Syllabus

BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL (2012-2013)

Academic English I – Syllabus

There is a part of everything which is unexplored, because we are accustomed to using our eyes only in association with the memory of what people before us have thought of the things we are looking at. [Because of this] even the smallest thing has something in it which is unknown.” – Gustave Flaubert in a letter to Guy de Maupassant

Instructor: Mr. Sheehy

Room: 212

Email: tsheehy@brunswick.k12.me.us

Teacher Web Page: www.brunswick.k12.me.us/tsheehy

Course Overview: Academic English I is a mid-level course designed to offer students an introduction to various genres of literature including: short stories, poems, novels, plays and non-fiction essays. Students enrolled in this course should be prepared to engage in weekly reading and writing assignments along with spelling/vocabulary and grammar exercises.

Assessments

Reading Comprehension: Unit Exams, Quizzes & Worksheets

Formal Essays + In-Class Writing Prompts

Vocabulary Assessments & Worksheets

Grammar Assessments & Worksheets

Oral Presentations & Small Group Projects

Homework & Class Participation

Grading System

1st Tier Assignments: unit exams, formal essays, research reports, formal presentations

2nd Tier Assignments: reading comprehension tests, vocabulary and grammar assessments, in-class writing

3rd Tier Assignments: quizzes, worksheets, group projects, homework

4th Tier Assignments: class participation, learning lab results

Reading List

Selected Short Stories and Poetry (see below)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1926-Present)

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870)

A Separate Peace by John Knowles (1926-2001)

Independent Reading Unit (Book Clubs)

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Greek Mythology Unit + Homer’s Odyssey (Excerpts)

Short Stories

“Father and I” by Par Lagerkvist

“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs [32]

“The Beginning of Grief” by L. Woiwode [57]

“The Storyteller” by H. H. Munro a.k.a. Saki [144]

“The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe [111]

“The Bet” by Anton Chekhov [137]

 “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut [158]

 “Love in L.A.” by Dagoberto Gilb

“The Doll’s House” by Katherine Mansfield

The Secret Lion” by Alberto Rios

God See the Truth but Waits,” by Leo Tolstoy

Poems

“Mirror” by Sylvia Plath (322)

“Ex-Basketball Player” by John Updike (341)

“The Tuft of Flowers” by Robert Frost [346]

“Summer Remembered” by Isabella Gardner (354)

“Blue Girls” by John Crowe Ransom (390)

Eleven” by Archibald MacLeish [405]

 “Love is Not All” by Edna St. Vincent Millay

All Things Can Tempt Me” by William Butler Yeats

On Fields O’er Which the Reaper’s hand has Passed” by Henry David Thoreau

The Tiger” by William Blake

The Heaven of Animals” by James Dickey

Ozmandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley

“Dreamers” by Siegfried Sassoon

 Sonnets (15, 29, 116)  by William Shakespeare

“Give me the Splendid, Silent Sun” by Walt Whitman

Class Materials: Students shall bring all of the following to class on a regular basis: the assigned book or reading materials, an English folder (or notebook), lined paper, pencils and pens.

Student Motivation and Class Participation: Each student shall be graded in part by the contributions they make in class. Points will be awarded for words or actions that demonstrate focus, dedication, knowledge, creativity and insight.

Food and Drink Policy:  To avoid any confusion, the policy regarding food and beverages shall be as follows: ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD AND DRINK IN MY CLASSROOM. Students may consume food or drink/water only if and when the teacher allows them to do so.

Bathroom Policy:  Students may use the restroom ONLY   during the FINAL TEN MINUTES of class. This rule is instituted to avoid a “revolving door” scenario in which people are continually coming and going, exiting and entering the classroom – thereby DISRUPTING the process of education. Students leaving class to use the restroom must bring a bathroom pass with them. No more than one person at a time may use the restroom.  Note: An “emergency bathroom visit”  may be used only once during a particular quarter.

Electronic Devices: All personal electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, etc.) must be turned off during class and in the hallways. Cell phones, iPods (and all such other gadgets) shall not be utilized for any purpose during class.  They have been shown time and time again to be a hindrance to the process of education. If the teacher SEES one of these gadgets, he SHALL TAKE IT and shall deposit with the main office in accordance with BHS policy.

Attendance and Late Policy: All absences are excused with a note from home, which shall include the dates of absence, the student’s full name, the reason for the absence and the parent’s signature. Any student who has been absent from school and does not present a verified pass to the classroom teacher will be defined as “unexcused.” All notes justifying absences must be brought to the main office within 48 hours to clear the absence.

Tardiness: Students who enter class late for any reason must have a pass from the office (or a teacher) indicating whether such tardiness is excused or not excused.

Other Disciplinary Procedures: A student who persists in bad behavior (i.e. conduct that is distracting to others: rude, crude, surly, sarcastic, annoying, disruptive, incontinent, aggressive or belligerent) shall receive a general warning to cease and desist from such activity. If the aforementioned disruptive behavior continues, the instructor shall invite the student to leave the class, whereupon said student shall finish pending assignments in a separate learning environment to be determined by the instructor. The instructor shall address repeat offenses by contacting parents and scheduling meetings with the Vice-Principal’s office. Repeat offenders will face additional punishments such as in-house suspension and loss of student privileges.

Homework: Any assignments handed out by instructor (and thereby in need of completion)  must be finished in their entirety and returned to said instructor on or before the due date. Any assignment that has not been completed in class is  automatically classified as HOMEWORK.  All pending homework assignments will be posted both on my teacher web page (www.brunswick.k12.me.us/tsheehy) and on my chalkboard on a regular basis. Students will be given ample time during class to write down all relevant directions concerning homework.

Late Work: Any and all late work (i.e. those assignments handed in after the official due date which have not received extended time allotments) shall receive half-credit (50 out of 100).

Missed Assignments: All missed assignments must be completed and turned in for grading within two class periods. An exception would be necessary if the absence is for an extended illness or injury. Upon the completion of the assigned work, the student will be given full credit. If the make-up work is not completed within the time allowed, the student shall receive no credit for each assignment missed.