Sophomore English (English II)
This meticulously crafted course aims to immerse students in the realm of reading and the art of effective writing. Through a comprehensive exploration of thought-provoking texts, engaging class discussions, and a diverse array of writing assignments, students will embark on an enriching journey of intellectual growth.
Cell Phone Policy
It is illegal to have your cell phone in class.
Work Policy
All major essays (see assignment list below) will be required to be written in class. They will be a sort of writing test. Some other assignments will also be exclusively done in class.If you miss class time when we are writing an essay, you will need to make up that time by either showing up before school, after school, or during lunch.
Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. If you take 3 consecutive words in a row from a source without citing that source, it will be considered plagiarism. Using an idea from a source without citing that source is plagiarism. If AI is used to write any assignment, it will be considered as plagiarism. If I have reason to suspect plagiarism, it will be your responsibility to prove that your essay is authentic. Until you have proven it to be authentic or the essay is entirely rewritten, your score will remain a 0.
Grading Policy
Comments on your writing will be made through comments on your essay and through a comprehensive rubric/checklist. If you intend to make corrections after grading is complete, do not discard the comments or the checklist. They will be used to measure your progress on that essay. You will have access to this checklist prior to every assignment. Follow it like a blueprint, then you will get a good grade the first time around.
If you don't like your grade on an essay, read the feedback. Learn your weaknesses as a writer. Fix the essay as guided by the feedback and the checklist. Email me. I will regrade it. Be patient with this process. Regrades will not be my first priority.
-- IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE ALL MAJOR ESSAYS FOR THE SEMESTER, YOUR OVERALL GRADE WILL BE AN F.--
Late Work Policy
If you finish it late, make sure you email me. An email to me with the assignment name in the subject line is the only means of getting late work graded. All late essays need to be written in the classroom. Be patient with this process. Late work will not be my first priority. If you are an athlete, turning assignments in late is unwise because I will not rush to grade late work to make you eligible. If the term is over, it is too late to change your grade. I will take late assignments usually until the 2nd to last week of the semester.
Behavior Policy
I will make my expectations clear. If you struggle to follow them, I will speak to you about this. If you continue to not follow expectations, expect a referral. Some behaviors, such as violence, will not be afforded a verbal reminder before getting a referral.
Assignment List (subject to change):
Informative Essay (800 words) 9/26 450 points
Argumentative Essay (800 words) 11/1 485 points
Hegelian Dialectic (700 words) 12/12 460 points
Every day assignments/classwork/grades:
Essays will make up around 70-75% of your grade. All other assignments, including warm ups, quizzes, and reading assignments will make up between 25-30% of your grade.
Lesson Plans & Weekly Agendas:
Weekly agendas and plans will be posted on Google Classroom
If you have any questions or concerns, email me at david.scheidegger@valesd.org