HONORS ENGLISH I COURSE PLAN
TEACHER: DALE WILLIAMSON -- LANEY HIGH SCHOOL, Spring 2009
Work Phone: (910) 350-2089, ext. 348 Work Email: dwilliam@nhcs.net
Teacher Website: http://teacherweb.com/NC/LaneyHighSchool/dwilliamson/
English I students will explore a variety of literature genres more widely and deeply, including
more challenging and/or complete print and non-print texts. This course requires students to
complete activities that will increase their reading comprehension skills and knowledge of
English grammar. The course will focus on READING, WRITING, GRAMMAR, and VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT.
All lessons and activities in this course will help students prepare for the N.C. STATE ENGLISH
I END-OF-COURSE EXAM, which EACH student MUST pass with proficiency in order to earn a high
school diploma. To pass with proficiency, each student must pass the English I E.O.C. with a
minimum score of 3 (80) out of possible 4.
Student Expectations: Students are expected to arrive to class on time, attend class regularly,
bring their own pencil / pen and paper, focus on the lessons of the class, respect the other
students in the classroom, be a willing and active member of the class, and complete assignments
by their assigned due dates. Assignments for English I include (but are not limited to) the
assignments listed below:
Nonfiction Unit: 3 weeks
Personal Response Essay: Students will have to present their own feelings about a given topic
in personal response. This response may be in reference to literature or real-world questions.
Persuasive Essay: In the persuasive essay the student must take a stand on a given issue and
present examples to prove their opinion. Examples for this essay may come from in-class reading
assignments or from current world events.
Research Project: To expose students to the engaging process of research, each student will
choose a topic from a list of possible topics provided by the teacher and RESEARCH specific
facts about that chosen topic. Each student will then organize his / her researched information
into a coherent and logical paper that INFORMS and TEACHES the reader about the topic. Students
will have a wide range of topics from which to choose. This project will be assigned within the
first three weeks of the semester, but it will not be due until MONDAY, MARCH 16.
Fiction Unit (short stories and novel): 4 weeks
Critical Analysis Essay: In the critical analysis essay, students must analyze themes
represented in a short story or novel.
Analyzing Characters -- After reading an assigned short story or novel (either as a class or
outside of class), the students will respond to a teacher-directed prompt by creating a WRITTEN
AND VISUAL CHARACTER ANALYSIS of an important character from one of our class readings.
Independent Reading Project Additional Tasks Options In addition to the novel we read as a
class, each student will choose ONE novel from an approved list provided by the teacher. The
student will read his/her chosen novel INDEPENDENTLY outside of class and complete ONE task from
a list of possible tasks provided by the instructor. The independent project will begin during
the first 9 weeks, but it will not be due until the second 9 weeks. More details will be
forthcoming.
Drama Unit: 3 - 4 weeks
Definition Essay: Students will write an essay in which they define the concept of either
COURAGE, LOVE, CHOICE, CHANGE, PRIDE, SACRIFICE, INDIVIDUALITY, HONESTY, INTEGRITY, or LOYALTY.
In addition to the definition essay, each Honors student must choose and complete ONE of the
tasks below:
Character Mask: Students will create a character mask of a main character that depicts the
personality traits of that character. They will write a brief character analysis explaining the
mask. Each student will present his/her mask to the class as part of the grade.
OR
Student-Created Play: Using the proper format of a written play, students will create their
own one-act play. The play must include at least two characters, and it must develop the
characters, plot, and conflict primarily through the use of dialogue between the characters. The
play must be at least three typed pages in length. Extra credit will be given to any students
who help perform the play in front of the rest of the class.
Epic Poetry Unit (The Odyssey): 3 - 4 weeks
Cooperative / Cross-Curricular Project Using The Odyssey as a centerpiece, students will
either work in small teams to create a VISUAL or AUDITORY PROJECT that represents some aspect of
either The Odyssey, Greek culture, or mythology in general.
