Syllabus
Freshman English
Mrs. Brunner -- [email protected]
Westhill High School -- Room 602
Mission Statement: Westhill High School values learning because it promotes academic excellence, civic responsibility, and personal growth. Our community provides all students with opportunities to acquire, analyze, and apply knowledge.
Course Description: This course examines both literature and non-fiction through a variety of mediums, including (but not limited to) novels, plays, short stories, informational texts, visual texts, and poetry. Instruction focuses on both written and oral communications with a consistent emphasis on the 4 Cs: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Throughout the year, students will produce both timed and process writing pieces in order to expand and strengthen their skills as a 21st century learner.
Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts (ELA) classes in the Stamford Public Schools align their teaching practice and curriculum to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). For more information about CCSS, please visit their website at http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/.
Units of Study: In accordance with the district ELA curriculum, this course will cover six major units of study throughout this year. Please review the table below for a brief description of each unit and corresponding assessments. We will be covering classic texts such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, The Odyssey, and Romeo and Juliet. Additionally, students are expected to complete an independent reading project every quarter outside of school.
Unit 1:
Literary Analysis 1
Unit 2: Informational
Unit 3:
Drama
Unit 4:
Synthesis
Unit 5:
Poetry
Unit 6:
Literary Analysis 2
Unit skills and focus
Closely read a single literary text with a focus on theme
Analyze multiple written and visual texts
Learn how to effectively construct an argument
Closely read and analyze a dramatic work
Read a single literary text with a focus on an essential question
Research essential question in other works of literature and non-fiction
Read and analyze multiple contemporary American poems
Closely read a literary text and connect it thematically to an additional novel, play, short story, or poem
In-class assessments
Read and analyze an unfamiliar prose passage
Read and analyze an unfamiliar non-fiction passage
Write an argumentative timed essay on an assigned topic
Write an analytical timed essay on an unfamiliar passage from a work of drama
Read and analyze a series of unfamiliar excerpts connected to a central topic
Synthesize sources to support a central argument about the topic
Write an analytical timed essay on an unfamiliar poem
Read and analyze an unfamiliar prose passage
Long-term assessments
Write an analytical paper with a thematic focus on the selected text
Write a narrative based on the selected dramatic work
Write an argumentative process essay on an essential question using the selected core text and student-selected outside resources
Write an analytical paper with a thematic focus on multiple texts throughout the year
In addition, you will complete an independent reading project four times this year (once per quarter).
Required Materials: three-ring binder, folder, composition book, pens/pencils, highlighter, post-it notes, selected texts
Grading Policy:
Quarter Grades:
Categories and Weights
Classwork
20%
Homework
10%
In-Class Assessments
35%
Long-term Assessments*
35%
Possible Assignments
(subject to change depending on the course and class)
group activities, binder/composition book checks, dialectical journals, source, sub work, non-fiction article work
focus questions, assigned reading, preparation for in-class activities
district assessments (constructed responses and timed writes), presentations
papers, projects, independent reading
*must be submitted to turnitin.com
Final Grade for the Year:
Quarter 1
(Q1)
Quarter 2
(Q2)
Midterm Exam (X1)
Quarter 3
(Q3)
Quarter 4
(Q4)
Final Exam (X2)
20%
20%
10%
20%
20%
10%
Attendance Policy: You are expected to arrive to class on time and prepared every day. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up the work.. Classwork and homework will be posted on our classroom websites for students to check. Materials will also be available in the classroom. Eight (8) excused absences OR two (2) unexcused absences [cuts] will result in a failure for the quarter. Three (3) tardies equates to one absence that CANNOT be appealed. Additionally, 28 tardies is an automatic failure for the year.
Late Policy: I do not accept late homework or classwork. Work will be due at the beginning of class (homework and/or classwork that was finished at home). If you are absent, you have ONE DAY to make up the work (barring a long-term illness) before it becomes a zero. Late papers and projects will lose 5 points per day (including weekends) and will not be accepted after one week past the original due date.
Online Resources: You will be required to use several online resources throughout this year. If you do not have access to a computer at home, please use the media center computers or laptop rentals or the public library computers. We will have access to ChromeBooks throughout the year before process paper assignments, but you should expect to do most typing of long-term assessments on your own time. The following online resources are REQUIRED for this class:
Plagiarism Policy: Westhill High School takes cheating—in any form—very seriously. The English Department’s policy on plagiarism, or the unapproved use of another’s materials or ideas, is a zero for the assignment. More serious consequences may apply depending on the circumstances, severity, or repetitiveness of the offense. If you have any concerns about what constitutes cheating, please view WHS Plagiarism Handbook online at http://westhillweb.com/Data/Sites/14/cheatdoc.pdf .
Mrs. Brunner -- [email protected]
Westhill High School -- Room 602
Mission Statement: Westhill High School values learning because it promotes academic excellence, civic responsibility, and personal growth. Our community provides all students with opportunities to acquire, analyze, and apply knowledge.
Course Description: This course examines both literature and non-fiction through a variety of mediums, including (but not limited to) novels, plays, short stories, informational texts, visual texts, and poetry. Instruction focuses on both written and oral communications with a consistent emphasis on the 4 Cs: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Throughout the year, students will produce both timed and process writing pieces in order to expand and strengthen their skills as a 21st century learner.
Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts (ELA) classes in the Stamford Public Schools align their teaching practice and curriculum to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). For more information about CCSS, please visit their website at http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/.
Units of Study: In accordance with the district ELA curriculum, this course will cover six major units of study throughout this year. Please review the table below for a brief description of each unit and corresponding assessments. We will be covering classic texts such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, The Odyssey, and Romeo and Juliet. Additionally, students are expected to complete an independent reading project every quarter outside of school.
Unit 1:
Literary Analysis 1
Unit 2: Informational
Unit 3:
Drama
Unit 4:
Synthesis
Unit 5:
Poetry
Unit 6:
Literary Analysis 2
Unit skills and focus
Closely read a single literary text with a focus on theme
Analyze multiple written and visual texts
Learn how to effectively construct an argument
Closely read and analyze a dramatic work
Read a single literary text with a focus on an essential question
Research essential question in other works of literature and non-fiction
Read and analyze multiple contemporary American poems
Closely read a literary text and connect it thematically to an additional novel, play, short story, or poem
In-class assessments
Read and analyze an unfamiliar prose passage
Read and analyze an unfamiliar non-fiction passage
Write an argumentative timed essay on an assigned topic
Write an analytical timed essay on an unfamiliar passage from a work of drama
Read and analyze a series of unfamiliar excerpts connected to a central topic
Synthesize sources to support a central argument about the topic
Write an analytical timed essay on an unfamiliar poem
Read and analyze an unfamiliar prose passage
Long-term assessments
Write an analytical paper with a thematic focus on the selected text
Write a narrative based on the selected dramatic work
Write an argumentative process essay on an essential question using the selected core text and student-selected outside resources
Write an analytical paper with a thematic focus on multiple texts throughout the year
In addition, you will complete an independent reading project four times this year (once per quarter).
Required Materials: three-ring binder, folder, composition book, pens/pencils, highlighter, post-it notes, selected texts
Grading Policy:
Quarter Grades:
Categories and Weights
Classwork
20%
Homework
10%
In-Class Assessments
35%
Long-term Assessments*
35%
Possible Assignments
(subject to change depending on the course and class)
group activities, binder/composition book checks, dialectical journals, source, sub work, non-fiction article work
focus questions, assigned reading, preparation for in-class activities
district assessments (constructed responses and timed writes), presentations
papers, projects, independent reading
*must be submitted to turnitin.com
Final Grade for the Year:
Quarter 1
(Q1)
Quarter 2
(Q2)
Midterm Exam (X1)
Quarter 3
(Q3)
Quarter 4
(Q4)
Final Exam (X2)
20%
20%
10%
20%
20%
10%
Attendance Policy: You are expected to arrive to class on time and prepared every day. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up the work.. Classwork and homework will be posted on our classroom websites for students to check. Materials will also be available in the classroom. Eight (8) excused absences OR two (2) unexcused absences [cuts] will result in a failure for the quarter. Three (3) tardies equates to one absence that CANNOT be appealed. Additionally, 28 tardies is an automatic failure for the year.
Late Policy: I do not accept late homework or classwork. Work will be due at the beginning of class (homework and/or classwork that was finished at home). If you are absent, you have ONE DAY to make up the work (barring a long-term illness) before it becomes a zero. Late papers and projects will lose 5 points per day (including weekends) and will not be accepted after one week past the original due date.
Online Resources: You will be required to use several online resources throughout this year. If you do not have access to a computer at home, please use the media center computers or laptop rentals or the public library computers. We will have access to ChromeBooks throughout the year before process paper assignments, but you should expect to do most typing of long-term assessments on your own time. The following online resources are REQUIRED for this class:
- Google Account: You will be required to create a google account by either using your current email address or creating a new one through GMail. We will be using several Google applications throughout this course.
- Edmodo: You must sign up for an Edmodo account, which will be
used for online updates and assignments.
Your class code is: ______________________
- Turnitin.com: The district requires that all process pieces be
submitted to turnitin.com. Please review the Westhill Plagiarism Policy carefully
to understand the severity of academic dishonesty.
Your course ID is: ______________________
Plagiarism Policy: Westhill High School takes cheating—in any form—very seriously. The English Department’s policy on plagiarism, or the unapproved use of another’s materials or ideas, is a zero for the assignment. More serious consequences may apply depending on the circumstances, severity, or repetitiveness of the offense. If you have any concerns about what constitutes cheating, please view WHS Plagiarism Handbook online at http://westhillweb.com/Data/Sites/14/cheatdoc.pdf .