WELCOME TO ENGLISH  II

GRADING POLICY:

Grades will be based on my assessment of the following:

                 - attendance

                   -conduct and effort

                  -class participation

                  -homework and notebook

                  -quizzes and class work

                  -major assignments and assessments

                  - unit tests, compositions, reports

                    group projects          

CLASSROOM PROCEDURE:

Make up work is the responsibility of the student. School policy allows two days for each day missed. A grade of “0” will be given if work is not made up or satisfactory arrangements made within the time limit. If a student cuts class, no opportunity to make up work will be given and a grade of “0’ will be assigned. I am available for extra help during my resource period and after school.

School attendance policy will be strictly adhered to. Tardiness to class is unacceptable behavior and school policy will be followed. During class students will not be permitted to go to lockers, fountains, or restrooms. Emergencies occur rarely. 

Students will come to class prepared with appropriate, properly covered text(s), notebook, pen/pencil, and homework.

Homework is an integral part of the course. Daily and long-term assignments are due on time. Late assignments will not be accepted.

Students are required to keep an assignment list and a notebook. Notebooks will be checked and graded periodically. Failure to keep this notebook in the required manner (set-up and content) will lower a student’s grade considerably. 

I run a very structured classroom.  Students are expected to display a sense of personal responsibility and conduct themselves in a manner that is supportive of a learning environment.

Student folders of completed work are kept in my classroom. Individual folders may be signed out for reference purposes or to be taken home but must be returned within a reasonable amount of time.

 OBJECTIVES:

*Through analytical reading of poetry, drama, short stories, and novels, the student will be able to:

                 -identify relationships between form and content

                  -interpret authors' meaning inferentially as 

                    well as literally                

                  -separate personal opinions and assumptions

                    from the authors and compare readings with

                    real life situations, understanding relevancy 

                    and universal applications                      

                  -develop visual and working vocabularies

                  -identify literary devices within the context of                      specific readings

                  -understand the history of the times and

                   authors of the classics and genres studied

 *Through study in a sequential vocabulary program, the student will be able to learn new words by using context clues, themes, word parts and origin, and a variety of testing methods that require practical and innovative applications of learning.

*ln all areas of study, the student will develop critical thinking skills by

-identifying and formulating problems and evaluating solutions

-using inductive and deductive reasoning

-inferring and defending conclusions rationally

-distinguishing between fact and opinion

-understanding and developing concepts and generalizations 

*Through class and group discussions and oral presentations, the student will be able to:

-engage critically and constructively in the exchange of ideas

-ask and answer questions coherently and concisely

-vary spoken language to suit different situations

-develop formal speeches (informative, personal experiences) and present them in Standard English

-evaluate similar presentations by classmates 

*Through a variety of writing instruction and assignments, the student will be able to:

-write complete Standard English sentences with correct structure, verb forms, word choice, spelling and mechanics

-develop unified, coherent paragraphs

-vary writing style for different purposes  (creative, essay, summary, business letter, character sketch, literary analysis, etc.)

-quote and paraphrase accurately

-edit by correcting and rewriting

-participate in peer evaluation of writing

 *Through study in research, the student will develop library skills and write a research report synthesizing information and utilizing parenthetical documentation and a formal works cited list.

 * With a positive attitude, sense of responsibility and willingness to support an atmosphere conducive to    learning, the student will be able to:

-set goals and priorities consistent with course objectives

-schedule both short and long-term assignments

-incorporate library resources into the learning process

-understand and follow spoken and written directions

-synthesize learning and apply it to new situations

-learn test-taking skills for various types of examinations

-develop note-taking skills and maintain required notebook

-accept constructive criticism and learn from it