Mr.

Carroll English/Language Arts

2013-2014

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me during my planning period. Before school is also a good time to come see me. If a question arises after school hours, please contact me via Celly or e-mail me, and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Celly Since text messaging is one of the most immediate and convenient ways to send/receive information, I have set up an account through Celly for parents/students to get reminder messages about homework assignments and classroom updates. Celly keeps all cell phone numbers confidential, but still allows me to communicate with parents and students. Once you sign up, parents/students can send messages that will go directly to my phone as well. It is extremely simple to sign up. For English 1, text @CAMEnglish1 to 23559 For Honors English 2, text @CAMHonorsEnglish2 to 23559 For English 3, text @CAMEnglish3 to 23559 Class Objectives To grow in appreciation and understanding of English/Language Arts To think deeply and critically about issues put forth in writing and literature To respond to literature through both traditional and creative methods To become exposed to various works of literature To find something enjoyable in reading Required Materials These five items should be brought to class every day. Notebook (For writing prompts and notes) Pen or Pencil Literature Textbook (Assigned) Grammar Textbook (Assigned) Independent Reading Book Participation Approximately 15-20% of each semesters grade will come from being in class and engagingly participating in the days activities. This includes coming to class prepared and on time as well as listening when other students or I speak. Students who are disruptive, unprepared, or inattentive will not receive full credit towards their participation grade.

Tardiness Failure to be in your seat when the bell rings will result in a tardy. A second tardy in a quarter will result in a detention. Restroom Privileges Please attempt to use the restroom during passing periods. If there is any chance you will be late to class, please let me know beforehand. Writing Prompts For most dates we have class, you will have a writing prompt. Writing prompts should: a) Be dated to the left of the red line b) Be in a notebook c) Be in sequential order d) Have your name on the notebook and at the top of every page If you are absent from class, you do not have to complete that days writing prompt. If absent, write the date you missed and write ABSENT beside the date. Homework Assignments Homework assignments should be completed on lined paper unless another paper is given to you. Not all writing/homework assignments will be formally graded. Independent Reading Requirements Each semester English 1 & English 3 students will be required to read 600 pages. Honors English 2 students will be required to read 1000 pages. Each quarter a student must give a book talk on a book of their choosing. These should be books the student has not read before. At least one book over the course of the year must be nonfiction, and at least one book must be fiction. Book talks are more than just a book reportthey are meant to be an engaging presentation on the book. Students are not to give a book talk on the same book as a classmate. Students should bring their book in to me to be approved and signing up for books will be on a first come, first serve basis. Specific requirements for book talks will be distributed in class on a later date. Extra books may be read to complete the page requirement. For those extra books, a writing assignment will be given in order for the pages to count. Academic Integrity Both cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Cheating includes but is not limited to copying anothers work with or without consent, looking at another persons paper during a test/quiz, working on a quiz/test after time is up, etc. Plagiarism includes representing anothers work as ones own and/or incorrectly citing sources. Guidelines for avoiding plagiarism will be discussed in class. Anyone found to be cheating will automatically receive a zero for the assignment. Make-up Work/Late Work YOU are responsible for any work missed. Upon your return to school, check with me for any work missed. Also, see a classmate for any notes missed. For each day of class missed, you have the same number of days to make up the work. If you are in class when the work is assigned, you are expected to turn in that work the day you return to school. If you miss class

due to a school-related activity, you are expected to complete work on time as if you were in class. If you miss a test/quiz, you should be prepared to take the quiz/test the day you return to school. Late work is not accepted. Failure to make up work will result in a zero. Extra Credit There will be few opportunities for extra credit. However, extra credit will be given for the following: Signing up for Celly Having a parent/guardian sign up for Celly Allowing us to celebrate your birthday by bringing something to share with the class on your birthday (or half-birthday if birthday does not fall during the school year). Bringing in a box of tissues to keep everyone healthy and in class. Other extra credit opportunities will be indicated by the teacher throughout the year. Individual requests for extra credit will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Grading Procedures Not all assignments will be formally graded. Many assignments will receive a completion/participation grade. Written feedback will not be given on all assignments. Therefore, if you have a question about your grade or what you can do to improve on assignments, please see me outside of class. Grades in this class will be determined on a point system (student points received divided by total points possible). The resulting percentage will be used to determine the students letter grade per the Central A&M Grading Scale. Central A&M Grading Scale A+ 99-100 % B 87-90% A 95-98% B85-86% A93-94% C+ 83-84% B+ 91-92% C 79-82% CD+ D D77-78% 75-76% 71-74% 69-70%

Classroom Rules

1. Respect the classroom. What may be appropriate in one setting is not appropriate in another. Even though something may be funny, it might not be appropriate. Therefore, you are expected to always use schoolappropriate language in speech and writing. Assignments that do not use appropriate language will receive a 0 with no opportunity to redo. Materials should be put away neatly and properly. Trash should be discarded in the waste can. Nothing should be left under your desks at the end of the period. Refrain from touching things that arent yours without permission. 2. Respect others. Disrespectful or demeaning comments or gestures towards others are never permitted. Encourage instead of discourage your classmates. Let others have their own space. When someone else is speaking to the class, actively pay attention to what is being discussed and refrain from interrupting them in any way. 3. Respect yourself. Respect yourself enough to always try your hardest and do your best. Share your thoughts and opinions so that you may challenge your own and others ways of thinking. Ask questions when you dont understand. Be honest with yourself and others. Consequences for Breaking Rules Consequences for breaking rules depend on the infraction. Possible consequences include but are not limited to a verbal warning, a detention, and a call home to parents/guardians. If at any time a student becomes disruptive to the learning of other students, that student will be told to leave the classroom and a detention will be written for that student.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This sheet must be returned signed by you and a parent/guardian by Friday, August 30. By signing, you are acknowledging having received a copy of the expectations set forth in Mr. Carrolls classroom and will refer to these requirements first if any future questions arise. _____________________________ _______ Student Signature (Date) _____________________________ Guardian Signature _______ (Date)

(Please cut off this form and keep the expectations/rules for your own reference.)