English 11 syllabus -- Ms Hamilton – Room 209

 

It is wonderful to have you in my eleventh grade American literature class.  I know that all of you had superb English teachers last year, and we will be continuing to put all of your hard work to practice.  This course incorporates a study of American literature with interdisciplinary aspects of United States history.

 

Course Objectives:  The student will be able to…

                             read critically and analyze literature

                             explore different literary terms

                             deliver information through oral presentations

                             participate in small group activities and work cooperatively

                             achieve 11th grade English SOL’s

                             organize information

                             enhance writing skills

                             correlate American literature with American history

 

Primary Texts:

                             Prentice Hall Literature - The American Experience

                             Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition

 

Quarter one

                             The American Dream                        The New Land

                             The Crucible                                     The Revolutionary period       

Quarter two

                             A Growing Nation                              Division, War, and Reconciliation

                             The New England Renaissance

Quarter three

                             Old Man and the Sea

Documented research paper (you can do it!!)               

Quarter four

                             Realism and the Frontier                            The Great Gatsby

                             Modern Poetry –Holocaust Unit                  Modern Prose      

 

Ongoing assignments:

                             Grammar work                        writing

Literary analysis                      projects

Vocabulary                              editing work

Memory work                           “Surfing the Net” technology projects

 

Grading procedures: Grades will be averaged on the numerical grading scale.  Your grade will be determined by:

          25% writing/oral presentations                   20% daily homework     5% class participation

          25% quizzes                                                25% tests

 

** This syllabus is subject to change in order to accommodate the needs of the students.         

                  

Ms Hamilton’s “Rules of Respect”

 

1.      If you mess it up, clean it up.

2.      You will miss valuable information if you are tardy to class.  Please be in your seat when the bell rings.

3.      Respect your peers, yourself, and me.  “Put-downs” are not acceptable – treat people as you wish to be treated.

4.      Listening is an important skill.  Listen first, then raise your hand to ask questions.

5.      Each of us needs to respect each other’s property.  Do not touch without asking first.

6.      Groups must work as a team.  One person is not responsible for all of the work.  Remember, a quarterback cannot win the game if he doesn’t have a team to ”back him up”.

 

Ms Hamilton’s Classroom Procedures

 

1.     All materials, with literature book, must be brought to class with you.  This includes:

·        Three-holed notebook paper in a three-ringed notebook

·        Three-holed pocket in notebook

·        1 box of Kleenex (to be turned in to Ms Hamilton during the first two weeks of school)

·        pens

·        spiral notebook for a journal

·        agenda (to be given out at the beginning of school year)

2.  All writing assignments must have a rough draft and a final copy. There must be visible editing on the rough copy, and the final draft must be in ink or typed and have the editing corrections in it.  If a paper is turned in without a rough draft, there will be a ten points deductions from the final draft (this is different on the research paper)..

3. You are responsible for turning in make-up work when absent.  Please see my lesson notebook (on my desk) for make up assignments. Missed work due to being absent needs to be turned in on the next class day.  See me if you are absent more than one day.  After EIGHT absences in English class (FIFTEEN in 7th period), an administrator must approve a student’s receiving make up work.  Ms Hamilton does send out tardy and absence letters.

4.  All homework must be completed on time. You will have two class periods to turn in the late assignments (this is different from last year, so be aware!).  Late homework will count as a 75%.  After two class periods, late homework will count as zeroes.

5.  Submit all projects and papers on the due date.  A paper/project may be submitted late, but it will be lowered a letter grade for every school day (not class day) that it is late. If you are absent the day a paper or project is due, it needs to be brought to me the day you return to school with an excused absence pass.  No exceptions!

 

***I shall make phone calls to parents/guardians concerning behavior and grades.  This could be positive – so work hard and do your best!  Parents are also invited to e-mail me at:

 

                   thamilton@ycsd.york.va.us

 

,and I shall respond as soon as possible.