El Cajon Valley High School
Sophomore English
Syllabus 2009-2010

Teacher's Name: Mr. LeMaster
Room Number: 105
Telephone Number: 619-401-4797
Email Address: JLEMASTER@GUHSD.NET
Office Hours: By Appointment

Course Description
Building on the knowledge and skills learned in the freshman year, students taking sophomore English will (1) develop the ability to read, discuss, and write about academic texts (2) engage in a rigorous and relevant curriculum that prepares them for post-secondary education and the world of work and (3) develop the content knowledge and literacy skills needed to perform well on California State exams. In addition to teaching California State Standards, this course aims to improve students' academic, cultural, and technological literacies.

Although this is a yearlong class, each quarter has a unique focus. Quarter 1 focuses on building skills for success (5 elective credits). Quarter 2 begins the first half of sophomore English (5 English credits). Quarter 3 will focus on preparing students for the English portion of the California Exit Exam (5 elective credits). The final quarter will cover the second half of sophomore English (5 English credits). During the year you will...

• read a wide range of texts to include poetry, short fiction, novels, speeches, and various other expository texts;
• read an average of 10 pages of text per day or 50 pages per week;
• develop your ability to read and comprehend challenging texts;
• participate in Socratic seminars or other academic discussions about texts;
• write a variety of narrative and expository texts;
• learn a process for writing which includes analyzing a prompt, engaging in prewriting activities, drafting, participating in writing workshops, revising, editing, and publishing a final paper.
• develop and maintain a writing portfolio;
• work collaboratively on assignments and projects;
• participate in short presentations;
• learn approximately 150 new words per term;
• and participate in technology based lessons and activities.

Grade Categories and Percentages
All work is based on a point system. Points are divided into categories.  The categories are listed below. 

Reading Standards: 35 %
Writing Standards: 35 %
Speaking and Listening Standards: 15 %
Class Participation: 15 %

Grades are always available for you to keep track of your progress and assignments at mygradebook.com. Grades are always subject to change so check your grades often. To check your grade summary go to http://www.mygradebook.com and enter your username (teacher provided) and password (student ID number).

Expectations

Organization
One who is organized forgets to do things less often, turns in assignments more regularly, and ultimately lives with less stress.

• Planners

Write it down daily. Reference it later. A successful student uses his or her planner to write down homework assignments, daily agendas, important due dates, and school events. Use your month-at-a-glance for planning future events and your week-at-a-glance for planning homework and other important daily activities.

• Binders

Organization is key to success. Maintain an organized three-ring binder with labeled dividers for all classes. Use your binder to organize class handouts, graded papers, and current assignments. Open the rings in your binder and take the time to put papers away where they belong.

• Materials

For this class you will need the following supplies:

• 2" three-ring binder
• college rule lined paper
• blue and black pens
• pencils (mechanical is preferred)
• two highlighters
• and a box or pouch for your writing utensils

Note: As your teacher I reserve the right to add to this list at any time. Items added to this list will become required materials for the class.

Participation
Participation is key to success. An active participant shares his or her ideas with the class, completes assignments on time, participates while in groups, and contributes to the class as a whole. You should also participate in school activities, clubs, and sports. A student who gets involved in his or her school experiences greater success in academic classes, learns valuable life lessons, and typically develops great friendships. Strive to be a good citizen of your school, home and community.

Come to class ready to learn. Students must bring their binders, lined paper, pens, pencils, highlighters, class issued texts and other school supplies to class everyday. These materials are essential to class participation and learning. If you come to class without your materials, you may be required to purchase supplies from your teacher and you will be subject to disciplinary action (i.e., phone call home, detention, or administrative intervention).

Classwork
You will be expected to complete assignments in class. Work that is not completed in class must be completed at home and brought to the next class meeting. There are penalties for turning in late work, so get in a habit of completing assignments on time.

Homework
Homework is an expectation of this class. You need to be responsible and complete your homework assignment on the night it is assigned and bring into class the next day.

Late Work
Completed assignments are to be turned in on the date that they are due. Late work will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Long-term assignments will lose points if turned in late. Failure to complete assignments will cause you to fail this class.

Tests and Assessments
I will frequently assess your progress in the class.  Expect reading quizzes, reading comprehension tests, vocabulary/ word tests, comprehensive exams, formal and informal presentations, and various other assessments.

A, B, C you after school
To ensure your success, you may be required to attend tutorial and/or Night Library. During these sessions you will be able to make up work, get help with assignments, and study for tests. If you have a D or F in the class, you will be required to go to mandatory tutorial until you raise your grade to at least a C. Your parents will be contacted to inform them of your mandatory tutorial. If you do not attend tutorial you will receive a detention. Further defiance will result in a suspension.

Policies and Procedures
Following rules in school is like living a lawful life in society. We follow laws in society in order to maintain an orderly world, one that is safe and secure. We may not always agree with the rules or laws, but we must do our best to uphold them whenever possible. The same is true for our class. There are rules for this class that we all must follow. You do not have to agree with the rules, but you must adhere to them. In this class we follow all school rules: you may not listen to personal music devices, use your cell phones (unless there is an emergency), eat food, or drink liquids other than water in class. Chewing gum is also not allowed. The dress code will be enforced; those violating the dress code will be sent to the office where you will receive clothing more appropriate for school. Here are some principles to live by:

• Be kind to others and support each other.
• Respect others and their property.
• Treat school materials, equipment, and furnishings with care.
• Return borrowed materials and clean up after yourself.
• Speak with good purpose.
• Listen and seek to understand what others say.
• Be positive and smile often.
  
• Come to class prepared and ready to learn everyday.

Consequences for Misbehavior

• A warning is given.
• Parents/ guardians are contacted and citizenship grade becomes an "S".
• A detention is given.
• If a student continues to violate the classroom rules, administrative action will be taken.
• Citizenship grade becomes a "U" for the quarter.
• Student may be removed from the classroom, resulting in the loss of credit.

Attendance and Tardies
Be punctual! Be on time! Remember, everyone contributes to the classroom environment, so your presence is important. Besides, coming late to class might cause unnecessary disruptions, so make it your goal to arrive on time. In an effort to encourage punctuality, ECVHS will be enforcing lockout. Students will be sent to lockout if they are not in their seats or assigned areas by the sound of the tardy bell.  El Cajon Valley High School's attendance policy is outlined below.

• Students who arrive late to school with a note will receive an excused tardy (less than 20 minutes late) or an excused period absence (more than 20 minutes late) and will be sent to class.
• If a student is more than 20 minutes late and does not have an excuse, that student will receive a period truancy and be sent to lockout.
• If student accumulates 3 lockouts, that student will receive a detention.
• If a student accumulates 5 lockouts, that student may be suspended from school.
• Students with attendance issues should make arrangements with the vice principals' office to attend Wednesday and/or Saturday school. School policy mandates that students must have no more than five absences per quarter nor more than ten combined absences per term.

Bathroom/ Hall Passes
You will receive a couple of bathroom/ hall passes per term. Use your passes for restroom breaks, water breaks, and/or to retrieve materials from your locker. You will not be able to leave the classroom without a pass. Therefore, use them wisely. Bathroom requests during the first ten minutes of class will not be honored.

Note on Professionalism
Take pride in what you do! The work you produce is a direct reflection of who you are. All work must be complete, legible, maintained, and organized. Assignments that have been folded, crumpled, or destroyed in some other way will not receive credit.

Note on Plagiarism/ Cheating
Plagiarism is illegal and immoral. If you copy someone’s work or ideas and give the impression they are your own, or neglect to give proper credit to the true author, you will receive a zero for that assignment and possibly a failing grade for the entire quarter and/or term. The same applies if you are the one being copied from. In addition, the office will be alerted of this offense.

English Syllabus