Mrs. Taylor- Pre-AP English 10 Syllabus

1st Nine Weeks / 2nd Nine Weeks
Literature
Lit Unit 1: Discuss summer reading (SR), Exploration and the Early Settlers**, Puritan Writings**
Lit Unit 2: Writers of the Revolution**
Novel Study:
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Writing
Students will write essays focusing on the following:
  • Grammar/Mechanics
  • Timed writing
  • Use of rhetorical devices
  • Analysis of literature
  • Citing quotations and paraphrased information from texts in MLA format
Vocabulary
Units 1-4
--Vocabulary words are geared toward the ACT, AP Literature and AP Language tests. / Literature
Drama Study:
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Lit Unit 3:
**American Romanticism
**The Fireside Poets
**Transcendentalist Writings
**American Gothic
Writing
In-class, timed essay focus
Students will write essays and literature responses that focus on skills they will need for the ACT
writing portion. Students will practice the following:
  • Grammar/Mechanics
  • Timed writing
  • Use of rhetorical devices
  • Analysis of literature
  • Citing quotations and paraphrased information from texts in MLA format
  • Persuasive techniques
Vocabulary
Units 5-7
--Units listed are subject to change. We may cover more or less units depending on time.
3rd Nine Weeks / 4th Nine Weeks
Literature
Novel Study:
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Writing
In-class ACT essay practice
Research Paper
Students will begin research papers. They will also write one or more in-class free response essays while practicing the following skills:
  • Grammar/Mechanics
  • Timed writing
  • Use of rhetorical devices
  • Analysis of literature
  • Citing quotations and paraphrased information from texts in MLA format
  • Using primary and secondary sources, as well as online databases
Vocabulary
Units 8-10 / Literature
Dystopian Literature Unit:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Choice book(TBA)
Lit Unit 4:
**Literature of the Civil War
***Poetry: Whitman and Dickinson
**Realism
Writing
We will focus on writing using AP Literature and AP Language sample essay prompts. This will prepare students for skills needed in AP English 11 and 12. We will work on the following skills:
  • Grammar/Mechanics
  • Timed writing
  • Use of rhetorical devices
  • Analysis of literature
  • Citing quotations and paraphrased information from texts in MLA format
  • Using varied sentence structure
  • Writing with precise, interesting diction
Vocabulary
Units 11-12

The asterisks (**) indicate when we will use classroom texts or the literature book.

Students need to purchase the following texts this year: One book from the December choice reading list (provided in late November), Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and one YA dystopian novel for the spring (choices on this selection TBA).

Supplies Needed: Pens, paper, novels. If you can, please donate Kleenex and/or hand sanitizer!

Weekly Happenings: At the beginning of each nine weeks, I will hand you a day-by-day breakdown of what we will do for that month. I will also post this on my website. Please make sure to refer to this “At-a-Glance” regularly to remind yourself of what’s coming up in English.

The Purpose of Pre-AP

Years ago, students took what was called “honors English,” a class that was a slightly more challenging version of regular English. Pre-AP English, however, is different from the traditional honors English class. At HTHS, we view pre-AP English students as individuals who plan to take AP English Language in 11th grade and, possibly, AP English Literature in 12th grade. Because of this, pre-AP English focuses on preparing students to write and read at an AP level. What does this mean for you? First, you will be expected to write more than the average English student. Also, you will be expected to read on a deeper level and at a faster pace than you have before. Lastly, you will be expected to write using good diction while showing an above-average grasp of grammar and writing mechanics in timed situations. All in all…we will work hard! I don’t expect you to come into this class doing these things perfectly. However, I do expect you to work diligently, strive to get better each day, and use the lessons we learn in order to become skilled readers and writers.

Grade Breakdown: Your overall grade for this class will be weighted according to the percentages below.

40%--Writing and Composition

30%--Tests and Projects

20%--Quizzes

10%--Homework and Classwork

Attendance/Make-up Work

Please email me when you are absent so that I can catch you up on any assignments or notes you missed. If I do not respond that day, please speak to me at the beginning of class when you return. You will be responsible for getting any missed work, notes, and upcoming assignments from me or from a trustworthy classmate. If you are absent on the day of a previously announced test or quiz, you must be prepared to make it up on the day you return. If you are absent on a previously announced assignment due date, you must turn in the assignment on the day you return, unless otherwise instructed by me. You can make up work/tests during Husky Hour.

Homework
Since our time in class together will be rigorous, and I know many of you are very involved outside of school, I assign very little written homework for this class. Your major homework will consist of reading assignments, vocabulary study, and essay revision.

Vocabulary and Grammar

You will take 12 vocabulary tests throughout the year. I will give you all 12 units (each of which contain 10 words) at the beginning of the year. You will be expected to know the denotation and connotation of each word, how it can be used in a sentence, and possible synonyms and antonyms for each word. I will go over the format for vocabulary tests in class during the first week.Please note that some vocabulary tests may include a few questions regarding the grammatical skills we have covered recently. You will also be required to turn in vocabulary word maps for each unit on the day of your quiz. This assignment will count for 10 of your quiz points.

Reading

During the first week of school, you will take tests on your two summer reading books. Both assessments will be worth 50 test points.I will let you know ahead of time when you’ll need a novel in class. Look at the top of the syllabus to see the novels you’ll need this year.

