Course Expectations

English I Honors Ms. Michelle Fox mfox@abschools.org

Welcome to your freshman year of English! You are embarking on a challenging adventure. Through the course’s readings, class discussions and your writing, you will discover how you learn and why what you learn is important.

Ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates believed that wisdom stems from one’s ability to wonder. While reading the variety of the course’s works, your curiosity will provide you with the tools to question, comprehend and synthesize. This year’s literary works reveal man’s timeless conflicts with himself, his family, his friends, and his environment. Through your reading, you will uncover the forces that shape conflict in the world, learning more about what it means to be human.

Reading will include a variety of short stories, poetry, magazine and news articles, as well as the following works:

A Separate Peace, by John Knowles

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

The Odyssey, by Homer

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens

In The Shadow of the Banyan, by Vaddy Ratner

Learning Goals:

To develop close reading skills.
To improve critical thinking skills.
To increase vocabulary.
To understand and implement the writing elements of an analytical paper.
To use textual evidence in your writing and your discussions.
To use grammar effectively.
To enhance your listening and speaking skills.
To take responsibility for your learning process.

Class Structure: Learning is sometimes uncomfortable. You are expected to ask questions, to listen, and to synthesize. Class participation is mandatory. While the type of learning activities will change, classroom routines and expectations will not.

Class Expectations: In order to maximize your learning process, you should:

Arrive to class on time and be ready to work when the bell rings.
Keep a notebook for English class (See below*.).
Complete all homework in a timely, neat fashion (no spiral paper).
Bring required texts and notebooks to class.
Put away cell phones.
Take notes independently.
Participate in class discussions and group work.
Be respectful and supportive of your peers and their beliefs.
Accept constructive criticism.
Take responsibility for your actions.
Try your best.

*You should keep an organized binder or folder for English class. Create sections for the following categories: Literary Analysis Handouts, Discussion and Lecture Notes, Reading/Vocabulary Quizzes, Graded Homework.

Additional Supplies are recommended but not required: Post-it Notes, Highlighters.

Academic Integrity: All students must follow the ABRHS Academic Integrity Policy.

"The International Center for Academic Integrity defines academic integrity as a commitment to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility" (The Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity ).

Academic integrity is first about honesty. Honesty means submitting work that is yours and citing other people’s ideas when incorporating them into your work. Honesty fosters trust, which is the ability of others to trust you and your ability to trust your skills when faced with challenges. It takes courage to demonstrate personal responsibility and open yourself and your work to the criticism of others. By taking responsibility for your own work, you will maximize the benefits of the education you receive here at AB.

An academically honest person earns the respect of his teachers, peers, and community. Being academically dishonest undermines your education because you are unable to benefit from your teachers' assessments of your skills and suggestions for improvement because the work they are evaluating is not yours. When you are academically dishonest, you are doing a disservice to your community and to yourself. By maintaining academic integrity, you are preparing to be a person of honesty, responsibility, and respect.

Homework Policy: Homework is only given to prepare for class discussion or to reinforce a skill.Therefore, completing nightly homework at a later date is not beneficial to your learning. I will only accept late homework one day after the due date for partial credit. If you are completing a long-term project or essay, you will lose half of a letter grade for each day the assignment is late. If you cannot print an assignment, you may email your work to me before class begins.

Term Grades: Tests, essays and projects account for 70% of your grade. Quizzes and homework are worth 30% of your grade, 15% each.

Additional Support: Please see me for individual writing conferences! You may email me to schedule a meeting during Periods B, E or after school.