San Marino High School English
Amanda Hernandez 2013-2014
Courses:
English 1-2
English 7-8
(periods 1,2,3)
(periods 4,5)
Contact Information:
School Phone: (626) 299-7020
Office Hours: Tuesday at lunch or by appointment
Critical Technology:
ahernandez@smusd.us – school email
www.sanmarinohs.org – school website, SMHS Composition Handbook, email access
www.edmodo.com- assignments, handouts, calendars, student communication
www.turnitin.com- writing submissions
Course Expectations
These policies are in addition to those set forth in the TITAN GUIDE.
The TITAN GUIDE is available online at www.sanmarinohs.org under the “STUDENT”
tab.
Class Work
1. All class work must be completed in pen, on clean-edged binder paper, with proper
MLA headings.
2. Work that does not meet this standard will be returned for corrections. Points may
be deducted if incomplete/no name/sub-standard work becomes habitual.
3. Do Nows & Exit Slips may be done on ½ sheets, in any color pen, and using a
casual tone.
4. Do Nows must be accompanied by date. Do Nows without a date will not be
scored.
5. Use Exit Slips as a way to ask last minute questions about the topic, or clarify
what we discussed in class (I do read them!)
MLA HEADING- In Upper LEFT hand corner:
Your Full Name
Hernandez
Course, Period
Day Month Year
Last Name Page #
Title of Assignment
Homework
Homework consists of reading, working on formal essays, long- term projects,
studying vocabulary, or finishing class work. You will always have something on
which to work. In many cases, I will have you watch a short video link, read
supplemental online articles, listen to a podcast, respond to an online discussion
question, or submit a written response online.
Late Work
1. I do not accept late work due to forgetfulness, laziness, or technology issues.
2. If you are absent (excused), you have the number of days you were absent to make
up the work.
3. It is your responsibility to obtain and complete make up work.
4. Check the website, contact study partner, email teacher, attend office hours
5. If absent during a test, you are responsible for making an appointment to make up
the test within the same time of absence.
A. For example, if you are absent on a Tuesday (the day of the test), then you
are expected to take the test on Wednesday upon your return.
7. Turn in absent work to the box the day it is due. Write “ABSENT” at the top,
along with the dates you were absent.
8. If you suspect technology issues may prevent you from turning in work, email me
the assignment. This is your insurance. You then have 24 hours to print the
assignment and turn it in. At the top write “EMAIL.” I cannot print the assignment
for you.
Essays
1. Formal Essays- Typed in MLA format, size 12, double-spaced, Times New Roman
Font, 1” margins (standard), parenthetical citations, and a works cited if other
sources were used. Cover page is optional. All formal essays will be submitted to
www.turnitin.com in addition to providing a hard copy.
2. In Class Essays- (if not on Alpha Smarts) Write in dark ink, double space, clean
edge binder paper, skip lines, do NOT write on the back of each page.
3. Essays will be graded on rubrics provided.
4. General guidelines: MLA heading, creative title, no contractions, revise dead words,
avoid personal pronouns, academic tone, sophisticated language, analysis>summary,
write in active literary present, use the rubric and prompt as your guide.
San Marino High School English
Amanda Hernandez 2013-2014
5. Essays are worth a significant portion of student grades. They will be weighted
gradually through the year as students move from proficiency to mastery.
Participation/Life Skills
1. Each semester you will be given 100 participation/life skills points.
2. These points will NOT be included in your academic grade; they are included in
your citizenship grade.
3. Points will be deducted for tardies, outbursts, inappropriate comments, lack of
materials, poor attitude, sleeping, restroom passes, or locker adventures. Points will
be given/deducted at my discretion based on your participation in my class.
A. If you must leave for an emergency situation (rest room), you must leave
your phone on my desk.
4. You may earn participation points for responding in class, helping your peers, and
being a model citizen.
5. Use of cell phone (or other technology device) will result in an automatic drop to
70/100 in participation. A second incidence of inappropriate technology use will drop
citizenship grade to 60/100. The drop in citizenship grade is in addition to the
guidelines and consequences set forth in the Titan Guide.
Grades
1. Citizenship grades are based on tardies & participation/life skills points.
2. The first two tardies will not change your grade; however, each subsequent tardy
will lower your grade by one full letter grade.
3. I do not allow students to make-up tardies. The tardy policy in my classroom is set
forth in the Titan Guide as San Marino High School policy.
4. Academic grades are given based on point values. I do not round grades, and grades
will not be negotiated. I generally do not give extra credit: students should do the
work assigned.
A 100-90%, B 89-80%, C 79-70%, D 69-60%, F below 59%
SSR: Sustained Silent Reading
At the beginning of fourth period every day, students are expected to participate in
school wide SSR. Students will be held accountable for the reading in an essay
response on the quarter- final. I encourage students to read texts that are college
prep/non-fiction and thematically relate to the unit for each quarter.
Finals
Finals will be both essay response and multiple-choice. Finals are given at the end of
each quarter. Each final will test students’ understanding of the literature,
supplemental materials, grammar, vocabulary, writing strategies, and California
State English Language Arts Standards. The Common Core Standards will be a
secondary guide as educators make the transition. Students will have online
assessments similar to Smarter Balanced Test; however, they will be “low stakes” and
intended for practice.
Technology
Technology is a critical part of educating 21st century students. As technology
becomes an integral part of communication in our society, it is my responsibility to
integrate appropriate technology into my instruction. I welcome student emails.
Please include a relevant subject, an appropriate heading, an academically specific
body, and a signature. I encourage students to establish an academic email address;
younger students may consider a family email address for school use. Please write
considerate and thoughtful emails.
Class Rules
1. Be polite & kind (smile).
2.
Begin the DO NOW at (or before) the bell.
3.
Keep your body in your own space.
4.
Please do not use lotions or sprays that emit a strong scent.
5.
If I see an electronic device out, I will take it.
a. If you think it may be “on”- just raise your hand and communicate with
me that you are taking your electronic device out to turn it off.
6. You may drink appropriate beverages, but you may NOT eat food or chew gum
in class.
a. If you leave your beverage container behind, I will deduct 10
participation points.
b. If you are caught eating or chewing gum, you will be required to clean
one desk at snack, lunch, or afterschool that day. Otherwise, I will deduct 20
participation points.
7.
Use appropriate [PG] language
a. Do not use words that are hurtful to people. Think about the words you
choose and the effect they will have on others.
b. If you use inappropriate and/or hurtful language, I will deduct 10
participation points. We may also need to have a conference depending on the
San Marino High School English
Amanda Hernandez 2013-2014
circumstances.
8. Communicate with me in advance about absences, anticipated issues, or course
concerns.
9.
“I don’t know” is not an acceptable answer. Ever.
10. If you finish an assignment early, you may read, study vocabulary, work on an
essay or long- term project for MY CLASS ONLY. Off task work will result in
deduction of 5-10 participation points.
Strategies for Success
1. Follow directions carefully- read the rubrics and assignment sheets!
2.
Listen and then ask questions.
3. Do reading homework early in the evening- sit at a table, have minimal
distractions, and read actively/annotate the text.
4.
Be accountable for your actions and choices.
5.
Attend office hours.
6.
Actively participate in class discussions and activities.
7.
Engage in teacher-student-parent communication.
8.
Bring your “frame of reference” to your reading, writing, and thinking.
9.
Utilize resources- especially the websites that will help you!
10. Your EFFORT is directly correlated with Your GRADE.
Suggested Materials
 Pens: blue or black ink
 Sticky notes/Post-its
 Dry erase pen (fine tip)
 Clean-edge college ruled paper
 Three ring binder with tabs:
Do Nows/Exit Slips, Literature, Vocabulary, Writing, Misc. Handouts
 Markers/Highlighters/Coloring tools
Purchasing Books
From past experience, the English Department has seen many advantages to students
owning their own textbooks. This ownership has enabled students to annotate their
novels, stories, and non-fiction pieces of study- an invaluable skill for college-level
work. Such margin notes prove exceedingly helpful in preparing for discussions and
assessments, ranging from reading tests and analytical essays.
Even though the purchase of these books is not required, we highly recommend that
students obtain their own copies to read and annotate. While in the past the English
Department has provided the service of ordering and hand delivering the texts to
students, we are unable to continue this service for all books due to new accounting
procedures. We will continue to collect donations for workbooks from students, but
with other literary texts, we will only provide the information necessary for students
to acquire their own copies. Again, we cannot emphasize enough how beneficial it is
for students to be able to take notes directly in their own texts when possible, and we
appreciate your support in this matter.
