Course Syllabus: Advanced English I
Mrs. Guzman Rm. 262
(951)677-0568 ext.6262
Email: dguzman@murrieta.k12.ca.us
Course Description
Advanced English I meets the UC/CSU and district graduation requirements for English. It is a one-year
course primarily for freshman who have demonstrated excellent academic competence and are on the
Advanced Placement tract for high school. “Conceptually, Pre-AP is based on the following two important
premises. The first is the expectation that all students can perform at rigorous academic levels. [. . . ] [The
second being that teachers] can prepare every student for higher intellectual engagement by starting the
development of skills and acquisition as early as possible” (The AP vertical teams guide for English xiii).
This Pre-AP course focuses on composition and literature. Students will demonstrate advanced reading,
writing, speaking, and listening skills using an extensive variety of classical and contemporary essays, short
stories, poems, dramas, and novels. Students will engage in the analysis of core and extended reading.
Students will be expected to understand rhetorical structures, devices, and techniques employed by authors.
Students will interact with the literature and the writing on a personal level by using collaborative
techniques, visual and written interpretations, and oral presentations.
Writing will be taught at an advanced level focusing on writing skills and strategies for the college-bound
student. Students will utilize the writing process to compose formal and informal essays, research projects,
and timed-essays.
Assessment for the advanced course will include performance-based assessment, conventional assessment,
portfolios, and published products.
Required and supplemental texts







Literature: The Reader's Choice : Glencoe
Composition: Grammar and Composition Handbook: Glencoe
Daily Oral Language, Level 9: McDougal, Littell & Company
Odyssey: Glencoe
Lord of the Flies: A Penguin Group Publication
To Kill a Mockingbird: Warner Books
Independently selected novels
English Content Standards
Reading
1.0 Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development
2.0 Reading Comprehension (focus on informational materials)
3.0 Literary response and analysis
Writing
1.0 Writing strategies
2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and their characteristics)
Written and Oral English Language Conventions
1.0 Written and Oral English Language Conventions
Listening and Speaking
1.0 Listening and Speaking Strategies
2.0 Speaking applications (Genres and their characteristics)
Supplies/Format Requirements
Students must bring their three-ring notebooks and any required texts to class daily, along with an
adequate paper supply and a pen (blue or black ink). Failure to do so will adversely affect the
student¹s class participation/preparation grade. All assignments must be completed in blue or
black ink, or typed, following formatting requirements given for the particular assignment.
Misformatted assignments are returned to the student to be redone, and the late penalty will
apply. The notebook must be organized with dividers into the following sections:
 Warm ups
 Cornell Notes (literary terminology)
 Composition
 Vocabulary
 Literature
 Returned Assignments (writing portfolio will be kept in class)
Grading:
Warm-ups/Participation = 15%
Projects/ Class Assignments/ Homework = 25%
Formative and Summative Assessments (excluding writing) = 25%
Composition = 25%
Final assessments = 10%
**Because errors can occur in record keeping, keep all assignments that are graded and given back
to you. You are responsible for all work and I will not change an assignment grade unless you give
me the graded assignment.
Attendance/Promptness: Because each class begins with a warm up activity, students are
expected to be in their seats prior to the bell, and to begin the warm up immediately. In addition
to the school¹s policies regarding tardies, students who are late, and who do no have an excused
note, will lose 5 points from their warm up grade. Excused absences must be cleared with a
readmit within 2 class meetings of the student¹s return to class. Students who have unexcused
absences lose all points for that day’s activities, including tests. Students who fail to clear an
absence by bringing a readmit on time also lose the points until the absence is cleared by the
student with the teacher, at which time they will be penalized half the points they would
otherwise have earned for failing to have a readmit. If your parents are calling in your excuse for
an absence, you will still need to pick up a readmit slip to clear the absence.
Make up work: I will allow one late assignment per semester. It must be turned in within one
class meeting of the due date for half the points, which would have been earned if the assignment
had been completed on time. No late work is accepted beyond that time. This penalty will apply
regardless of the reason the assignment is late (e.g. computer malfunction), so plan accordingly
and do not get behind on your work. If you¹ve had an excused absence, you must submit make
up work within one day of your return from the absence to avoid the late penalty unless prior
arrangements are made with the teacher. SUCH SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE
MADE OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME!!! Make up work will not be accepted following unexcused
absences or truancies. Tests and quizzes may be made up only following an excused absence,
and must be completed during lunch or before school within two days of the return from the
absence unless prior arrangements are made with the teacher.
Hall Passes: Each student is allowed 2 hall passes per semester. Students who do not use their
passes earn 10 bonus points each toward their final progress report grade. No other hall passes
will be issued.
Citizenship: The moment students walk into the classroom, the highest standards for good
citizenship are expected of them. These standards can best be summed up with one word:
respect. Students should exhibit respect for the teacher, their fellow students, the work place,
and, most importantly, themselves in all they do and say in this classroom. While it entails a
great deal, it primarily means that you attempt to do the right thing at all times, especially by
respecting the right of the teacher to do the best possible job teaching you, and the right of other
students to learn in the best possible environment. Additionally, students must follow the specific
rules/consequences and procedures as outlined below, and on posters in the classroom.
General Expectations:
1. Come to class prepared to learn.
2. Use time wisely.
3. Follow directions promptly and politely.
4. Clean up after yourself.
5. Respect others and their thoughts, feelings, and property.
6. Follow all school wide policies and regulations.
For students who choose to violate the above expectations, one or more the following
consequences will be applied at the teacher¹s discretion, and not necessarily in this order:
1. Warning.
2. Meeting with teacher during student¹s free time for:
 conference
 written plan/apology
 other remedy
3. Report to parents.
4. Detention assignment.
5. Administrative referral.
Please sign and return the bottom portion of this syllabus, and keep the information for your
records.
I have read and understand the components of Advanced English I and am aware of your contact
information.
Student’s Name: __________________________________________________Class Period:____
Guardian Name: ________________________________________________________________
Guardian Signature: _______________________________________________Date: __________
Email address: _______________________________________ Phone number: ______________
My student has access to a working printer:
My student does not have access to a working printer: