Senior English
2008-09
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Teacher: |
Mr. Noah Tonk |
Classroom: |
Room 729 |
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Email: |
tonkn@vail.k12.az.us |
Phone: |
520-879-2844 |
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Web: |
www.mrtonk.com |
Office: |
None |
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a survey course of British and world literature, with a heavy emphasis upon British literature, including early writings (such as Beowulf) and continuing on through contemporary literature. Emphasis is on the reinforcement of reading and writing skills, the cultures and history of the authors, the development of skills in serious literary analysis, and on the student making personal connections to the literature. The course includes the study of vocabulary, grammar, and mechanics. Senior English is also intended to support the skills necessary for the creation and development of the Senior Exit Project formal research paper. Assignments in Senior English include, but are not limited to, the following:
· An extended written literary analysis of a text or theme;
· A written evaluation or comparison of two or more works sharing a common theme or subject;
· Bellwork that is designed to focus the student and transition into a new lesson or topic;
· Other response-based forms of writing designed to think critically;
· Assignments that require the student to defend a thesis using evidence from primary and secondary sources.
· Students are required to bring an independent novel (fiction) of an appropriate grade level to class every single day. Each quarter, students will be required to read 250 pages of independent reading at the rate of 30 pages per week. This title will be recorded and occasionally checked orally with the student to ensure that the student is keeping up. Students are expected to read their independent novels when they have finished other activities or when it is required as bellwork. Showing up without an appropriate book will earn the student a zero.
LATE WORK, TARDY, AND ABSENCE POLICIES:
· Late work will be accepted for partial credit when…
o …the day’s lesson is not dependent upon the completion of the work, and
o …it is turned in within three calendar days of the original due date. This work will be penalized 50%.
· Late work will not be accepted for any credit when...
o ...the student is present for a lesson that depends on the completion of previously assigned homework. Many assignments fall under this category.
§ Example: In class today, we are discussing pages 38-47 of a novel. You didn’t complete the notes, so Mr. Tonk doesn’t have any evidence that you completed the reading on time. You cannot be in class, listen to class discussion, participate in the lesson, and then complete the notes later and expect credit.
o In the sole judgment of Mr. Tonk, extremecircumstances may warrant rare exceptions to this late policy. Frequent requests by a student that circumstances be considered “extreme” will result in the suspension of this exception for that student.
· Tardies:
o It is CHS policy that students will receive a 1% reduction in their final grades, calculated at the END of the semester, for every tardy. Students may earn back tardies by attending Tardy Detention.
· Absent work:
o Students have two calendar days for each class absence to make up missed work, and must do so according to procedures outlined in the “Student Rules & Procedures” handout. Students may not receive full assignment credit for unexcused absences.
o Homework due on the day the student returns to class, and assigned prior to the student’s absence, is expected to be complete when the student returns to class; otherwise, it is considered late.
o Vacations, school trips, and student employment will never count as reasons to hand in an assignment late.
· Bellwork assignments must be made up. It is up to the student to speak with peers or consult MrTonk.com or the Turnitin.com discussion boards in order to get the writing prompt or other assignment. Students may also opt to write an appropriate number of lines about why they were absent or late; this is required of students who are absent on a day when independent reading was assigned as the bellwork. Bellwork assigned when a student is absent will be recorded in PowerSchool with a comment of “ABS” and a value of ‘0’ until the student makes it up. Makeup work may be submitted online at MrTonk.com or on the Turnitin.com discussion boards.
· Students talking during silent bellwork will be given a score of ‘0’ in PowerSchool and the explanatory comment TLKNG.
· It is CHS policy that students who reach 12 non-school related absences will not be allowed to get credit for the course in which the absences occurred.
