Course Syllabus 2020 - 2021 for English 10 HonorsMrs. Martino

CRISTI.MARTINO@marlboroschools.org

This course has been designed for students who have academic integrity and a strong work ethic, who attend school regularly, and who would like a challenging, rigorous curriculum. The curriculum throughout the year is driven by the

New York State Next Generation Learning Standards (http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/nys-next-generation-ela-standards.pdf) with a focus on the 11th Grade Regents Exam, the SAT, and presenting students with higher-level texts and assignments

that foster critical thinking in preparation for AP Language and Composition. Students will be required to read, write, listen, and speak on an advanced, independent level. In addition, students must be organized, for they will be

working on various tasks simultaneously.

Course Requirements & Remote Learning Expectations:▪ Students must maintain an overall class average of 87 to remain in the Honors program; students must

maintain a 90% attendance rate.▪ Students will not receive credit for copied or plagiarized work.▪ Class assignments and agendas will be posted in Google Classroom. Parents can check students’ progress

in the Parent Portal via School Tool and by receiving weekly summaries generated by Google Classroom.

▪ Students will be expected to use their school issued Chromebook to access their MHS Google account and email throughout the year.

▪ Students should attend live classes (Google Meets) during the specified times. If you cannot attend class during the specified time, please email Mrs. Martino. A link to these Meets is posted in Google Classroom.

▪ Students should be engaged in remote learning, Google Meets, and assignments. Please be prepared for class and be ready to participate!

▪ Students should assume responsibility for their own learning. If you need help, schedule a meeting with Mrs. Martino during Office Hours on Mondays and from 10:45 to 11:45 on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

● Students should turn in all assignments on or before the specified due dates; no late work will be accepted. If a student cannot meet due dates due to circumstances beyond his/her control, please email Mrs. Martino in advance to make arrangements.

● Students’ work should reflect their best effort.

● Students should attend class with a positive attitude and an open mind.

● Students should be respectful to others and their ideas.

Reading: “The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one which makes you think.” ~ Harper LeeStudents will be required to read, comprehend, analyze, and respond to texts on an independent and advanced level. Students will read either the entire text or passages from any/all of the texts listed below.

▪ Frankenstein by Mary Shelley▪ Lord of the Flies by William Golding▪ A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens ▪ Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton▪ The Crucible by Arthur Miller▪ Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare▪ Animal Farm by George Orwell▪ Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose

▪ To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee▪ Short Selections from Holt Elements of

Literature textbook and The New York Times▪ Texts for Independent Reading: Flowers for

Algernon by Daniel Keyes, Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers, Black and White by Paul Volponi, A Walk to Remember by Nicholas

Sparks, Bleachers by John Grisham, A Time to Kill by John Grisham

Writing: Honors students will complete all departmental writing requirements in addition to class assignments that foster critical thinking and analytical skills.

▪ Departmental Requirements: Students will complete for Departmental Common Tasks throughout the course of the year: Text Analysis Response (fiction), Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary (Word of the Week), Emulation of Author’s Style Project, Text Analysis Response (nonfiction). The grades attained on these four tasks will count towards students’ mid-term and final exam grades for the year.

▪ In addition to Common Tasks, students will also complete writing assignments that foster critical thinking/analysis in order to prepare them for SAT, AP, and college-level writing.

▪ Writer’s Notebook: Each student will be required to keep a Writer’s Notebook. The purpose of these notebooks is to keep students writing continuously throughout the year and to write for a variety of purposes. Students will be required to complete 15 full pages of writing in their Writer’s Notebooks every five weeks; notebooks will be collected and graded every five weeks.

Speaking: In order to improve and hone their speaking skills, students will participate effectively in a range of discussions and present their knowledge and ideas in a variety of ways:

▪ Students will be required to complete an extensive argumentative research paper and presentation. Students’ products will incorporate the use of appropriate technology and will demonstrate an understanding and proper use of MLA style formatting.

▪ Students will share their ideas and insights through class discussions, small group discussions, Literature Circles, work stations, and Socratic Seminars

Vocabulary, Grammar, and SAT Prep: ▪ Vocabulary will be studied in the context of our literature units, and students will also complete weekly

assignments for the MHS Words of the Week.▪ Students will complete a comprehensive grammar unit at the commencement of the school year and will

incorporate the use of proper grammar in their writing throughout the year. Grammar skills will also be reinforced and reviewed through the SAT preparation assignments (WDP).

▪ Wilson Daily Prep (www.wilsonprep.com): Students will complete daily online activities to help them prepare for the SAT exam using Wilson Daily Prep. These assignments will be counted as a homework grade every five weeks. *Please see the attached letter for more information about Wilson Daily Prep.

▪ Extra-Credit: Several extra-credit assignments are available for those students who would like to challenge themselves:

o Students are encouraged to use the College Board or the Khan Academy websites for additional SAT prep.

o Independent reading poster (assignment available on my website)o Annotations and non-required days for Wilson Daily Prep (printed).

Mid-Term and Final Exam (20% of students’ grade for the year): ● The Mid-Term for 10th grade will be administered in January and will consist of the following tasks:

Common Task #1 (Text-Analysis Response), Reading Comprehension, and Word of the Week. ● The Final Exam for 10th grade will be administered in June and will consist of the following tasks:

Emulation of Author’s Style Project, Reading Comprehension and Word of the Week, and Text-Analysis Response.

Quarter AveragesStudents’ averages each quarter will be calculated in SchoolTool using a total points system. All assignments posted in Google Classroom will count as part of students’ averages. Parents and students can check progress and grades through the Parent Portal or through Google Classroom Guardian Summaries. Averages will be based on the following types of assignments:

● Tests & Summative Assessments● Quizzes & Formative Assessment

● Daily & Weekly Tasks (Reading Assignments, Journal Entries, Word of the Week, etc.)● Quarterly Tasks (Writer’s Notebook & Wilson Daily Prep)

Extra Help and Parent Conferences: Extra help is always available upon student request. As long as we are on remote learning, my extra help availability is as follows:

● Parents and students can email me with questions or concerns at any time cristi.martino@marlboroschools.org.

● I will be available for individual Google Meets to offer extra support for students from 10:45 - 11:45 on Tuesday & Thursday and during Office Hours on Mondays.

● I will be available for parent communication by phone or Google Meet during my Office Hours on Mondays.

● Students & Parents can sign up for a time by sending an email to Mrs. Martino using the address above.

Required Supplies Suggested Supplies★ Composition Notebook to use as a Writer’s

Notebook ★ A 3-ring binder OR Two-Pocket Folder for

Handouts★ School-issued Chromebook

Loose-Leaf Paper Highlighters Small Post-It

Please acknowledge that you have read and understand the criteria and expectations outlined above by completing the Google Form posted in Google Classroom.