Pre AP English I, Practical English I, and English I

Mrs. Cowgill
Jennifer.cowgill@wrightcity.k12.mo.us
636-745-7500 ext 7584

Course description: Focusing on a study of literary genre, the student will
develop an understanding of important literary elements. The student will
develop an understanding of the ways that literary form can affect its structure
and meaning. Reading across the curriculum will develop the students
academic and personal interests in different subjects, as well as his or her
understanding and expertise across subject areas. As the student reads, he or
she will develop both content and contextual vocabulary and will build good
habits for reading, writing, researching, and learning.
*What sets Pre AP English I apart from its on level counterpart is depth of
study. Students will complete more complex assessments, sometimes at a
quicker pace, and read additional texts.

Essential Learning Outcomes:
Students will interpret and summarize facts and the main idea from
fiction and nonfiction text by utilizing appropriate reading strategies.
Students will apply pre-reading and post-reading strategies to
summarize, assess, reflect upon, and draw conclusions about grade-level
fictional text.
Students will compare, contrast, and analyze text based on literary
techniques (sensory details, figurative language, imagery, and irony).
Students will be able to analyze and evaluate text features to clarify
meaning and authors purpose in grade-level texts.
Students will explain and relate between multiple sources of information
in formal and informal writing.
Students will create quality informal and formal writing.
Students will develop research skills and use them to identify and
analyze appropriate information in comparison to grade-level texts.
Students will relate and cite information and opinions in
informal/formal discussions and presentations.

Parallel Reading; Students will read the following longer works. (Short stories,
non-fiction, and poetry are not listed here.) Additional approved titles may be
added to this list at the teachers discretion. Parent signature indicates
permission for student to read these assigned novels from Wright Citys
approved parallel reading list: Night by Elie Weisel, To Kill a Mockingbird by
Harper Lee, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Romeo and Juliet by William
Shakespeare, and Animal Farm by George Orwell. All texts will be provided for
the students; however, students may bring personal copies if they desire.

Standards Based Grading: All assignments will be given points commensurate
with their relative importance in the appropriate category below. The grading
policy is as follows:
Final exam 15%
Listening/Speaking/Viewing (presentation components of projects/class
activities) 5%
Literature formative assessments (homework/class work) 10%
Writing formative assessments (homework/class work) 10%
Vocabulary summative assessments (quizzes/tests) 10%
Literature summative assessments (projects/tests) 25%
Writing summative assessments (essays/projects) 25%

Technology: As you know, our school is BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). This
means that you are allowed to carry and use cell phones, ipods, and tablet
devices within the school and classrooms. I think this is an absolutely
fantastic opportunity for us to use technology productively and effectively in
the classroom. However, I ask that you are smart with using your device.
While you are in my classroom, you are only to use the device for
educational purposes. You will be expected to put your device away until
we need it for the class, or I give you permission to use it for some other
means (i.e. listening to your ipod as you write your paper).


Supplies needed: pens or pencils, paper, highlighter (any type/ color)

Extra Help: I am available before school between 6:45-7:10 and after school by
appointment only. You may schedule make up work or get extra help for
assignments during this time. Please feel free to ask for help; thats why Im
here!

Plagiarism and Cheating: Please review the following information carefully.
You will sign that you have read and understand its meaning.
Plagiarism is the act of using another persons ideas and expressions
in your writing without acknowledging the source. Repeating
anothers words, phrases or sentences without quotation marks and
proper citation is one form of plagiarism. Restating anothers apt
phrase, argument or idea without proper citation is also plagiarism
as it indicates the work is your own rather than that of the original
source (MLA Handbook). Plagiarism is not limited to an amount of
material that needs citation. It may be seen as a lack of citation for
ONE sentence, one paragraph and/or an entire paper.

Consequences for plagiarism include receiving an F (0 points) on the
assignment and a disciplinary referral to the administrators. According to the
student handbook, plagiarism is, copying of another persons words or the
expression of an idea and representing it as ones own. Cheating and
plagiarism includes, but is not limited, tests, quizzes, reports, homework, term
paper and thesis writing. All assignments given in this class are individual
assignments unless otherwise explicitly stated in writing. Collaboration with
peers on individual assignments is considered cheating.

Class Rules:
1. Please keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself.
2. Please follow directions the first time they are given.
3. Please have respect for yourself and others (no foul language, putting
others down, etc.).
4. Please be prepared for class.


Consequences for choosing to violate the rules:
1. You will be given a warning.
2. Conference with me (before or after school, seminar, or other agreed
upon time)
3. Call home to parent(s)/ guardian
4. Office referral

Rewards for choosing to follow the rules:
1. Your grades will reflect your effort
2. Praise and encouragement
3. Random call home to tell your parent(s)/ guardian how amazing you are

Procedures:
Procedures are a part of all of our lives and are necessary to keep order. We
follow procedures when we look up something on the internet, drive a car,
board a plane, attend a wedding, or go to work. Procedures help us to function
in an efficient and acceptable manner. They are a part of classroom life and our
lives outside of school.
I have made a list of some procedures that will help all of us function more
effectively in the classroom. This is not necessarily a complete list of everything
that we will encounter, but it will help you to know what I expect.

Please be in your seat when the bell rings. We have many things to
accomplish each day, so I appreciate your cooperation with this.
Begin the opening exercise immediately. The assignment will be clearly
posted.
I dont yell over student voices. If I need your attention, I will give a verbal
prompt, then hold up my hand until I have everyones attention.
If you finish an assignment early and there is not another assignment
posted, you may work on an ongoing project for this class, homework for
this class, or you may read a book. You may bring in books from home or
you may borrow one of mine.
If you borrow a book, please let me know what you have checked out. Please
return the book in a timely manner.
If you are working on something for another class during instructional time,
I will politely take it from you. I will return it to you at the end of the class
period.
Please dont bring anything to class that will be a distraction. And please
dont use electronic devices unless it is for something that we are doing in
class.
Cheating will not be tolerated. Anyone caught cheating will receive a zero for
the assignment. Much of what we do in class will be in teams, so this
should rarely be an issue.
I expect that you will turn in assignments on time, but I know that we do
not all have perfect lives that revolve around English class. If you are having
a problem, let me know and I can be flexible. Chronic late work will result in
lower scores.
Homework assignments are due at the beginning of the class period unless
otherwise stated.
Please dont talk while I am talking; nobody likes that.
If you are absent, please be sure to get the assignments for the classes you
missed. I will try to keep up with Edmodo (which I am still learning, so be
patient). You may also email me for any information about missed work.
Please be sure that your name and class period is on all items that you turn
in to me.
I expect that the work you turn in will be neat. Have respect for your job
well done.
Please dont place assignments on my desk. It is too easy for them to get
misplaced that way. If you are taking your time to do your best work, I dont
want to lose it! Make sure you hand assignments directly to me.
Please dont ask to leave the classroom unless it is necessary. I trust that
you will use your best judgment with this.
All school rules and procedures will be enforced in this classroom.
Appropriate behavior is expected at all times.
Please do not try to line up at the door before the bell rings.
When you are dismissed, please be sure that you have not left any trash or
personal belongings behind. I cant be responsible for lost items.
Please dont leave any food or drink trash in the classroom or you could lose
the privilege.
Come to class ready to work.
Always do your best.
Keep an open mind. This is going to be a fun year for us!

Extra:
I am looking forward to a wonderful year. I expect that you will always do your
best and you can expect the same from me. I am committed to providing you
with an excellent education, and I will work diligently to be sure that each of
you is learning and growing as a student. I hope that if you have any questions
or concerns about our class, you will not hesitate to talk to me. My goal for the
year is to not allow a single failure (help me out here). There is a mailbox on
the table near the door should you have any questions or comments that you
do not feel comfortable approaching me with. You may drop a note, question,
or comment at any time into the box and I will check it daily. You dont have to
write your name, but please let me know what class period you are in. We are
going to have an incredible year!



______________________________________________________________________________




Please return the bottom portion of this page by Monday, August 18, 2014.
This will count as a 10 point assignment.

2014-2015

I have read the ruled, policies, and procedures for Mrs. Cowgills class.

Student signature_______________________________________________

Student Printed name___________________________________________

Guardian signature______________________________________________

Guardian printed name__________________________________________

Guardian email and phone number_______________________________