English 2H
White Plains High School
2014-2015
“Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.”
- Jawaharlal Nehru
In light of the powerful words spoken by Nehru, it is important to understand that you are multi-voiced and
multicultural. Your culture shapes your perception of the world as individuals and as members of different
groups. Remember, the mark of an educated person is the ability to view the world with an open mind.
SpringBoard Course Description
The core curriculum of tenth-grade honors English is a program called SpringBoard, a course
developed to prepare students with the skills and knowledge for success in college and the 21st
century. Level five is organized into four units centered on the theme of Culture and Identity. We
will also study challenging texts including The Color of Water by James McBride, Tuesdays with
Morrie by Mitch Albom, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel
Keyes, Night by Elie Wiesel, Antigone, by Sophocles, and Macbeth, by William Shakespeare. In
addition, we will study grammar and writing techniques, and analyze short stories, poetry, and
media such as film, art, music, and photography. Each unit contains two major assessments and a
wide-range of reading and writing activities designed to prepare students for advanced level high
school courses.
Essential Questions We Will Explore This Year
 How can cultural experiences influence our understanding of the world?
 What is the role or purpose of voice in our writing and beyond?
 How do outside influences affect our sense of identity?
 How can an author use a work of fiction to make a statement about culture?
 What is the nature of justice?
 How do cultural differences create conflicts in our environment?
General Expectations
As a student, you are expected to:
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Attend class every day and be on time.
Be prepared with all appropriate classroom materials (See supply list).
Respect the people, equipment, and furnishings of our classroom.
Participate in all class activities.
Grading
30% Homework
20% Class Participation & Class Work (See ‘Classroom Community Rubric’)
50% tests, quizzes, projects, presentations and performances. Tests and Projects are generally
worth two to three times what quizzes are worth.
Supply List
For this class, you will need the following supplies:
1. A three-ring binder with loose-leaf paper divided into sections according to your teacher’s
specific instructions (separate handout). This binder must be for this class ONLY,
2. Pens, Pencils, and Highlighters
Formal Writing Assignments
All formal writing assignments submitted for this class are to be typed (in twelve-point font),
double-spaced, numbered, and stapled with no messy edges before they are handed in. Students
should always make copies for their records. These guidelines apply to rough drafts as well as
final drafts.
 Use MLA format, the Times New Roman font and standard one-inch margins.
 Correct spelling and punctuation are expected as a minimum.
 A header with student’s last name and page number listed on each page (MLA).
 Late work is penalized. In addition, after five days, a formal writing assignment will not be
accepted.
 Extensions may be granted in extenuating circumstances. However, extensions must be
requested prior to the paper’s due date.
Student Responsibility
Part of being a high school student means becoming more responsible for your own education.
This means if you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate or your teacher for
any missed assignments. In addition, if you are having an academic or personal difficulty and
need to meet with your teachers, you should contact them to arrange an appointment time. You
should own and use your planner/assignment book every day, turn in assignments on time, and
take care of your class materials. You will be given at least a week’s lead time for out-of-class
writing assignments and other major assignments, so plan accordingly. Important: Always have
an extra hard copy of your paper in your hands. We try to be very careful about keeping track
of things, but occasionally something gets misplaced. Your own hard copy is your insurance; we
will not take responsibility for your failure to insure yourself.
Plagiarism/ Cheating
You begin the year with our complete trust. Please do not take that trust away by cheating or
being dishonest in any way. We always encourage cooperative learning, and you’re always free
to get together with other students to brainstorm, discuss assignments, and study for exams.
However, no form of plagiarism or cheating is acceptable. We will review and abide by the
school’s plagiarism and academic honesty policies.
Our wish for you…
We are excited and proud to return for another year at White Plains High School. Please
remember, we are here to help you improve and grow as readers, writers, and thinkers. Our
expectations for you are high, but we will support you as you reach towards those expectations.
We value you each as an important member of this class, and we look forward to a productive
and satisfying year.
The 10th grade honors teachers 
Additional Frequently Asked Questions in Mrs. DeMella’s English 2H Class
Please read them over. Then keep this sheet handy (in Course Guidelines) so that you can
refer to it should a question arise.
What do I do when I first enter the classroom?
First of all, you are expected to enter on time! Lateness will affect your class participation grade, and
excessive lateness will result in a detention. Enter quietly and report to your assigned seat. Take out
your required materials (including homework), and copy the homework. Read the
chalkboard/whiteboard for instructions. There may be a brief assignment or a quiz to complete.
Where should I sit?
You will be given a seating assignment in the first two weeks of school. Please respect
this assignment even if I am absent. Seat assignments may be changed mid-year.
Am I permitted to eat or drink in the classroom?
Please do not eat, drink (except water), or chew gum in class. Exception = first period.
What is the electronics policy?
Your phone and I-Pod must be OUT OF SIGHT. Phones must be turned OFF or on
vibrate. Headphones/ear buds may not be worn in class.
What should I do if I need to use the restroom?
You should use the restroom between classes. However, if you should have an emergency, raise your
hand and ask me for permission to take the pass. If permission is given, you must sign out (name and
time) and back in upon your return. If a pattern develops, you may lose bathroom privileges. If you
do leave the room, remember that you are responsible for whatever you may have missed.
How and when do I turn in my work?
Please see the handout on my homework policies
What do I do if I miss class due to an excused absence?
It is your responsibility to get the notes/assignments you missed; call a friend or email me at:
mirandademella@wpcsd.k12.ny.us. You should also refer to my website and to the parent portal.
When you return to class, check the bins of extra handouts and talk to me. If you come to school
late or legitimately leave early, you must do one of the following:
 see me.
 email me and check to be sure I received your message.
If you are absent for a quiz/test, you must expect to make it up on the day of your return. It is
your responsibility to insure that missed tests/quizzes are made up in a timely manner. If you
come in late or leave early due to a doctor’s appointment, field trip, or other legitimate reason,
please see me to turn in any assignments or pick up any work for the missed class. Finally, if you
know in advance that you will be absent, see me ahead of time so that you can avoid falling
behind! I can usually be found in one of the following locations:
B120, B-1 Study Hall, The Media Center/Teachers’ Room.
What if I miss class due to a detention?
You must see me on the same day or send me an email. If you submit work on the following
day, you will lose points for lateness. If you miss a quiz or a test, you will receive a ZERO.
What about a missed class due to a school activity?
Again, you must see me on the same day or send me an email. Otherwise, it will be considered
late. If you miss a test or quiz, you must bring a note from the supervising teacher which states
(s)he was aware that you had a test/quiz but could not excuse you. Without this signed note, you
will receive a ZERO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------After reading and discussing the course syllabus and expectations with your parent/guardian, please complete this
portion and return to your teacher by Friday, September 12.
Teacher’s Name______________________________________
I,
Period_________
, and I,
(Parent/guardian)
, have read
(Student)
and understand the English 2 course syllabus and the course expectations for the 2013-2014 school year.
(Parent/guardian signature)
(Student signature)
*The following is my most current home contact information:
Daytime phone #: ____________________________________________
Parent Email: ________________________________________________
Additional contact information and comments: