ENGLISH 10
Mr. Ottley
COURSE DESCRIPTION:English 10 is a foundation course designed to help students further develop their communication skills. Since successful completion of English 11 courses depends upon mastery of English 10 skills, students will study critical thinking, literature, grammar, spelling, editing, and composition. During the school year, we will read novels, short stories, poetry, and drama. Additionally, students will respond to discussion/critical-thinking topics in either in-class or homework assignments.
HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK:Students are expected to be in class on time and prepared to be involved in class activities. Since this is a writing-intensive course, students should bring paper and pen/pencil with them each day. Likewise, they should bring any reading materials that we may be using that day.
LATE/MAKEUP WORK POLICY:
--With the exception of excused absences, ALL work is to be turned in on the day it is due.I WILL POST ALL DUE DATES ON MY BLOG AND PROVIDE HARD-COPY HANDOUTS WITH DUE DATES AS WELL!
--Students will receive two late passes per quarter providing a ONE WEEK extension. Late work attached to a
pass will receive full credit. LATE WORK WITHOUT A PASS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!
--When you are absent, you have a week from your return to school to hand in missing work—CHECK MY
BLOG:
--Work due when a student is absent will be due the day they return. As per district policy, any work missed due to truancy cannot be made up.
--ASSIGNMENTS WORTH 50 OR MORE POINTS ARE DUE ON THE SPECIFIED DUE DATE REGARDLESS OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE, & NO POINTS WILL BE GIVEN FOR LATE WORK IF THE STUDENT HAS HAD AMPLE TIME TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNED TASKS/PROJECTS/ASSIGNMENTS!
--IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY OR SOME OTHER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE, IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THE TEACHER REGARDING ANY LATE OR MISSED WORK!
GRADING:A 94-100 B- 80-82 D+ 67-69
A- 90-93 C+ 77-79 D 63-66
B+ 87-89 C 73-76 D- 60-62
B 83-86 C- 70-72 F 0-59
Grades will be based upon homework, in-class assignments, reading quizzes (which may be re-taken once for the higher score), tests, projects, ALL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (FORMAL AND INFORMAL), and will be awarded as a percentage of the total number of possible points. VIOLATION OF THE WEBER SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCEPTABLE COMPUTER USE POLICY, PLAGIARISM, AND/OR CHEATING ON TESTS, QUIZZES, OR ANY OTHER ASSIGNMENTS WILL RESULT IN A “U” IN CITIZENSHIP AND AN “F” ON THE ASSIGNMENT FOR ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED. THESE POINTS/ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE MADE UP. VIOLATION OF THIS POLICY MAY ALSO RESULT IN ADMINISTRATIVE INTERVENTION/DISCIPLINARY ACTION!
*NOTE*: THERE IS NO EXTRA-CREDIT WORK IN THIS COURSE–NO EXCEPTIONS!
IN-CLASS READING ASSIGNMENT:As part of class this year, students will be required to bring a book of their choice (either fiction or nonfiction) to class on a daily basis. Students must give me the title and author of the book they have chosen, continuing to read that book, and only that book, until they finish. After they complete one book, they must select another (the purposes of which are to always be reading something, and to finish one (1) book per quarter) and again, provide me with the author and title. In order to complete one book per quarter, students may have to read their books outside of class, as well as during reading time. Students may check out one of the titles I have in my room, but this will be THE book they have to read for that quarter. This must be a book of their own choosingNO MAGAZINES, TEXTBOOKS, BOOKS RANDOMLY GRABBED FROM MY SHELVES/CLOSETS/BOXES (IF THEY FORGET THEIR OWN BOOKS), OR NOVELS WE ARE READING AS A CLASSand may be stored in the classroom if the students choose to do so. They will have 1520 minutes of time in which to do nothing but read. This means that students may not use this time to do homework, talk, goof off, or sleep. STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A "0" IF THEY DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN READ THEIR PERSONAL BOOKS DURING THIS TIMETHESE POINTS CANNOT BE MADE UP!Moreover, to receive full credit for the reading, students must also write and submit a minimum of one response essay per quarter. In this mandatory150-point essay, they will be responsible for analyzing their respective books as to what they liked/disliked and the quality of the writing, using textual evidence and logic to justify their responses. I will post the specific requirements for this assignment on my blog (under the heading “RESPONSE ESSAY”), as well as provide the students with a handout. In order to turn in an essay, students must have read their books in class, during reading time—books read only outside of class do not qualify! Please remember, failure to turn in this essay will drastically reduce the student’s grade!
*NOTE* Students must keep a reading journal wherein they will respond to whatever it is that they read during reading time. These entries should be 3-5 sentences in length, and should relate to at least one of the four Response Essay questions.
ATTENDANCE:As per Weber School District policy, students will lose attendance credit if one of following circumstances occurs in any given quarter:
--Five or more absences--Five or more tardies --Two or more truancies
CITIZENSHIP:Students’ classroom behavior will be evaluated and must comply with Weber High School’s citizenship policy. Appropriate language, dress, attitude and behavior are expected at all times. Each student is expected to demonstrate respect for those around her/him, personal responsibility, accountability, and preparation. Citizenship grades are based upon the student’s attitude, classroom behavior, and participation, and will be an “S” unless his/her actions merit a different mark.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES: As per WHS policy, NO electronic devices will be allowed in the classroom, including but not limited to cell phones, portable CD/MP3 players, iPod’s, laptops, and graphing calculators. Electronic devices such as cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, e-readers, tablets, etc. will only be allowed when the teacher plans for their use as part of the lesson. Otherwise, they are to be put away during class. Unapproved electronic devices that are seen/heard will be confiscated and taken to the office.
GRADE UPDATES:Grades will be updated and uploaded to Weber School District’s“My Student”()at least once a week. Parents AND Students should become familiar with My Student and how to check student progress via the Internetinasmuch as this will be the PRIMARY source for grade updates and failure notifications. Due to the nature of some assignments, time constraints, and other teacher responsibilities/obligations, not all assignment/project grades will be posted immediately after the due date.Likewise, it is imperative that parents and students check my blog- -at least every other day. I will post any assignments-reading pages, essays, essay/test deadlines, etc.-that students have to complete. Students and parents will also find copies of my disclosure statement and other class information and documents on my blog.
HALL PASSES: Students may use the hall pass at the teacher’s discretion and under specific conditions. They may only use it after readingtime or first lunch is over or anytime if the student has a verifiable medical condition which requires them to leave class. There may be occasions when I will not allow a student to use the hall pass, particularly if I catch them hanging out with friends or if I find that they are asking to use it too frequently.
FILMS/VIDEOS:I will occasionally show videos/DVD’s that relate to the curriculum in order to enhance classroom instruction. It is possible that some of these may be rated PG-13, but will have been screened for appropriate content.
*NOTE*
I will be available to help students before or after school from 2:35 to 3:15 P.M., and every Thursday morning from 7:15 to 8:15 A.M. If necessary, I may request an appointment for the student to meet with me for additional tutoring during E.O. or before/after school.
Parents may feel free to contact me at Weber High School--Phone: (801)476-3700
Email: My Blog Address:
Parent/Guardian: Please detach and sign (or print and sign) this section and have your student return it to Mr. Ottley. Keep the descriptive portion of this document for your reference.
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Class Period Teacher Year
I have reviewed the disclosure for the above-listed teacher and class. I am aware of and will support the academic and citizenship grading standards, classroom policies, and expectations as described. I am keeping the descriptive portion of this document for future reference.
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Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature Date
I will occasionally have students correct one another’s quizzes or tests in class. Although I don’t do this often, I find it useful in providing timely academic outcomes and for curriculum review. Please indicate whether or not this is acceptable to you, sign and date. If not, I will personally grade your student’s work at another time.
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Parent/Guardian SignatureDate
As part of class this year, I would like to film student presentations and place some of them on my blog. This provides students with quality examples of the academic products I expect from them. Please indicate whether or not posting a video clip of your student’s presentation would be acceptable to you, sign and date.
___ YES___ NO
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Parent/Guardian SignatureDate