2010-2011 School Year

LANGUAGE ARTS II Seventh Grade

COURSE SYLLABUS
Mrs. Alexandra R. Dolan
Email: dolana@manateeschools.net Phone: 941.721.2260
Website: www.alexandradolan.com Classroom: 2-225

All Aboard!
Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year! This year we will be navigating through eight units, guided by Manatee County's
Language Arts Core Curriculum. Following the map, we will embark on a journey of critical thinking as we explore the theme of
identity. Our quest will involve research, reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking. As captain of this voyage towards
understanding, I welcome you aboard the USS Identity! I look forward to getting to know each student in my crew, and helping
you all to succeed!

Learning is an adventure! It requires that we take risks and venture out into the unknown! We will push past boundaries,
overcome barriers, and conquer new territory! Lifelong learning is a perpetual quest for meaning and significance! We will
venture beyond the limits of the familiar, to islands of inquiry where there are no easy answers, seeking knowledge to define,
shape, and reaffirm who we are as individuals, and as a community.

All hands on deck! We are a team! Nobody gets marooned! Sure, we might hit some storms, and travel through some rough
terrain, but we will all get through this as a crew! There is no excuse for being pulled under by waves of ignorance, and drowning
in incomprehension! Look to your captain and crew members for help, and be ready and willing to help others! Let’s make
waves!

Goals & Expectations: Daily Classroom Procedures:

I. You have a right to an education, and a duty to learn! Be in
your assigned seat and ready to work when the bell rings.
Please note that bringing all required materials to every class is
part of being ready to work! If you need to sharpen your pencil,
do it before class starts, not afterwards. There is a difference
between my class and free-time: Know and observe that
difference.
II. Follow directions the first time they are given. If you do not
understand or need further assistance to complete assigned
projects, please let me know immediately so that I may provide
accommodations.
III. Treat everyone and their property respectfully. Listen
when someone is speaking. My job is to help prepare you
succeed in life, and work is part of that. In your career you will
have to work with many co-workers, and though you do not
always have to like them, you do have to respect them and their
property.
IV. Do not ask to go to the bathroom, library, get something you
forgot in another class, etc. as a means of avoiding classroom
work. There are breaks provided between classes to use the
facilities, and I expect that students will make use of them at
that time, and come to my class ready to learn!
V. Follow school-wide and district-wide rules.
Required Materials:
•College Ruled Filler Notebook Paper with (holes in tack)
•College Ruled Composition Notebook
•School Binder with Section for Language Arts
•One Two-Pocket Portfolio with Prong Fasteners for Notebook
Expect the following routine, as we fulfill goals, expectations,
and learning objectives:
I. Enter the classroom calmly and quietly. Sit in your assigned
seat, and be ready to work when the bell rings. Do not run in at
the last minute yelling, and disturbing others who are making a
sincere effort to learn!
II. Have assignments out and ready to turn in. Have required
materials out and in ready-to-use condition when the bell rings.
If you need to sharpen your pencil, do it before the bell rings. It
is not my fault if you do not bring required materials to class,
and does not constitute an emergency on my part.
III. Begin working immediately. Work will be up and ready to
go when you enter class, and we will be working bell-to-bell.
When you enter this class, you are on my time, and my time is
not free-time. Copy objectives, assignments, and homework
activities into agenda every day at the beginning of class. Work
not completed in class is assigned, in addition to any other
homework to be completed.
IV. Questions, discussions, and commentary will be restricted
to those that relate to classroom activities and objectives.
V. Acts of bullying and harassment demonstrate a lack of
intelligence, class, and character. Since all of my students are
intelligent, classy, characters, there will be zero tolerance for
bullying and harassment in my classroom. It is not cute, funny,
or excusable to boost yourself up at the expense of another
person. Bullying and harassment are prohibited by state law
F.S. 1006.147. Bullying means systematically and chronically
inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more
students. Harassment means any threatening, insulting, or
dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or
written, verbal or physical conduct directed against a student
or school employee.

•Pencil and Pencil Eraser

•Blue or Black Ink Pens (No Other Colors!)

Assignments & Grading Procedures: Manatee County Grading
The expectations are that students
will follow all rules and procedures as
consideration for late work, and those
instances will be clearly articulated and
Scale:
outlined. I want students to try their hardest,
challenge themselves, and always put forth
communicated. This is not a free pass!
You must still turn in work to receive a A
90-100%
their best effort! Your grade in this class is a grade other than a zero!
reflection of your cumulative performance on • You can use them up on one assignment
various types of activities, assignments, and turned in five days late, or five B
Portal Park
homework. Rubrics for assignments will be assignments turned in one day late, or
provided, and learning objectives will be any other combination not to exceed five
clearly stated.
Feedback on assignments will align
late days total.
• Time granted for make-up work for
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Downtown
with the degree to which expectations for documented, excused absences does not
performance of stated learning objectives
and goals have been met. Grades will be
count against your late days. • The School
District of Manatee County's policy is that
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Music Shop
routinely updated on Pinnacle, and it is your if you are absent, you have one day for
responsibility to keep yourself informed.
Questions and concerns about grades and
each day absent to turn in your work.
• Undocumented, unexcused absences will F
The Aquarium
fulfillment of learning and performance not be granted the same consideration.
objectives must be discussed before or after
class, as class time must be devoted to
• If you do not use all of your late days, I
will grant you five extra credit points per Assignment % Weights:
learning. late day remaining at the end of the
•••
• Assignments, including homework are
quarter. The total value of this extra
credit is not to exceed 5% of the total
25%
Tests & Quizzes
assigned to reinforce learning objectives, or grade for the quarter.
to gather additional information.
• If you do not finish classroom work in the
• After you have used your five late days,
I will accept late work, but I will deduct 5
25%
Unit Performance
time allotted, it is homework! When I do not percentage points from your grade for
Assessments
finish work at school, I bring it home to finish each day late.
it, and I expect students to do the same. • Parents: Please feel free to contact me
• It is imperative that students complete all regarding homework or other projects 20%
Classwork/
assignments both in the classroom and at assigned to your student. Your feedback
Homework
home. and input can make all the difference in
• I do not assign busy-work, because our time your child’s experience of this class. I
on Earth is too short and too valuable to
waste doing something that does not matter
welcome your opinions and input, and
look forward to keeping the lines of
20%
Journals/Essays
and does not really provide us with an communication open.
opportunity to learn anything.
• If you believe that what I assign is not an NOTEBOOK REQUIREMENTS:
10%
Word Study
authentic assessment of what you are
learning, please feel free to articulately
discuss alternative assessments prior to the All students are required to keep a binder FLORIDA LANGUAGE
containing assignments and work ARTS COURSE
assignment’s due date in a well-reasoned DESCRIPTION:
manner that evidences critical thinking and completed. Binders will be periodically
examined and graded. Examinations may Reading, writing, sp
exemplary conduct, either before or after eaking,
class, not during. Whining and complaining be announced or unannounced. Periodic listening and viewing
grading on the kind and quality of work competencies
do not constitute a well-reasoned manner. are integrated throu
completed will also be performed, and will ghout students’
Students must propose an alternative in learning experiences.
writing that clearly demonstrates authentic count as a test grade. Notebooks should Benchmarks for
begin with the syllabus, followed by the the Sunshine State Sta
learning, critical thinking, and fulfills the ndards are
same learning objectives and goals as the table of contents, which will be provided repeated as needed in
by Mrs. Dolan for every unit. Notebooks course
original assignment. In life, and in my sequences. As students
will be organized according to the format progress from
classroom, there is no way to take the easy one course to the ne
way out and succeed. specified in the table of contents. Student xt, increases
is responsible for writing down all bell should occur in the com
plexity of
work and jump starts, and including materials and tasks
LATE WORK PROCEDURES: and in the
them in order in the binder. Returned students’ independe
graded assignments must also be nce in the
• I will not provide extensions or alternative included, and arranged in order specified application of skills an
d strategies.
assignments after a due date if I have not by the table of contents. Missing work, Learning tasks and ma
discussed alternatives in a well-reasoned terials
or work that is not organized according accommodate the ind
manner before the deadline. ividual needs of
to the stated specifications will result in students. Technolog
• You will be graded on work that is turned a lower grade. y is available for
in! I expect you to turn it in on time, in its students to develop
competencies in
entirety, and completed to the best of your ••• the language arts.
abilities and efforts! Adherence to these policies will
• If you are absent it is your responsibility to MAJOR CONCEPTS/CO
find and complete missing work. ensure that we have a happy, positive NTENT:
• I do realize that life happens and and successful school year! The purpose of this cou
rse is to
exigencies occur. Therefore, throughout the ••• provide integrated ed
ucational
year, I will provide each student with five late Mrs. Dolan reserves the right to experiences in the lan
gu
days. Note, that these are late days. Five modify goals and expectations, and strands of reading, wr age arts
total. I reserve the right to place limitations procedures in order to sustain a safe, iting, listening,
on the kind and quality of assignment to viewing, speaking, lan
positive learning environment for all guage, and
which these late days apply. Some literature.
assignments may be excluded from students.

Statement of
Accountability: The signed Course
••• Student Signature
Syllabus shall remain in
We, both a student in Mrs. the front of the student's
Dolan's Language Arts Class, Date
and a legal parent/guardian, binder notebook
have read the Course Syllaus throughout the course of
for Seventh Grade Language Parent Signature
Arts and understand this the year for your
document's contents
completely. Date reference.
Overall Theme:
Identity
•••
Unit 1: What happens when
everything doesn’t fit perfectly?
Key Concepts:
1. Our ideas for the future grow from
our understanding of who we are.
2. Prior knowledge and a preview of
text can help us predict an author’s
purpose.
3. Goals help us stay focused on our
desires and ambitions.
4. Friendly letters and email informally
communicate personal ideas and
information.
Key Resources:
Selected fiction, non-fiction, and poetry
from Elements of Literature
Unit 2: How do I reveal my identity to
others?
Key Concepts:
1. Writers use actions, thoughts, and
speech to reveal character.
2. Descriptive language establishes
mood and communicates tone.
3. Figurative language creates layers of
meaning.
4. Imagery can convey a range of
human emotions and ideas.
Key Resource:
Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the
World
Unit 3: Can I stay true to myself while
being a member of a group?
Key Concepts:
1. The need to belong motivates
characters into action and inaction.
2. The search for community can
influence personal identity.
3. The growth of fictional characters
and their relationships reflects
important life lessons.
4. Narratives allow us to explore both
the familiar and the unfamiliar.
Key Resources:
Selected fiction, non-fiction, and poetry
from Elements of Literature
Unit 4: How do society and
environment affect my identity?
Key Concepts:
THIS YEAR: QUARTER BY QUARTER
First Quarter: Unit 1, Unit II, Unit III (Part A)
Second Quarter: Unit III (Part B), Unit IV
Fourth Quarter: Unit VII, Unit VIII
IDENTITY: CORE QUESTIONS
Where do I belong? What shapes identity?
1. Literary characters introduce us to identity to change?
different communities. Key Concepts:
2. Societal and environmental 1. Past experiences can influence the
pressures can create internal conflict. way we react to challenges.
3. A society’s values can challenge our 2. Characters may change as a result of
beliefs. the challenges they must face.
4. Individuals are ultimately 3. A dynamic character can be both a
responsible for their choices and victim and a cause of change.
actions. 4. Reflecting upon where we’ve been
5. Exploring our influences can help us and where we are now can help us see
understand our identity. where we’re going.
Key Resource: Key Resources:
The Giver Literature Circles
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Unit 5: How do the choices I make Face on the Milk Carton
impact my identity? Don’t Look Behind You
Key Concepts: The Skin I’m In
1. Previous experiences can help us Touching Spirit Bear
make decisions. Esperanza Rising
2. Our personal motivations sometimes
conflict with what we know is right. Unit 8: How does personal growth
3. We are responsible for the choices we prepare me to become a responsible,
make and the consequences that result active member of society?
from them.
Key Concepts:
4. The decisions we make can reveal our
values and teach us important lessons. 1. Writers select genre and structure to
achieve a particular effect.
Key Resource:
2. Expectations can help define our
The Watsons Go to Birmingham lives.
3. Our experiences can influence the
perception we have of our role in
Unit 6: What would it feel like to walk society.
in someone else’s shoes? 4. By organizing essential ideas from
Key Concepts: research into presentation, students
1. Stereotypes can make fictional can enlighten others and inspire
characters more or less believable. further inquiry.
2. Motifs in a work of literature can Key Resource:
help readers understand the author’s The Outsiders
message.
3. Stories from different cultures may
share common messages.
4. Making connections to the text can Unit 1:
20 Days
help us better understand the theme. Unit II:
Key Resources: 20 Days
Selected fiction, non-fiction, and poetry Unit III:
from Elements of Literature 20 Days
Unit IV:
25 Days
Unit 7: What can cause my concept of
Unit 5:
20 Days
Unit 6:
20 Days
Unit 7:
20 Days
Unit 8:
20 Days
Third Quarter: Unit V, Unit VI