ACCELERATED ENGLISH 10 SYLLABUS:
MRS. WAGNER, 2015-16
Contact Info: Room 107, Pod 100
Phone: 503-353-5810 ext. 38162;
E-mail: wagnerb@nclack.k12.or.us.
Website: http://www.nclack.k12.or.us/18242019171934250/site/default.asp?
Students will explore a broad variety of literary forms including plays, novels, short stories, and poetry.
There will be a concentration on essay writing and literary analysis. The Accelerated course will give
college bound students a broader range of compositions and literary selections. Students will be expected
to read independently and to analyze challenging texts.
Text: Elements of Literature: Fourth Course. Austin: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston,
2000.
Vocabulary Power Plus for College and Career Readiness, by Prestwick House
Publishing. (Note: Students will be required to purchase the workbook)
*Novel descriptions can be found on the Clackamas High School website. In addition
students will read selections from the following:
Telling Times by Nadine Gordimer
Politics and literature intersect in this comprehensive collection of nonfiction writings by the Nobel Prize–
winning South African novelist and antiapartheid activist. Covering five decades, these short pieces run the
gamut: autobiographical sketches; chiaroscuroed travelogues that wander from the Congo to Cairo; literary
essays on novelists from Tolstoy to Chinua Achebe and Philip Roth; profiles of Nelson Mandela and
Archbishop Desmond Tutu; op-eds on issues like AIDS and water shortages; the odd dispatch from the
Cannes film festival and a retrospective on the 20th century. At its best, Gordimer's writing is both
consummately artful and deeply engaged; she shows us that the truth isn't always beauty, but the hunger for
it is. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Adult/High School-Marji tells of her life in Iran from the age of 10, when the Islamic revolution of 1979
reintroduced a religious state, through the age of 14 when the Iran-Iraq war forced her parents to send her
to Europe for safety. This story, told in graphic format with simple, but expressive, black-and-white
illustrations, combines the normal rebelliousness of an intelligent adolescent with the horrors of war and
totalitarianism. Marji's parents, especially her freethinking mother, modeled a strong belief in freedom and
equality, while her French education gave her a strong faith in God. With bold lines and deceptively
uncomplicated scenes, Satrapi conveys her story. From it, teens will learn much of the history of this
important area and will identify with young Marji and her friends. This is a graphic novel of immense
power and importance for Westerners of all ages.
Susan H. Woodcock, Fairfax County Public Library, Chantilly, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
SEMESTER 1:
Literature: Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Notes From The Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Telling Times by Nadine Gordimer (selected essays)
Short stories/ essays/ poems from text
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Students will be required to do independent reading from the four categories of World Literature.
List of categories and authors will be sent home with students.
SEMESTER 2:
Literature: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Antigone by Sophocles
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Literature Circles with the following potential choices (Students will choose)
Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Sky Fisherman by Craig Lesley
House of Spirits by Isabel AllendeThe Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Writing: All modes of writing are practiced throughtout the year and students must keep a
writing folder in class. Students will track their own proficiencies on a tracking sheet and will
write a Writing Proficiency Growth Paper at the end of each semester. Students must understand
grammar codes and assess and correct their own writing using grammar and writing codes. A
formal essay (summative grade) will be required at the end of each unit and major work studied.
STANDARDS:
RL.9-10.1. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as
well as inferences drawn from the text.
RL.9-10.2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course
of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective
summary of the text.
RL.9-10.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative
and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone
(e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
RL.9-10.7. Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums,
including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment.
Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to
advance that point of view or purpose.
RI.9-10.8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the
reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious
reasoning.
W.9-10.1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid
reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
W.9-10.2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and
information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
W.9-10.7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a selfgenerated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize
multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
 SL.9-10.4. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such
that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are
appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
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 SL.9-10.5. Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive
elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add
interest.
L.9-10.1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing
or speaking.
Materials and Supplies
Each student must bring the following supplies to class each day:
 For each unit, a separate folder with brackets (I will show you in class)
 Lined paper
 Pencils/pens/a red pen always
 3 different colored highlighter pens
 Post-it notes to share with class
 Vocabulary Workbook ($10 payable to bookkeeper)
Donations to Class Supply Fund
The following are items that I try (as best as my budget allows) to keep in stock for students in
need. Donations are not required, but greatly appreciated.
 Post-it notes
 Highlighter pens
 Red or green pens
 Pencils
 Kleenex tissue boxes
 Lined paper
 Candy
Thank you for your generosity.
Policies:
Attendance
1. Come to class every day with a great attitude. This class in based on activities that cannot
be made-up.
2. It is your responsibility to find out from a classmate what you missed - questions will be
clarified by the instructor. Check Handout file for daily handouts. See smart-board
slides on my website for specific lessons missed. For extended absences, an appointment
may be necessary to catch up on what was missed.
3. Work that was due the day of the absence will not receive additional make-up days.
Long-term projects will also not receive additional time.
4. Checking my website daily is expected. Checking during an absence is the best way to
stay up to date with class activities, due dates, and assignment descriptions. All
information can be viewed there.
http://www.nclack.k12.or.us/18242019171934250/site/default.asp? and then click
the tab on the left for “Classroom Resources.”
Tardies
If students are not in their seat when the bell rings, they will be marked tardy. Students
who are consistently late to class will be referred to Student Management and parents will
be contacted. If a student misses a test or other work due to an unexcused tardy, the test
may NOT be made up.
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GRADINGGrades Reflect Your Understanding of Text and Your Writing Ability
Tests, writing pieces, reading discussions and projects are graded. Practice work is checked
occasionally but it has little effect on your course grade. Each letter grade means that you…
A =Understand all the major areas of a piece of text (reading) and communicate in writing at an
exceptional level (with few to no errors); entered as 96%
B =Understand most areas of a text and communicate in writing at a highly proficient level (with
a few minor errors); 86%
C =Understand the fundamental or most repeated ideas of text and communicate in writing
adequately (with some obvious errors and/or some lack in clarity); 76%
D = Show little understanding of the essential ideas of a text and communicate ineffectively in
writing, either off prompt or extremely lacking in clarity; 66%
F= Don’t yet show an understanding of the essential ideas of a text; extremely limited in writing
skills and a complete lack of clarity; 56%
N = Assignment NOT turned in; entered as 0%
I = Incomplete work, entered as 30%
L= Late work (only summative accepted), entered as 50%
Blanks = Grades are currently being entered or assignment is not required (rare); no effect on
grade.
Definitions
Academic Practice (formative): work conducted when a student is still learning the material. It
is an assessment that is designed to provide direction for both students and teachers. For the
students, the adjustment may mean reviewing, additional practice, or confirmation that they are
ready to move forward. For the teachers, it may mean changing instructional strategies,
providing additional practice, or being ready to move forward. (E.g. teacher observation, quizzes,
homework, rough drafts, peer editing, notebook checks, daily assignments, discussion and
participation). 20% of total grade.
Note: Due date and deadline are the same for formative work. No late formative work will be
accepted without a valid reason (illness and such).
Academic Achievement (summative): work conducted when a student has had adequate
instruction and practice to be responsible for the material. It is designed to provide information to
be used in making a judgment about a student’s achievement at the end of a sequence of
instruction, e.g. final drafts/attempts, tests, exams, essays, projects, performances/scored
discussions. 80% of total grade.
Due date: the date an assessment is due in order to receive full credit.
Late Work/ Test make-Up
1. Assignments are due when called for in class. They are well indicated on the calendar of
due dates. It is student’s responsibility to be current with calendar due dates. This is
posted on line and updated daily.
2. No late Academic Practice work (20%) will be accepted. Late Achievement
assignments (summative, worth 80%) will be accepted with the following
consequences. Late work turned in after the due date and by the two week deadline (2
weeks after due date) will result in a lower grade- 10% lower. Late work received after
the two-week deadline will result in a maximum 50% grade. No late work will be
accepted after the end of each grading period.
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3.
Long-range projects and assignments are due on the assigned date regardless of
absence. Exception may be made when a parent or a guardian personally contacts me.
4. Students who are absent due to an illness have a maximum of 3 days (including holidays
and weekends) to complete make-up work for full credit. Additional days are at the
discretion of the teacher. Tests need to be made up within a week’s time. After a test is
taken, it will be placed in the library test center. It is the student’s responsibility to
go take the test on his or her own time.
5. Students who are absent due to an activity (sports, etc.) or an appointment are still subject
to the standard due dates. Assignments may be placed in teacher letterbox in main office
or on my desk in pod 100. If a student misses a test due to this type of absence, the
student must make it up within 2 school days or upon returning to class.
Extra Credit or Bonus Points
Extra credit will not be offered. Students will have the opportunity to rewrite essays or
demonstrate proficiency in the subject matter with alternative assessments if needed.
Grades will not be “bumped up” to the next level. Letter grades will be used to demonstarte
proficiency in an area. Synergy transfers the grade to a point system set as stated above.
Grades will be posted a minimum of every two weeks. Hard copies may be obtained if you do
not have access to Internet. Please allow extra time for larger assignments such as papers and
essays.
1. Assignments, calendar due dates, requirements, etc. may be found on my website. Smart
board lessons will be uploaded to my website. Check often.
http://www.nclack.k12.or.us/18242019171934250/site/default.asp?
You can also access my website through CHS Teacher Websites.
Academic Honesty
Cheating and plagiarism, on any level, are inexcusable and will not be tolerated; nothing is more
destructive of the climate of trust and mutual respect on which the class depends. Teachers who
write college recommendation letters are obliged to mention any experience of dishonesty. All
assignments should be done on a strictly individual basis unless they are clearly identified as
group projects. Studying together before a test is encouraged. Learning to use and cite sources is
an important part of the class, but a simple rule is that any use of another person’s ideas must be
credited, if you are unsure, ask.
If a student uses someone else’s thoughts or words and attempts to pass them off as his or her
own, s/he is plagiarizing. This includes “changing the words around”, helping someone cheat, or
even stating someone else’s ideas in one’s own words. Students caught cheating or
plagiarizing will face a range of consequences as listed in the student
handbook. The academic consequence for cheating may include a reduced grade or a zero for the
assignment and a mandatory redo of the assignment in question.
Communication
Students and parents are encouraged to contact me with any questions or concerns throughout the
year. I am willing to help and can do so best when issues are addressed early on. Be your own
self-advocate and keep me informed! My website is a great way to stay informed about
assignments and due dates.
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Internet Requirements:
While not all students have home access to a computer and the Internet, access is readily
available through the school library, and will be a requirement for students. Word processing is a
required tool and will be required of students during the school year. Some papers will require
word processing and a cover sheet from PaperRater.com (a free on-line grammar, spelling, and
plagiarism check site). All sophomores are now required to take a Study Hall class where
computers are available.
NOTE: DO NOT EMAIL PAPERS DIRECTLY TO ME. HARD COPIES ARE
REQUIRED. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that papers are turned in on
time. I will not accept or print a paper for a student from my email.
Please keep all above pages, but detach the last one and return it to your teacher with
signatures.
PLEASE RETURN THIS PAGE TO YOUR TEACHER
I have read and understand the policies and grading information for Accelerated
Sophomore English and I will abide by Mrs. Wagner’s classroom rules and expectations:
Student Name (print)____________________________ English Class Period:
Student Signature: ___________________________________
_________
Date __________
Parent Name (print): ________________________________
Parent signature: __________________________________________ Date _________
At home, my student DOES ________
Internet and computer use.
DOES NOT________ have access to the
Notice: Students and parents have the right to request a substitute for any
piece of literature they find objectionable. Please contact me directly if you
have any questions about the use of a book.
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