Instructor: Tiffany Nelsen

Email: tnelsen@utahonline.org

Text or Call: (435)359-2441

Tutoring Appointment Request Form: CLICK HERE

Video Tutorial Request Form: CLICK HERE

Welcome to Language Arts 11! I'm excited to have you with me this semester.  I look forward to getting to know you and helping you achieve your English goals.  You can expect to have a great time learning more about the elements of literature, studying non-fiction, and writing in this class. 

Units of Study:

Semester 1 -

• • Unit 1 - Language, Reading and Analyzing Informational Texts, and Informative Writing (CFA* #1: Writing In-Text Citations and Commentary)

  • Unit 2 - Reading and Analyzing Texts, Language, Speaking & Listening (CFA* #2:  Analyzing an Author's Central Ideas)

  • Unit 3 - Reading and Analyzing Literature, Narrative Writing (Narrative Writing - Gothic Short Story)

  • Unit 4 - Reading Informational Texts (Unit Exam)

   Semester 2 -

• • Unit 1 - Reading Literature: American Short Stories, Argument Writing (CFA* #3 Language Conventions)

  • Unit 2 - Reading and Analyzing Poetry, Speaking and Listening (CFA* #4 Poem Performance)

  • Unit 3 - Reading Informational Texts, Writing Across Genres (Multi-Genre Paper)

  • Unit 4 - Reading and Analyzing Literature (Reading Literature Exam)

*CFA = Common Formative Assessment (Unit Finals)

Course Disclosure

Student Expectations

COMMITMENT: This course requires the same level of commitment from you as a traditional classroom course would. Throughout the semester, you are expected to spend approximately 5 hours per week online on the following REQUIRED activities: 

• Interactive lessons that include a blend of instructional videos and tasks

• Assignments in which you apply and extend learning in each lesson

• Assessments, including quizzes, tests, and major end-of-unit projects or essays. 

PACING: Edgenuity’s Pacing Guide will not be entirely helpful to you as it does not account for the length of time required to read and analyze texts, write and revise formal writing pieces, and complete quizzes and assignments. Instead. . . .

USE this detailed pacing guide to help you: CLICK HERE. I highly recommend following this pacing guide. This class follows the Washington County School District Schedule, but remember that because we are online, you can Learn Anywhere!

PRE-TESTING: To ensure high-quality learning, all Language Arts courses require only the completion of practical curriculum. The Language Arts Department strives to create courses rich in essential learning activities and is structured with the guaranteed viable curriculum in mind. Language Arts courses may offer pre-testing activities at the beginning of some lessons, but not all.  A score of 90% must be earned on a pre-testing activity to be able to bypass a lesson. Some lessons contain materials that cannot be bypassed in order to achieve mastery and ensure success in the remainder of the course, future courses, and careers. If you would like the pre-testing disabled on your course, please email me.   

Communication

You may communicate with me through email, texts, or phone calls. Likewise, I will communicate with you in the same manner and also through system announcements (weekly). I check my tnelsen@utahonline.org email address and text messages at  (435) 359-2441 far more frequently than the Edgenuity messaging system.  For the fastest response, email or text message me.

Please make sure to check your email regularly (both parents and students).  When you receive an email or text message from me and I ask for a response, it is required (and polite) that you send one (or make a phone call). 

All communication with teachers, mentors, and peers should be polite and respectful. 

Tutoring/Extra Help/Appointments to Meet

If you need to meet with me for tutoring or extra help, even if it’s just a question, you are welcome to make an appointment with me via this form: CLICK HERE.

You’re also welcome to request a tutorial video from me via this form: CLICK HERE.

If I see that you are struggling in class, I will contact you and invite you to join me online so that your progress can improve. 

Grading Policy

Grades are based on the coursework completed and submitted electronically via Edgenuity. The weight for each category of graded activities is listed below.  Final grades are determined by the scores earned in each category. 

Language Arts 11 Grading Weights

Introductions, Reflections, & Required Housekeeping Items: 5%

Quizzes: 15%

Assignments: 30%

End-of-Unit Assessments: 50%

Earning Full Credit (Google Docs):

This class relies heavily on Google Drive. You will need to use your Gmail account to access and submit a lot of your coursework to me.  Every student is given a Gmail account when they enroll with Utah Online School.  If you do not know what your school email address is, please contact your mentor ASAP.  

• • All Google Docs submitted for this course must give Mrs. Nelsen “editor” access. To review how to change the share settings on a Google Doc, please CLICK HERE.

    • Google Docs that contain an assessment such as a quiz or unit final will not be accepted until Mrs. Nelsen has “editor” access and can review the “version history” of the Google Doc 

    • Google Docs NOT shared correctly with me the first time will lose 11 points and may earn only up to a B+.

Final/Relative Grade

The grade listed as your “RELATIVE grade” in Edgenuity is the grade that will be your FINAL grade in the course (at the semester’s end after all of your assignments have been scored/graded).  The RELATIVE grade is the one that you’ll want to pay the most attention to in Edgenuity. 

• All coursework is due at 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the semester. No exceptions.

Academic Integrity & Plagiarism Policy

All student work must be original.  Plagiarism is a serious academic offense.  Please read through the UOS school policy about plagiarism below:

“PLAGIARISM The taking of another’s ideas or words and presenting them as your own is plagiarism. Students who plagiarize work will receive no credit for the assignment. Further both the student and parent will need to meet with administration to discuss disciplinary action. All student work must be original” (11).

Copying another student's work, or sharing an essay, is also plagiarism and cheating.  If identical essays/papers/pieces are submitted, neither student will receive credit and each will be asked to complete an original piece of work.

Finally, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to complete written assignments is against the UOS Academic Integrity Policy and is also considered cheating. Teachers at UOS use AI detection software, Google Docs’ version history, and other resources to ascertain the originality of student writing; therefore, all major projects must be written in Google Docs or Google Slides (unless otherwise specified) in order to document originality.

Utilizing AI in this course includes but is not limited to drafts, short-answer submissions, poetry, short stories, etc. Please complete and submit all your own work. 

In the first instance that a student’s work is suspected of AI content, the student and guardians will be notified and the student will be given an opportunity to redo the assignment. The second and/or third offense will be escalated to the administration.

Language Arts Literature and Reading List

Please be advised that our core curriculum is vetted and approved by Utah Online School. Occasionally there may be a passage or an excerpt of additional materials that is included in the course materials. This does not imply an endorsement or recommendation for the entire source or work.

As an English Department at Utah Online, we read a broad sampling of literature and non-fiction texts from a variety of time periods, cultures, and perspectives, which encompass diverse and significant themes.  As such, and because literature is reflective of society, some passages and discussions may have themes and content that may be considered developmentally mature. All literature that is read and discussed in class is meant to teach students critical thinking, empathy, and how to be a good citizen of the world. 

Here is a list of the major works of literature we will be reading this year: 

LANGUAGE ARTS 11 READING LIST

I have approved these texts and consider them to have value and merit in how they represent objectives discussed in this course.  If you have any concerns or questions regarding the literature taught, please contact me directly.

For additional information on the use, selection, and value of literature in English courses, please visit this link. 

UOS School Handbook

Please read the School Handbook and become familiar with the listed student expectations. Students will be held responsible for those expectations, so it is important that you know what they are. 

I am thrilled to work with you this semester and I am here to help you! Never hesitate to contact me with questions, confusions, or concerns.  The best way to reach me is email me at tnelsen@utahonline.org. I’m looking forward to a great semester with you!