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English11

Teacher:Mrs.AshleySander

ClassWebsite:Schoologypage(codesvary--see
teacher)

Email:sander@themetroschool.org

OfficeHours:Tuesdays2:45-3:45

Trueeducationisakindofneverendingstory--amatterofcontinualbeginnings,of
habitualfreshstarts,ofpersistentnewness.~J.R.R.Tolkien


WelcometoSpringSemester!Iamlookingforwardtolearningwith
youthissemesterasweworktogetherinEnglish11.Inthiscourse,wewill
exploretheessentialquestion:WhatdoesitmeantobeAmerican,andhowdoes
literatureandwritingreflecttheAmericanconsciousness?
Totheparents:ThisismyfirstyearatMetroandIamverypassionate
abouttheworkwedohere.IgraduatedfromCaliforniaUniversityof
Pennsylvaniain2012andworkedatacyberschoolinPittsburghfor3years
beforemovingtoColumbus.IamcurrentlyfinishingupmyMastersdegree
inInstructionandLearningwithafocusinEnglishandCommunicationsat
theUniversityofPittsburgh.TeachingismypassionandIfeeltrulyhonored
toworkwithallofthestudentshereatMetro.Pleasedonthesitatetoemail
orcallmewithanyquestionsorconcernsastheyarisethroughoutthe
semester.Thankyouinadvanceforallyoudotohelpyourchildsucceedin
school.~Mrs.Sander

CourseDescription&Overview

StudentswilldevelopanunderstandingofsocialconceptsincludingtheAmerican
Dream,theMeltingPot,andwhatthewordAmericanhasmeantthroughout
history.TheseconceptswillbestudiedasdemonstratedinwritingfromtheFounding
Fathers,Transcendentalistwriters,authorsoftheHarlemRenaissance,andauthors
fromthe20thcenturytoourmoderntime.Standardsandskillscoveredwillinclude
rhetoric,argumentativewriting,publicspeaking,creativewritingandpoetry,
research,highlevelanalysisoftexts,vocabularybuilding,andcollegepreparation.
Additionally,studentswillcompleteindependentreadingprojectstodemonstrate
theirreadingproficiencyandanalyticalskills.Bytheendofthecourse,studentswill
beabletomasterhigh-levelmaterialwithqualityandstrength.


CourseObjectives

Writing:
NarrativeWriting:
Writenarrativetodeveloprealexperiencesoreventsusingwell-chosendetailsand
well-structuredeventsequences.
Engageandorientthereaderbysettingoutaproblem,situation,orobservation,
establishingoneormultiplepoint(s)ofview,andintroducinganarratorand/or
characters;createasmoothprogressionofexperiencesorevents.
Usenarrativetechniques,suchasdialogue,pacing,description,reflection,andmultiple
plotlines,todevelopexperiences,events,and/orcharacters.
Useprecisewordsandphrases,tellingdetails,andsensorylanguagetoconveyavivid
pictureoftheexperiences,events,setting,and/orcharacters.
Provideaconclusionthatfollowsfromandreflectsonwhatisexperienced,observed,or
resolvedoverthecourseofthenarrative.

ExpositoryWriting:
Writeinformative/explanatorytextstoexamineandconveycomplexideas,concepts,
andinformationclearlyandaccuratelythroughtheeffectiveselection,organization,
andanalysisofcontent.
Introduceatopic;organizecomplexideas,concepts,andinformationtomake
importantconnectionsanddistinctions.
Developthetopicwithwell-chosen,relevant,andsufficientfacts,extendeddefinitions,
concretedetails,quotations,orotherinformationandexamplesappropriatetothe
audience'sknowledgeofthetopic.
Useappropriateandvariedtransitionstolinkthemajorsectionsofthetext,create
cohesion,andclarifytherelationshipsamongcomplexideasandconcepts.
Usepreciselanguageanddomain-specificvocabularytomanagethecomplexityofthe
topic.
Establishandmaintainaformalstyleandobjectivetonewhileattendingtothenorms
andconventionsofthedisciplineinwhichtheyarewriting.
Provideaconcludingstatementorsectionthatfollowsfromandsupportsthe
informationorexplanationpresented(e.g.,articulatingimplicationsorthesignificance
ofthetopic).

ArgumentativeWriting:
Writeargumentstosupportclaimsinananalysisofsubstantivetopicsortexts,using
validreasoningandrelevantandsufficientevidence.
Introducepreciseclaim(s),distinguishtheclaim(s)fromalternateoropposingclaims,
andcreateanorganizationthatestablishesclearrelationshipsamongclaim(s),
counterclaims,reasons,andevidence.
Developclaim(s)andcounterclaimsfairly,supplyingevidenceforeachwhilepointing
outthestrengthsandlimitationsofbothinamannerthatanticipatestheaudience's
knowledgelevelandconcerns.
Usewords,phrases,andclausestolinkthemajorsectionsofthetext,createcohesion,
andclarifytherelationshipsbetweenclaim(s)andreasons,betweenreasonsand
evidence,andbetweenclaim(s)andcounterclaims.
Establishandmaintainaformalstyleandobjectivetonewhileattendingtothenorms
andconventionsofthedisciplineinwhichtheyarewriting.
Provideaconcludingstatementorsectionthatfollowsfromandsupportstheargument
presented.