Poetry Unit: 2 weeks
Poem Booklet - Honors students will create self-generated poems that will be compiled in a
booklet. Included in the booklet will be TWO of each of the following types of poems: haiku,
concrete, free verse, and rhymed. English as a Second Language (ESL) students can create one
poem in their native language. Students will also generate appropriate illustrations or artwork
for each poem. The final poem booklet will include the following: (1) A title page, (2) a table
of contents, and (3) EIGHT original student-created poems along with appropriate
illustrations/visuals for each poem.
Semester Review: 2 weeks
The last two weeks of the semester will be dedicated towards reviewing the major literary genre
we covered in class and practicing/preparing for the English I end-of-course state exam.
In addition to reading and writing various literary pieces from various genres, we will set
goals to build upon our knowledge and skills in GRAMMAR and VOCABULARY. For our vocabulary
units, we will focus heavily on LITERARY TERMS and LATIN ROOTS, PREFIXES, and STEMS. For our
grammar units, we will focus the following skills: PARTS OF SPEECH, INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT
CLAUSES, COMMAS, SEMICOLONS, COLONS, QUOTATION MARKS, END MARKS, CAPITALIZATION, RUN-ON
SENTENCES, SENTENCE FRAGMENTS, PARALLEL STRUCTURE, PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES, SENTENCE COMBINATIONS,
SENTENCE CLARITY, and COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS.
English I Grading System
1st 9 Weeks
Tests / Major Projects: 40%
Homework / Classwork: 30%
Quizzes: 15%
Midterm: 15%
2nd 9 Weeks
Tests / Major Projects: 45%
Homework / Classwork: 35%
Quizzes: 20%
STATE EXAM: 25% of the semester final grade. Students must score an 80 or better on the English
I state exam to meet the North Carolina exit standards for graduation.
Parent Contacts: Parents will be contacted concerning their students grades through use of the
following: Progress Reports, Telephone Calls, Parent Conferences, Student Led Conferences, and
Email Contact
If I teach them nothing else, they will learn about teamwork, ... We do not leave anyone alone.
If we don't do it together, we don't do it.
Dennis Hall
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. -- Michael Jordan
The name of our Freshman Academy is THE EXPLORERS!
SCHOOL & FRESHMAN ACADEMY RULES AND POLICIES = WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM!
TARDIES AND HALL PASSES
1. Be on time to class and be in your assigned seat by the time the tardy bell rings. Tardies
will be handled as follows:
a. First Tardy: Student gets verbal warning from teacher AND a phone call to parent/guardian.
b. Second Tardy: Student is assigned a ONE-HOUR after-school detention with the teacher. Failure
to serve detention results in a referral to the Dean of Students.
c. Third Tardy and every tardy thereafter: Student is referred to the Dean of Students.
2. Students must have a hall pass signed by the teacher in order to leave the classroom for any
reason.
3. Any time a student leaves the classroom during class or arrives late during class, the
student MUST sign their name on the sign-in / sign-out sheet that is located near the door. This
is school policy.
CELL PHONES, iPODS, PAGERS, CD PLAYERS, or ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES
3. Students ARE NOT PERMITTED to have CELL PHONES, iPODS, PAGERS, CD PLAYERS, or ANY OTHER
ELECTRONIC DEVICES on campus. As an employee of the New Hanover County School System, I am
expected to follow the school board policies, so do us all a big favor and DO NOT BRING any
electronic devices to our classroom. Per school board and Laney policy, if I see anyone with a
cell phone, iPod, pages, CD player, or any other electronic device, I am required to take the
device and give it to the Dean of Students. The parent of the student must then come to Laney to
retrieve the device. So, lets keep it simple: out of sight, out of mind.
SCHOOL IDS & DRESS CODE
4. Each and every student must wear a Laney student ID around his/her neck each and every day in
class. If you forget your ID, I must contact the Dean of Students and a new one will be issued
to you at a charge of $5 per ID. So, WEAR YOUR LANEY IDS TO CLASS EVERY DAY!
