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Course Syllabus for Freshman English I

2014-2015 School Year

Lisa Creech, Teacher

Telephone: (O) 606 668-8202

(H) 606 668-7467

Email:

Philosophy and Introduction

Effective communication is essential in our world. Personal, social, and professional success depends upon the ability to read, write, speak, and interpret the words of others. This class will help you recognize and value the importance of communication, give you the skills for effective written and oral communication, and help youeffectively read, interpret, and reflect upon the words of others. The class will combine a study of literature with extensive practice in grammar, vocabulary, and writing.

Classroom Policy:

My classroom policy is based upon mutual respect and the understanding that students of your age are not children; you are young adults, with the rights and responsibilities that entails. I care for and respect my students, and I expect students to respect me and each other in return. My expectations for your behavior are based on mature, adult behavior and mutual respect.

  • Be on time and be prepared to work. (This includes bringing texts, paper, pens, etc. It also includes taking care of personal business before you come to my classroom.)
  • Be respectful to every member of our classroom.
  • Be careful of what you say. Cursing and disrespectful remarks are not classroom appropriate.
  • Be responsible. Complete and turn in homeworktimely. It is your responsibility to obtain and turn in missed assignments. I am not obligated to accept late assignments.
  • Be in your place. There will be times when we move around the room, but please refrain from getting up or making noise during lecture, tests, silent reading, etc.
  • Dress appropriately by following the high school dress code. If you wonder if it is appropriate, it is probably not.

Grading Policy: Each grading period, you will perform a variety of tasks: vocabulary practice, grammar practice, reading assignments, small and whole group discussion, oral presentations,writing assignments, quizzes and unit tests. Material studied is cumulative; previously studied material can and will appear on later tests. For this reason, you will assemble and maintain a class notebook which will be used to review for unit tests and final exams. Notebooks will be randomly checked and graded. Tests, presentations, and major writing assignments will determine the bulk of your grade. All major tests (unit, mid-term, and final) will consists of objective(fill in the blank, multiple choice, matching, etc.) andwritten response questions.

Research and Cumulative Writing Folder:You will conduct research, write essays, and create presentations. All sources will be correctly documented using appropriate style (MLA, APA, etc.). A cumulative folderof writing completed during this class is required and will include writing in various forms (personal, literary, academic, business).

Reading: You should expect to read a variety of expository (informational) and literary (short stories, poetry, novels) texts during the course of the class. Most material will be selected by the instructor, but free reading time will be provided. Students who have nothing to read during free-reading time will be assigned material.

Words to Know: The words below are words you will see during this semester. Many you will see on the final exam. This is not a complete list; words will be added as the class progresses.

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onomatopoeia

alliteration

metaphor

simile

hyperbole

irony

allusion

mood

analogy

imagery

dialogue

jargon

dialect

genre

symbol

free verse

denotation

catalogue

symbolism

connotation

modernism

foreshadowing

romanticism

renaissance

rhetorical question

cadence

antagonist

protagonist

motif

tone

personification

setting

characterization

point of view

plot

rising action

climax

resolution

theme

Harlem Renaissance

realism

regionalism

post-modernism

surrealism

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Note to parents/guardians: Feel free to contact me at work or at home with any questions or concerns you may have about your student’s progress in my class. I’m here to help.

  • I have read and I understand the syllabus, class rules, requirements, and expectations for Mrs.

Creech’s’ English class and I have shared them with my parent/guardian.

Student Signature: ______Date: ______

Parent/Guardian Signiture:______Date:______