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Course Syllabus

English I-GT

Mrs. Dryden

 

Course Description: In this freshman­ level foundational English course, students will improve reading, writing, listening, speaking, and language skills. This course is designed for students to meet grade­ level Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. This course is designed and centered on the theme of “Coming of Age”. To this end, students will explore aspects of this theme using fictional works, such as Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as interpreting and performing scenes from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In addition, we will be writing synthesis and argument-based papers, analyzing and discussing various films as texts, and researching and presenting projects related to the social contexts that surround our subjects of study.

 

Materials:

  • Springboard Textbook

  • Composition Notebook

  • 3 ring Binder

  • Loose-leaf paper

  • Index cards (This is suggested for learning academic vocabulary)

 

Grading Policy: We will have a minimum of 9 grades each grading period. These grades will come from weekly vocabulary quizzes, quotation analysis, bell ringers, article of the week assignments and written essays with each unit of Springboard. As we begin each Unit, I will provide an overview of the unit and a list of the required assignments.

Rapides Parish Grading Scale:

A    93-100

B    85-92

C    84-75

D   74-67

F   66 and below

If you are caught cheating, you will receive a zero. (It does not matter if you were giving or receiving help!)

 

Plagiarism: The vast majority of students are honest and thoughtful, but there are times when shortcuts seem appealing. Some do not really understand what plagiarism is. I want all students to enter class fully aware of what it is and how to avoid it. Whenever you use someone else’s unique ideas or words and pass it off as your own, you are plagiarizing. If you copy your friend’s work, you are plagiarizing. If you read an article and paraphrase it without citing the work you are plagiarizing. If you have any questions about plagiarism, always ask! It’s better to cite something when in doubt. All students will be instructed in the MLA style format for papers and we will learn how to properly cite sources as a class. If you are found cheating or plagiarizing in this class you will receive no credit for that piece of work.

 

Make-Up Work:When you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and make it up.  You have one week from the date a test was given to make it up, and it must be made up before school or at lunch.  Time will not be given in class to make up tests or assignments.  You must make an appointment to make up a test.  Other assignments must be made up immediately upon return.  If you miss only the day before a test and the test was announced more than one day prior, you must still take it with the class.

 

Due Dates & Deadlines: Your grade will drop by 10% each day the assignment/task is late. If the grade drops to 50%, then it will become a 0 and there will not be opportunity to make the assignment up.

 

Discipline Plan: Students will be expected to behave in a manner that fosters learning for not only themselves, but for their peers. Students are expected to be on time, be prepared, work for the grade they earn, and be respectful.

 

Google Classroom: Students and parents can stay up to date on what’s going on in class and access classroom documents through our Google Classroom. The access code is: txgso42

 

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Parents:

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.  The best way to reach me is through email. I check my email several times a day, and I will email you back within 24 hours.  I am very excited to have your child in my class this year, and I look forward to all this year has to offer!

Sincerely,

Sami Dryden

[email protected]

 

Parents/Guardians:  Please review this syllabus with your student.  Sign below to show that you have read the information about this class.  Also, please provide me with correct information to contact you.

 

 

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