ENGLISH I - MCGILL
Syllabus (noun, sil-uh-buh s) – a summary outline of a course of study.
I emphasize the word outline here because we may not get to everything on the syllabus, nor will we always do it in the
order it’s listed. However, it’s still a good representation of what we’ll work on in this class.
Class objectives:
1. Understand, reflect, and react to text and personal experience.
2. Practice reading, writing, and public speaking based on principles guided by the curriculum.
3. Research and evaluate literary topics and issues of public/personal concern.
4. Develop critical thinking.
Classroom rules:
1. Come to class on time and prepared.
2. Respect yourself. Respect your classmates.
3. Be responsible for your work, and stay on task.
4. Take pride in the room.
5. Follow instructions the first time.
Mr. McGill, are there any absolute boundaries?
Don’t cheat yourself with short cuts.
Keep a civil tongue. No pejoratives.
Don’t expect me to talk over you. It’s your responsibility to hear the instructions. Then, see Rule #5.
Mr. McGill’s website
Mr. McGill, do you want to see my cell phone out during class?
Short answer: No. Long answer: Noooooooooooooooo. Longer answer: There will be times when I’ll ask you to use your
phone during a lesson. There will also be times when you may use your phone to listen to music. Otherwise, you will need
to surrender your phone at the start of class or ensure that I don’t see it. It’ll be an automatic lunch detention if I do.
Consequences for choosing not to follow the rules:
First offense – warning/conference
Second offense – parental contact
Third offense – detention (Fridays only)
Fourth offense – referral
Three tardies will result in one absence and parental contact.
Starting class:
1. Arrive on time.
2. I will usually have music playing. When it stops, so does the chatter.
3. Turn in your phone.
4. Check the whiteboard for instructions.
5. Start the activity listed. Otherwise, wait for my instruction.
Ending class:
I will excuse you from class, not the bell.
Grades
Tests – 40%
Quizzes – 30%
Classwork – 20%
Homework – 10%
Final grade:
First semester = 37.5%
Second semester = 37.5%
Final exam = 25%
A – 93-100, B – 85-92, C – 77-84,
D – 70-76, F – 69 and below
Makeup work:
Each class will keep a physical work log. I will update my website daily with notes from the log. Makeup work is allowed
within five (5) days of a student’s return to school. Beyond that, it’s a zero. You can make up tests and quizzes before or
after school – never during class. You can make up vocabulary quizzes as many times as you like.
Extra credit:
Do all your work to the best of your ability and there won’t be a need for extra credit. But if you should need it, here’s how
to get it. Extra credit can be turned in for five points on a test or 10 points on a quiz. Extra credit cannot be used on the
final exam. You can earn a maximum of five extra credits per semester.
1. Performance: Pick out a poem or song. I’ll approve it. Perform it at the beginning of class Friday.
2. English in the real world: Spot a typo or grammatical error* and bring it to me. Students can’t use the same errors.
First come, first served.
*Subject to approval
Supplies:
1. 3-ring binder with college-rule paper (no spiral notebooks)
2. Five dividers – Notes, Grammar, Vocabulary, Writing, Everything Else
3. 1 composition notebook
4. Pencils (mechanical preferred)
5. Black/blue pens
6. 1 box of tissues
7. USB flash drive (optional, but strongly recommended)
Labeling your work:
Write the following in the top-right corner of anything you turn into me.
Mr. McGill’s Twitter
Ima Student
English I (1a)
Date
Preparation:
I have more pencils than I know what to do with, and I have absolutely no problem sharing on days when you forget your
own writing utensil. Even better, I only charge one shoe!
Bathroom:
Barring emergencies, I allow one student out at any given time to use the restroom. You will sign in/out on the log and
take the bathroom pass with you. No one else is leaving until the bathroom pass returns.
Sample work:
Bell-ringer writing prompts
Weekly vocabulary – words on Monday, homework by Wednesday, quiz on Friday, test every 4 weeks
Self-selected reading (Fridays)
Grammar practice (Mondays)
Research paper (freshman project)
Tentative course outline:
Unit 1
How to take notes
How to brainstorm
How to read (yes, how to read)
Parts of speech/sentence
Literary terms
MAJOR WORKS WE’LL READ
The Odyssey
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Chocolate War
Romeo and Juliet
Big Fish
Unit 2 – Coming of age: Who are you? What do you face?
Unit 3 – Struggles: How do relationships shape who you become?
Unit 4 – Stuff: How do material things control us?
Unit 5 – Violence: How do violent acts affect those involved?
Unit 6 – Freshman research project
Unit 7 – Death: How do we deal with loss?
Unit 8 – Love: How does love drive us?
Unit 9 – Change: What can you accomplish?
Unit 10 – Poetry
Final thoughts:
English class is all about reading, writing, and speaking. We’re going to do all three often enough that you feel
comfortable with any of them.
Know that I am here for you. I want all of you to succeed, and I will make myself available whenever possible. You can
email me at jason.mcgill@bcsemail.org. I encourage everyone to follow the class Twitter feed @McGill_English and check
my school website regularly at tinyurl.com/crltad3. I am open to any questions, comments, fears, hopes, confessions, and
concerns you may have. Let’s have a great year.