English 12 Syllabus
Mr. Kimble
Room 203
King WIlliam High School
Email: mkimble@kwcps.k12.va.us
Course Objective:
The 12th grade student will use organizational skills and both verbal and nonverbal presentation
skills to plan and deliver an effective oral presentation, choosing language and tone appropriate to
audience and purpose.
Students will use technology and understanding of media to create, organize, and display knowledge
in ways others can access, view, and use. The student will expand general and specialized vocabulary
through speaking, reading, listening, and viewing.
The student will analyze British literature and literature of other cultures, recognizing major literary
forms and their elements. Using non-fiction texts, students will analyze and synthesize information to
solve problems.
Writing will include the production of informational, expository, and persuasive/argumentative
papers, logically organized and demonstrating knowledgeable judgments and effective conclusions.
The student will also produce a well-documented major research project, by locating, evaluating,
synthesizing, and documenting information following ethical and legal guidelines.
The student will demonstrate advanced knowledge of grammatical conventions through writing,
editing, and speaking.
Textbook::
Holt-McDougal LIterature (English 12) Textbook
Writing with Power (Grammar/Writing Textbook)
*Other texts may be provided throughout the course of the semester.
Materials:
Pen/Pencil
Notebook
Three-Ring Binder
Classroom Folder (these will be provided for you)
*Everyone is expected to bring their materials with them to class every day. If you are not prepared,
it will negatively affect your weekly participation grade.
Grades
Grades will be calculated every four weeks for progress reports with report cards being calculated
and distributed at the end of each nine weeks. Grades can also be accessed daily on PowerSchool
which is updated each Monday by 5 PM.
Grade percentages:
Tests:
40%
Essays:
30%
Quizzes:
20%
Homework/classwork: 10%
*It is your responsibility to keep track of your grades. If you have a question concerning your grade
at any time, you must make an appointment with me after class, during lunch or before school.
**Participation is counted as a portion of your classwork grade. You will be given a participation
rubric weekly, which will assess your participation, preparation, attendance, and behavior in the
classroom.
Grading Scale
Grades are calculated in percentages and then placed on an A to F scale for the report cards. The
following scale is used in accordance with King William High School policy:
A 93%-100%
B 85%-92%
C 77%-84%
D 70%-76%
F 0%-69%
Instructional Plan
Literature Study: ongoing throughout the year
Guided, Independent, and Group Reading
Various Post-Reading Activities
Classroom Discussions on literature studied in class.
Grammar: ongoing throughout the year
Break-out lessons on errors found in essays
Various grammar-based classroom games.
Various grammar worksheets (usually completed for homework)
Writing: ongoing throughout the year
Practice in various types of writing, including reflective, persuasive, expository, and
business/professional writing.
Students will practice these types of writing to prepare them for both college and the
professional world.
Writing samples that will be completed in this class include daily journals, essays, research
papers, and professional writing.
Students will also practice analytical writing and reflection via a class discussion board.
Vocabulary Development: ongoing throughout the year
You will keep a vocabulary log in your binder, which you will fill out over the course
of the semester.
Classroom Procedures:
Every day, you are expected to come into class and immediately go to your desk and begin the quick
start. A folder will be provided on your desk at the beginning of the class every day that will include
your quick start log. You will write your quick start on this sheet of paper when you walk into class.
If you are not on task, you may receive a zero on that daily quick start. Also in your folder, you will
have a vocabulary log, where you are expected to write the definition of vocabulary words discussed
in class. You will also take additional notes in your notebook that you bring to class.
During class, you may have a writing assignment to complete. You will be given a worksheet that
will help you structure and outline this assignment. Other class work assignments include reading
comprehension worksheets, grammar exercises, vocabulary exercises, and other various
projects or activities planned by the instructor. You will complete any written work and put them
in your individual folder.
At the end of the class, you will complete an exit ticket. Like the quick start, a log will be included
in your folder where you will complete your exit ticket.
At the end of the week, the teacher will review each student’s folder and will grade the work they
completed, in addition to filling out a participation rubric, which grades the student’s participation in
class. This includes attending class on time, participating in class discussion, demonstrating
positive behavior, being prepared for every class, and staying alert during the classroom
discussion. You will be graded on this every week. A sample rubric has been provided in your
folder.
Course Plan
Quarter 1: September 2-November 3
 Literature Study: Anglo-Saxon Period (Beowulf, Lyric Poems)
 Writing: Paragraph and Essay Writing
 Vocabulary Development
 Grammar Practice
Quarter 2: November 5-January 23
 Literature Study: Middle Ages Literature
 Writing: Research Paper
 Vocabulary Development
 Grammar Practice
Quarter 3: January 27-March 26
 Literature Study: The Renaissance/Elizabethan Literature
 Writing: Research Paper
 Vocabulary Development
 Grammar Practice
Quarter 4: March 27-June 11
 Literature Study: Romantic and Victorian Age, Novel Unit
 Writing: College/Professional Writing
 Vocabulary Development
 Grammar Practice
**The teacher reserves the right to make changes in the interest of maximizing student
achievement.**
Student Expectations:
1. Respect: this is the most important rule in order to have a positive classroom environment. In order
for everyone to learn and have a positive experience in this classroom, showing respect to everyone
in the classroom is vital to our success for the year. This includes:

Raising your hand when you want to speak.

Remaining in your seat.

Listening to others and being respectful of their opinions and viewpoints.

Treating others the way you want to be treated.

Respecting the classroom environment, which also means cleaning up any trash left behind,
not defacing or stealing school property, and keeping cell phones or any other electronic
devices silent and put away.
2. Students will not commit an integrity violation by cheating or plagiarizing. Students who commit
an integrity violation (including, but not limited to copying homework, cheating on quizzes or tests,
plagiarizing essays or reports) will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Honor Code for
King William High School. The MLA Handbook defines plagiarism as repeating:
as your own someone else’s sentences, more or less verbatim […] other forms of
plagiarism include repeating someone else’s particularly apt phrase without appropriate
acknowledgement, paraphrasing another person’s argument as your own, and presenting
another’s line of thinking […] as though it were your own.
3. Be an Active Participant: There will be many class discussions on the readings; come to class
prepared with several questions or comments, and be prepared to share your ideas and viewpoints
with the class. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and contribute; there are no “stupid” questions or
“wrong” answers. This also means staying attentive and listening to the teachings and your
fellow peers during class.
4. Be sure to turn in your work on time. Failure to do so will result in the grade being lowered
depending on how late the assignment is.
5. If a student misses class with an excused absence, the assignments that were due must be turned in
on the day the student returns to class. For multiple missed days, it is the student’s responsibility to
arrange a time with the teacher to make up missed assignments. Please
remember that work must be made up within the time outlined in the student agenda. All
assignments not made up after the allotted time will receive zeroes.
**Note: Unexcused /unverified absences forfeit the student’s chance to make up missed work.
6. Students are expected to be in class on time and will be dismissed by the teacher. No one is to be
out of his/her seat at the door prior to the end of class.
7. Food and drinks (except water) are not allowed in the classroom. Excessive reminders will result
in after-school detention for the offending student.
8. The dress code policy will be enforced in this classroom. Also, I tend to keep my room cool, so if
you are cold-natured, bring a sweater or jacket.
9. Bathroom Passes: When students need to use the bathroom, they will fill out a pass on the back
of their agenda. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, excessive bathroom use will be
monitored by the teacher, and this privilege can be limited or taken away.
10. Be prepared for class each day. This means having your binder, textbook, paper, and writing
utensils in class every day. Locker passes will not be given. Periodic book checks will occur and
your preparation will affect your score on the participation rubric. Lack of a textbook will negatively
affect your participation grade. .
11. Bullying will NOT be tolerated.
12. The student should keep this syllabus in the front of their three-ring binder so that he/she can
refer to it often.
Please sign this contract and take home for your parent/guardian to sign. Bring to class by Friday,
September 5, 2014.
We, _________________________ and _________________________, have read and understood
the
(print student name)
course descriptions, rules, and expectations. We will, to the best of our abilities, conduct ourselves in
a
manner of respect, dignity, and in accordance to the rules set forth in this document.
_____________________________
____________________________________
Student Signature
Teacher Signature
____________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature