Kelvin High School
Senior II English
Instructor: Mr. J. Sinclair, B.Ed., B.A.
§ Richard Steele
Welcome to Senior II English. In this two-semester course we will begin to take an interesting trip through the world of language, working with several bodies of literature and experimenting with different forms of expression. For all of you this task will be challenging and exciting, forcing you to examine yourselves, your ideas and your beliefs. You will come a broader understanding of the world through your expression of these thoughts, and discover how to utilize proof to defend and prove your position. To be successful in this course you will need to be open, committed to growth and I require you to continually challenge yourself to comprehend new concepts and points of view. In that way we can all ‘exercise our minds’ together, creatinga vibrant and exciting place where we can learn from one another.
§ A good binder with plenty of looseleaf
§ A collection of duotangs to store work
§ A dictionary
§ A good writing utensil (black/blue pen or pencil – NO purple, orange, etc.)
§ A novel or anthology of poetry and/or short stories
§ At times pencil crayons, pastels, crayons, scissors, poster paper and a red pen – you will be informed ahead of time when these will be required.
Throughout this year you will be asked to write essays, scripts, short stories, poems, letters, resumés and journals. You will be also asked to perform presentations, give speeches, perform debates, etc.
ü Grammar/Punctuation/Writing
ü Short Stories
ü Human Rights – The Holocaust and Human Rights issues in literature
· October - The Wave
ü Career Unit – World of Work
· November 11 – Take our Kids to Work Day
ü Romeo and Juliet
ü Media Studies
ü Public Speaking
ü Of Mice and Men
ü Poetry
ü Comedy
1. Learning Logs 5%
For the first two months of class each student is asked to keep a ‘Learning Log’ which will be kept in the classroom and utilized on a bi-weekly basis. The entries in these logs will be to record some of your personal thoughts and reactions to a variety of different items we will encounter in the classroom. The topics of these entries will be thought provoking and will be generally related to the material and issues we have discussed in class. These entries will be personally evaluated by yourself in conjunction with me.
2. Choice Novel Work 15%
In October, December, February, April and June you will be required to read a body of literature during daily reading periods and in your homework time. At these periods you will then have a selection of projects in which to express your impressions and ideas about the book. You will also make a 3 minute ‘book-talk’ which will be marked and included in your overall project mark. The details of each of these assignments will be distributed separately. NOTE: Any student may complete more than one project per month for BONUS credit – which will go towards their final overall mark.
3. Classroom Assignments 20%
At various times throughout the year there will assignments, quizzes, question sheets, presentations and activities that will count towards your final mark. These assignments will be discussed as they become due and advance notice on their evaluation will be posted.
4. Major essays 15%
Twice this year you will be assigned major papers on Of Mice and Men and Romeo and Juliet. These comprehensive essays will take you step-by-step through the essay writing process, requiring you to take one point in the novel and argue it with a degree of thoroughness and intensity. You will be required to create a thesis and defend it with quotes and research. Further essay writing tips and the assignment package will be discussed at a later date.
5. Homework checks 10%
In high school homework must be completed, and it is expected that a student will complete approximately 45 minutes of homework or reading per night. Therefore I will be performing homework checks at my discretion to verify that work is being done out of class and that there is no problem in keeping up to date with your assignments. These checks will not be announced so it is advisable that you keep up with your homework.
6. Participation 5%
This class will be highly interactive and requires lots of participation. At the conclusion of each marking period attendance, punctuality, readiness, classroom discussions and overall attitude will be taken into account and be marked by both the student and the instructor.
7. Mid-Term Exam 10%
There will be a mid-term exam at the end of January. This will cover much of the skills and tools we have developed throughout the first half of the year. Details of this exam will be discussed at a later date.
8. Final Exam 20%
The final exam in June will cover all of the material related to this course and explore the skills you have developed. We will discuss the exam later.
Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. It is the downloading of papers off the internet. It is “cutting and pasting” of paragraphs from one website to your essay. It is the copying of another essay in another course and hading it in as your own. Plagiarism is a very serious offence and will not be tolerated. Any individuals caught plagiarizing face consequences such as failure and suspension. There is NO second chance on this one.
There is only one class rule and it must be adhered to for a student to remain an effective member of this classroom. Respect. This rule can be broken down as follows:
i) You must respect yourself. This means you must respect your capabilities and skills both as a student and a person. This means that you must arrive to class on time so you do not miss any instruction. This also means that you will come to class prepared with the appropriate materials and that you will complete all homework assignments as assigned, putting in the maximum effort into yourself and your learning.
ii) You must respect others around you. You will give every person in this classroom the same respect they will give you. In an environment where everyone respects the opinions and the ideas of others the maximum learning will take place. This respect means that inappropriate language, speaking while your classmates or I am talking to the class, and racist, homophobic and sexist comments are not tolerated.
iii) You must respect this classroom. Our environment is what shapes our thinking, therefore we must take care of it. This means that no food or drinks are to be brought in to the classroom. If this an issue for you and your health speak to me independently and arrangements can be organized.
iv) You must respect this school. The policies and procedures of this school are there for the safety and security of the entire student population. These must be respected for all of us to have a school we can be proud of and one where everybody is given a fair and equal opportunity to get a good education. You are therefore required to read all school policies and procedures found in your ‘Course Information Booklet’.
In life we have choices. If you choose to follow the class rule you will have a tremendous learning experience – one where you will challenge yourself fully and maximum learning will take place. If you choose NOT to follow the class rule you will face the consequences.