Reading:
KeyIdeasandDetails:
Citestrongandthoroughtextualevidencetosupportanalysisofwhatthetextsays
explicitlyaswellasinferencesdrawnfromthetext.
Determineathemeorcentralideaofatextandanalyzeindetailitsdevelopmentover
thecourseofthetext,includinghowitemergesandisshapedandrefinedbyspecific
details;provideanobjectivesummaryofthetext.
Analyzehowcomplexcharacters(e.g.,thosewithmultipleorconflictingmotivations)
developoverthecourseofatext,interactwithothercharacters,andadvancetheplotor
developthetheme.

CraftandStructure:
Determinethemeaningofwordsandphrasesastheyareusedinthetext,including
figurativeandconnotativemeanings;analyzethecumulativeimpactofspecificword
choicesonmeaningandtone(e.g.,howthelanguageevokesasenseoftimeandplace;
howitsetsaformalorinformaltone).
Analyzehowanauthor'schoicesconcerninghowtostructureatext,orderevents
withinit(e.g.,parallelplots),andmanipulatetime(e.g.,pacing,flashbacks)createsuch
effectsasmystery,tension,orsurprise.
Analyzeaparticularpointofvieworculturalexperiencereflectedinaworkofliterature
fromoutsidetheUnitedStates,drawingonawidereadingofworldliterature.

IntegrationofKnowledgeandIdeas:
Analyzehowanauthordrawsonandtransformssourcematerialinaspecificwork
(e.g.,howShakespearetreatsathemeortopicfromOvidortheBibleorhowalater
authordrawsonaplaybyShakespeare).


CourseMaterials
IntotheWildbyJonKrakauer
SchoologyClass
GoogleDocdigitalnotebook
Fullychargedcomputer
Pencils/pens/markers


CoursePolicies

ClassroomExpectations
Studentswillrespecteachotherasindividualsandtreatothersasthey
expecttobetreated.Iwillpreparerigorousandengaginglessonsfor
studentseachday,andstudentswillgivetheirfullefforttocompletelessons
tothebestoftheirabilities.Weareallpartofthesameteam,andthe
expectationwillbethatweareworkingtowardthesamegoal:yoursuccess.
IfyoudowhatIaskyoutodowithapositiveattitudeandachieveatahigh
level,youwillsucceed.

Absenteeism/LateWork/MissingWork:
Intheinstancethatanassignmentismissedduetoabsenteeism,considerthe
following:

Studentsshouldsendoutanemailinformingteachersthattheywillbe
absentandrequestworkfromthatday.
Studentswillberesponsibleforcontactingpeersforadditionalnotes
reviewedinclass.Handouts,PPTs,andsoonwillbeavailableonSchoology.
Vocabularytestsmustbetakenonthefirstavailableofficehoursdateorthey
willbesubmittedasazerointhegradebook.
MasteryAssignments/IndependentReadingProjectsdateswillbeprovided
farenoughinadvancethattheywillnotbeacceptedlateforanyreason.
Remediationisavailableatspecifiedtimes.Pleaseseetheremediationsection.

Bullying

ThisclassroomisasafeplaceforEVERYstudent.Thisisanenvironmentwhere
distinctivequalitieswillbeappreciated.Thecultureofthisclassroomisrooted
fromcollaboration,teamwork,andopen-mindedness.Inshort,bullyingwillnotbe
tolerated.
1stTransgression:Parentswillbecontactedandadetentionwillbeserved.
2ndTransgression:Areferralwillbesubmittedtothestudentspermanent
file.

MasteryStandards
Note:
Youmusthavemasteryinthevocabularyandfoundationalsectionsoverall
andmasteryoneachmasteryassignmenttopassthisclass.

Foundational MasteryAssignments(MA): VocabularyandGrammar
Assignments(FA): (VG):
EndofUnitEssays
Quizzes Tests VocabularyTests
Homework EndofUnit VocabularyActivities
Group Project/Presentations Grammartests
Work/ClassWork SocraticSeminars GrammarActivitieson
NoRedInk.Com
Thequizzeswillbeout Alloftheseassignmentswillbe
of25 outof100points. Thetestswillbeoutof25
Theactivitieswillbe Theactivitieswillbeoutof10
outof10(FA) (FA)



Grading:

FoundationalAssignments(FA)

1. Theseassignmentscannotbesubmittedlate.
2. Latesubmissionswillbeenteredintothegradebookasazero(0).
3. FAassignmentswillbesubmittedasa0,3,5,or10.
a. 0=theassignmentwasnotturnedinontime/wasnotsubmittedatall
b. 3=theassignmentwasturnedinontime,butwasincompleteorshowedlackof
comprehension.
c. 5=theassignmentwasturnedinontimeandshowssomecomprehension,butis
notatmastery.
d. 10=theassignmentwasturnedinontimeandshowsfullcomprehensionofthe
assignment.

