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Freshman English
Course Description
Welcome to Freshman English! Throughout the year, you will read novels, plays, short stories,essays and poetry.
Our theme for the year is identity, and we will work this theme through every reading selection. I will run the
classroom as a workplace where responsibility and accountability will be stressed.
Grading: Homework
(20%); Quizzes (20%); Papers (30%); Projects and Exams (30%)
Homework: Students
will read all of the necessary material on time. Students will be quizzed often. Class discussion and work will
build on homework assignments; therefore, if students do not complete homework, they will have great difficulty
succeeding in class. Students who do not bring in their assignments must write me a dated note explaining the missing
work. The note will be turned in as homework is collected. Sometimes due to computer problems, sickness, or major
projects in other classes, it is not always feasible for students to complete every assignment. With that in mind,
students are allowed one free homework assignment per quarter, for which they will not be penalized. (If you are
missing more than three assignments in a quarter, however, I will call home to discuss the situation with your
parents. I want you to do well, and I will do everything I can to ensure your success.) Homework assignments will
be graded according to the following rubric and then averaged as twenty percent of the final grade:
NA (Not Acceptable) - Less than 50 percent of assignment completed. Work is sloppy. = 0%
Check Minus - Less than 75 percent of assignment completed. Little effort shown. = 50%
Check - Work completed and presentable. = 100%
Check Plus - Work exceeds expectations. Detail and careful thought displayed. = 110%
Quizzes:
My quizzes are designed to make sure that you read. Even if you have difficulty, as long as you read, you should
do very well on the quizzes. I am not out to trick you in any way. I will ask basic information. Very difficult
reading is done in class. Therefore, if I assign you reading on your own, it will be easy. Poor grades on quizzes
are a direct result of not reading assigned work.
Papers:
I will give clear expectations for each paper assigned. You MUST keep a disk of your English work. You should also
save to your desktop. The system is designed for your benefit. If a paper should be misplaced, you will always
have a backup. If your disk breaks, you will have the desktop version saved. If your computer crashes, you will
have the paper on disk. Also, you will be starting your English portfolio this year. You will create and add to
this portfolio for the four years you spend in high school. When it comes time to revise final copies for your
portfolio, the process will be much easier on you if you do not have to retype twenty plus papers.
Projects:
You will do many hands-on projects throughout the year. You will also complete at least one research project. A
successful research project includes the following: paper, works cited, presentation, poster and handout. We will
use the MLA format for research — a format you will use in most of your college classes. I always begin each quarter
with one easy project designed to help you begin the quarter with a positive grade.
Exams: We
will work heavily with theme and symbolism throughout the year. While I focus on plot in my quizzes, I focus on
the deeper themes for exams. You must take detailed notes and participate in class and homework to do well on my
exams. If you zone out in class, it will be reflected on tests. |
Expectations
Organization and Responsibility - During your freshman year
you will make an important transition. At first, this transition may be overwhelming, as more will be expected
of you academically. As I prepare you for college, you will learn to take responsibility for your work (or lack
thereof). The organizational skills you develop this year are key to your success in my classroom and beyond.
Notebook - You
will keep a binder in which you put only English work. I should not find work for any other class in the binder
you choose. I know your parents must buy a lot of supplies for school, so if purchasing an extra binder is not
possible, don't worry. Let me know, and I will supply you with one. I will check your notebooks periodically. If
I find you are having trouble keeping organized, you will stay after school so that we can work together to get
you back on track. By the way, it's a good idea to keep a place for a pen / pencil in your binder. Often, students
forget to bring something with which to write, and I run out from loaning so many.
Absences - According
to the student handbook, you are allowed a certain extension for work if you are absent. I honor these extensions,
of course, but please be aware of the following instances:
Example A - You are in school on Monday. We review for a quiz to be held on Friday. You are absent on Wednesday.
You should still be prepared to take your quiz on Friday.
Example B - You are absent for Wednesday's class. You have your syllabus at home with you (it is also on-line).
Wednesday night's homework is a reading assignment. Whether you have the book with you Wednesday or you need to
get the assigned reading from me on Thursday, you should have your reading complete for Friday's class.
We will discuss more of these examples during the first week of class.
Effort -
I promise that I will put in as much effort as I expect from you. I will be fair in my expectations, and I hope
you will give your best effort to the class. I do not expect you to get an "A" on every assignment, I
expect you to do your best on every assignment. As I get to know you, I will be able to tell whether you are working
to your potential. |
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Reading List
We will read the following texts in addition to many short
stories, essays and poems.
Texts: The Pearl
- John Steinbeck; A Separate Peace - John Knowles; The Nick Adams Stories
- Ernest Hemingway; The Education of Little Tree - ; A Raisin in the
Sun - Lorraine Hansberry; The Odyssey - Homer; Romeo and Juliet -
Shakespeare; MCAS Notebook; The Lively Art |
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