Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year/syllabus

ENGLISH 11R:  THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE           Course Overview

Dr. Moore

e-mail:   kmoore@niskyschools.org        

blog: http://henrywalt.blogspot.com/

 

The new Common Core English Regents Exam:

Your class will be the first group of juniors to take the new Common Core ELA Regents Exam.  This test is very different than the old English Regents.  On that test you will be faced with the following challenges:

 

**  You will need to read, comprehend, and analyze complex texts, both nonfiction and fiction, on demand. 

 

**  You will need to be able to identify and analyze the literary and rhetorical techniques the writers of those texts use to convey ideas.  You will have to construct a literary analysis essay that focuses on the use of those techniques.

 

**  You will also have to construct a research-based argumentative essay based on four or five sources that will be provided to you in the test booklet.  You will have to pull evidence from those sources to develop your claim as well as dispute opposing claims.

 

As you can see, the new English Regents is very challenging and requires that you repeatedly practice the skills needed for completing the above tasks.  It is no longer enough to simply remember what your teacher said about the literature you studied together in class.  In order to tackle the tasks on this test, you will have to practice close reading and source-based argumentative writing.

 

 

Course Description:

 

          We are here to get you ready to the task ahead.  Here’s what we have planned to help you prepare:

 

1.  We will be reading BOTH fiction and nonfiction texts.  The focus won’t be remembering everything that happens in the books.  The focus will be on the literary, rhetorical, and persuasive strategies the different writers use to convey ideas.

 

2. We will continually practice the skill of close reading and annotation with increasingly complex texts.

 

3. Rather than avoid difficult vocabulary, we will identify those words in the text that are challenging and use various strategies to incorporate those words into our working vocabularies.

 

 

4. We will use a class blog as a vehicle for sharing ideas and as a precursor to larger seminar and fishbowl discussions.

 

5.  We will work on communicating ideas clearly and effectively.  We will address common errors in sentence structure; we will review the components of effective paragraphs; we will experiment with different sentence patterns to add sophistication to our writing styles.

 

6. We will study the art of argumentation and look at ways to craft language with increasing clarity and effectiveness.  We will learn about ways to use structure, evidence, and rhetorical techniques to develop claim and address opposing claims.

 

 

7. We will practice using sources effectively in our writing.  We will practice using various types of evidence to strengthen claims.  We will also show you how to effectively frame quotations in our writing as well as correctly cite the sources you use.

 

8. In addition, many activities in this course will ask you to expand your point of view and to have informed opinions about the social, cultural, and political issues that are shaping the larger world today.  Expect debates, dramatic role-playing, and engaging discussions, as well as writing assignments that push you to analyze and explore thoughtful questions.

 

 Ready to get started?

 

 

 

 

MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED

1. A notebook for both notes and pull out paper.
2. A sturdy folder to keep a lot of different handouts.
3. A planner—this is something you can use for all of your classes to help you keep track of dates for up-coming assignments and long term projects.
4. A pen and pencil.
5. Whatever text (book, play, shorter work, article) we are working with..
6. A few stacks of sticky notes to help you make notes as you read.
7. A google account so that you can access the blog (it is often best to use your school account).
8. A book of your choosing so that aside from the texts we look at together, you can keep practicing your reading skills by….READING!

 

Explanation of Grading

 

Daily grading:  A point system will be used to calculate your grade.  You will be provided with a grade sheet that explains the criteria for formal assignments.  However, you will also receive grades for reading assignments (please note that I check reading with a quiz or a check of your annotations), blog entries, participation, and other kinds of class activities and assignments.  Your grade is a total of the points you earn from both formal papers and these other types of activities. 

 

Possible point values include the following:

*  Short homework assignments (like vocab, grammar, questions):       5-20 points

*  Reading, vocab and other types of quizzes:                             10-30 points

*  Outside reading participation (you bring in your book and actively read during free read periods)                                                                                  10 points

*  Projects                                                                                   20-60 points

*  Participation (in writing groups, seminar, group projects):  10-40 points

*  Blog entries:                                                                            20-40 points

*  Informal writing:                                                                     20-60 points

*  Formal writing (papers that involve drafts and revision):             60-100  points

*  Presentations:                                                                       20-50 points

* Research:                                                                             50-100 points

 

 

Calculating your final course grade:  Your final course grade will be calculated by the averages of each quarter and final exam.  Each marking period will count once (4/5 of your grade) and your final exam will count once (1/5 of your grade). 

 

The final exam:  The final exam for this course is the Common Core New York State English Language Arts Regents Exam.  All juniors are expected to take this test at the end of the year.  It is the English Department’s policy that this assessment counts as the final exam for all juniors.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is what you need to do in order to have success in this class:

·       Actively participate in class discussions, debates, role-playing activities, and group work.

·       Come to class prepared.  Prepared means bringing your book and other materials to class with you.  Prepared means that you have completed the assigned reading and any written work ahead of time.  Prepared also means that you have completed assignments with care and thought.

·       Use the calendar on the website to plan ahead so that you aren’t waiting until the last minute to complete work.

·       Use good old fashioned pen and paper if you do run into technology problems.

·       Write clearly and develop ideas thoughtfully.  Use assignments as learning opportunities – don’t just do it quickly to get it done.

·       Read carefully and without distractions – look up words you don’t know, write down questions, ideas, and connections on sticky notes, and come to class with text-specific questions.

·       Use teacher feedback as a guide to help you work on your own writing goals. Use strategies that we teach you to help you with reading and analysis.

·       If you are absent, take the initiative to contact me or look at the website to get caught up.  Ask about what you missed.

 

 

Attendance

Lates, cuts, and absences will be dealt with in accordance with Niskayuna High School’s policies.

If you are LATE for a class (after the second bell to 19 minutes) you will receive one detention. 

If you are LATE (20 minutes or more) for a class and do not have a legal excuse, it is considered a cut and the appropriate paperwork will be sent to your assistant principal.

 

If you CUT a class, the appropriate paperwork will be sent to your assistant principal.  You should receive 3 after school detentions from your administrator.  In addition, ANY WORK THAT WAS DUE THAT BLOCK AND/OR THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE BLOCK WILL RECEIVE A ZERO.  This work cannot be made up. 

 

ABSENCES will also be dealt with according to school policy.  For a full year class the breakdown is as follows:

                        Stage I:                8 absences

                              Stage II:                              13 absences

                              Stage III:             15 absences

 

 

ABSENCES AND ASSIGNMENTS:

 

What if I am absent and a written assignment is due?

If you are legally absent when a major paper or assignment is due, you must hand in that paper or assignment when you return to school.  If you are legally absent only during class time (for example you come into school late with an excuse), then that paper or assignment is due when you return to school.  That means there may be an occasion when you will turn in a paper or assignment to the English Resource Center.  If you need to do that and I am not there, you must have an adult date and time the piece and provide their initials.  If you place something in my mailbox without the date, time, and initials, it will be graded according to WHEN I FOUND IT IN MY MAILBOX.

 

What if I am absent and I am supposed to do a presentation?

First of all contact me and try to contact members of your group.  If your group goes on without you, you will receive no credit for that portion of the assignment until you make it up.  If you do not make the assignment up promptly, you will receive no credit for that assignment.  If you know ahead of time that you will be out, let me know so that we can make other arrangements for your work.

 

What if I am absent when reading is due?

If you have been given the reading schedule ahead of time (in an earlier class or on the website), you are still responsible to keep up with the reading.  When you return to class, you will be expected to take any reading quizzes or participate in any class activities related to the reading.  The grades on those quizzes and activities will stand.  If you have to make up past quizzes, you will need to go the ERC during your free time and ask an adult to get the quiz for you.  You will take it there (they usually only take 10 minutes) and then put it in my mailbox.  You will have two days to make up missed quizzes.

 

What if I am absent when a blog entry is assigned?

You can still do the blog entries at home – just check the calendar on my website to get the assignment and then click on the link to our class blog. 

 

 

 

Late Work Policy

 

You are required to complete the homework on time.  Assignments are due at the beginning of class.  Any work turned in after that time will be considered late.

 

If we go over a homework assignment in class, then it cannot be made up and you will receive a 0 on it. Assignments like vocabulary and reading questions and annotations will be things that we go over in class.   If you are absent on the day homework is due, you must turn in the homework on the day you return. 

 

 

For writings and larger projects, late papers and projects will be accepted, but with a penalty. Late assignments will be given a 10 point penalty or letter grade per class day. If you turn in a paper or project in the English Resource Center and I am not there, please have an adult date and initial it, so I know when it was received.  Do not simply leave something in my mailbox.**If something out of the ordinary comes up and you need an extension, it is best to contact me PRIOR to the due date and we can figure out a plan together.  DO NOT SIMPLY WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING IS PAST DUE TO TALK TO ME!!

 

 

Academic Integrity Policy

 

The policy is located in your High School Code of Conduct booklet.  Please read it with your parents, and come in with any questions you might have.  I take ALL instances of academic integrity seriously and will deal with them in concert with the administration.  This includes copying homework or passing off someone else’s writing as your own. 

 

Academic Integrity violations include, but are not limited to, the following:

·       Cheating on a test or quiz OR allowing another student to copy from your test

·       Turning in a paper or project without textual citations AND/OR a Works Cited page

·       Copying homework or a paper OR allowing another student to copy your homework or paper

·       Using study aids (Spark Notes, etc.) instead of reading the actual text OR asking another students to summarize the reading for you because you didn’t do it

·       Falsifying  information, including data or citations

·       Plagiarism:  submitting material that in part or whole is not entirely your work without attributing those portions to their correct source

·       Unauthorized collaboration on an academic assignment (this includes siblings or parents)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra Help

 

I encourage you to come see me about your writing, reading difficulties, or questions PRIOR to due dates.  We can also go over your writing after it has been graded to come up with strategies that will help you in the future.  Here is my schedule:

 

 

A/C days	B/D days
Block 1	Block 6