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.