My Writing Philosophy

In this course, you will mainly write essays during class in an allotted amount of time (30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes). There are a few reasons for this. First, I believe that learning to form a proficient argument, analysis, or description in a brief amount of time is a valuable life skill. Secondly, most of the standardized tests students take emphasize timed writing. This includes the ACT and AP tests (history, English, psychology, physics, etc.). Lastly, many college courses require students to write or speak in a timed situation. Timed writing, therefore, will prepare you for many challenges that lie ahead.

I will grade your in-class essays using a rubric similar to the one that AP test readers use to grade free response essays. After you write your essays, I will read them as if they are a rough draft and hand them back. I will then conference with you during class about revisions you should make. You should be prepared to take notes during our conferences. Afterward, I will ask you to make revisions to your essay at home or in class (if time permits). If you have additional questions about your essay revisions, you should make an appointment to see me one morning or afternoon during the week. When I take up your rewritten essay, I will give you a new score based on your revisions. Students will do one literary research paper during the second semester.

Please note that any evidence of plagiarism or cheating will result in a zero on the assignment for anyone involved. You will have an opportunity to redo the assignment for 50%. I will also take disciplinary action if this happens. You’re too smart to cheat, anyway!

HTHS Plagiarism Policy

HTHS Plagiarism Policy: Anyone who plagiarizes will receive a zero on the assignment, administrative referral, as well as possible disciplinary action for the incident. All students who copy others’ work will receive a zero and disciplinary action, whether that student gave or received the information. Students who plagiarize will be able to re-submit that assignment; however, this will only be for partial credit (scoring begins at 50%). The assignment will be due the following day (Effective 11/1/11).

As a department, we believe this to be a fair consequence, due to the severity of plagiarism in the academic community. Students who attempt plagiarism in college can be placed on administrative probation or dismissed from said college. Plagiarism is serious and we want to treat it that way. Our own organizations (i.e. Honor Society, Student Council) will not accept members who have disciplinary action for cheating (including incidents of plagiarism).

It should go without saying that copying and pasting from anywhere without crediting the source is plagiarism, as well as copying the work from another student. All assignments (unless otherwise specified) are the responsibility of each individual student. In other words, if you choose to collaborate on homework, you still must turn in original, unique responses.

Plagiarism is defined as…

  1. Using the exact words of another person’s work/writing without acknowledgment of your source through the use of quotation marks and correct citation/documentation;
  2. Rephrasing a passage by another writer without giving proper credit;
  3. Using someone else’s facts or ideas without acknowledgment;
  4. Using a piece of writing for one course that was already used in a previous course (or in courses in which you are simultaneously enrolled) without express permission from both instructors to do so; and
  5. Presenting fabricated or falsified citations or materials. (Source: The University of Montevallo)

How to Avoid Plagiarism: 5 Simple Rules(Adapted from an originally produced document by Amanda Esslinger)

Rule 1: A fact that is not common knowledge must have a citation.

“Scientists have found that the featherless chicken makes as much protein as the feathered chicken” (“Featherless” 43).

You may write a fact that is common knowledge-- something that most people in the society would know—without a citation.

Rule 2: When you write about an idea, you must make clear whose idea it is. If it is your own idea, you do not cite the source.

The tone and structure of the poem suggest peace and repose.

No citation—student’s own observation.

Rule 3: If you are writing about someone else’s idea, you must cite your source.

By the year 1856, San Francisco’s growth was practically certain (Lotchkin 60).

Rule 4: If you use someone else’s exact words, you must put them in quotation marks and cite the source.

Later, the author wrote, “Chapter VI (the hotel scene) will never be quite up to mark—I’ve worried about it too long and I can’t quite place Daisy’s reaction” (Fitzgerald 9).

Rule 5: When you use an author’s idea without quoting exactly (mean that you are paraphrasing), you must write the idea in your own words, not just rearrange or change a few of his or her words, and you must cite the source.

Taylor Branch of The Atlantic argues in his article, “The Shame of College Sports”, that college athletes should be paid for playing their sports. He bases his argument on the amount of revenue generated by college athletes, football players in particular, for their respective schools. Though he understands that many people disagree with him based on the fact that college athletes are not professionals, he feels that the players deserve some amount of compensation (Branch 1). The student restates the writer’s idea in the student’s own words and cites the source of the idea.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE POLICY. We take plagiarism of any kind seriously at HTHS.

Remind: I will sometimes send out reminders or announcements via Remind. Please sign up for this service; however, note that all assignments will be on your monthly At-a-Glance and that I will not always remind you when quizzes, tests, or assignments are coming up. It’s your responsibility to remember, but I might occasionally remind you via this service.

Text the message ______to the number ______to sign up.

STUDENT NAME: ______PERIOD: ______

We have read the rules and procedures on the handout.

We have read the rules and punishments regarding plagiarism.

We are aware of the procedure for missed work/absences.

We have seen the supply list for the year.

We are aware of Remind 101 and have signed up. I have received a copy of the August-September At-a-Glance.

STUDENT SIGNATURE: ______

PARENT(S) SIGNATURE: ______

PARENT(S) PHONE NUMBER: ______

PARENT(S) EMAIL: ______

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