Syllabus/Parent Night

Unique focus for English 2 Honors:

  • More writing than English 1 because the EOC is not a part of their grade to prepare for SAT and ACT next year.
  • EOC is going to be in May. However, it doesn't count.
  • More difficult texts, and more independent reading of texts to prepare for possible AP Lang next year (for some rising Juniors).


Contact:

  • email: rgilliam@lexrich5.org (best way to reach me)
  • phone: 803-476-8801
  • Check the Google Site if you ever have questions about nightly homework.
  • I will send emails through PowerSchool to alert you about major assessments. I will not send emails about minor assessments.

Academic Assistance:

  • Any day during lunch with the exception of Mondays (for duty). Students need a pass to come back, so they will need to email me or come see me for a pass.
  • arrange any other time

Grading:

  • Percentages on syllabus
  • Interim printed on Thursday
  • Policy:
    • Feedback: Quality feedback is important for each student to benefit from their efforts. Although I will try to be as timely as possible, sometimes the amount of time it takes a student to work on an assignment will be the amount of time it takes for me to get it back to ensure each student has thoughtful feedback.
    • Number of Grades: Because it is our policy to grade students on skills and not completion of work, the number of grades in the grade book will reflect mastery of skills.
    • Sometimes I may check off that students turned in work and mark missing assignments with a "M." The check marks may indicate progress and not actually be graded. (I do this to break up major assignments/projects for students to be sure they are not procrastinating, but I may not grade the pieces until it is all turned in together.)

Late work:

  • The entire school has adopted this late work policy.
  • Absent students will make-up work per school and district policy .
  • 5% off per school day (not per class missed)
  • No late homework or classwork will be accepted AFTER the work has been reviewed in class or for reading assignments.
  • Late work is not accepted 5 days after the due date.
  • Teachers will use discretion whenever possible.

Homework:

  • Most homework will be reading or writing at home.
    • Homework: test (A day: Wednesday/B day:Monday)
    • moving towards narrative study and choice novels
    • short reading responses (1-2 pages) may be expected periodically
    • I will give students at least 2 class periods notice before expecting longer, researched essays.
    • Students will have vocabulary quizzes, and they will be expected to learn these terms on their own.
  • Occasionally, students will not have homework, but homework should be expected almost every night.

Assignments/Texts:

  • Reader's responses
  • Essay analysis
  • Socratic seminars
  • Tests and quizzes
  • Vocabulary quizzes
  • Oedipus
  • Antigone
  • 1984
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • Poetry
  • Speeches analyzed for rhetoric
Gilliam English II Honors Syllabus 18-19