English IV Course Syllabus Fall 2009 Instructor: Ms. Leah Bledsoe School Phone: 453-4600 ext 3045 Email: bledsoel@wcschools.com **There is a $3.00 fee required for this class Course Description: English IV focuses on British Literature. We will be reading a variety of works by various British authors. This class will also involve some British history, as it is necessary to have an understanding of the history in order to understand the literature. This class will also include the following: 1. Senior Project—Successful completion of the Senior Project is required by the administration in order to pass English IV. This will include 4 major grades and various daily/quiz grades. 2. Tests—We will be covering several units of literature this semester. At the conclusion of the unit you will be tested over the information we covered. 3. Essays/Papers—You will be required to write a variety of different types of essays for a variety of different purposes. These will include informal papers as well as papers that will be revised. 4. Projects—Throughout our studies of British Literature, you will occasionally be given group or individual projects to complete. This will include creating a poster, doing a presentation, etc. 5. Quizzes—You will be quizzed over the reading assignments covered in class and those read outside of class. You can expect a quiz almost every day. There will be a Vocabulary Quiz every Friday for the 20 words we will study each week. 6. Journals—you will need to purchase a spiral notebook to be used as a journal in class. Journals will be graded on a periodic basis. Journal checks will be a surprise so you will be required to have your journal every day and keep it up to date. 7. Class work- we will do various activities in class that will reinforce the skills needed for this class. Many of these assignments will be graded for completion. You will not get credit for turning in incomplete class work assignments. Supplies needed every day: paper and pen spiral notebook 2” binder with dividers Grading Policy: Each Term grade will be figured with the following categories and weights: 1. Senior Project 25% 2. Tests/Projects 25% 3. Essays 25% 4. Quizzes/Informal writing 20% 5. Homework/Classwork 5% Class Procedures: Rules: 1. Be in seat AND prepared when bell rings. 2. Exhibit on task behavior during class. 3. Listen with your EARS and your MINDS. 4. Talk only when given permission. 5. Respect teacher and other students (Complaining and negative comments NOT ACCEPTABLE) Consequences: 1st offense = warning/documentation 2nd offense = detention/documentation/email or call parents 3rd offense = detention/call parents 4th offense = referral to office major offense = immediate referral to office Absences: Make-up work will ONLY be available for excused absences. When you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed. You have 3 options for getting make up work: 1. check my webpage or the calendar in the front of the classroom. 2. check with another student (at an appropriate time) 3. see me before or after school (not at the beginning of class) Quizzes and tests will be made up before school. You will sign up on the calendar for a date and time. You have 1 week to make up all assignments. Once a week has expired, the grade will be entered in as a zero. Special arrangements will be made for long absences. Bathroom/leaving class policy: You will be given 1 emergency opportunity per term to leave class (for appropriate reasons). Here are the stipulations on these opportunities: 1. You must ask at an appropriate time (NOT when I am in the middle of a sentence) and follow the proper procedure (fill out a pass, have me sign it, return the pass) 2. You must stay after class for at least one minute to pay back the time you used. Once you have used your 2 passes, you will not leave the room for any reason. If you do NOT use your passes, you will receive extra credit at the end of each term. Tardy Policy: 1st tardy=warning 2nd tardy=15 min detention before school/notify parents 3rd tardy=30 min detention before school/notify parents 4th tardy=office, etc When tardy, you will sign the notebook at the front of the room and enter quietly as to not disturb others who are on time and working. Signing the WRONG NAME or an ILLEGIBLE name in the notebook will result in an automatic 30m detention. And yes, I will check.