English 10H

Kerri Leonard

Kerri.leonard@sduhsd.net

Phone: (760) 753-1121  Ext. 5343

Website: Teachers/sduhsd.net/kleonard

 

 

Welcome to English 10 Honors. I am looking forward to working with you this semester. The following includes information on how the class will function and guidelines for success. Please read over with your parents/guardians. The last page must be signed and returned.

 

     Note:

I want to make this course exciting and enriching for all of you. To do that, I need your help: (1) Keep in mind that following classroom guidelines is crucial to creating a positive learning environment. (2) I am human first – a teacher second. If there is any situation in your life (now or later in the year) which may have an impact on your schoolwork, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. The same may be said for any help you might need with your work. Feel free to talk to me after class, write me a note, drop me an email, or make an appointment to see me after school. I would like to encourage parents and students to contact me if there are any questions or concerns. Email is the best way to get in touch with me.

 

 

 

 

HOMEWORK: All assignments are designed to prepare you for the goals of this class. As a result, I consider homework crucial to your success in class. Each homework assignment is worth approximately 5-15 points. Because homework is given to reinforce what has been learned in class or prepare students for the following lesson, all homework must be on time and will be stamped at the start of each period.

·         Late homework assignments will not be accepted.

·         Major projects and essays will be reduced by 10% for everyday they are late.

·          In general, you can receive up to full point credit for acceptable work, up to ½ point credit for half completion or “0” for no work or unsatisfactory work.

·         Keep all homework, handouts, and class-work in a section of a large three-ring binder and bring to class everyday.

·          I recommend that you hold on to ALL returned work until the end of the semester.

 

• Bathroom Passes: You will receive two bathroom passes each quarter. Unused passes may be turned in to Ms. Leonard at the end of the quarter for five extra credit points each. They may only be used for the quarter they are handed out, you may not save them and turn in four at the end of the semester.
• The other opportunity for extra credit is the absence binder. Each student may fill out the absent binder up to three times per quarter and earn up to three points for each time. The absence binder will be explained in class.

 

TARDIES: This is one of my pet peeves! There is very rarely a reasonable excuse for tardiness. To be “on time” for class, you must be in your seat with all necessary materials (binder, pen, paper, appropriate text) when the second bell rings. I do mark all tardies and you will not receive credit for warm-ups on days you are tardy.

 

ABSENCES: Your education is like life; you have to be here to participate and to learn. Absences affect your ability to complete assignments satisfactorily. Because we are on a modified schedule, missing one class is the equivalent to missing two days of instructional time. TRUANCIES ARE UNACCEPTABLE. You will not be allowed to make up the work missed during an unexcused absence. If you know in advance that you must miss class, please let me know.

 

If you are absent, you are responsible for contacting a classmate (or contacting me) or checking my website. to get the assignment. Assignments that were due on the day of your absence must be turned in the day that you return. Any work assigned while you were absent is due one day from when you return.

  

IF YOU ARE PUZZLED, CONFUSED OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT AN ASSIGNMENT I AM AVAILABLE BEFORE CLASS, LUNCH, and AFTER SCHOOL BY APPT. AND THROUGH EMAIL:  kerri.leonard@sduhsd.net.

 

 

 

 

GENERAL CLASSROOM MUSTS:  In order to maintain an excellent learning climate, I EXPECT strict adherence to the following:

·         Be respectful (to classmates, teacher and yourself)

·         Do not disrupt the class (Ipods and cellphones are never allowed in class)

·         Be prepared (get to class on time, show up ready to work, bring an independent reading book, etc.)

 

Texts: This semester we will be reading a variety of texts from the following list:

1)     Catcher in the Rye

2)    Oedipus

3)     Things Fall Apart

4)     Crime and Punishment

5)   The Stranger (If time)

6)     Each student will read a seminar novel with a choice of the following:

The House of the Spirits, The Power of One, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Metamorphosis, Bless Me Ultima, A River Sutra, Life and Death in Shanghai

                                    7) A variety of poetry, non-fiction and expository articles,                                        and texts will be included throughout the semester.

 

MAJOR ESSAYS: All essays must be typed, double spaced, size twelve font -- with your name,   my name, class, and   date in the upper left  hand corner. A title in the same font should be centered and below the heading.   Your last name and page number go in the upper right hand corner of every  page.

 

 

 

 PLAGIARISM: Defined as the appropriating and putting forth as one’s own the ideas, language or designs of another. This is a serious issue. On the first offense parents will be notified and the student will receive a “0” on the assignment.

 

 Independent Learning Project – In addition to your reading and writing skills you will choose

an area of study that will fulfill your ILP or Independent Learning Project. You will work on this during and outside of class. This is an opportunity to study or learn about whatever you’d like and receive class credit for it. Whether you choose to study music, art, sports, literature, computers, video games, cars, history, science, future career possibilities, theatre, fashion, writing, politics, film, poetry, surfing, skating, relationships, psychology, business, etc, it is up to you. Whatever your passion, this is a chance for you to

explore it or develop it in a sustained and meaningful way. I will simply act as your adviser to help you through the process of defining and designing your ILP, and to troubleshoot any challenges you come up against. When we are interested in what we are learning, no one has to force us to keep learning; we just do it. The people who are happiest in life are the ones who are passionate about what they’re doing. There will be several assignments to help keep you on track in the beginning and I will be monitoring your progress throughout the semester. A research paper will be one component of this assignment. It will count as your second quarter essay.  You will be responsible for making a portfolio of the work that you have done and will make a seven minute (minimum) presentation to the class at the end of the semester to showcase your work. Your parents, friends and other teachers are invited to attend our class on the day of your presentation. You will design the parameters for how you will be graded and have it approved by your parents and myself. You will receive a handout that further explains this opportunity.

 

 Quarterly Essays:

In addition to essays we work on in class, you will be responsible for authoring one additional, formal, writing per quarter.  This may be an essay, article, research paper, autobiographical incident, short story, satire, etc. You may write about whatever you’d like. I am not concerned with the subject matter as much as I am with your ability to express yourself in writing clearly and coherently.  Each piece must be 1500 words.  (*** Second semester your quarter essay will be a research paper that is a part of your ILP)

 Each piece will be scored in the following manner: Once you finish your first draft you must meet with me to go over your writing in a conference.  Toward the end of our conference we will discuss the piece; its strengths as well as areas of possible improvement.  If you want to turn in that draft you will automatically receive a “C”.  If you would like to address what we talked about and then re-write, you can earn a “B” at our next conference (assuming you address what we talked about).  After our second conference you may re-write again, conference again and earn an “A”. 

** There is no way to earn any higher than a “C” unless you meet with me more than once to discuss the piece.  Each piece is due before the end of each respective quarter.  It is your responsibility to schedule conferences with me, and my student appointment times fill up quite quickly as I have over 110 students to meet with. I am available before school, tutorial, lunch, after school -all by appointment.  This is your chance to get one-on-one personal coaching for your writing; take full advantage of this opportunity; it may be your last.

Tips for success with the quarter essay:

1) Don’t wait until the last minute. Your meetings must be spaced at least one week apart. Don’t wait until the last three weeks of the quarter.

2) You must have your first and last meeting with me and your second meeting with the writing lab. Schedule your appointments early. The late dates fill up quickly as the quarter goes on.

3) You must make revisions between each draft or you cannot move up to the next grade level.

4) At each meeting you must bring all previous drafts with your changes highlighted.

5) Choose a topic or style of writing that you are truly interested in. You will be working with this for several weeks.

6) Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are not sure how to get started, schedule an appointment just to help you get started.

Rationale:

·         The quarter essay provides an opportunity for you to write about anything you choose in any style you would like to work with.

·         You get the opportunity to discuss your writing rather than trying to decipher cryptic notes from the teacher.

·         This assignment encourages revision which is crucial to developing strong writing skills and habits.

·         The writing meetings ask you to reread your own work and engage with what you have written. ( I think we have all at some point printed out a paper and never looked at it again)

·         And just in case that isn’t enough… CA. State Standard for Writing 2.0: “Students combine the rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and description to produce texts of at least 1,500 words each.”