the following elements:
Normal Grade Expectations In a course taught at an appropriate level of challenge for correctly-placed students, the average grade for the class will tend to be a mid-range C. This “bell curve” distribution means that most students in the class will receive a grade between C-minus and B-minus. A class whose average is substantially higher or lower may not be providing an appropriate level of challenge for the students and/or may not be following the intent and rigor of the Common Core State Standards. A student’s previous grade in a less-difficult class or a different school may not necessarily be an accurate predictor of her or his performance in this course. Please be aware that the level of this course may be more challenging than previous courses. Extra Credit
Late Passes
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Standards of Preparation
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Default Format for Written Work, Essays, and Projects
Default Format for INFORMAL Writing, Homework, Classwork
Work will not be accepted until it has met preparation guidelines. If you are here on a due date, but your work is not ready to be turned in, you very well might receive a “0” if I am assessing preparation points that day, and your work will be returned to you for revision. If there are serious extenuating circumstances (e.g., family emergency) that prevented you from being fully prepared, please have your parents contact me at [email protected], and I will be happy to speak to them. Grammar, usage, mechanics, spelling, clarity, and observance of MLA style will count on most assignments. |
Make-Up and Late Work
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Special Note: The “get it in before week 3 and 7” late work policy has proven to be a substantial boon to students; however, please be aware that any assignment not turned in to me is recorded as a zero or “mi” (missing) until or if I receive the work. Zeroes will bring down your grade, but turning in the work has always helped this situation. If a student receives a progress report indicating that she or he is failing or is in danger of failing, please do not take the progress report as a grim prophecy of inevitable fate, which it is not, but rather take it as a helpful warning that work is missing and needs to be submitted.
NOTE ABOUT MANDATORY MAKE-UPS: Please be advised that if students’ grades fall below the level of C OR they have chosen not to perform required work or turn in an assignment when requested, they may be required to attend mandatory make-ups. Mandatory make-ups are held for approximately an hour after school. Students will be given notice prior to mandatory make-ups. If students cannot attend, they may reschedule. If students miss the appointment, parent contact will be attempted and the appointment rescheduled. If the mandatory make-up is missed more than once, further disciplinary consequences may occur. Mandatory make-ups exist in order to help students learn and succeed. Hours of Availability I am generally available from 6:45 until the bell, and from 1:25 until 2:00 most days. I advise you to make an appointment in advance. If you need my help after hours, please contact me at [email protected]. |
Attendance and Absence
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After the seventh unexcused absence, students will be denied credit and will receive an “F” for the course.
Procedure If Absent
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Classroom Behavior
Beginning of Class
Tardiness
During Class
End of Class
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Essential Rules
Behavior Expected at the Beginning of Class
Procedure if Tardy
Routine Behavior During Class
Ending Class
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Passes Out of Class
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Corridor and Bathroom Pass Procedure
Nurse Passes
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Electronic Devices
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Electronic Device Policy
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Consequences
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Consequences for a student’s choice to violate classroom or school rules will proceed according to CCSD and school policy.
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Food, Drink, Candy, or Gum
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Food and Drink Policy
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Substitute Teachers
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Substitute Teachers, Guest Teachers, Observers
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Care of School and Personal Property
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Classroom Care
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Citizenship
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Citizenship Grades
Please be aware that the "S" (Satisfactory) is the default grade most students will receive. O = Outstanding
S= Satisfactory
U = Unsatisfactory
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Items Unique to This Classroom
Evaluation of Written Work
Redone Work
Bias Prevention
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Evaluation of Written Work
Redone Work
Fixing only minor errors and/or not remedying all major problems with a paper may result in the paper being returned with the same grade.
Using Pseudonyms In order to prevent potential positive or negative bias, much of your work (including but not restricted to papers, compositions, essays, tests, projects, or other work) will be submitted under classroom-appropriate pseudonyms of the student’s own invention. A grade will assigned before I am aware of the student’s true identity. Students are advised not to use the same pseudonym over and over. Also, students are advised to please keep track of all pseudonym because if I don't know that a piece of writing was completed by a particular student, I have to mark the work as a "zero" in my grade book until the writing is claimed. Unless clearly specified, please assume that your paper should be turned in with a pseudonym. If your paper doesn't have a pseudonym, it may be returned to you. Please be aware that your pseudonyms are to be classroom-appropriate. Use of profanity, innuendo, hate speech, racist/sexist/discriminatory/offensive language is prohibited at all times and may require intervention with parents, counselors, or administrators. |
Academic Honesty
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Plagiarism and Cheating
Academic dishonesty, also known as plagiarism, can be defined as taking credit for, presenting as one’s own, or putting into one’s own words the words, ideas, concepts, analyses, thought, creative products, or data of another person or organization without giving appropriate written credit to that person or organization in the form of both internal citation and a works cited list provided in one’s own document. Plagiarism also includes improper or incorrect citation. Cheating can be defined as a form of plagiarism (above) or as using the products of another person’s mind or an external source of data to provide answers on an examination, a written assignment, a project, or other coursework or activity. For a full definition of academic dishonesty, please see the CCSD Honor Code.
Honesty in Classwork, Tests, Homework Please presume that all work done for this class, unless clearly specified otherwise, is to be the product of an individual student's mind working alone. If you are not sure whether it would be okay to work with someone else or get help from someone, ASK ME. If you cannot ask me, then WORK ALONE. "Getting help" from another person to the point where the integrity of the student's own work comes under question is not advised in the least and may lead to the teacher's decision that the work violates the academic honesty policy. Copying, "borrowing," or "getting help" from another student when the work is expected to have been done individually may possibly result in consequences for academic dishonesty. I will almost never have group projects, group grades, or group products. Please do not assume that you should be working together on a graded piece of work, especially writing. |
Parent Letter - NEEDS PARENT SIGNATURE
Dear Parents: Please print the following pages, sign them, and return the pages to school by the end of September. Thank you for your help.
1. Film Permission Form
Dear Parents,
In this course, there may be times in which we show films during the course. Obviously, all films in class will follow the CCSD policy that no movies PG-13 or above will be shown; however, I would like to secure your permission to show films rated PG. Some examples of films that might be shown in class include the following:
· Sense and Sensibility (1995), starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet
· Pride and Prejudice (2005), starring Keira Knightley or the 1995 television version with Colin Firth
· Twelfth Night (1996), starring Helena Bonham Carter
- My Fair Lady, starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison
Please let me know if you would prefer to have your student exempted from these activities. She or he will be given alternative work and will not be penalized in any way for opting out of the film. If you would like to contact me to discuss this or other concerns, please feel free to do so at [email protected].
_____________ I give my permission for my child to watch PG films such as the ones listed above
_____________ I do NOT give permission for my child to watch PG films. Please give her or him an alternative assignment.
Parent signature:________________________________________ Parent of:_______________________
Printed name:_________________________________________________
2. Acknowledgement of Course Expectations
We have read and discussed the course description and expectations for English 12 Honors and are clear about the classroom rules and expectations.
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Student’s name [last, first] Student’s Signature
_______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Parent Name Parent Signature
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Home phone Work/Cell phone
Email Address: __________________________________________________________
Thank you for being my students. I look forward to being your teacher.