English II Syllabus 2014-2015

English II Course Syllabus

Lauren Lawrence Johnna Mueller Valarie Ellsworth Amanda Nichol
Lauren.Lawrence@raypec.org Johnna.Mueller@raypec.org Valarie.Ellsworth@raypec.org Amanda.Nichol@raypec.org

Course Description:
English II is a survey course that covers a wide array of literature and writing assignments. The class
will read novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and various forms of non-fiction. The students will also
complete grammar and vocabulary activities focusing primarily on improving reading and writing skills.
Independent reading will be required and assessed.

Course Goals:
To become college and career ready, students must be able to read, understand and evaluate reading
materials of exceptional craft and thought ranging across a wide array of genres, cultures and centuries.
These works offer profound insights into the human condition. Students will also focus on improving
their writing skills in various modes. The goal of this class is to move the students along the continuum
towards the goal of being college and career ready upon graduation.

Learning Targets:
1. Critical Thinking and Analysis
a. I can analyze the information and ideas presented in different texts.
b. I can obtain understanding through collaboration.
c. I can evaluate purpose and structure.
d. I can evaluate central ideas and details in a text.
e. I can cite textual evidence to support critical thinking and analysis.
2. Oral and Written Language
a. I can compose a variety of text types and purposes.
b. I can use technology to produce and publish writing in the appropriate format.
c. I can prepare for and participate in collaboration.
d. I can justify knowledge and ideas through presentation.
e. I can develop and strengthen writing by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
f. I can use conventions of Standard English.
3. Research Skills
a. I can gather relevant information and assess the credibility and accuracy of each source.
b. I can use multiple print and digital sources to gather information.
c. I can connect evidence from research to build and present knowledge.
4. Vocabulary
a. I can demonstrate emerging independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word
or phrase important to comprehension.
b. I can acquire and use grade appropriate vocabulary.
c. I can acquire and use content appropriate vocabulary.



English II Syllabus 2014-2015
Grading:
All major assignments, keystone assignments, will account for 70% of the grade. (This work includes:
quizzes, all common assessment tests, book tests, essays, and other major assignments or projects.) The
additional supporting assignments will account for 30% of the grade. (These assignments may include:
class work, homework, etc.) Students and parents may check grades through SIS. The semester final
will count 10% of the total semester grade. However, during second semester the standardized EOC
exam will count for the 10% of their total semester grade and the final will count as a 70% assessment
grade.

Late Work and Re-Do/Retest Policy:
All homework, assignments, or project deadlines will be strictly adhered to as defined by the classroom
teacher. Students who fail to submit any work at the time of a deadline can expect that a zero will be
entered for their grade. Throughout the course of the semester, students will be allowed three
opportunities to resubmit homework, assignments, or projects which they did not complete or submit by
a required deadline. Students have one week from when the grade is posted in SIS to turn the
assignment in for points. Before students are allowed to redo any material, they will be required to visit
with the classroom teacher to establish the relearning parameters that must be fulfilled to demonstrate
students efforts to relearn the information. In order to begin the relearning process, it will be the sole
obligation and responsibility of the student to initiate a conversation or visit with the classroom teacher
within one week of receiving a score and/or teacher feedback on the original assignment/activity. Once
the relearning parameters have been established and agreed upon, any student failure to adhere to the
newly established timeframe will cause an immediate forfeiture in the students ability to redo the
assignment. The redo policy is not applicable to summative assessments including book tests, various
quizzes, vocabulary tests, and common assessments.

Cheating & Plagiarism Policy
If you cheat or help a classmate cheat on any assignment (this includes working together), you will
receive a zero for that assignment, a discipline referral, and the parent or guardian will be notified.
Cheating includes copying another persons work and claiming it to be your own, making cheat sheets,
talking or texting during a quiz or test or sharing answers on class-work, homework assignments, etc.
Plagiarism is defined as the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another
author and the representation of them as one's own original work. Plagiarism can occur not only while
writing an essay, but also on homework assignments. Plagiarism in any form, whether it be copying the
writing of a peer and passing it off as one's own or copying the writing of a known author or Internet
entity and passing it off as one's own will result in a zero for the assignment, a discipline referral, and
your parent/guardian will be notified. Please refer to the RPHS handbook for more details about the
consequences of plagiarism.

Classroom Rules:
If a rule is indicated in the RPHS Student Handbook, it will be enforced in the classroom.
Come to the classroom on time; have all necessary materials; and follow the classroom procedures.
Be respectful of others and their property.

Absent Work
The student is responsible for finding out what he or she missed during an absence. Students will have
the same number of days to make up work as the number of days they have been absent.
English II Syllabus 2014-2015

Materials
The student will need one composition notebook that will stay in the classroom and one folder/binder
that will also remain in the classroom. You will also need an endless supply of writing utensils and paper.

Missed Assessments
Exams may be made up before or after school, during tutoring times, transition classes, or within in the
learning lab.

Tutoring
Tutoring will be offered four days a week for English II. Tutoring will be in assigned specific rooms each
day of the week with the exception of Friday. Tutoring is as follows: Monday- Mueller room 105 and
Wednesday- Ellsworth room 102. Other tutoring dates will be announced. Tutoring will begin promptly
2:45- tutoring will end at 3:00 if no students are present.