English I Syllabus

by James Farnen

English I Course Syllabus

Mr. Farnen

Revised Aug. 17, 2010

 

 

 

 

Planning periods:      Semester 1 – 2A and 2B (9:50 – 11:15)

                                    Semester 2 – 4A and 4B (1:15 – 2:40)          

 

Availability:               before classes 7:30 – 8:00, during plan, or by appointment

 

Phone:                        School – 742-3312

Home – 740-5000

 

Email:                         [email protected]

 

Teacher webpage:     www.hiawathaschools.org; go to “Teacher Web Pages” under the “Faculty

and Staff” menu and select “James Farnen”; the syllabus, reading lists, and other items will be posted there regularly

 

 

 

 

 

Personal Oath

I am not here to give you knowledge or the tools you need to be successful because I do not have them to give, but I will do everything in my power as your teacher to help you find them for yourselves.

 

Course Description and General Expectations

Welcome! The purpose of English I will be to begin to get each of you focused on your own reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. From there we will be better able to develop those skills in order to prepare you for the reading, writing, and critical thinking that will carry you through all of high school and the rest of your lives. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CLASS YOU WILL EVER TAKE!!! (Don’t tell your other teachers I said so though, or they might get jealous.) The more we apply ourselves to enhancing our individual skills and abilities in reading, writing, and critical thinking over the next few years, the readier each of you will be after graduation to take on the challenges you will face beyond high school. If we all take it seriously and get actively involved in learning, this course will challenge our creativity, raise our awareness, and lead us toward understanding ourselves and the world we live in. You will also be able to use big words to impress people at family reunions.

 

 

 

 

Classroom Policies:

I believe that the desire to learn is a natural and important part of the human experience and that, to this end, it is one of my principal duties as a teacher to ensure that all students are provided the opportunity to learn to their fullest potential by instating and enforcing policies and procedures to manage my classroom so that no behavior is permitted that runs contrary to this aim. The four basic classroom policies that allow all students to benefit from the maximum opportunity for learning are that ALL students will…

 

1) Be Respectful

2) Be Responsible

3) Be Inquisitive

4) Be Involved

 

If everyone in the class will observe these simple policies then I know we will have an enjoyable and very productive year.

 

 

Classroom Daily Procedures: 

  1. Be in your seat at the sounding of the bell signaling the start of class.
  2. Be working on the day’s Warm-up Exercise (posted on the whiteboard) when the bell rings signaling the start of class.
  3. Write down the day’s Planner Stuff in your planner.
  4. Observe the Hands Up Mouths Shut rule when it is implemented (I will explain).
  5. Wait for Mr. Farnen to dismiss you at the end of class. Do not assume that the bell dismisses you.

 

Necessary Supplies:

  • Pens (blue, black, red) and pencils
  • Loose leaf paper
  • Three-ring binder (one inch)
  • Subject dividers (you will need 7 of them)
  • A spiral notebook (this will be your journal for the year)

 

 

Grading/Make-Up Work/Late Work Policies

The grading scale implemented by Hiawatha High School is as follows:

 

A+

97 – 100

 

C+

77 – 79

A

94 – 96

 

C

74 – 76

A-

90 – 93

 

C-

70 – 73

B+

87 – 89

 

D+

67 – 69

B

84 – 86

 

D

64 – 66

B-

80 – 83

 

D-

60 – 63

 

 

 

F

0 - 59

 

Your grades in this course will accumulate with points earned through daily assignments and daily participation, as well as major assignments such as essays, projects, presentations, tests, exams, quizzes, etc.

 

Make-up Work:

In the case of school related absence, it is your responsibility to turn in assignments and request class work prior to leaving for the activity. You will be expected to be prepared for class when you return from the activity.

 

In the case of other absences, it is your responsibility to request missed class work from me as soon as you return to classes. You will then have one additional class period to turn in the work. If work is not turned in by this point, the late work policy will apply. If an assignment was due on the day you missed class, that assignment should be turned in when you return to class.

 

Late work:

Failure to turn in a completed assignment by its due date will result in a 10% deduction per day of the grade earned. You will have a total of 5 consecutive school days—not class days—to turn in the daily homework. After 5 days you will not receive credit for the assignment. IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING AN ASSIGNMENT COME TO ME IMMEDIATELY! DO NOT WAIT!!!

