Course Syllabus

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COURSE DESCRIPTION/OVERVIEW: This course is designed to improve student’s reading, writing, group discussion, and speaking skills.  Throughout the year students will practice these skills through six complete units of study: Short Stories, The Killer of Enemies, Persuasive Speaking, To Kill a Mockingbird, House on Mango Street, The Odyssey, and Romeo and Juliet.  Students will spend time analyzing and discussing different types of literature with one another.  They will utilize new writing practices to further improve their writing. Students will improve communication skills through small and large group discussions. They will also receive practice during Socratic Seminars.

GRADING:

Your grades are based on our school’s grading scale:

A – 90 – 100%

B – 80 – 89%

C – 70 – 79%

D – 60 – 69%

F – 59% and below

 

The following will be used to calculate your grades:

70% Summative Assessment:

-Major quizzes and tests

-Essays

-Speeches/Projects

-Socratic Seminars

30% Formative Assessment

-Daily work

-Practice writing assignments

- Journals

-Weekly Vocabulary/ Grammar Quizzes

 

Grades will be updated every weekend and can be accessed via parent/student web.  You can see me before or after school to discuss your grade or any other concerns.    

 

CLASSROOM RULES:  Students are expected to respect and follow all rules and regulations contained in the Papillion-La Vista Student Handbook.  Ignorance of the contents of this document is not an excuse for breaking school or classroom rules.  Please be considerate of the needs of others in this classroom. 

 

  • ïCell phones need to be turned off and put away at all times.  If I have to remind you of this more than once, our class policy is to turn the phone into the phone tree each day you come to class.  I will not keep your phone – you will pick it up at the end of the hour.  If you refuse to follow this class policy, I will simply turn your phone into an administrator every time I see it.
  • ïPurses/bags must be kept away underneath desks.
  • ïDo not bring food into the classroom.  Drinks with lids are acceptable.  If you make a mess, please clean up after yourself. 
  • ïLocker/restroom passes will be granted at my discretion.  You will not get more than one pass per week.  Ask at the appropriate time or your request will be denied.  If you do not have your planner, you will not get a pass – NO EXCEPTIONS. 

 

TARDINESS: Students will be on time to class.  If you enter the classroom late you must sign in at the front table.

  • ï1st Tardy – Warning
  • ï2nd Tardy – Detention (10 min)
  • ï3rd Tardy – Parent Contact/Detention (20 min)
  • ï4th Tardy – Principal Contact

 

PARTICIPATION:  Class participation will be expected on a daily basis.  Each and every day students will participate in group discussions, and other small classroom activities. 

 

ASSIGNMENTS/HOMEWORK: 

  • All assignments should have the following heading on the top left of your paper:
  • All final draft compositions are expected to be typed, printed off, and ready to hand in.  Papers that are in your locker, left at home, or still on a flash drive when class starts are considered late.  Computers are available before and after school in the media center – use these to get your work printed off and turned in on time!  As a last resort, you may email me your work if you are having printer issues, but this must be AT LEAST 24-Hours before the due date—do not wait until the last minute.
  • We will follow the PLHS Homework Policy.
  • LATE POLICY:  Work is due at the beginning of the hour it is due.
    • Day 1: Turn in by the end of the day/ Parent Contact
    • Day 2: Detention / Parent Contact/10% deduction
    • Day 3: Detention / Parent-Administrator Contact
    • Day 4: Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday School

 

    • Cheating/plagiarism on any level will not be tolerated and will result in a zero. 
    • When returning from an absence, it is your responsibility to get your assignment from the assignment bin.  You will have two days per day you were absent to turn in the completed work.  If you are gone from the day an assignment is due, you will need to turn it in the day you return in order to receive full credit.  If you know that you will be absent from school, you must get your assignments beforehand.  All work from planned absences will be due on the day you return.  This means that if you will miss class for a school activity on the same day that an assignment is due, you must plan to hand the work in the day you return.   

 

NECESSARY MATERIALS:

Please come prepared to class with the following materials and whatever book we may be reading:

    • Notebook
    • Notecards

ï Pen or pencil

 

Please email me at lrmartin@paplv.org if you cannot provide any of these materials.  Also, if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask!

Course Summary:

Date Details Due