Ms. McKeachie's General English 11 Syllabus, Rules, and Grading Procedures
Syllabus
Text books:
- Literature and Language Grade 11
- Warriner's English Grammar and Compsition
- The Writer's Craft
Novels: (Choices)
- To kill a mokingbird
- Of Mice and Men
- The Great Gatsby
- Hiroshima
- The Scarlet Letter
- (Possible Additional Choices)
These curricular areas will be covered during the course's span of two semesters:
- Review of note taking and study skills
- Review of basic grammar and writing conventions
- Essay and writing format
- Paragraohs, Reports, Summaries, Research Exercises, Etc.
- MEAP/HSPT preparation and writng activities
- MOIS
- Literature- selected readings out of the textbook focusing on:
- America's Family Tree
- Puritans and Patriots
- The American Within
- The Tempest Outside
- Who We Are - The Twentieth Century
- What We Belive - The Twentieth Century
- How We Live - The Twentieth Century
- The American Dream
- Literary, gramatical, and compositional terminology
- Vocabulary development
- Biographical sketches of great American authors
- Study of selected works by American aouthors (see "novels")
Evaluation: Each and all of the following possible form of evaluation mey and will be used to determine the student's progression through the General English 11 course.
- Tests
- Quizzes
- Reports
- Summaries
- Journals
- Discussions
- Presentations
- Visual creations
- Interviews
- Video/audio taping
The "weight" of each assignment regarding its worth in the evaluation process will be entirely determined by the instructor.
If a method of evaluation has been determined to be a '"requirement" (for example- a biographical sketch) for the course, then the student will not be allowed to "skip" that assignment. Requirements are exactly that - required.
This syllabus may be amended or changed at the instructor's descresion.
Grading Procedures
Grading: Grading or evaluation is determined by two methods.
- OBJECTIVE = percentages
- SUBJECTIVE = perception and opinion as to expectations
Objective grading scale in percentages:
- A = 92 - 100%
- A- = 90 - 91%
- B+ = 88 - 89%
- B = 82 - 87%
- B- = 80 - 81%
- C+ = 78 - 79%
- C = 72 - 77%
- C- = 70 - 71%
- D+ = 68 - 68%
- D = 62 - 67%
- D- = 60 - 61%
- E = below 60%
I will record the percentage of each assignment, quiz, listening activity, review, translation, project and test. Then the average percent at the end of the marking period of semester will be correlated back to this chart... and grades determined. Some assignments are worth more than others. See Below:
- Attendance = 1/8
- Effort (% of work completed) = 1/8
- Daily assignments, quizzes = 1/4
- Tests = 1/4
The area of work effort must be 85% of better for you to pass this course. In other words, if I assign 100 grades, you must do a minimum of 85 of them prior to consideration for passing. Then I do the grade averaging. This allows you to miss an occasional assignment or quiz. However, having missed that assignment or quiz results in your zero being averaged into your grade. Missed assignments must be made u in a timely manner... see me for details.
Tests do not fall into the 85% category. You MUST take all tests. Tests are a requirement of the course. You cannon "take an E" unless you earn the E. Any missed tests due to absences must be made up prior to taking the next test (roughly and 8 day span). If you go over this deadline without talking to me, you recive credit only on a late test, no grade just credit = 0, but done. This is a not wise choice to make.
Each semester grades consists of the following weighted components:
- MARKING PERIOD = 40%
- MARKING PERIOD = 40%
- SEMESTER EXAM = 20%
You must pass two of those three components to pass the semester.
Rules
- All work must be completes. Any incomplete or partially finished work is not acceptable. I weill hand it back - you will then be allowed to turn it in completed (one day max.), but now it will be considered late.
- Late work will be lowered one full grade from that which you would have recieved had you turned it in on time. This is a very controllable situation. You have a one day grace period for each day you are absent. See me regarding any extenuating circumstances.
- Arrangements to make up work (tests, quizzes, activites, videos, or other) must be made with me for AFTER SCHOOL HOURS. I will sign you up on the sign up poster, or I will not be prepared for you to stay. Always check with me if you are concerned about this rule. Rarely will I arrange any work to be made up during calss. You would naturally be missing something durning that time period. On very rare occasions (very rare) will I come in early to allow make up time. The morning simply does not allow enough time to do work well.
- Being on time, being prepared , and doing your work are all part of your evaluation process. These are controllable grades. Take control of them. Lapeer East's staff is determining a new tardy method.. please stay tuned. Once these procedures are adopted, you are expected to understand them.
- Be polite and courteous to everyone throughout your school day.
- Remain seated unless directed to do otherwise. Do not get up from your chair without permission.
- Do not gather at the door awaiting the bell like a flock of sheep. I will dismiss you when i am finished with class.
- Never sleep (or appear to be sleeping) during class. If your work is completed, bring other materials or work on other classes. Sleeping in class is considered the same as skipping to me.
- Never use profanity, obscenities, or disgusting or insulting language here. There is absolutely nothing positive that comes from such.
- Use common sense. Behavior is always monitored. I tend not to be highly tolerant of immaturity. The procedures I use are simple: reprimand, parent contact, classroom separation, and administrative intervention.
- Fifth hour (or the last class of the day) is responsible for putting chairs up onto the tables.
- Please keep a separate three ring binder for this class. You need to remain organized. Keeping a notebook promotes this. Organization of the notebook is up to you. I will suggest a few methods, but the ultimate decision is yours. Research does prove that an organized student naturally excels.
- You will be expected to keep an electronic (via internet) journal to me. Details regarding this process and procedures are still pending. I will make these clearer as soon as the process is completed. As of now, my plan is to give you the experience that many college professors are now expecting electronic communication.
- Always bring all of these things to class everyday: Text, notebook, paper, pens/pencils, and student planner. We use this everyday for certain activities beyond simply jotting down the assignment (halls passes in particular). If you do not have it with you (and you can only use your own planner), you will not be allowed to do certain things, such as return to your locker for missing materials.
- I expect each of you to understand the Lapeer Community School's dress code and the interpretations of such by Lapeer East. Included you will find the clarifications. Please be familiar with our expectations regarding your dress.
- These classroom rules by no stretch of the imagination cover ever situation we may find ourselves in this year. I reserve the right to amend and adjust these rules as time progresses or situations arise.