 

If you are absent on the day of a test, the retake must be scheduled for before school within five days of the test date. Failure on the part of a student to schedule a retake time and date with me within the five days will result in a grade of zero for the test.

 

TIP: Use your planner to keep track of due dates for assignments and dates of tests. 

 

 

Course Requirements and Grading Breakdown

 

  1. Daily Participation (approx. 20% of final grade) – Participation points will be available each class period. These points will be easily earned as long as you:
  • are in your seat by the warning bell
  • come to class prepared with materials and assignments
  • demonstrate attentiveness by asking questions and providing constructive commentary and by refraining from off-topic conversation
  • contribute constructively in class discussions and group work
  • complete each day’s warmup assignment in class

 

  1. Portfolios (approx. 20% of final grade) – All students will keep a portfolio of their work and the papers they receive in class. The idea behind this is A) to help everybody stay organized since there are so many classes and so much paper to worry about in high school and B) to serve as the subject of your final writing assignment for the school year (details on that later). This means you are to DO ALL THE WORK AND PUT IT IN THE APPROPRIATE SECTION OF YOU PORTFOLIO and DO NOT LOSE YOUR PORTFOLIO OR YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE YOUR FINAL ASSIGNMENT!!!

 

Portfolios will be divided into the following sections:

    1. General classroom handouts (beginning with this syllabus)
    2. Warm-up Exercises
    3. Quote of the Week reflections
    4. In-class assignments/assignment handouts
    5. Essays, Projects and Presentations
    6. Class Notes

     

     

  2. Warm-up Exercises(included in Portfolio Grade) – Every day there will be a warm-up assignment posted on the board. These may be grammar exercises, standards practice, personal reflections, etc. They are to be begun at the sounding of the first bell and included in the appropriate section of your portfolio.

 

  1. Quote of the Week Reflection(included in Portfolio Grade) – Every week a new quote will be posted on the board behind my desk. Read the quote and reflect upon it in the appropriate section of your journal. What do you think about it? Do you agree or disagree? Why? Can you relate to it personally? Tell of a time when you did. Reflections will be graded for thoughtful completion.

 

  1. In-class assignments (approx. 20% of final grade) – To be announced.

 

  1. Major Essays, Projects, Presentations and Examinations (approx. 40% of final grade) – To be announced.

 

  1. Notes (included in Participation grade) – Far from being a cruelty, the notes you take are primarily for your benefit. Usually I will give you fair warning when an occasion in class calls for note-taking. You are also encouraged to use this section in your portfolios to take notes on the texts we read both inside and outside of class. There will be cases when these notes may be used during tests.  

 

 

Discipline and Tardiness 

Appropriate behavior is expected at all times in the classroom. Unacceptable behavior will be subject to disciplinary consequences. Inconvenience detentions (15 minutes with me either before or after school) will be given for infractions. Further infractions will be dealt with in accordance to the student handbook guidelines for “Levels of Unacceptable Behavior and their Consequences.”

 

You are expected to be in class on time, which means you are in your seat and ready to begin class when the bell rings. You will be counted tardy if you arrive after the bell without a pass from another teacher. You will need to be sure to bring all supplies to class, as going back to your locker to retrieve materials will result in a tardy. Your first tardy will be your only warning. The second tardy and all subsequent tardies will be recorded during attendance. Three tardies equal one unexcused absence, no exceptions.

 

Extra Credit

Extra credit will be available at certain points each academic quarter and will be offered to the class as a whole. No extra credit will be offered individually.  

 

 

Guidelines for coursework: (paper headings, etc.) 

 

Be sure to follow these guidelines for ALL typewritten assignments:

 

  • One-inch margins on all sides. (File/Page Setup/Margins)
  • Double space the entire document. (Format/Paragraph/Line Spacing)
  • Use Times New Roman 12 point font (Ariel if you’re feeling jaunty)
  • Center the title. Please do not underline, italicize, make bold, or increase the font size.
  • Use appropriate heading.

 

EXAMPLE:

 

Jane Smith

 

English I

 

Mr. Farnen

 

August 17, 2010

 

My Paper Title

 

 

 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

Student:

I verify that I have read, understood, and will abide by all parts of Mr. Farnen’s course syllabus.

Print:___________________________   Sign:________________________________

 

Parent:

I have read and understand the course syllabus for Mr. Farnen’s English course.

Print:__________________________   Sign:_________________________________

 

Preferred method of contact (circle one and provide information):

 

Email:_____________________________Phone:_____________________________