Freshman English 2013-2014 Mrs. Chausse The Morgan School Mission Statement: The Morgan School cultivates intellect and character in partnership with families and the community. Students learn in a rigorous academic and student-centered environment that prepares them to become resourceful, productive, healthy citizens in a global society
mailto: http://chausseclasses.wikispaces.com/
Required Materials: vocabulary book, current text, notebook, folder, BLUE OR BLACK PEN, turnitin.com account, wikispaces.com account, Google account, email
Course Overview- Students will read short stories, poems, plays, novels, nonfiction texts, complete writing assignments, creative projects and study vocabulary and grammar.
Essential Questions-
· What defines good literature?
· What qualities define an epic hero? What constitutes the epic heroic journey?
· How can the concept of the epic journey be applied to our life experience?
· How are loyalty, prejudice, oppression and love examined in a variety of literary genres?
· Why is it important to consider the consequences of our choices?
· How do the themes in the literature of any era help us to understand ourselves and to interpret our world?
Attendance/Missed Assignments: Students are responsible for all work when they are absent. They should consult chausseclasses.wikispaces.com for current assignments, and email me with any questions. Email me (mailto:) any papers or major projects due on the day of the absence in order to receive full credit. See me immediately after an absence to set a date to make up tests and quizzes. If you are going on a field trip, see me before the trip about assignments. If a paper or project is due on the day of a field trip, students must submit the paper or project on the due date.
Homework Policy: No late homework is accepted. Since homework is preparation for the day’s lesson, late homework assignments are not accepted. If you are absent for an extended period, see me to arrange alternative assignments.
Grading: I use a point system for grading. Tests, major papers and projects are 100 points. Quizzes, reading checks, homework and class work are assigned a point value based on the complexity of the assignment. Type or write in blue or black ink to receive a grade on your work.
Honesty & Academic Integrity : Cheating, plagiarism, or falsification (lying) of any kind will not be tolerated.
Students are cheating if they:
· Copy or allow to be copied any assignment by any method
· Use any unauthorized aid on quizzes, tests, or exams
· Steal, possess or view a copy of a test beforehand
· Give or receive help on a test
· Take someone else’s work and submit it as theirs
· Scan, alter or forge any school document
· Plagiarize, i.e. submit material written or designed by another without giving the author/creator credit or identifying the source,or submit work created by family, friends or tutors.
· Submit work that they completed for another course or teacher.
Vocabulary-
· Vocabulary - If you wish to write your answers in the vocabulary book, you must purchase the book for $10.00.
· Use the Power Plus Vocabulary App!
· I do not administer make up quizzes on vocabulary. You are responsible for all vocabulary words. All words may appear on the midyear and final exam.
Grammar -
· Grammar instruction will be included with writing instruction.
· Grammar mini lessons will occur throughout the year.
· The vocabulary book includes grammar lessons.
Writing-
· Always save drafts, notes, prewriting sheets, corrected papers, and final drafts.
· Students are required to keep an electronic portfolio on the class wiki.
· Word-process all writing assignments.
· If a student is absent the day a paper is due, he or she must email the assignment to me. mailto:.
· If a student has a printing issue, he or she must have the issue resolved by the beginning of class. The computer in the back of the room is a student computer. Students may come in before school begins to print out their work. Students may also come in during a study or lunch provided the computer is not in use by a student in my class. In an emergency, I will print out a paper that appears in my email inbox when I arrive at school. The paper will be in the class slot or on the printer tray.
· WORK PRINTED DURING CLASS is LATE!!!
· Upload all writing assignments to your class wiki page. Label each assignment with the date and title.
· Enroll in our class on turnitin.com. Submit papers to this site by the due date.
· Failing to submit a paper to turnitin.com will earn a grade of zero.
Reading-
· The Odyssey, mythology, Antigone, Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, short stories, poetry, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Speak, A Long Way Gone
· Carefully read all assignments by the assigned due dates. Always expect a reading check. Reading checks encourage close reading of the work. Scoring a 100 on the reading quiz will require students to take notes on the assigned reading.
· If a student is absent the day the assignment is due, he or she must email the assignment to me on the due date: mailto:
· Students will not make up reading checks. If a student misses an excessive number of reading checks, he or she will take an alternative reading assessment.
Common Core Standards:
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.3 Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
Craft and Structure
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.5 Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.6 Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.7 Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums, including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.9 Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work (e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare).
Academic Expectations (AE): A student
· AE1: Uses standard English to read, write, and speak effectively
· AE2: Communicates and receives information through oral, written, visual, artistic, and technical means of expression
· AE4: Utilizes critical and creative thinking skills for problem solving and decision-making
· AE5: Employs tools of technology to research, process, and communicate information
· AE6: Works independently as well as cooperatively to achieve goals
Civic and Social Expectation: A student
· Demonstrates respect for all members of the school community
· Manages time to meet the demands of academic responsibilities along with social and extra-curricular activities
· Accepts responsibility for his or her own actions and behavior
· Recognizes the importance of social and civic responsibilities to a community
· Exhibits an understanding of diverse perspectives and cultures
· Understands the importance of physical fitness and healthy lifestyle choice
Clinton Public Schools K-12 Foundation Skills and Competencies
A student
1. Reads a variety of literary, informational, and persuasive texts with understanding, and is able to analyze, interpret, evaluate text; reads for enjoyment.
2. Uses appropriate forms of expressions and conventions of Standard English to communicate and develop thoughts, share ideas, influence and persuade, and create and entertain.
3. Applies understanding of a writing process (drafting, revising, editing and rewriting) to improve writing.
4. Listens and views verbal and nonverbal presentations in order to analyze, clarify, follow directions and ask and answer questions.
5. Delivers oral and visual presentations using standard conventions, forms of expression, coherent sequence of thoughts, suitable vocabulary, and tools appropriate for the purpose and audience.
6. Applies computational skills, number sense and mathematical techniques to solve problems and judge reasonableness of results.
7. Collects, organizes and presents data using charts, tables, and graphs to interpret findings, defend or refute predictions, and draw conclusions.
8. Investigates and evaluates information and arguments from various sources and points of view applying prior knowledge, and inductive and deductive reasoning to establish a personal stance and defend a rationale.
9. Accesses a wide range of resources (print, non-print, and technological) to expand knowledge, conduct research, communicate information, create original works, and investigate complex problems.
10. Designs and applies techniques for investigating real world issues and problems including posting questions, hypothesizing, observing, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating findings.
11. Works collaboratively in a group to accomplish a goal by exchanging ideas, synthesizing information, investigating solutions to a problem, sharing workload and completing assigned tasks.
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