Mrs. Gonzalez, Room C-5

Email: lorna(DOT)gonzalez(AT)ouhsd.k12.ca.us

School Phone: (805) 389-6407

Web Site: http://achsenglish.googlepages.com

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION

According to Oxnard Union High School District (http://www.ouhsd.k12.ca.us/FLS/crs/eng/20901Engl3.pdf), this college preparatory course is designed for study and skill development in core literature, vocabulary, oral and written expression, and literary analysis.  Cumulative assignments and daily activities for this course will help students achieve the grade-level standards with the added bonus of an enriching literary experience.

2. TEXT BOOK & CORE LITERATURE

Class text: McDougal Little: The Language of Literature California Edition

Core Literature:  The Crucible - Arthur Miller

                           Death of A Salesman – Arthur Miller

                           The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne

                           The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain

                           The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

                           The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald

                           Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston

                           One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey

(Mrs. Gonzalez reserves the right to amend the above list.)

* Core literature books will be provided; however, students are encouraged to purchase their own copy for interaction and annotation.

3. HOMEWORK

Homework will be assigned in class and then posted to the class web site, which will be frequently updated.  During literary units, students will receive a pacing calendar with assignments.  As this is a college preparatory course, it is imperative that students stay organized and prepared for class.  I am happy to help anyone accomplish this goal.

Late work must be accompanied by a “late” sheet provided in class.  If a student is absent for # days and is excused, he/she has that many days to make up the missed assignment(s) without penalty.  Work that is turned in past its due date will receive half credit for the first five days. 

* Major papers or projects must be turned in on time.  Late projects will receive a “zero” grade notation.  There will be specified occasions where a student may email his or her major paper; however, this must be first cleared with me.

4. SUPPLIES

In order for students to fully participate in daily classes, certain school supplies are necessary.

 Students are REQUIRED to have in class every day:

                        • At least one black and at least one dark blue pen

                        • At least one pencil

                        • At least one highlighter

                        • Loose-leaf notebook paper (preferably college-ruled)

                        • SSR book – for outside reading and book clubs (more information to follow)

                        • A binder or folder in which to keep papers organized

                        • A composition book or note book – for journaling

                        • Any text that we may be reading together in class (including the textbook)

It is RECOMMENDED that students also have:

·         floppy disk or USB storage device - for computer work (notice will be given in advance and alternatives will be offered)

·         dividers for binder or folder

5. GRADING

All grades are configured and measured according to the standards.  They reflect the student’s proficiency in grade-level, standards-based curriculum.

In class, grades will be posted by student number.  Outside of class, students and parents are invited to view grades online through i-Parent (http://iparent2.ouhsd.k12.ca.us/iparent).  In the event of a discrepancy, do not hesitate to show me your saved work for review of the grade.  Should a student’s grade fall to F status, his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified and the student will be asked to attend tutorials with me (before or after school), during which time he/she will review course content and skills.  Should a student wish to attend tutorials prior to this grade status, he/she is welcome to set up an appointment with me. 

6. PARTICIPATION

Students should come prepared to put in their best effort every day. This also includes being prepared with any assignments or reading that might be due. Students should also act appropriately when in class, observing such common sense guidelines as listening when someone is speaking, remaining silent during tests, participating during assigned activities, etc.  These guidelines are the basic facets of RESPECT.  Classroom rules will be further defined during the first week of school.

 Likewise, students will be expected to participate in group discussions and literature/writing groups.  For collaboration to occur, all group members must contribute appropriately and treat others respectfully.

7. HALL PASSES

Each semester, every student will receive two restroom/hall passes. Should he or she decide to use one, he or she should ask me if it is an appropriate time to leave class, and if so, the pass must be surrendered at that time in exchange for the school’s yellow corridor pass. Passes are not transferable to another student, and no replacements will be offered for lost or stolen passes, so all students should keep them in safe place. Five points of extra credit will be offered at the end of the semester for each pass that a student still has in his or her possession. 

8. ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Although it is ACHS’s policy to allow electronic devices on campus, the use of such devices in class is prohibited due to their distractive nature. This includes—but is not limited to—calculators, cell phones, PDAs, iPods and MP3 players, etc. Students must also have all electronic devices powered off during class and put away in a bag or backpack. If a student uses an electronic device in class, it will be confiscated and held until the end of the day. Parents and guardians PLEASE be aware of our school’s schedule and call or text message your student ONLY during passing periods and/or lunch. Believe it or not, disturbances by cell phones in class are often due to calls from parents (!)

 9. ATTENDANCE

It is always good practice to arrive to appointments on time.  The same is true for class attendance.  There will be a sign-in sheet for people who do not make it inside the door before the bell finishes ringing.  According to OUHSD policy, students who are late to class five (5) times will be assigned detention.  After seven (7) tardies, students will receive a referral for Saturday school.  After ten (10) tardies, the teacher reserves the right to assign an “F” semester grade.  The teacher reserves the right to enforce this policy on a case-by-case basis. 

After ten (10) minutes, a tardy is marked as an absence.  Per OUHSD policy, a student who has acquired eight (8) or more unexcused absences may receive an “F” semester grade.  Your promptness and presence in class are they best ways for your experience to be an enriching one!

Should you be absent, please check one of the many resources available to you (friends, web site, side board, etc.) to make up work.

10. plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious matter that will not be taken lightly. It comes in many forms, from copying someone else's homework, to not properly citing one's source in an assignment or essay, to consulting one of the many publications and websites that serve as a shortcut to actually reading and thinking for oneself. We will spend time in class learning how to avoid plagiarism, so ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse.

 If a student is caught plagiarizing, he or she will receive an automatic zero on that assignment, and he or she may be referred to the administration for disciplinary action. If a student is caught plagiarizing a second time, he or she will receive an F for the entire semester.  This policy is in line with the ACHS policies. 

The bottom line is this: if a student is not sure if he or she should give credit to another source in his or her work, ASK! It is far better to be safe than sorry.

11. EXTRA HELP

Should a student ever need extra help on an assignment, he or she should talk to me and arrange a time to meet (please see my office hours). I am also happy to look at work-in-progress and give any suggestions that might be of help. This includes rough drafts of essays. Students will find that my availability is very flexible, so they should be able to find a convenient time at which to meet without any trouble. (Hint: it is to every student's advantage to make use of this offer!)

12. A FINAL NOTE

Please feel free to talk to me about any concerns, suggestions, or questions that you might have about our class. This includes special circumstances that you may have.  If there is any way in which I can improve our class, I am more than willing to hear about it. I have an open-door policy, so please feel free to stop by any time that I am in my classroom. You can also reach me anytime by emailing me at lorna(DOT)gonzalez(AT)ouhsd.k12.ca.us

As a member of this class, I agree to…

• Respect the right of all classmates to express ideas, opinions, and beliefs without interruption.
• Respect the classroom environment as a place for learning.
• Be on time and prepared.
• Do my best work.
• Seek assistance when needed.
• Save my graded work and class notes.
• Observe all Camarillo High School policies.
• Accept the consequences for my actions.

As a teacher of this class, I agree to…

• Be on time and prepared for class.
• Make the classroom a safe and productive environment.
• Respect the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of all students.
• Treat all students fairly and without judgment.
• Observe the standards and policies of Adolfo Camarillo High School.
• Strive to do my personal best in helping students meet their full potential.