English IV Syllabus

2016-2017
Academic standards, chosen by the Tennessee State Board of Education, provide a
common set of expectations for what students should know and be able to do at the end
of a specific grade or course. Local school districts determine the order in which these
state-mandated standards are addressed in their schools. For a breakdown of standard
pacing and course objectives for English IV students in the Clarksville Montgomery
County School System, please visit the Curriculum Navigator on the CMCSS homepage
found at: http://curriculum.cmcss.net/public/index.aspx
It is the policy of the Clarksville Montgomery County School System to follow the
dictates of state statues in the selection and use of all instructional materials. Parents or
legal guardians may request to review any instructional materials used in the classroom
of the parent or legal guardians child following the guideline set forth in Instructional
Policy INS-A073 found at:
http://www.cmcss.net/departments/instruction/departmentforms.aspx
The chart below outlines the units of study for English IV and possible major
assignments or field trips that could be used to enhance student learning or solidify
mastery of standards in each unit. This chart is not inclusive of every assignment for
English III, as additional or different assignments may be created based on the needs of
students. Specific details for major assignments will be shared with students and parents
or legal guardians as the standards related to the assignments are addressed in class.
Unit

Topic

Beginning Literacy Standards

Developing Literacy Standards

Mastery of Literacy Standards

Extension of Literacy Standards

Possible Major
Assignments

Possible Field Trips

Unit 1: Heritage &

Heroes
*Literary excerpts
*Informational text
(non fiction)
*Write the narrative,
informational, and
argumentative essay
*These items repeat
throughout the school
year.
Unit 2: Self
Discovery
Unit 3: Human
Enlightenment

None

Unit 4: Relationships

None

None
None

ENGLISH IV
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
English IV or senior English is traditionally reserved for British literature. During the course of the
year, we will read various selections by British authors as well as other world literature and
several pieces of informational text. Since the literature of a country is most often linked to its
history, we will also study the historical backdrop for each unit and reading selection.

Semester I

Semester II

Unit One: Heritage and Heroes

The Anglo-Saxons: 449-1066 (Beowulf)
The Middle Ages: 1066-1485 (The Canterbury Tales)
Unit Two: Self-DiscoveryCelebrating Humanity
The Renaissance: 1485-1660 (Macbeth)
Unit Three: Human EnlightenmentTurbulent Times and Rebels & Dreamers
The Research Unit
The Restoration: 1660-1800
The Romantic Period: 1798-1832
Unit Four: Thoughts & RelationshipsProgress, Decline and Rapid Changes
The Victorian Period: 1832-1901
The Twentieth Century: 1901-Present

WRITING PROJECTS
Senior Memory Book: Throughout the year, you will write several narrative essays to be
included in an end-of-the-year project. The culminating product will be a binder or scrapbook
containing a collection of essays and photographs highlighting your life. This senior memory
book will be due in May.

BELLRINGERS
Each day while I am taking roll, you will be completing a bellringer displayed for you on the screen
in the front of the classroom. Be aware that this is a required assignment that will count as a
grade. You will keep all bellringers for the week on the same sheet of paper, which I will collect
every Friday for a grade. For any day you are absent, simply record that date on your bellringer
sheet and write the word ABSENT.
"Though no one can go back and
make a brand new start, anyone
can start from now and make a
brand new ending." ~Author Unknown

August 8, 2016

Its never safe to be nostalgic about

something until you're absolutely
certain there's no chance of its
coming back." ~Bill Vaughn

May 26, 2017

MRS. RICHEY
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES
2016-17
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES
1. Be on time for class.
2. Be prepared.
3. Stay seated.
4. Be considerate of others.
5. Do not talk or make noise during class.
6. Do not sleep during class.
7. No food or drinks (other than water) allowed during class.
8. All school rules apply in this classroom.
Each day you will need:
-pen (blue or black ink only) or pencil
-paper (preferably with a clean edge)
-pocket folder or binder in which to keep your paperwork
-textbook when requested
GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Semester I Grade:

1st Nine Weeks Grade

2nd Nine Weeks Grade
Semester Exam

40%
40%
20%

Semester II Grade

3rd Nine Weeks Grade

4th Nine Weeks Grade
Semester Exam

40%
40%
20%

Note: If you earn an A (93%) or higher for both the 3 rd and 4th 9 weeks, you will be exempt from
the second semester exam, in which case each nine weeks grades will constitute 50% of your
semester average.

--Your grade will be computed on a point system. For instance, a quiz might be worth 25 points,
an essay worth 50, and a test worth 100. Power School will compute the number of points you
have accumulated and divide this figure by the number of points possible. Therefore, if you earn
450 points out of 500, for example, your grade will be a 90%. (450-500=.90)

--MAKE UP WORK: If you are absent it is your responsibility to determine the work you need to
make up. On the day you return to school, please see me for your make up work. If you are
absent on the day of a test, you should make arrangements to make up the test as soon as
possible. Please be aware that I generally allow one week for students to make up work. I will do

my best to remind you and keep you informed regarding deadlines. Failure to make up
assignments and tests within one week of an absence will result in a zero for the work or
grade in question.
--LATE WORK: No late work accepted. No exceptions.

English IV: Senior English

Mrs. Richey

Welcome back,
Class of
2017!
Seniors
at last!
Welcome back, Class of
2016. I have heard people
say, Lets begin with the
end in mind. For you, that
means staying focused on
that all important date
Thursday, May 26, 2017.

Northwest High School

August 2016

How to Stay Connected

Contacting Mrs. Richey
Email: amanda.richey@cmcss.net
Phone: 648-5675 ext. 1171
The best time of day to contact me is either during my
planning period (5th period11:15-12:00) or after school.

I know you hear all the

time that your senior year
will fly by. It will. Before
you realize it, graduation will
be here, and youll be putting
on your cap and gown,
preparing to march across
that stage and receive your
diploma.

Classroom Webpage
For resources like class notes and rubrics as well as
weekly agendas and up-to-date information, visit my
webpage at richeyenglish.weebly.com.

For now, you have lots of

good things ahead of you
like pep rallies, Homecoming,
spring break, Prom and all
those little things in
between.

PowerSchool allows you

and your parents to view
your grades and
attendance from any
computer at any time.
Teachers are required to
update grades weekly.
You must have your user
name and password to log
on.

So as the days become

weeks and the weeks
become months, I hope you
treasure the time you have
left here during this final
yearYOUR YEAR.

Every new beginning

comes from some other
beginnings end.
--Closing Time,
Semisonic

PowerSchool

Paper progress reports

will be available every
three weeks.
Please do not hesitate to
contact me if you would
like additional reports or
information regarding
your grade.

Important Dates
Aug. 25Open House
Sept. 5Labor Day
No School

Sept. 26College Night

at APSU

Sept. 29Parent/Teacher
Conferences

May 26, 20174:00

Graduation!!

A Letter from Mrs. Richey . . .

Dear students and parents,

An
understanding
heart is
everything in
a teacher
and cannot
be esteemed
highly
enough. One
looks back
with
appreciation
to the
brilliant
teachers but
with
gratitude to
those who
touched our
human
feeling.
--Carl Jung

August 2016

It is my pleasure to welcome you to what should be your last year of

high school English. Your senior year marks a milestone in your life,
culminating in graduation this May. With that final destination in mind, I
will strive to make this year meaningful for you.
Let me begin by telling you about myself. I was born and raised in
upstate New York. I attended college at the State University of New York,
where I graduated with a bachelors degree in English Composition and
Speech Communication. This will be my thirteenth year teaching but my
first year at Northwest. I previously taught at Christian County High
School in Kentucky. I have also been an adjunct instructor of English and
Communication for Austin Peay State University, Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University, Jefferson Community College, University of
Maryland University College, and Columbia College.
In addition to English IV here at Northwest, I also teach English
III.
We will, of course, be very busy in English this year. One of the
projects for seniors is what I call the Senior Memory Book. You will work
on the memory book all year long, writing narratives about your life and
collecting photographs and keepsakes. The finished product will be
something like a scrapbook. A couple of chapters will require you to
conduct a bit of research about your family and your early years. Parents,
I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to share stories and
photos with your son or daughter. I think it should prove to be a wonderful
bonding experience.
Over the next few weeks and months, I want you to keep in mind
that your senior year allows very few second chances. In other words,
youve got only nine months to make the grades and walk across that stage.
I will commit myself to both students and parents, but I will need your
cooperation and support. If together we do it right, well only have to do it
once.
This year in English class we will also be reading and writing and
analyzing. The content and rigor of any course is important, and English IV
is no exception. It is not the subject, however, on which I wish to focus; it
is the student. My teaching philosophy is very simple: Students dont care
how much you know until they know how much you care. When you leave my
classroom this May, I hope you always remember how much I cared about
you as a person and not just as a student.
Sincerely,

Parent Information/Contact Sheet

Please fill out this information sheet and return it no later than Friday, August 19, 2016.
Students Name __________________________________

Period ___________

Person to notify regarding this student:

Name:
______________________________________________________________________
Home phone: _____________________

Best time to contact: __________________

Cell phone: _______________________

Parent/Guardian email address:
____________________________________________________________________
Relationship to student: ________________________________________________

Please check the box next to the method by which you prefer to be contacted regarding
your student.
Phone

Email

Both students and parents should sign below to indicate receipt of the class syllabus,
grading procedures, and general guidelines.
__________________________________
Parent/Guardian signature

_____________________________
Student signature

An Opportunity for Parents of Seniors:

Graduation Letter
During the first week of school, I ask my seniors to write letters to
themselves in which they discuss how they are feeling as they begin
their senior year of high school, their hopes and plans for this school
year, and how they imagine they will be feeling on May 26 th, the day
of their graduation. They will place these letters in a self-addressed
envelope, and I will mail them the week of graduation.
I would like to allow you the opportunity to write a letter to your son or
daughter to include as part of this project. This is your chance to tell
your child how you feel as you begin the senior year adventure as a
parent and to help mark the moment during this very exciting time in
your seniors life.
Although you have all year to write this letter, I have discovered that
the longer you wait, the more likely you are to forget. Ultimately, the
deadline is May 15, but I urge you not to wait too long. If youre like
me, having a senior tends to be a very emotional experience for
parents, but as graduation approaches, Im afraid it doesnt get any
easier.
You may email your letter to me or send a hard copy in a sealed
envelope. Please put your name AND your students name on the
email or envelope. I want to reassure you that I will not be reading
these letters. I hope many of you take advantage of this opportunity.

Email your letter to me at amanda.richey@cmcss.net.

OR
Send in a hard copy via your student in a sealed envelope.
Deadline: May 15 (Sooner would be great!)