West St. John High School

 

Course: English II                                                                              Teacher: Shontrice Blanche

Term:Spring 24                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Email:[email protected]

 

WSJH Vision Statement

One hundred percent of West St. John High students will be accepted into college or prepared for a technical career.

 

West St. John High School Believes:

1. Each member of our school community plays an integral part in making student success a certainty.

2. That all students are provided the necessary resources and opportunities to become successful Collaborative Workers, Adaptable Problem Solvers, Critical Thinkers, Involved Citizens, Quality Producers and Self-Guided Achievers.

3. That all students are immersed in vigorous, standards-based curricula that promotes higher level thinking skills.

4. That all students are capable of learning and as such, we educate the whole person providing students the necessary support to achieve their fullest potential.

5. That we value diversity and promote tolerance and espouse understanding and compassion.

6. That the aesthetic value of our campus is an important part of student achievement.

 

Course Description:

Unit 1: Things Fall Apart

Unit Goal:  Students will read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and a series of related literary and informational texts to explore the question: What is the danger of a single story? Students will express their understanding through an essay that analyzes how the differing perspectives of various characters in Things Fall Apart reveal themes about humanity.

 

Unit 2: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

 Unit Goal:  Students will read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and a series of related literary and informational texts to explore the question: How can we leave a legacy through our language, our families, and even our cells? Students will express their understanding through an essay that analyzes how different authors with different interests develop claims to advance their points of view in regard to the legacy of Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells.

 

Unit 3: Hamilton

Unit Goal: Students will listen to and read Hamilton: An American Musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, read a series of related texts (literary, informational, primary source documents), and view multimedia to explore the essential question: How does Lin-Manuel Miranda tell Hamilton’s story?  Students will express their understanding by writing an essay that analyzes the choices that Lin-Manuel Miranda makes in portraying history and discusses the effect of these choices on our understanding of our understanding of either the character, time period, or musical.

Louisiana State Standards: (minimum 5 Essential/Power Standards)

1. RL.10.1-Reading Standards for Literature: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matter uncertain.
2. RI.10.6-Reading Standards for Informational Text: Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness, or beauty of the text.
3. RI.10.7-Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.
4. W.10.3-Text Types and Purposes: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5. RI.10.7-Reading Standards for Informational Text: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.

 

Textbook(s) & Supplementary Materials Provided:

1. Learnzillion Student handout

2. Student Resource Packets

 

Materials Needed Every Day: (part of your grade)

• Notebook/Binder for daily notes and Laptop
  • Course notebooks/binders are collected twice a semester and represent 10% of your grade (see Grading Policy below). Date each page and keep all work (do not throw homework away) in designated folder/binder sections throughout the semester.

 

 

Homework: Students are expected to spend a minimum of 30 minutes each day for this course doing homework, studying, reading, and/or reviewing materials. A minimum of two homework assignments will be assigned Monday through Thursday, with additional assignments as needed. All homework is due at the beginning of the period. For absences, homework is due within ____2___ days of your return to receive full credit. Homework assignments are regularly posted on TEAMS.

 

Make-Up Work: It is YOUR responsibility to find out the missing homework assignments from the TEAMS or from a classmate. Any late or incomplete assignments will receive a maximum of 50% credits. It is not the teacher’s responsibility to collect work from students who are truant to class.

 

Grading Policy:                                                                                  Points Converted to Percentages:

Homework                                    __20__ points                                      A = 92.5-100%

Classwork/Participation *.         _100___ points                                      B = 92.499 – 84.5%

Quizzes                                           100 points                                              C = 84.499 – 74.5%

Tests                                              500   points                                             D = 74.499 – 66.5%

Course Binder                               10  points                                         F = 66.499% or below

Projects                                        170   points                                             Extra credit work provided

Final Exam                                    100  points

                                                   Total  ___1000__ pts.

 

*Participation: We at West St. John High School expect all our students to attend school regularly and arrive to all classes on time, ready to participate, learn and achieve. Participation consists of, but is not limited to, arriving to class on time with all appropriate materials, ready to be a positive and productive member of the class. Class participation will contribute to 15% of the student’s total grade.

 

Rams Essential Behaviors: RAMS= Respect/Responsibility, Achievement, Motivation, and Success 

 

Classroom Behavior Standards and Expectations:

1. Respect your teachers, classmates and school. Any and all forms of disrespect (including foul language) will not be tolerated.

2. Remain in your seat at all times, unless directed to move by a teacher.

3. Focus your attention on the topic directly related to class lectures/discussions.

 

Consequences of violation of class rules:

1st Offense:   Verbal warning

2nd Offense:  Student/teacher conference and detention

3rd Offense:  Parent phone call and possible parent/teacher/student conference and detention. Note: If the violation is severe, the teacher reserves the right to immediately remove the student from class.