The SMHS English Department
General Course Syllabi
English 1-2: Literature Survey & Writing Foundations
Quarter 1:
Short Stories from McDougal Littell Interactive Reader
0618007873
Quarter 2:
The Odyssey by Homer, published by Hackett
9780872204843
Quarter 3:
Romeo & Juliet by Shakespeare, published by Cliffs Complete
9780764585746
Quarter 4:
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, published by Hachette Bookgroup
9780446310789
All Year:
Grammar, Prentice Hall
0133617254
English 7-8: British Literature
Quarter 1: Medieval through Renaissance
Macbeth
included in The Language of Literature anthology (class set)
Quarter 2: Restoration through Romanticism
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, published by Prestwick
Quarter 3: Victorians through Modernism
9781580495943
San Marino High School English
Amanda Hernandez 2013-2014
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, published by Harper Collins 9730060850524
Quarter 4: Contemporary
1984 by George Orwell, published by Signet
451524934
All Year:
Grammar, Prentice Hall
0133616959
A Personal Note
My philosophy on education is a student-centered approach. I strive to keep students
actively engaged in content that relates to their interests as well as to their educational
development. I establish rules early on to create a safe space for learning and the
exploration of ideas. Students in my classroom: ask questions, make mistakes, take risks,
self-advocate, support peers, balance work & play, laugh loudly, dance often, challenge the
norm, and think critically. I am passionate about teaching & learning; consequently, my
goal is to empower students to embrace their own passion.
Honor Code
Cheating, as defined in your Titan Guide, may be considered as anything that gives a
student an unfair advantage over other students, including, but not limited to:
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asking a classmate for specific information regarding a test or quiz
giving a classmate specific information regarding a test or quiz
using cheat sheets, passing notes, or blatant peeking at test answers
copying the work of other students or giving your work to another to copy
(this includes homework)
using notes in exams when a test/quiz is a “closed book” quiz
plagiarizing (see definition below)
sharing your work with others (unless the assignment is specifically instructed
to be a “partner” assignment)
lying to conceal your guilt
Plagiarism, according to A Writer’s Reference (Hacker) can be defined in three
different ways: (1) “failing to cite quotations and borrowed ideas, (2) failing to
enclose borrowed language in quotation marks, and (3) failing to put summaries
and paraphrases in your own words” (83). Any time you use ideas of another person
and fail to give that person credit, your are plagiarizing; this includes, of course,
“borrowing” the ideas of your friends and taking credit for them as your own.
The consequences for these infractions are a zero on the assignment and a lowering
of the citizenship grade. Additionally, the Assistant Principal may be consulted for
possible administrative action, and an incident report will be placed in your file.
If a student is aware of another student cheating, the student will exercise his/her
sound judgment and divulge said information to the appropriate authorities.
My signature indicates that I have read, understand, and agree to the following
policies set forth in the Course Expectations & Syllabus provided by Amanda
Hernandez for English at San Marino High School:
Date___________________
Critical Technology
Parent ______________
Student____________
Course Expectations
Parent ______________
Student____________
Class Work
Parent ______________
Student____________
Homework
Parent ______________
Student____________
Late Work
Parent ______________
Student____________
Essays
Parent ______________
Student____________
Participation/Life Skills
Parent ______________
Student____________
Grades
Parent ______________
Student____________
SSR
Parent ______________
Student____________
Finals
Parent ______________
Student____________
Class Rules
Parent ______________
Student____________
Strategies for Success
Parent ______________
Student____________
Suggested Materials
Parent ______________
Student____________
Purchasing Books
Parent ______________
Student____________
General Course Syllabi
Parent ______________
Student____________
Honor Code
Parent ______________
Student____________
Please circle your response to the following questions and PARENT initial in the space
provided:
Does student have access to a computer at home? Yes
Does student have access to a printer at home? Yes
Does student have reliable internet access?
Yes
No
No
No
_____
_____
_____
STUDENT: Please copy the following statement in your own handwriting and sign the
bottom of the page.
I promise to do my own work at all times; I know how plagiarism is defined. I will
attend class on time, and I accept the consequences of tardiness as a decline in my
citizenship grade. I understand that grades are not negotiated, rounded, or subjective.
I will demonstrate the character of my best self not only in English class, but also
anywhere on the SMHS campus. This includes my language and actions toward
others.
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San Marino High School English
Amanda Hernandez 2013-2014
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