Mr. Meredith
Email: ljmeredith@avon-schools.org
Room ALC 144
1731 English 12
English 12 Expectations and Course Outline
Course Description
This is a writing course. You are expected to apply the writing skills you acquire in this class on all
of your writing assignments, from the very short/informal journal response to the formal papers.
General expectations
 If you work hard in this class, you will be successful. If you do not, then you will not be
successful. (Success = Effort, plain and simple)
 The only way to become a better writer is to practice writing. The only way to become a better
shooter is to shoot, etc.
 All tardies will be counted and the procedures found in the student handbook will be
followed. If most kids make it on time every class, then so can you. No excuses.
 Cell phone usage: DO NOT use your cell phone while I am talking. There may be time in class
while you are working on your assignment(s) to text, check social media, listen to music, etc. I
WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN USE YOUR CELL PHONE IN CLASS. CELL PHONES ARE
TO BE OUT OF SIGHT UNTIL I ANNOUNCE TO THE CLASS THAT THEY MAY BE IN USE. This is
a huge pet peeve of mine- stay off your phone until notified by me!
 Do not ask me if you can go to the bathroom. Please take care of your needs between passing
periods because it is important that you do not miss any class time. Do not ask me before
class begins, “Do I have time to go to the bathroom?” The answer is, “I have no idea.” If you are
tardy, see above.
 Sleeping = a detention laid on your table, which you will find when you wake up.
 Use personal electronic devices only when instructed by me. Don’t get your electronic
devices out. No headphones needed. Don’t automatically get out your laptops, you will not
need them to start each class period. I cannot stand when students come into the classroom
get their phones/laptops out and then get an attitude with me when I ask them to put these
items away while I am talking- once again, there will be time for you to take a selfie or show
off your kicks of the day while you are completing your assignment.
 No purses & backpacks are to be on the desks. They go on the floor or on my desk.
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 Plagiarism/copying/cheating will result in a zero for the assignment every time, even the
first time.
 Binders You will need to purchase a 1” English 12 binder to be used only for this class. Not all
assignments will be completed with your laptops; some essays will be typed and others will
be turned in via your hand written journal entries/workbook pages. You will be expected to
write each day you have my class. Please place your Springboard workbook inside your
binder!
 Items needed for this class each day:
o English 12 BINDER (purchased by you)
 INSIDE THE BINDER YOU WILL NEED:
 Springboard Workbook
 Loose Leaf Paper
 4 separations for:
o 1. Vocabulary Words/SAT words
o 2. Notes from Springboard
o 3. Writing Journal
o 4. Unit paperwork (vocab, worksheets, etc.)
o Sharpened pencil
o Laptop (that is charged)
o Good attitude
Laptop and Email Expectations
 Acceptable Use Policy –We will not use laptops every minute of every period; we will still
handwrite journals/some essays. Do not expect to sit at your desk with your laptop open for
the whole period. If I am talking or if we are not using laptops, they are to be closed or
turned around to face me. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.
 Email yourself. If the document is important, email it to yourself. This way, if your computer
blows up or you forget to save it or you have some other reason for losing your document, you
will still have it. I can’t stress how important this is.
 Do not delete your sent mail. This is a “diary” of your year and serves as a secure storage
device for the important emails you have sent.
 Students text. Adults email. You’re now in a grown-up world. Check your email daily, and
use email to communicate with me. If you send me a text-type email, I will tell you to rewrite
your email and I will immediately delete it, without reading it or responding to it. (EVERY
STUDENT HAS AN EMAIL ADDRESS- your email address is your: studentID#@students.avonschools.org)
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Course Grades
Formative Work (The “Pebbles”) – 35% of total grade
Journal entries
In-class assignments
Vocab stuff
FAB 5 Accountability Grade
AOW’s
Springboard workbook stuff
100 points (Fab 5—Accountability Formative Grade)
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-5 tardy
-5 after 5 absences
-5 phone
-5 computer
-5 school rules (teacher’s discretion)
+10 bonus if no lost points *extra credit opportunity
Summative Work (The “Rocks”) – 50% of total grade
Embedded
Assessments
Final Exam – 15% of total grade
Mid-Term
Unit test(s)
Class Procedures
 Make up work will be due one day after the date of your return to school. For example,
if you are absent on a Tuesday, you will have until Thursday to complete, and turn in, any
work. MAKE UP WORK IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! You must check the class website to
get assignments OR check the file folder for the corresponding lesson/day. (it will be
labeled 1-60) This will be new for you; EVERY assignment will be online or in your
Springboard workbook/ENG-12 binder.
 Articles of the Week (AOW’s) Each week we will have an article of the week
that will need to be highlighted and annotated for 30 possible formative
points.
 Late Work:
o Embedded Assessments will be docked one complete letter grade for each day
that they are late. “Procrastination is the assassination of success”
o AoW’s are not accepted LATE.
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Grading Scale:
A
100-93
A-
92-90
B+
89-87
B
86-83
B-
82-80
C+
79-77
C
76-73
C-
72-70
D+
69-67
D
66-63
D-
62-60
F
59 and below
Student Name: _________________________________________
Class Period: ______
I will do my personal best to become the best writer I can possibly be to prepare myself
for a career, college, or citizenship. I understand Mr. Meredith’s cell phone/laptop
policy and give him the right to take my cell phone/laptop for the remainder of the
period if I don’t follow the rules. (you will pick up your phone/laptop when the bell
rings) I understand I must pass ENG-12 in order to graduate with my peers. I will bring
my laptop (charged) and ENG-12 binder each day to class.
Student signature X __________________________________________________________________________
“Effort is the Equalizer”
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Don’t let this class be the reason you do not graduate with your peers! 3 C’s that kill success:
careless, cool, comfortable
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