Welcome English 10 parents and students. Below please find the syllabus and policies for 2007-2008. If you have questions about assignments, grades or would like to request a grade printout, please email. Thanks for helping to make this a great year!
English 10 Syllabus
Stacy.Timlin@pgcps.org or 301/474-2050
This is going to be a great year for all of us. With hard work and focus, all of my students will succeed in this class. As we interpret and analyze the literary works listed we will also work on increasing vocabulary and improving our reading comprehension and writing skills.
Please note: Each unit listed below will have a tests and/or major writing assignment as well as occasional quizzes. I will provide rubrics for the assignments. Vocabulary will be tested regularly in both tests and quizzes. There will also be regular classwork, homework and journal assignments for each unit.
Unit I. The Challenge of Change (8 weeks)
We will explore various ways in which people, relationships, places and societies change over time. One part of the unit will consider the price of technology and the other part will explore the affects of cultural differences. Readings include Harrison Bergeron, The Sound of Thunder, The Pedestrian, Montgomery Boycott, Through the One Way Mirror, The Border: A Glare of Truth and Marriage is a Private Affair.
Unit II. In the Name of Love (5 weeks)
We will explore some of the fundamentals of poetry while dealing with the theme of love; we will the sometimes emotional and unreasoning ties love forms and the life-affecting impact it can make. Readings include Piano, Those Winter Sundays, sonnets, Sweet Potato Pie, Simile, Moon Rondeau, Love without Love, The Taxi and Tonight I Can Write…
Unit III. The Search for Identity (6 weeks)
We will explore the ways in which the past affects people in the present. Readings include One Thousand Dollars, Initiation, Getting a Job and Exile, A Celebration of Grandfather and Everyday Use.
Unit IV. Lessons of History (6 weeks)
We will explore history through literature examining the conflicts between people that reach across centuries to influence people's current behavior. Readings include From Night, From Farewell to Manzanar, and Julius Caesar.
Unit V. Discovering the Truth (1 weeks)
We will explore moments when people achieve an important understanding about life. Readings include Like the Sun, For the New Year 1981.
Unit VI. The Making of Heroes (9 weeks)
We will explore the many kinds of heroes. Readings include The Man in the Water, And Clay We are Created, The Crowing of Arthur, Sir Lancelot du Lake, From The Mists of Avalon, From The Acts of King Arthur and His Nobel Nights, and Antigone.
from Ms. Timlin
301-497-2050
stacy.timlin@pgcps.org
A strong foundation for the success of ALL students is a priority during this course. Just as in the working world, the track to success begins with following established rules and procedures. EVERY student will read, understand and discuss the rules and procedures with par-ents/ guardians, and adhere to them while in class. Students must also obtain parent/guardian signatures and return the form tomorrow for a homework grade.
RULES
1) Respect the teacher and your peers:
Courtesy and respect for teachers and other students will be expected at all times. Rudeness, ob-scenities and interruptions will not be tolerated. In order to achieve our classroom goals for the year, we need to create a learning community where ALL students feel comfortable and can achieve op-timal learning. Without an atmosphere of respect for the teacher and other students establishing a secure learning community is impossible. Therefore disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. Consequences for disrespect and disruptions include loss of participation points, phone calls to par-ents, and PS-74 referrals.
2) Students must be in the room, seated and prepared to work when the bell rings:
Students not seated in their assigned seat and beginning their warm-up when the bell rings will be marked tardy and lose participation points. Students who come to class unprepared to work (i.e. without their textbook, pen or paper, and Student IDs) will lose participation points. Students forget-ting a pen may borrow one in exchange for a valuable item (cell phone, CD player etc.), which will be returned when the pen is returned. This exchange should take place before the bell rings in order to avoid a further loss of points for being off task when the bell rings.
3) Food, drinks and electronic devices (pager, cell phones, CD players, etc.) are not
permitted in class:
If I see or hear them, I will confiscate them and you can pick them up at the end of the class. If you give me a hard time when I try to confiscate the item, you can pick it up at the end of the day from me or from your administrator depending on the degree of insubordination. A good rule of thumb is to keep prohibited items turned off (or on vibrate) in your backpack, purse, bag or pockets.
4) Respect school property and keep the room clean:
School property, including books, desks, chairs or any other school furniture is public property and has to be used by many other students after you. Therefore, it is UNACCEPTABLE to write on or otherwise harm equipment. Your parents and I (and you, if you have a job) pay taxes that go toward school equipment. Do not squander our taxpayer funding. In addition, students should make every effort to leave the classroom “better than the way they found it.” A safe, clean, and orderly class-room environment promotes a positive learning environment. Students will lose points for leaving trash in the room and there will be more severe consequences for damage to property.
5) The teacher dismisses class, not the bell:
Students are not to leave their seats until dismissed by the teacher. Students choosing to leave before the teacher dismisses class will lose participation points. In addition, I will hold the class until all students are seated.
PROCEDURES and POLICIES
(Classroom Protocol)
•Entering the Classroom
When you enter the classroom, go to your assigned seat. Retrieve your class materials (pens, note-books, etc.) and begin your warm-up.
When the tardy bell rings, complete the day's "warm-up." The "warm-up" should take approxi-mately three (3) to five (5) minutes.
Students are not required to say the pledge but should be silent out of respect for others. During an-nouncements, students should be quiet and respectful of those wanting to hear.
•Tardiness/Daily Attendance:
Students who are tardy to class may miss the instructions given to the class. Students are expected to adhere to Laurel High School's tardy policy. I will track your tardies and submit them to the ad-ministration when appropriate. If you are more than five (5) minutes tardy, you will NOT have time to complete the "warm-up" and will lose credit for it in my gradebook, unless it is excused.
I will call home for three or more absences and/or tardies. If you have more than 15 unexcused ab-sences during the year, you will receive an N grade. Three tardies count as one absence.
•When You Are Absent:
If you expect to obtain any missed work due to an EXCUSED absence, you MUST provide a writ-ten note from your parent or guardian or yellow slip (if you are not PD1 student within 48 hours. According to State Law (720), the only lawful/excused absences are: (a) death in immediate family, (b) illness of the student, (c) quarantine, (d) court summons, (e) violent storms, (f) activity ap-proved/sponsored by the school, (g) observance of a religious holiday, (h) suspension (PA-1 from an administrator), and (i) an emergency judged by the Superintendant or designee. In addition, if you bring a note or yellow slip for an EXCUSED absence, give it to me at the beginning of class and after you have completed your warm-up exercise. Do NOT place the note on my desk. Hand it to me.
Make-up work is given only to students with an EXCUSED absence. I will try to provide make-up work assignments during the class when the note or yellow slip is submitted, but depending on the rigor of the day's agenda, I may not be able to get it to you and have time to adequately explain it, in which case you must see me during Spartan Hour or after school. Students should not interrupt class to obtain missed assignments. Rather they should email me or talk to me before or after class or school. REMEMBER, it is up to YOU to ASK for make-up work for an EXCUSED absence.
Make-up work for UNEXUSED absences will NOT be accepted.
•While You Are Seated:
The classroom environment and seating arrangements will be similar to a college classroom or pro-fessional environment. Therefore, students are expected to sit in a FORWARD position and facing the front of the class. Sitting sideways is a distraction, leads to unnecessary conversation, and pre-vents other students from learning and doing classroom work. Likewise, any student who lays his/her head on the desk or sleeps during class time can expect a severe loss in class participation points. Therefore, students should advise me of any problems with an assigned seat, such as a de-fective chair, vision problems and/or personal problems. Students are expected to remain in their as-signed seats during the entire class period (except when instructed to move during group work).
•Group work:
Groups (including partners) will be assigned by me. Groups are dynamic (i.e. constantly changing). You may be in one group one day and in another group the next day or week. While I am working with one group, other groups, partners or students working independently are expected to stay on task. This falls under Rule #1 regarding respect and disruptions during group work will result in the corresponding consequences, including loss of participation points. In addition, movement into groups (including movement of desks, if necessary) should be done quickly and quietly.
•Talking During Class:
We can all sing together, but we cannot talk and effectively listen at the same time. Therefore, talk-ing is permitted only during class discussions and cooperative learning activities (group work). Simply stated, "NO SIDEBARS!" Any student who does NOT adhere to this procedure can expect a loss of participation points, calls to parents and administrative action.
Also please be advised that when I tell you to "STOP TALKING I DON’T mean to:
1. Keep talking
2. Answer a friend's question
3. Answer someone's question
4. Ask a question
5. Stop chattering and talk about class-related things instead
6. Ask what day it is
7. Ask what grade you're getting
8. Talk to yourself
9. Argue with me about it
10. Tell me or anyone else that it was not you who was talking
I mean:
BE SILENT
-and-
WORK, LISTEN, and THINK
These actions only result in an escalation of the problem, which will on further hurt your grade.
•Classwork Completed Early:
Not everyone is able to work in a quick manner. If you complete work early, please do NOT disturb your classmates. Instead, review your classwork before turning it in. Then you may take the extra time to work on other assignments or read silently. DO NOT converse with classmates, even if they too are done. Respect others still working.
•Request For Class Attention:
Students are expected to maintain order during class instruction, lesson delivery, and school an-nouncements given over the public address (PA) system. During independent or group work, when I or the PA signal for attention, all students should stop what they are doing and listen.
•Questions During Class:
No question is a dumb question. When you ask questions, raise your hand and I will acknowledge you. Do NOT blurt out questions. Write your question in your class notes so that you will remem-ber it and until I acknowledge you. If you feel uncomfortable asking a question in class, you may write me a note, email, or ask me after class. I typically walk around the class to check students as they are working and this is also a good time to ask me a question or for help privately.
•Getting Help:
I'm always available for help and am usually in my room for the entire Spartan Hour. Please get in touch with me to arrange help in whatever manner is most convenient and comfortable for you--talk to me before or after class or school, email me at stacy.timlin@pgcps.org or write me a note. Every student learns differently and therefore may need information presented to them in a different man-ner in order to understand the material. I don't believe in fixed intelligence (or intelligence that you are born with). I believe intelligence and understanding are products of hard work. Therefore, ef-forts to get extra help outside of class will be taken into account during grading.
Do not come to me (or have your parents come to me) before or after a test or the end of a grading period after missing class, not completing assignments or putting little effort into assignments and expect me to take excuses.
•Hall Passes:
Hall passes must be issued before students may leave the classroom. Students may use the bathroom pass for emergencies only and are allowed a total of three passes per quarter. Students not using their passes will receive significant extra credit. Students must ask permission to take the pass first and record their departure and return time in the log. Students must be back in a reasonable amount of time or they will lose bathroom privileges.
•Materials:
Required materials include:
1. pen or pencil
2. paper
3. something to keep class assignments, journals and reading logs in that will help keep
assignments together and organized (i.e. sectioned notebook with folder or three ring binder with dividers
I strongly suggest that students keep all graded assignments, so that if I forget to enter it in the grade book, they have it on hand as proof.
•Grading Policy:
Formal Writing Assignments (BCRs/ECRs)…..……....30%
Classwork/Participation…….…………………………………………… .….10%
Homework………………………………………..…………………..…………………...…..10%
Tests/Quizes…………………………………………………………………………………...50%
•Assignments (Writing Assignments/Classwork/Homework/Journals/WUPs):
Please remember to put your NAME and the date on all assignments in order to get credit.
All assignments MUST be written legibly. Periodically, students will be required to submit type-written assignments.
I do accept late work for up to four days. For each school day it is late it will drop by one letter grade. After the fourth day, it will not be accepted.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: Writing assignments include brief constructed responses (BCRs) and extended constructed responses (ECRs). These assignments will be graded formally for grammar, spelling, content and organization. Students will be provided with a grading rubric beforehand. Stu-dents will be given an opportunity to redo these assignments.
JOURNALS: These are unconstructed responses that allow students to share their personal views and ideas on any given subject. They will not be graded for grammar or spelling, unless I say other-wise. Points will be deducted for not addressing the topic or not writing a long enough journal.
WARM-UPS: Warm-ups will be collected every two to four weeks. Students should keep a running warm-up page and EACH warm-up MUST be dated or points will be deducted. Remember to put your name on the top before handing it in.
•Participation:
Students should note that participation in this class likely counts significantly more than in other classes, which can work to your advantage or disadvantage depending on your preparation, work ethic and behavior. Positive participation is crucial to the classroom culture. Participation is not lim-ited to answering questions in class. It also encompasses listening respectfully to the teacher and your classmates and HEARING what they have to say. Participation also includes coming prepared for class, being active in the class by staying awake, staying on task, completing assignments, and following proper procedures as outlined in this document. Disruptive behavior will seriously hurt your participation grade, as points will be deducted for each instance. The participation grade will be divided into two categories, each worth 100 points. The first category will be for positive participation, which includes volunteering, participation in class discussion and diligent and consis-tent work habits. Extra credit for bathroom passes and other extra credit will also be added to this category (It is quite possible to get more than 100% in this category). The second category is for negative participation, where points are deducted for poor behavior, sleeping, tardies and unexcused absences.
•Tests/Quizzes:
Tests and quizzes will be given to assess students' progress, weaknesses, and strengths. Students can expect announced and unannounced QUIZZES. Tests will always be announced in advance.
When you complete your test or quiz, review it for accuracy, then turn it face down on your desk or turn it into me. Do NOT disturb your classmates!
Make-up tests and quizzes will not be given for UNEXCUSED absences. For excused absences, the student must arrange to take a make-up test within one to two weeks of returning to class, depending on the length of the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to COME TO ME in a timely man-ner to make up a test or quiz. I will not chase students down for make-up tests, even for ex-cused absences.
•Folders:
I will keep a folder for each student in the classroom containing tests and ECRs/BCRs ONLY.
•Substitute teachers:
All rules, policies and procedures remain in place when a substitute teacher is here. The substitute will take names of students who violate these policies and I will deal with the students when I re-turn. All work assigned by the substitute will be collected and graded.
•Fire Safety:
ALL students are required to leave the school building during a fire drill or an actual fire. Students should note the designated fire exit(s) inside and outside the classroom. In addition, students MUST exit the classroom and/or building as quickly as possible. There is not any time to grab your classroom materials. Do NOT run!
After leaving the classroom/building, quickly walk to the designated area of safety as directed by me or designated fire safety personnel. Students are to remain with me and the rest of the class as I will be taking attendance. Students will return to the classroom when instructed by fire safety per-sonnel and/or me.
•Parent-Teacher Conferences / Telephone Conferences:
Parent-teacher conferences and/or telephone conferences held with a parent or guardian must be scheduled through the guidance office during conference hours at (301) 497-2050. When a parent or guardian contacts the guidance office, I will receive notification from the guidance office regard-ing the specifics of the conference request.
Students should be aware that during a parent-teacher conference, I will be presenting the parent with a folder of their ECRs/BCRs and tests. Lastly, I may require that the student be present in cer-tain situations. Parents should also feel free to contact me anytime via phone or email.
•Cheating/Plagiarism:
CHEATING is defined as dealing dishonestly or deceptively with someone in order to obtain ad-vantage or gain (Webster). A few examples of cheating are: (1) copying from another's exam, test, quiz, or homework paper, (2) deliberately planning to engage in a dishonest academic practice such as gaining access to an exam, test, and/or quiz prior to the time it is to be given, and (3) extracting information regarding an exam, test, or quiz from other students.
PLAGIARISM is defined as the act of taking, copying, and using ideas, writings, and other works from another and passing them off as one's own work (Webster). In other words, plagiarism occurs when a student steals or uses the ideas or writings of another and presents these ideas or writings as his or her own ideas or writings. Lastly, plagiarism refers to intentionally falsifying information (assignments). Some examples of plagiarism are: (1) copying verbatim from an original author, (2) copying verbatim with only a few words altered from an original author, (3) turning in another stu-dent's work and (4) turning in a paper from a "free research paper" website.
***HONESTY IS THE POLICY OF CHOICE! Students can expect a grade of ZERO and a write-up on Form PS-74 for the FIRST and subsequent cheating and/or plagiarism offenses.***
•Student IDs:
ALL students MUST wear their IDs in ALL classes and every day of the week. Students who come to school without an ID are subject to a suspension from school.
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