Course Syllabus

             Honors English I – Fall 2018

Jill Blythe –jblythe@wcpss.net

  Smart Lunch – Wednesdays (B), Fridays (A)

                                                

Welcome to Panther Creek High School, and to Honors English I. High school is a new chapter in your life, and I am happy to share it with you! The purpose of this class is to help you develop many skills to be successful in high school and college, and to help you be an even more independent and enthusiastic reader and learner. Academically we will work on choosing independent texts for daily reading, developing vocabulary, improving grammar, strengthening writing skills, and developing communication and presentation skills.

Course Description:

• Students will develop a greater appreciation for reading by choosing their own reading materials and reading daily, both in and out of class. (Information soon about Independent Reading Time)
• Students will read texts from various genres (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama); while much of this reading will be independent, there are also some texts we will read together.
• Students will increase vocabulary skills through reading and other activities.
• Students will engage in a variety of writing assignments and will write frequently in journals and for informal and formal assessments.
• Students will study and apply grammar conventions on a weekly basis.
• Students will create and present at least one project per quarter.

 

Materials: For this class you will need:

• One 3-ring binder with 5 dividers
• One college-ruled spiral notebook (full size… no marble journals please)
• Individually- chosen supplemental paperbacks… details soon

Grading: Grading Scale, per quarter:

 

• Type of Assignments                                                      Grading Scale:
• Major grades (i.e. tests, essays, projects) – 60% A = 100-90    
• Minor grades (i.e. quizzes) - 35%                                              B = 89-80
• Student Engagement - 5% C = 79-70

                                                                                                                          D = 69-60

                                                                                                                          F = <60

 

 

Daily engagement:  Daily Engagement, both in class at home, is a basic expectation. Homework is assigned nightly and counts as part of your engagement grade.  Check Canvas if you are absent or if you need a reminder about in-class work and / or homework. (Parents, your child can share the Canvas site with you.) Engagement assignments cannot be turned in late (except for absences), and any missing engagement assignments will be recorded in PowerSchools as a 40.

 

Note about SMART Lunch: You are expected to attend at least 4 SMART Lunches per quarter (2 before and 2 after the interim period). Attending 4 SMART Lunches during the quarter will count as an extra credit quiz grade. This is the only extra-credit opportunity for English I, so please come to SMART Lunch!

 

Note about Digital Portfolios for 9^th grade: This year, all Catamounts will establish (design background, fonts, color, layout, and biographical information) a digital portfolio in English I during their freshman year.  These portfolios will eventually contain entries from all classes (core, elective, multiple grade levels), include a variety of artifacts (pictures, video, Slides, Docs), and share a reflective component that uniquely illustrates each student’s personal learning journey.  These portfolios will be comprised of work intended to eventually be shared with classmates, teachers, parents, administrators, college admission boards, and potential employers.     

 

Academic Procedures

1. Engagement assignments (including homework and classwork) are not accepted late and will result in a grade of 40. If you are absent, remember it is your responsibility to check Canvas for all assignments.
2. Major and minor assignments not turned in on the due date will have 10 points deducted for every day late; major assignments will not be accepted after they are 5 days late. (The penalty points are subtracted from the grade earned.)

 

Makeup work

Students who are absent are expected to check Canvas for assignments and are allowed one day per absence to turn in the missing work. (Please communicate with me if there are extenuating circumstances.) Quizzes and tests are to be made up during SMART Lunch or after school.

 

Test Corrections

Test corrections are possible if the original score is a 74% or below. The student MUST INITIATE the process within 2 days of receiving back the original test grade and may earn up to a 75%. Procedure for test corrections will be explained in class.

 

 

Academic Integrity

As outlined in the Panther Creek High School Student/Parent Handbook, academic integrity is valued for all students.  Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the “Understanding Academic Integrity” section of this handbook and adhering to the expectations outlined.  An administrative referral and parental contact will be made for students who do not uphold the standards of academic integrity.

 

PCHS Basic Expectations

 

1. Participate actively in learning
2. Celebrate diversity
3. Honor PCHS and WCPSS procedures and policies
4. Strive to be a person of character

 

 

Classroom Rules

• Please bring all necessary materials to class, including notebook, paper, writing utensils, and texts.
• Be in your seat with materials out, from the time the tardy bell rings until I announce it is time to pack up materials.
• Take restroom breaks before class and only ask permission to leave the room in an emergency.
• No food or drinks (except water) during class. (You are permitted to eat in the room before school and during SMART Lunch.)

Parents, there is a separate Student Information form for you to fill out and sign.

The student should keep this letter in his or her notebook and return the signed information sheet (on a separate sheet) for a homework grade.

I look forward to working with each of you!

Thank you!!!   Jill Blythe

 

Honors English I Syllabus – Mrs. Blythe – Fall 2018

*The order of the units may change

 

Unit 1: Home and Family

Anchor Test – The Odyssey

Supplemental Texts – Book Club selections (chosen on an individual basis)

Major Assessment – Argumentative Essay

 

Unit 2: Identity and Culture

Anchor text – A Raisin in the Sun

Supplemental Texts – Related nonfiction essays and articles

Major Assessment – Project (PBL) – My Identity and Culture

 

Unit 3: Conformity and Rebellion

Anchor Text – Romeo and Juliet

Supplemental Texts – Book Club selections (chosen on an individual basis)

Major Assessment – Literary Analysis Essay

 

Unit 4: Tradition and Progress

Anchor Test – To Kill a Mockingbird

Supplemental Texts – Related poetry, songs, and editorials

Major Assessment – Project (PBL) – Modern Controversial Court Cases

 

 

*Please also note that the JOURNAL counts each QUARTER as a major assessment grade.

The journal each quarter consists of 10 in-class timed writings. Prompts are given in class, and students have 15-20 minutes to write each response (depending on the nature of the question).