5. Hats and any other headgear are not allowed to be worn in the classroom or on school grounds.
As for other dress code details, refer to your student handbook.
FOOD & DRINK
6. Once again, per school board and Laney policy, NO FOOD is allowed in the classroom. I do not
mind drinks AS LONG as the drink has a lid on it. NO OPEN CANS!
COMPUTER USAGE & OTHER CLASSROOM ITEMS
7. No student is allowed to be on any of the classroom computers unless I specifically tell them
to do so. The computers in the classroom will be used but only when I determine that we need to
use them.
8. Everything in the classroom (computers, desks, books, etc.) is the property of Laney High
School, so please respect them. If you damage school property, you are responsible for the costs
associated with the damage, so respect your classroom environment.
9. Refer to your student handbook for all other school rules and policies. If you have
questions, feel free to ask me. Thanks for your cooperation!
The EXPLORERS Freshman Academy
OTHER BITS OF INFORMATION
1. At the start of each new week, I will password a homework packet that will include anywhere
from 2 4 short homework assignments. The homework will usually focus on grammar, vocabulary,
and journal writing. Each packet will be due by the last day of the week it was assigned. So, on
a normal week, each student will be given the packet on a MONDAY. Students will then be expected
to complete the homework ON THEIR OWN TIME and turn the homework packet in by FRIDAY. If a
student is absent on the day that the homework packet is passed it, IT IS THE RESPONSIBIILITY OF
THE STUDENT to get the packet when he/she returns to class. If a student is absent on the day
that the homework packet is due, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT to turn the packet in
on the day he/she returns to class. Homework is worth 30% of each 9 weeks grade, so it is an
important grade that cannot be ignored.
2. My teacher website address is http://teacherweb.com/NC/LaneyHighSchool/dwilliamson. Please
check it frequently. I will update it at least once a week. The site will include summaries of
what we have done in class, homework assignments, a calendar of important dates, and links to
other sites that can help you with this English class.
3. Progress reports will be given out approximately every 2 weeks. Students are expected to
take their progress reports home, allow their parents / guardians see the progress reports, have
the parents / guardians sign the progress reports, and return the progress reports to me.
Students who return signed progress reports to me will receive 100 points as an extra-credit
quiz grade.
4. My regular after-school tutoring day is each THURSDAY from 3:40 4:40. However, I am on
other days if needed.
Dear Parents / Guardians,
Keeping an open line of communication is going to be very important for your childs success. To
help me stay in touch with you, please provide me with the information below, just so I can make
sure that your information is up-to-date and current.
Your Childs Name:
________________________________________________
Parent / Guardian Name(s):
Parent / Guardian Contact Information:
(This can be a home phone number, a cell number, a work number, an email address, or a mailing
address)
I am looking forward to working with BOTH the students and the parents. Education is a
team effort, and as your English I instructor, I pledge to do my part to provide each and every
one of my students a fair and equal opportunity for growth and success. I also pledge to keep
the parents of my students informed about the progress of our class. I will contact parents
frequently to address any concerns I may have about a particular student and to also offer
praise and encouragement for positive accomplishments.
From each and every parent, I expect an active interest in your childs continuing
education. Talk to your child about our English class and find out what is working and what
isnt working for him or her. Contact me as often as necessary. If a concern should arise,
please let me know so we can work together to resolve the issue. More than anything, help me be
a better teacher for your child by keeping a constant line of communication open between the
parent and the teacher.
Thank you.
Dale Williamson
English I Instructor
**Parent or Guardian, please sign your name below and have your child turn this sheet in to me.
I simply want assurance that you have looked over my syllabus and are aware of what is required
of your child. Thank you!
PARENT SIGNATURE: _____________________________________________________________-
** Student, please sign your name and show your signature to me. I simply want assurance that
you have looked over my syllabus and are aware of what is required of you. Thank you!
STUDENT SIGNATURE: _____________________________________________________________-