Uponreceiving90%oraboveonamasteryassignment,foundationalassignmentgradeswill
shiftasfollows:
08
3or59
Note:Perfectscorescanonlybeobtainedfrominitialsubmission.

Grading:

MasteryAssignments(MA)

1. Theseassignmentswillhaveduedatesfarenoughinadvancethattheywillnotbe
acceptedlate.
2. IftheinitialattemptoftheseassignmentsarenotsubmittedontimestudentswillNOTbe
allowedtoremediatethem.
3. Initialgradeswillbesubmittedtothegradebook,butwillbechangedwhenthestudent
reachesmastery.Thehighestgradeatthatpointwillbea90%andtherewillbea
commentundertheassignmentthatwillsay,90%afterremediation.

Grading:

VocabularyandGrammar(VG)

1. Wewillalternateweeklybetweenvocabularyandgrammar.Oneweekvocabandoneweek
grammar.
2. Therewillbenonewassignmentsduringmasteryweekorholidays.
3. Ifastudentmissesoneoftheseexams,thetestmustbemadeuponthefollowingoffice
hoursdate.Iftheassignmentisntmadeupbythattime,azerowillbeenteredintothe
gradebook.
4. IftheinitialattemptoftheseassignmentsarenotsubmittedontimestudentswillNOTbe
allowedtoremediatethem.


Remediation:

MasteryAssignments(MA):
1. Attheendofeachunit,therewillbetimeallocatedtowardsimprovingthemastery
assignments.
2. Duringthesedays,studentswillreceiveindividualconsultationduringclasstime.

FoundationalAssignments(FA):
1. Assignmentswillbechangedtoan8or9afterthestudentreceivesaminimumof90%
themasteryassignments.

VocabularyandGrammar(VG):
1. Attheendofthesemester,studentswillbepermittedtoretakeanyteststheyfailed
throughoutthesemesterduringtheendofsemestermasteryweek.

NOTE:
AssignmentsthatarenotsubmittedontimeinitiallyCANNOTberemediated.


Behavior/AcademicIntegrity

CellPhonesandComputerMisuse:
Iaskthatstudentsarepresentinclass,meaningtheirsolefocusisonwhat
wearelearning.Studentsarenottousetheircellphonesduringclassfor
gamesortextmessaging.Computersaretobeusedforschoolassignments
only.Computersthathavegamesorofftaskwebsitesarenotpermitted.
Musicmaybepermittedatapprovedtimes.

1stoffense:Ifaphoneorcomputerismisused,Iwillconfiscateituntilthe
endofclass.
3rdoffense:Ifitisrepeated3timesinthesemester,Iwillkeepthe
phone/computeruntiltheendoftheday.
6thoffense:Threemoretimesresultsinthephone/computerneedingtobe
pickedupbyaparentorguardianandameetingsetupwiththeteacher.

Behavior:
Metroisalearningcommunity.Asmembersofthiscommunity,giving
respectisasimportantasreceivingit.Iwillworktoensurethiscourseis
academicallyrigorousandengagingforyou.Youareresponsibleforbeing
presentandengagedinclass,tryinghardandtakingrisks,andtreatingyour
teacher,peersandyourselfwithrespect.

Consequences:
Thefollowingconsequencesapplytoanyactionsthatmightpreventyou
fromachievingatMetro.Theseinclude,butarenotlimitedto,dresscode
violation,choosingnottoengageinclass,notcompletinghomework
assignmentsordoingdisrespectfulthingstoothersorthebuilding.Steps
maybeskippeddependingontheseverityoftheoffense.

FirstOccurrence: Reminderoftheproperchoicesto
ensuresuccess.

SecondOccurrence: Discussionoftheproperchoicesto
ensuresuccess.Thisconversation
willbeheldbeforeschool,atlunch,
orafterschoolatthechoiceofthe
teacher.Themeetingwillincluding
makingaplantomakesurethe
occurrencedoesnothappenagain.

ThirdOccurrence: Afollow-upemailorphonecallwill
besenttotheparent/guardianfrom
theteacher.Alongwithalunch
detentionwithteacher.

FourthOccurrence: Aparent/guardianwillbecalledand
willbeaskedtomeetwiththe
studentandteacherbeforeorafter
school.Theplanforsuccesswillbe
discussedandyourteacherwillask
yourparenttohelpyoumakethe
rightchoices.

FifthOccurrence: ReferraltotheAdministrativeteam.


AcademicIntegrity
Plagiarism/Cheating
Anyworkthatyouturninforthiscourseandclaimtobeyourown
mustbeexactlythat.Youarefreetoborrowfromanysourceyoucan
find;allweaskisthatyoutelluswhereyourideascamefrom.Give
credittothesourceofyourideas-peoplewillrespectyouforit

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