These requirements must be followed regardless of the reasons for the absences. Remember, credit for a course implies that you have mastered the skills and content for that course. Excessive absences may prevent you from doing so. The grade expectations for excessive absences reflect your commitment to demonstrate mastery of the course without having to attend. It is also important to note that if you missed this much time or work at your job, without compensating for it, you would be fired.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
Turnitin.com
All students are required to electronically submit all drafts of all formal writing assignments completed at home online at www.turnitin.com, in addition to many bellwork assignments posted to the Turnitin.com discussion boards. Instructions on how to do this will be given in class, posted on the classroom website, and distributed as a handout. Failure to read directions will not excuse students from this requirement; nor will limited computer access. If there is an internet connection issue, students must show up prior to the start of the next school day after the due date with a copy of the document on a disk or otherwise electronically provided for me. Otherwise, please see the late policy. Please note that some formal writing assignments will also need to be printed and submitted as a hard copy IN ADDITION to being uploaded.
Class ID: 2310297
Password: tonkseniors
MrTonk.com
Assignment instructions, handouts, lesson plans, and other resources are available for perusal and download at http://www.mrtonk.com. Additional information may be posted on the Senior English blog. Many, but not all, of these summaries will include an audio or video podcast of lectures or discussions. Students who are absent are expected to view the lesson plan summaries and listen to or watch the podcast in order to attempt to make up the classroom experience. All PowerPoint presentations given in class will be uploaded as QuickTime files, and most will include accompanying audio from the day they were presented. Finally, a general calendar for assignments will be available and frequently updated. Please check it periodically to ensure compliance with assignment due dates.
Google Online Discussion Group
All students are required to have a working email address and to register that email address at http://groups.google.com/group/tonkseniorenglish. Important announcements and handouts will be distributed through this discussion group, and periodically, students will be required to respond to the group as a whole regarding a topic related to a work currently being studied in class. Students are required to check their email accounts WEEKLY, and to notify Mr. Tonk when a change of email address occurs.
EXTRA CREDIT:
Students are allowed to gain 100 points of extra credit per semester; however, almost the only permissible extra credit assignments are those contained on the “Acceptable Extra Credit” sheet in this syllabus. Extra credit is not meant to be a substitute for the regular classwork. Students may only receive extra credit if they have completed every assignment for the semester or the equivalent. If a student is missing assignments and requests extra credit, that student will be expected to complete all missing assignments before extra credit will be permitted. Work that is handed in late under this policy will be given a grade of “NC” or “No Credit.” Extra credit may be withdrawn from a student’s grade if he or she is missing assignments by the end of the semester.
FINAL EXAMS:
The final exam will be comprehensive, covering all content and skills studied during the semester. Certain accommodations may be made for students entering class more than one month after the start of the semester. The student in each period who has the highest grade, once all assignment grades have been entered, is not required to take the final exam. If needed, a tie-breaker will decide between two or more students who share the highest grade.
GRADING SCALE:
100-90% - A
80-89.9% - B
70-79.9% - C
60-69.9% - D
<60% - F
Students with borderline grades (ex: 59.1 – 59.9) will only be rounded up to the next grade level if they have handed in all of their assigned work on time or within the late penalty grace period.
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BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
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· I will not engage in any behavior that could disrupt my own learning or the learning of others.
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· I will not disrespect myself by engaging in any behavior that is disrespectful of others.
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· I will not disrespect my learning environment.
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Mr. Tonk reserves the right to discipline students for any other reason at any time for anything that he deems to be disruptive of the learning environment or disrespectful. |
THE RESPONSIBLE TOP CAT
Teachers will be giving a classroom citizenship grade that will enable students to earn privileges. This grade is defined by the Cienega High Expectations:
· Be Courteous
· Engage with Others
· Electronics Off and Away
· Demonstrate Integrity
· Focus on the Task
· Produce Quality Work
· Hats Off and Away
· Goodbye Gum!
· Be On Time
· Be Prepared
· Be Accountable
The following grade scale will be used. Points will be assessed once per quarter and are used solely for determination of Top Cat status.
· 1-Irresponsible
· 2-Inconsistent
· 3-Responsible
· 4-Highly Responsible
Providing that you don’t have any F’s or 1’s, if you earn an average 3.0 for citizenship from all of your classes at the end of the quarter, you will be a Top Cat. Students with an average higher than 3.0 will be Top Cat Plus, and entitled to many more privileges.