2011-2012  Course Syllabus for English I    Term 2

Teacher: Patrick Wadsworth

  E-mail: patrick.wadsworth@biloxischools.net

Teacher’s Web Site:

Objectives: This is a general overview of what the teacher will teach and what the student is expected to master.

1.  The student will read, interpret, and analyze short stories, write an original short story, and work with peers to produce a final project on short stories.

2.  The student will interpret analogies.

3.  The student will review comma rules, some capitalization, quotation marks, and semicolons.

4.  The student will maintain a journal to respond to literature and other classroom activities.

5.  The student will use Standard English grammar, mechanics, and sentence structure to communicate.

The following tentative schedule is aligned with objectives listed above:

Week 1

• Orientation
• Review course syllabus
• Conduct peer interviews for informative essay
• Diagnostic test

Week 2

• Grammar Focus—verb tense
• Introduction to Powerful Paragraph
• Introduction to Thesis Statement
• Draft Introductory Paragraph
• Review Session (Grammar & Writing)

Week 3

• Grammar Focus—subject / verb agreement
• Draft Body Paragraphs
• Conduct Peer Reviews
• Revise Body Paragraphs
• **Comprehensive Test 1**

Week 4

• Grammar Focus—subordination and coordinate adjectives (commas)
• Draft Conclusion
• Conduct Peer Reviews
• Revise essay
• Edit essay

Week 5

• **Publish essay (Due Thursday )**
• Connotation
• Introduction to figurative language and literary elements
• Introduction to plot diagram

Week 6

• Text features
• Read selected short stories for setting, theme, mood, tone, character, plot, conflict
• Literary Focus—metaphor, simile, hyperbole, irony, allusion, foreshadowing
• **Comprehensive Test 2**

Week 7

• Text features
• Read selected short stories for setting, theme, mood, tone, character, plot, conflict
• Literary Focus—personification, oxymoron, idiom, irony, allusion, symbolism

Week 8

• Text features
• Read selected short stories for setting, theme, mood, tone, character, plot, conflict
• Literary Focus—imagery, flashback, irony, allusion, metaphor, simile
• **Comprehensive Test 3**

Week 9

• Text structures
• **Newspaper Project Due**
• Read selected short stories for setting, theme, mood, tone, character, plot, conflict
• Literary Focus—imagery, flashback, irony, allusion, metaphor, simile
• Review Session
• **Comprehensive Test 4**

Week 10

• CTA Review
• Common Term Assessments

Tests and Grades

Tests: **Major grades are denoted by **. Tests will be comprehensive and given as noted on the syllabus; however, tests may be delayed based on students' acquisition of content.  Make up work will be completed before/after school or at the teacher's discretion at home.  Grading Scale- 55% Tests, 25% Activities, 20% TermTest

Tips for Success: After school study sessions will be conducted by teacher prior to comprehensive tests. Students should use this opportunity to bring questions and/or problems to their teacher’s attention prior to testing in order to receive one-on-one additional help.

Retesting:  All students are encouraged to retest regardless of their score. The higher of the two test grades will be placed in the grade book. To retest, students must make an appointment during their personal time, which is after school, to come to review the test and successfully complete a remediation assignment (including tutoring) and retest within 10 days of receiving their scores on the original test. All daily/missed work relating to the test must be complete before the retesting process may begin. 

Homework/Assignments/Projects: During writing units, students will be expected to complete any unfinished writing outside of class. All students will complete a PROJECT (major grade) related to the curriculum in order to further their knowledge; any unfinished work will be completed outside of class.