English III Syllabus

Language Arts III

Mrs. Rachael Jones

Diamond High School

2009-2010

E-mail: rejones@diamondwildcats.org

My webpage may be accessed through www.diamondwildcats.org  high school / academics

REQUIRED MATERIALS

• Glencoe Literature, Writer’s Choice, or novel we are studying

• Binder or folder for language class only

• Paper and pen/pencil

• The student’s OWN planner

• Recommended:  a flash drive

CLASS RULES

1. Be in your seat working when the bell rings.
2. Sit in assigned seats.
3. Respect teachers, students, and classroom/supplies. 
4. No food or drinks in class.
5. Purses must remain on the floor during class.
6. Follow all rules outlined in the student handbook and on the rules poster.

Failure to comply with these rules will result in a written warning, detention, conference with the principal, and/or contact with parent/guardian.

TARDIES

Students should be in their seats and working when the tardy bell rings.  When a student receives his or her third tardy, he or she will be referred for after school detention.  For the fourth tardy, the student will be referred for two after school detentions.  For the fifth tardy, students will be referred for Saturday school.

HALL PASS CARDS

Each student will be given a hall pass card for each semester.  The hall pass card will allow students to leave the class three times in the semester if he/she needs to use the restroom, get a drink, or go to his/her locker.  Each of the three passes is worth five bonus points if the student doesn’t use them. 

JOURNALS

Each student will need a spiral notebook to leave in the classroom for his or her journal. Students should pick up their journal upon entering the classroom and begin working.  The student must write the BR #, date and prompt for each entry.  Students also must write at least five complete sentences to receive full credit for the entry.  Journals should be up-to-date and ready to grade every week.

IN THIS COURSE

Throughout the year, we will cover vocabulary, grammar, writing, The Scarlet Letter, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Animal Farm, The Crucible, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry.

GRADES

In-class assignments, tests, quizzes, papers, and homework will earn points. Points will accumulate throughout the semester.   The grading scale is in the handbook.

ASSIGNMENTS

• Homework assignments are due at the beginning of the hour unless students have been instructed otherwise.  If the paper is not turned in at the beginning of the hour, it is late.
• Do not plan to finish / revise / print your assignment in class on the day it is due.
• Homework assignments will be placed in the proper slot in the room before the bell rings.
• Late work will NOT be accepted for credit.

• The student is responsible for all assignments on the day they are due regardless of absence between the assignment and the due date.  (If you are in class on Monday, and a paper is assigned for Wednesday, and you are absent on Tuesday, the paper is still due on Wednesday). 
• If a student misses class due to an excused absence, the student will be allowed to complete missed assignments.  A student will have one day after returning for every day missed, plus one day. 
• If the student returns after an absence on a test day, the student is expected to take the test that day.  The student must make arrangements to make up missed tests and quizzes with the teacher.  This is the responsibility of the student.  When the student returns, tests must be taken within two days.  Tests may need to be made up after school.
• A student is expected to get assignments from the instructor before leaving for any school activity.  A student is also expected to turn in any assignment due on the day of the activity before leaving. 

• Write legibly in blue or black ink or pencil. 
• Include a heading on every assignment in the upper left-hand corner.  This heading should include your full name, the hour, the date, and the assignment.  Points may be deducted for incomplete headings on assignments.

PLAGARISM  

Plagiarism is a serious offence and will not be tolerated.  Submitting work or ideas of another as your own, or using sources in a paper without documenting them is considered plagiarism.   Plagiarism (or any other form of cheating) will result in a “zero” for that assignment.  Additional consequences may also be applied. *If you give your answers to another student or take answers from another student, you are cheating.  If caught cheating, both parties will receive a zero for the assignment.   

EXPECTATIONS

I expect you to put effort into every assignment and to do your best work.  It is a waste of my time and yours if you are apathetic or lazy and fail to turn in your work.  This class is a requirement for graduation, and it is in your best interest to pass this class so that you will not have multiple language arts classes in the following years or have to attend summer school.  I will be glad to help you during or outside of class if you are respectful and hardworking. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please calmly communicate with me.  You may stop by before or after school, or you may e-mail me.  Also, I check my e-mail often, so I may be able to answer homework questions. 

Save this handout in your folder for future reference.