Mission Statement
Students engage in challenging tasks in which they draw upon personal strengths and diverse experiences, create meaningful connections,
and develop innovative problem-solving skills. With the confidence and character gained from these experiences, students pursue their
individual passions and participate responsibly and effectively in their communities.
Course Name:
Freshman Honors English
Mr. Carl Hauck
Office Email: chauck@d127.org
Office Location: English Office (2200)
Office Phone Number: 847-986-3300
ext. 5650
Office Hours: 4th hour (10:15 – 11:05 a.m.) & 7th hour (1:00 – 1:50 p.m.); 8th hour in ARC (1:55 – 2:45 p.m.);
before/after school by appointment
Materials Needed:
3-ring binder with 4 dividers (for English only)
Loose-leaf paper or spiral notebook (for class notes)
Writing utensils (pens, pencils, and highlighters)
GCHS Academic Planner (provided free)
Flash/jump drive (strongly recommended)
Textbooks:
Freshman Honors English does not require the use of a textbook. With the exception of the
summer reading works and independent novels, students must purchase all works found on the
list below from the GCHS bookstore:
This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff or Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (summer reading)
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop, Level E (will also be used in Sophomore Honors English)
Independent novels
Various short stories, poetry, and supplemental readings, provided by the teacher
Course Description:
This two-semester, one-credit course is the first of the honors sections, and its initial purpose is the same as
Freshman English: to give students an overall view of composition skills and an introduction to literary
genres. The works studied at the honors level require more in-depth study than is usual in the regular
sections.
Writing: The focus of freshman year is mastering the 5-paragraph analytical essay format. Students will be
expected to engage in the writing process by conferencing with peers and the teacher, producing numerous
drafts of their essays, and tracking areas of growth and continued development. Students will also use
narrative writing to begin developing their own voice.
Grammar: The goal of the freshman grammar curriculum is to improve students’ writing abilities. We
will work on parts of speech, punctuation, and sentence variety and structure, as well as other grammatical
issues.
Vocabulary: Students will use the Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop, Level E for vocabulary
development. Students will be required to purchase this text from the GCHS Bookstore.
Research: The major research unit comes at the end of 1st semester, culminating in a paper and
presentation. However, students will be using research for various assignments throughout the year, with an
emphasis on evaluating resource materials and for effectively organizing the researched material.
Speech: This class will focus on developing skills for effective participation in small and large group
discussions specifically through Socratic Seminars, independent novel book groups, and organized class
presentations, as well as emphasizing public speaking through individual speeches.
Grading Practices:
These are the weighted categories for Freshman Honors English. Assignments will affect your overall grade
differently based on the category to which they belong. The examples of assignments below each category are
not all-inclusive, but meant to give you an idea of the types of assignments you can expect this year:
Essays – 30 %
Essays (literary analysis, narrative, research)
Formal writing (i.e. dialectical journals, textually supported responses, etc.)
Tests, Projects, & Presentations – 25%
Objective unit exams
Socratic Seminars
Formal presentations/speeches
Homework, Classwork, & Quizzes – 20%
Reading check quizzes
Informal writing (i.e. journals, personal responses to literature)
In-class assignments (written or created)
Participation – 5%
In-class activities (informally presented or discussed)
Final Exam – 20% (To be determined for each semester)