Honors Sophomore Language Arts 2004-2005

Mr. Douglas douglasr@mcsoh.org

Accelerated Sophomore Language Arts promotes and encourages a sound work ethic in students and challenges their thinking skills with acclaimed works from World Literature. This comprehensive course in the fundamentals of written expression, applied speaking and listening skills, and literary analysis will require students to

A) complete all writing assignments at an acceptable level of proficiency

B) speak competently before an audience

C) read and analyze various works of literary works (genres include short fiction, novels, poetry, non-fiction, and drama)

Class Rules:

BE PROMPT—Be in class and ready to learn when the bell rings

BE PREPARED—Have all needed supplies and work with you in class

BE RESPONSIBLE— Take ownership of your decisions

BE RESPECTFUL—Treat students and teachers with kindness & respect. Keep the school clean.

This includes following all school rules and policies.

Materials:

Pens (standard blue or black only) AND Pencils

A computer disc (to save all writing assignments) You do not need to have this in class.

3-ring binder with notebook paper (no fuzzy edges)

Notebook (3 subject works best)

Notecards and holder

In-A-Flash vocabulary book

All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque

Macbeth

The Chosen, by Chaim Potok

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

Two novels to be selected later

A stapler (at home or a small one in your bag)

Access to a computer/printer

Grading Scale A+ 99-100% A 95-98 A- 92-94

B+ 89-91 B 85-88 B- 82-84

C+ 79-81 C 75-78 C- 72-74

D+ 69-71 D 60-68 F 0-59

Your grade will be determined by your performance in the following areas:

Writing assignments Presentations Tests/Quizzes Vocabulary

Notebook Projects Independent Reading

Participation (You are expected to contribute by both asking and answering questions. If you do not understand something, ASK! If you don’t, and then your grade suffers as a result, you only have yourself to blame. Do not wait until the last minute to ask about a paper/project.)

Late Work

All work is to be turned in the day and the start of the period it is due. Late work will be penalized 20% per day it is late. Assignments worth 20 points or less will not be acceptable late. Certain core writing assignments must be completed in order to receive course credit. These core assignments include, but are not limited to, the following:

Descriptive Essay Research Paper Independent Reading

Comparison-Contrast Paper Persuasive Essay Extended Definition Paper

Due dates for long-term assignments are absolute. Student absence does not alter the due date. If you cannot get the work to me through another student or through a parent, a parent must notify me no later than the period due by calling me at 330-636-3381 and leaving a message explaining the circumstances.

If you have been absent on the days leading up to a due date or an exam, unless you have missed significant time (such as that you were not in class when the test or paper was assigned), you will be expected to have your work done and/or take the exam on the day you return.

Computer and other technical difficulties you may experience in getting your paper done on time is not an excuse. Do not put things off until the last minute and last minute computer glitches will not be a cause for concern. Save your work often and back it up on a floppy disc.

Please let me know well in advance of any problems you foresee in any project. If you come to be the day before (or the day) something is due, in all likelihood it will be too late.

If you have been absent, you are responsible for finding out what the make-up work is. You have as many days as you were absent to make up missed work. This does not apply to assignments given prior to your absence, in which case the work is due on the due date or upon your return; in the instance of a test, you need to be prepared to make up the test on the day of your return. This includes all vocabulary quizzes.

Academic Dishonesty: You are encouraged to discuss assignments and readings with other students, but remember that the work you turn in must be your own. While you may share some thoughts and ideas, the writing must be your own. If you are working to answer questions together, the language you use must be your own. Identical answers will be construed as academic dishonesty. This includes using references such as Cliff’s Notes or the Internet. Any ideas that come from outside sources must be cited in your paper and any direct quotations from outside sources must be placed in quotation marks and then cited or it will be considered plagiarism. See student handbook about discipline for plagiarism.

Semester Exams: You may be exempt from one of your exams if you meet the following criteria: grade of A- or higher and no more than 3 absences; grade of B- or higher and no more than 2 absences; grade of C and no more than 1 absence. You may not exempt the exam from the same class both semesters.

Other notes:

• Leave the room clean. If there is garbage on the floor, throw it away. Leave the desks in straight rows. Never write on the desk itself. There is minimal custodial coverage this year so we need to be extra careful about keeping the room clean.
• No gum in class.
• All papers should be typed; other work is to be done in blue or black ink. All papers should be stapled in the top left corner before you come to class.
• Go to the bathroom before class; keep tissues with you, especially if you have a cold.
• Have the phone number of someone in class in case you are absent or need an assignment.
• Use your agenda books to keep track of assignments and due dates.
• If you have a problem with something in the class, see me first to see if things can be worked
• out. If not, we’ll find someone who can help us.
• Work hard and do what you need to do to get the grade you want. It won’t be easy, and it will take extra time, but it will be worth it in the end. Don’t put things off until the last minute.
• HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE!
• BE NICE TO EVERYONE!
• LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE!