EXPECTATIONS:
The expectations for the course are quite simple and should be quite familiar to most of you. In order for you to learn and succeed in school, you need to do the following:
- ATTEND REGULARLY
- Be on time: Tardy students may not be admitted. If late, wait patiently outside the door. Do not knock.
- Listen attentively and participate in class.
- Respect one another.
- Be prepared - complete all homework and assignments on time.
- Turn off mp3s and cell phones. TEXTING in class may result in confiscation of your phone.
- Attend tutorials or seek one on one help to discuss your writing and to better understand concepts.
- Keep an organized notebook.
- PLAGIARISM IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! Plagiarized assignments will not be awarded a mark.
If you fail to comply with the above, you may be asked to leave the class and repeated transgressions will be considered a withdrawal from the course.
ABSENTEEISM:
All absences must be excused. Unexcused absences may be considered voluntary withdrawals. Work missed during unexcused absences may not be graded. This is the consequence of your choice.
YOU are responsible for all work missed. It is not my responsibility to track you down. Work must be made up immediately following an absence and at the teacher’s convenience. Expect to make up missed writing assignments, quizzes and tests before school begins. (Between 7 & 8:15 am)
All work missed during absences must be completed and discussions and in-class work will be made up by writing a composition (250 words) on the topic.
Assignments that have been returned and graded may not be awarded a grade. Nonetheless, completion of these assignments is expected to complete the course.
WRITTEN WORK:
Take home assignments should be typed if possible.
Blue or black ink is preferred for in-class writing assignments. A red pen is needed for marking.
Illegible work will not – CANNOT - be graded.
In many cases, late assignments will not be graded but still must be completed. On occasion late assignments will lose 10% per day. Weekends count as two days.
All assignments must include a date, your full name and block.
**Keep all rough work and written work on file until the semester is completed. It is your responsibility to provide evidence in the event work is misplaced or not recorded correctly.
PORTFOLIOS / COMPOSITION SECTIONS:
All students will keep a writing portfolio or a designated section for written work.
All written work should be kept on file and readily available.
Portfolios must include a completed table of contents and an updated record of your writing errors.
All graded writing assignments should include at least one rewrite if you expect to improve your style.
HOMEWORK:
The failure to complete homework to the satisfaction of the teacher may result in your removal from the class until such a time that the incomplete homework is done and all subsequent work has been completed.
NOTEBOOKS:
Your notebook is your responsibility. However, it should contain the following sections:
- Resource Materials (Downloaded handbooks from the school website)
- Mechanics and Editing Skills (including Bare Essentials assignments)
- Literature / Themes
- Composition
TUTORIALS:
If you are having difficulty with assignments or concepts, attend tutorials. You can often learn more in a ten-minute one-on-one tutorial than you can in class where a teacher must meet the demands of twenty or thirty diverse individuals.
I am also available to help you outside of class.
SUPPLIES:
You are responsible for deciding how you intend to organize your notes and maintaining your notebook. The supplies you will most definitely need are a binder, loose leaf, 5 dividers, a blue or black pen, a red pen, a pencil, and three hi-lighters.
Note taking is not merely filing handouts. It also involves highlighting, annotating and summarizing.
HELPFUL WEBSITES:
I have a page on the school website which may be helpful. Download the handbooks and print copies.
My e-mail address is smurray@sd43.bc.ca
http://owl.english.purdue.edu - A writer’s guide
www.powa.org - A writer’s guide
www.english.cam.uk/vclass/terms.htm A list of literary terms
EVALUATION:
Quizzes and Participation: 15%
Written work/Assignments/Tests: 65%
Final Exam: 20%
You will also be expected to write a Final Exam, which will be worth 20% of your final grade.
Good luck, do your best, enjoy and here’s hoping you have a successful year!