11 th Grade ELA Mrs. Grinnell/Mrs. Bernabe Syllabus and Class Agreement Individual Class Policies As teachers, we do not merely teach content; rather, we teacher students… you. Therefore, you are expected to be prepared for class each day with your supplies; further, you will maintain a notebook for class notes in a three ring binder. You are also to use the school provided daily planner, to help you become adapt at the lifetime skill of time management. We begin class at the bell, so promptness and consistent class attendance will insure success along with meeting assignment deadlines. Should you need to be out of class for any reason, you are expected to meet with us to find out what you missed and to make up the work. A class binder which holds daily class work and assignments is kept and is available to students. Respect and Responsibility will be shown in the classroom by students and teachers. These policies reflect the school motto and our educational philosophy. Required Materials: 1)Three-ring binder (at least 2 inch) Spiral notebook may be kept IN the binder, but DOES NOT replace it. 2)Filler Paper 3)Pens, pencils 4)Hi-liter 5)Planner (provided by school) Course Description The English 11 curriculum continues to build on the language arts skills necessary to achieve success in life and on the New York State ELA regents, which is a high school graduation requirement. This course emphasizes the New York State Language Arts Standards of reading, writing, listening and speaking for multiple purpose in all units. A study of American Literature and writers who reflect the diversity of this country are the major components of the course. Literary elements and rhetorical consideration embedded in a major thematic approach will form the core of the course. An emphasis on independent reading, learning and study underlies the philosophy of this course. Key Topic Areas Through reading, students will gain a knowledge of and familiarity with major American writers and with writers who reflect the diversity of our culture. Students will add to their written and spoken vocabulary. Students will develop writing skills that demonstrate understanding of author’s purpose, tone and style in papers that reflect the tasks of ELA.

Mrs. Grinnell Phone: Key Topic Areas Continued… Students will use technology to retrieve information for various units and to write a major literary research paper. Other writing will include effective note taking, summary and experimentation with poetic forms. Students will become familiar with test-taking strategies particular to the PSAT, the SAT and ACT. I recommend that students begin preparing for these test now by increasing their out of class reading time to at least 15 minutes a day, and by working out of a specific test preparation book, or computer program, such as The Princeton Review. Whether students take the test or not, critical reading is a necessity for success in the complicated world. Homework Expectations and Grading Procedures Homework tends to be focused around long-term projects, such as major writing assignments or presentation which require time management skills. Quizzes, homework, including maintaining an organized notebook which will be evaluated periodically, and participation in class activities are an important component of the total grade. Tests, projects, compositions creative writings and essays will account for approximately 50% of the grade. Daily homework assignments due at the beginning of class, as well as some quizzes, cannot be made up. On major assignments, make up possibilities will be given consideration when illness or other needy circumstances necessitate. However, refusal or failure to work in class or use opportunities given do not qualify as reasons for time extensions. All students will be given opportunities to earn extra credit. However, no grades for extra credit can be earned without first fulfilling minimum required assignments. Students motivated to earn above a 90 in this class much complete a teacher-created independent unit each marking period. Essential Projects and Evaluation A major focus of each marking period will be a full length literary work, such as a play or a novel, or a collection of short stories or poems. A subsequent writing using ELA test style questioning and standards will follow the reading. Sometime in the early spring, each student will produce literary research paper linking two major pieces of literature in a critical lens format. Students will be taught how to retrieve information, both electronically and through print media, how to organize the

Mrs. Bernabe Phone: paper and how to document. Students will individually conference with the teacher to select their literature and to deal with any difficulties throughout the writing process. Because a minimum of four weeks of class time will be devoted to this project, evaluation and grading will take place at several points during the project. Both process and product will be graded and will be major grades, possibly the only grades, during that marking period. A word from me to you! As developing writers, there is always the temptation to look at the work of others to gain ideas or simply because it is easier than writing it yourself. Using someone else's work or ideas without giving credit to that person is called plagiarism! Plagiarism is not acceptable in any educational setting. Any student who is caught plagiarizing in this class will receive a zero for the assignment and will be subject to discipline as prescribed by Camden High School. We are thrilled that you are in this class ! Working together, you will succeed and maybe even have a little fun doing it! Good Luck! Mrs. Grinnell Mrs. Bernabe Our Open House will be September 16 th. We hope to meet you then and address any concerns you may have. Please sign and send back this course outline to indicate that you have read and understood the course goals and expectations. This will count as the first homework grade. Student Signature: ____________________________________________ Parent Signature: _____________________________________________