megan.fish@pfisd.net
School phone: (512)-594-1013
Office Hours: 3:45 - 4:30pm Daily
8:15 - 9:00 am by appointment
Course Description:
This course is designed to 1) improve students’ writing skills through standard grammar, proofreading skills, vocabulary development, and various writing techniques; 2) improve their literary skills by studying the various genres; 3) improve oral communication.
Course Objectives:
Using critical reading, writing, and thinking skills, students will build comprehension and develop their writing proficiency. Students will be able to learn how to analyze literature from a number of genres, interpret a variety of literary themes, and apply the analyses to their own experiences.
Course Sequence of Study:
English is a literature-driven course, emphasizing various genres of literature. Writing assignments, major tests, projects, and quizzes all stem from the literature we study. Literature, therefore, will be used numerous times each week.
Major Works for Study: A Raisin in the Sun, To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet, and various fiction and nonfiction pieces.
Note: Book list can change.
Teaching Methodology:
The course consists of lecture, group study and discussion, large group discussion, lyrical analysis, written assessment (projects and essays), quizzes, and tests. All final drafts of student essays must be submitted on time for analysis of authorship and originality. ONLY works submitted for such analysis will receive credit.
Supplies:
eBinder or 1” binder (or a dedicated ELA section), wide ruled paper, black/blue pens, #2 pencils.
*If obtaining any of these supplies can be difficult, please see Mrs. Fish for help*
Other Donations (when in person instruction begins):
Hand Sanitizer
Tissue
Expo Markers
Grading/Late work:
70% - Major grades: tests, projects, essays, Book of the Months, journal checks
30% - Minor grades: quizzes, class work, homework, SSR logs
The district expectations are that the grading and late work policy are the same as for in-person classes. These policies are also outlined in greater detail in my syllabus (linked below) and welcome video for students.
Grading Policy: Percentages are different for each course, please visit the appropriate class tab at the top to view the syllabus with specific grade breakdowns.
Late Work: All due dates will be posted in Google Classroom. If a student turns work in late, there will be a 20% penalty to the grade. I usually give a week to complete each assignment, so students always have time to attend tutorials and ask questions before anything is due. Please click "Turned In" on the assignment when it is complete and you are ready for me to check/grade it.
I will be updating Skyward regularly, so you will be able to track specific assignments through the same grading system we will use during in-person instruction. Do not rely on grades in Google Classroom, all official grades will be in Skyward.
***If you need a parent account in order to check grades, please contact kara.tappendorf@pfisd.net.***
Academic Dishonesty:
A student found to have engaged in academic dishonesty shall be subject to a grade of a zero on the original assignment or test with the option of completing an alternate assignment for a grade up to a 70 and/or disciplinary penalties in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Academic dishonesty includes cheating or copying the work of another student, and unauthorized communication between students during an examination. Plagiarism Honor Code policy attached.
Make-up work:
Student is responsible for getting all missing work. No exceptions!
All make-up work is due 3 class days after the absence.
(ie. Student absent Monday, gets missing work Wednesday, work due Monday.)
There will be a classwork will be posted in Google Classroom or Canvas (when available)
Tests and quizzes must be made up during tutorials (or virtually when it applies).
**This Applies to absences due to Sports, Clubs or other school sponsored activities.**
Asynchrounous/Homework:
Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) - Student should read 15 minutes each day in an independent reading book. (SSR is a Major Grade each 9 weeks)
Other assigned homework is due at the beginning of the class period (unless otherwise stated).
Incomplete work may be returned and resubmitted for a late grade.
*When back in person, Homework that is not in the homework box before the first 10 minutes of class has passed, it will be considered late. (See late work policy)