English 1
Room #423
Chelsea Usher
Teacher Email: [email protected] || [email protected]
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:45 -3:30; by appointment
Room #423
Chelsea Usher
Teacher Email: [email protected] || [email protected]
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:45 -3:30; by appointment
Course Description: English I is a challenging course designed to develop students’ reading and writing skills for high school and beyond. The emphasis in this course is on skills that interrelate with other academic courses. A genre approach to literature incorporates the study of short stories, speeches, drama, poetry, and novels into this course. The curriculum focus stresses the development of critical thinking, personal expression, reading comprehension, and writing skills.
Required Text / Readings: Over the course of the year students will be reading a series of short stories, poems, and nonfiction articles as well as major thematic texts like The House on Mango Street, Long Way Down, and The Odyssey. In addition to these, students will be required to have multiple Accountable Independent Reading (AIR) books over the course of the year. I have a varied library available to the students at all times, or they can check out the books of their choice at their local library.
Course Unit Outline: Each unit in English will last for about 8-10 weeks and include a series of assignments, quizzes, and projects.
Required Text / Readings: Over the course of the year students will be reading a series of short stories, poems, and nonfiction articles as well as major thematic texts like The House on Mango Street, Long Way Down, and The Odyssey. In addition to these, students will be required to have multiple Accountable Independent Reading (AIR) books over the course of the year. I have a varied library available to the students at all times, or they can check out the books of their choice at their local library.
Course Unit Outline: Each unit in English will last for about 8-10 weeks and include a series of assignments, quizzes, and projects.
Unit 1: Character & Personal Development
Inquiry Question: Why are origin stories important? How do we respond to adversity?
Big Idea: Oral Tradition & Storytelling
Texts: The House on Mango Street
Writing Pieces: Process Essay; Creative Writing
Projects: Collection of Personal Vignettes
CCSS: RL.9-10.1; RL.9-10.2; RL.9-10.3; W.9-10.1
Unit 2: Analysis of Author’s Craft
Inquiry Question: What makes an idea universal? How do we make ourselves understood?
Big Idea: Products of an Environment
Texts: Long Way Down
Writing Pieces: Op-Ed
Projects: Infographic
CCSS: RL.9-10.4; RL.9-10.5; W.9-10.2(a.b.f)
Unit 3: Research Portfolio
Inquiry Question: How do writers stay objective? How do we determine what sources are trustworthy?
Big Idea: Causality & Interconnectedness
First Amendment Rights
Texts: Declaration of Independence; Bill of Rights; First Amendment
Writing Pieces: Research Essay;
Projects: Research Portfolio
CCSS:RI.9-10.1; RI.9-10.2; RI.-9-10.5; W.9-10.2.(a.b.c.d.f); W.9-10.6; W.9-10.7; W.9-10.8; SL.9-10.4; SL.9-10.5; L.9-10.3.a
Unit 4: Structure & Story Elements
Inquiry Question: Why do we tell stories? How does perspective change the outcome?
Big Idea: Someone Else’s Perspective
Texts: Myth; Short Stories
Writing Pieces: Creative Writing; Form Poetry
Projects:
CCSS: RL.9-10.2; RL.9-10.3; W.9-10.(a-e)
Grading Policy:
What Students Need for Class: Students should have the following items with them daily. Having all of these items daily will be part of their participation grade in the class weekly.
Notice to all Students: Students who wish to advance to English II Honors must maintain a B average (80%) for the year in order to qualify for honors placement.
Classroom Behavior Expectations: In order to be successful in the classroom it is imperative that students follow the expected standards of conduct:
A Pathways Student:
Late Work Policy:
Students who miss the assignment deadline can still turn in the work up to one week after the deadline for 50% of the credit.
Plagiarism:
Hartford Public Schools defines plagiarism as the “use of or copying of the academic work of another individual and presenting it as the student's own work, without proper attribution; or any other form of academic dishonesty, cheating or plagiarism.”
Students caught plagiarizing will be given a zero for the assignment without the opportunity to make it up, and parents and administration will be notified.
PLAGIARISM INCLUDES:
Please refer to the Pathways Academy of Technology & Design’s Parent-Student Handbook for all school-wide and district-wide policies.
- 20% - Reading – Assignments that are focused on reading, understanding, and interpreting a variety of texts.
- 20% - Writing – Assignments that are focused on the application of core knowledge for writing across the curriculum.
- 20% - Speaking & Listening – Assignments that demonstrate effective communication in writing, speaking, and visual presentations
- 20% - Language – Assignments that are focused on the growth and development of grammar, vocabulary, and language usage.
- 20% - Social – Assignments that contribute to a healthy classroom environment by respecting people, property, ideas, and diversity. Homework completion falls under this category.
What Students Need for Class: Students should have the following items with them daily. Having all of these items daily will be part of their participation grade in the class weekly.
- Laptop with charger
- AIR Book (independent reading book)
Notice to all Students: Students who wish to advance to English II Honors must maintain a B average (80%) for the year in order to qualify for honors placement.
Classroom Behavior Expectations: In order to be successful in the classroom it is imperative that students follow the expected standards of conduct:
A Pathways Student:
- Turns in their work on time
- Asks questions about the work before it is due
- Asks what was missed before they return to class when they miss class
- Emails their teachers or checks the online platform before returning to class when they miss class
- Students with excused absences will not be penalized for late or missing assignments as long as they meet the responsibilities listed above and complete the missed work within 2 missed classes.
- Students with unexcused absences, who skip class, or who are chronically distracted while in class due to technological distractions will not be given make up work in the last 2 weeks of a marking period.
Late Work Policy:
Students who miss the assignment deadline can still turn in the work up to one week after the deadline for 50% of the credit.
Plagiarism:
Hartford Public Schools defines plagiarism as the “use of or copying of the academic work of another individual and presenting it as the student's own work, without proper attribution; or any other form of academic dishonesty, cheating or plagiarism.”
Students caught plagiarizing will be given a zero for the assignment without the opportunity to make it up, and parents and administration will be notified.
PLAGIARISM INCLUDES:
- Copying all or part of someone’s work and submitting it as your own
- Using a source (paraphrase or quote) without proper citations
- Collaborating on an independent assignment
Please refer to the Pathways Academy of Technology & Design’s Parent-Student Handbook for all school-wide and district-wide policies.
Class Rubrics | |
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