Mrs. Martyn                                                  English 10/Composition and Literature

Room 14

amartyn@lghs.net

Voicemail: (408) 354-2730  ext. 383

http://www.lghs.net/teachers/english/martyn/weeklyagenda10.html

 

Course Description

English Comp/Lit 10 is a college prep course designed to build upon concepts studied in Comp/Lit 9.

The student will study classic and modern novels, short stories, essays, poetry and drama.

 

Improvement of the student writer is a primary objective of this course. Throughout the year, focus will be given to the acquisition and practice of composition, grammar, vocabulary and spelling skills.

 

Course Syllabus:

Animal Farm (Summer Reading)                                                    Of Mice and Men - Steinbeck

Julius Caesar - Shakespeare                                                          Cyrano de Bergerac - Rostand

Arthurian Legends                                                                       Short Stories

Yvain: The Knight of the Lion -  de Troyes                                      Fahrenheit 451 - Bradbury

Lord of the Flies - Golding                                                           Siddhartha - Hesse

 

Students are encouraged, whenever possible to purchase their own copies of the above listed novels and plays.

 

You will need to purchase the following workbooks books by Friday, September 8, 2006

Grammar and Language Workbook  ($16.00 cash or check payable to LGHS)

            Vocabulary for Achievement ($16.00 cash or check payable to LGHS)

 

Ongoing Activities During the Year: In addition to reading and writing, each student will present a speech or dramatic monologue and participate in team debate.

 

Outside Reading: The students are required to complete a minimum of 1800 pages of outside reading by the end of their sophomore year.  Student reading and comprehension progress will be reflected in a journal which will be collected and evaluated, and a semester end project.

 

Electronic Writing Portfolio: Students will be required to submit selected writing assignments to Turnitin.com

 

                        Turnitin Class ID:____________________  Password:_______________________________

 

Classroom Expectations

 

Code of Conduct:  Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Resourceful Respect for the instructor, for the instruction material, and for your peersÕ desire to learn the instruction material is a requirement of this course.  Room 510 welcomes all who promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and dignity.  Any student unable to meet the standards of this classroomÕs code of conduct will be asked to leave, with a referral and a phone call home.

 

Attendance and Procedure:  Because of the tremendous amount of material we must cover this year, it is imperative that you are on time to class.  Respect for the instructor, for the instruction material, and for your peersÕ desire to learn the instruction material is a requirement of this course.  You are expected to be in your seat, prepared to begin class when the bell rings. The dayÕs homework and board notes should be dated and copied in your notebook.  Unless the dayÕs activities call for movement, you are expected to stay in your seat until dismissed. Following this procedure (or your inability to do so) will substantially affect your class participation grade.

 

 

Absences and Tardies: Be seated when the bell rings or be marked tardy.  If you are more than ten minutes tardy you will be marked absent.  Six-week and semester grades are influenced by punctuality and attendance.

 

Materials: 

Please bring the following to class EVERY DAY:

            Pencil, eraser, blue or black pen, highlighter

            Notebook: You will need to have a spiral notebook that will contain all of your class notes. Keep it neat, organized and up-to-date as I will evaluate your note taking skills as part of your participation grade. I may also make unannounced notebook checks. Exam and essay material comes from my lectures and board notes. If you are absent, make sure to get the notes from the class ÒscribeÕs notebookÓ. 

            3-Ring binder: You should also keep a 3-ring binder.  Use this notebook to keep returned graded work and           handouts during and after we finish each unit. The semester and final exams will be cumulative.  Your     notebook and binder will be great resources for you.

            The sections should be divided as follows:

            ESSENTIALS, GRAMMAR, CURRENT UNIT, TESTS, RETURNED WORK

            Textbook:  If the dayÕs lesson requires a textbook, please bring it with you to class.      

                       

 

Academic Expectations

Homework: On Time, Proper Heading, Readability

 On Time: All work must be turned in on time,for credit, unless you have an excused absence for a full day. Then, it is due on the day you return to school.

NOTE: If you have an excused absence and miss only part of a school day, and my class happens to be in the part that you miss, you are still held responsible to turn in the homework ON TIME and you are held responsible to obtain the eveningÕs homework assignment.  I check attendance and will not accept late work for a partially missed day.  In addition, those who skip class (unexcused absence) choose to sacrifice credit for any work due and any exam/test given the day of the absence PLUS any homework assigned the day of the absence.

Proper Heading: (full name, course and period, date, name of assignment) Be proud of your hard work and effort! Put your name on it! Work handed in without a proper heading will not be given full credit. 

Readability:  All homework must be submitted either in blue or black ink or typed.   PLEASE PROOFREAD.  Sloppy or illegible work or incorrect ink color will be returned for a re-write. 

 

Essays: You will regularly write essays timed in class and also for homework.

Final drafts of ALL essays must be turned in to Mrs. Martyn by the beginning of class the day that they are due or they will receive an automatic Ò0Ó. Plan ahead and donÕt wait until the last minute.   I do not accept printer/crashed computer excuses for late work.  I will accept emailed essays as long as they are received on time. Unless written in class, the final draft of your essays must be typed, double-spaced, 12pt font, standard margins on 8.5 x 11 unlined paper, and follow MLA standards for composition. Inability to follow these requirements will drastically affect the mechanics grade of your essay.  Rough drafts may be typed or handwritten in blue or black ink.

 

Cheating:  Cheating will result in an automatic zero, a referral, a phone call home, and a conference.  Copying someone elseÕs homework, allowing oneÕs homework to be copied and plagiarism (the act of taking someoneÕs ideas, language or designs and calling them oneÕs own) qualify as cheating and will be handled according to the 2000-2001 version of Los Gatos High SchoolÕs ÒScholarship Integrity Policy.Ó

 

Make-ups: Homework: You are held responsible to obtain any homework and class notes missed.

One dayÕs grace is given to make-up work assigned during each full-day excused absence. 

Tests and Quizzes: All test and quiz make-ups (excused full-day absences only) will be done during tutorial or

7th  period within two school days following the absence or a zero for the particular test shall result. 

It is your responsibility to arrange the makeup test during that appropriate time frame.

 

Tutorial: Starting at the second grading period, any student with a grade below 70% will need to schedule Tutorial in my classroom one day a week until the grade raises to above a 70%.

 

Grading Policy:  Tests: 30% Semester Final: 10% Essays: 40% Homework: 10% Participation: 10%

The semester grade will be cumulative. I do not discuss grades with individual students during class time. However, I am always happy to meet with students on an individual basis during tutorial or another mutually agreed upon time and encourage you to make an appointment with me.

 

Extra credit opportunities will not constitute more than 1% of the total points for the semester.