English 10 Course Policies

English Language Arts 10 is designed to help

students develop an enjoyment of literature by
focusing on reading, speaking, listening, and
thinking. As a writer, each individual will work
toward enhanced expression, flexibility,
creativity, accuracy, and other areas of personal
growth.

Entry Procedures
The agenda for the
day will be written
on the white board
There will be a halfpage free-write
journal entry
related to the daily
theme posted

It is expected that
students have
these to be fully
present:
College-ruled
notebook
Pencil
Subject binder
Open mind

Units
We will work on the following units this semester:
Choice and Circumstance Unit with an emphasis on nonfiction reading strategies and the basics of argument writing
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck with an emphasis on
narrative reading strategies, thematic study,and writing a
literary analysis essay
Poetry Unit with an emphasis on understanding aspects of
the writerly life, reading and understanding poetry, and
writing and revising a polished poem
Independent Reading I strongly encourage parental
involvement when making reading selections.
Please refer to my Weebly website for descriptions of the
novels we will be reading in class.

Writing Focus
Organized Writing
Form and Structure
Graphic Organizers
Grammar and Conventions

Authorial Choices
Workshop Previously Written Work
Publishing: having someone review your paper
who was not involved in creating it

Respect

Classroom Expectations
Be on time. Tardies count.
E veryone has the right to voice an opinion, but know when and how to do
it appropriately.

R isk: take a chance on learning.

E veryone in the room is a valuable part of this community.
S mile. Laugh. Have a positive attitude.
P ick up after yourself. Garbage on the floor clutters the room.
E njoy our differences. Its what makes life interesting.
C ome to class prepared. Be prepared to think, to work, to participate!
T alk to the teacher! Tell me what I need to know to help you.
F ollow the dress code. Reveal your soul, not your skin.
U nderstand that I get the final say. I am the teacher after all.
L ost? Ask questions, ask for help, ask again until you get what you need.
Above all, be respectful!

Grading

Student Absences and

Late Work
Attendance is mandatory
to ensure success in the
classroom
It is your responsibility to
seek out make-up work if
you are absent.
You will have the same
number of days that you
were absent to make up
missed assignments, per
our school policy. This
does not include major
assignments (more than
one week prep time); these
are due on or before the
assigned day, regardless of
prior absence.

If an assignment is due on a day

when you are absent, you will be
expected to turn it in the day that
you return.
Projects, papers and homework will
be accepted late. Assignments
one day late will be worth 90% of
the points earned; assignments two
days late will be worth 80% of the
points earned; assignments three
days late will be worth 70% of the
points earned; assignments four or
more days late will be worth 60% of
the points earned.
I will not accept late work during
the last week of the semester. No
exceptions.

Standard Grading System

Grading Structure
Summative assessments (major grades at the
end of each unit)--80%
Formative assessments (homework and other
daily assignments)--20%

Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes:

Copying titles, unfamiliar vocabulary, phrases, sentences,

paragraphs or graphics from any source without enclosing them in
quotation marks and, immediately after, crediting that source;

Close paraphrasing of any source by: 1) switching the order of,

substituting, or changing a few words in a phrase or sentence
without crediting that source directly after the paraphrase; and/or
2) changing a few words or sentences in a paragraph from any
source, without crediting that source directly after the paraphrase;
and/or 3) changing the order of paragraphs from any source.

Presenting unique ideas as your own for example, putting

completely in your own wording unique ideas that are not common
knowledge, without crediting that source directly after presenting
the unique idea. Common knowledge is defined as information
and ideas that could be found in more than one source.

Attendance
Workplace Skills and Attitudes
As a member of the class you will be
expected to participate in this course as if it
were a professional work environment. These
skills and attitudes reflect your ability to act in
a mature, cooperative, responsible, and
respectful manner at all times.

Skills
time management
successfully communicating
with both teachers and peers
setting and completing
tasks/trimester goals
asking for and offering
assistance
following directions
listening to instructions,
discussions and lessons
making thinking visible by

Attitudes
contributing to a positive
classroom environment
respect for classroom, building
and peers
staying open-minded to all
opinions, thoughts and
interpretations of classroom
material
willingness to express your own
opinions, thoughts and
interpretations

Technology

Technology Usage
Because the mission of Clarkston
Community Schools is to prepare
students for 21st century learning,
there will be several components of
this course requiring students to
access computers/ technology from
home or on a students own time.
These requirements may include
but are not limited to:
typing papers
participating in online discussions
viewing clips on YouTube or a similar
website
listening to songs online
creating podcasts or videos
peer review of writing assignments
online

Cell Phone Use

This class
subscribes to the
No Cell Phone
Zone Policy.
PLEASE DO NOT
USE CELL PHONES
IN CLASS UNLESS
PREVIOUSLY
AUTHORIZED.