Welcome to Second

Semester!!Everyone begins this semester with an A.

It is your choice whether or not you maintain it.

What we will cover this semester

Prepare for the CAHSEE – March 18th!! “The Stranger” an ABSURD NOVEL by Albert CamusExistentialism - philosophical movement centered on individual existence – the meaning of life, questions about faith, and individualism CCSS Ipad unit (we are guinea pigs)The Hero’s Journey

Honors - What we will cover this semester

“Fahrenheit 451” - Dystopia“The Stranger” – Absurdism, Existentialism, Absolute Individualism“The Myth of Sisyphus” – Essays“Frankenstein” – CCSS Ipad Unit (we are the guinea pigs!) The Hero’s JourneySome CAHSEE prep – You really shouldn’t need it. (Or rather you better not need it). I expect 100 % passing rate for this class.

Things to rememberPassing periods are now 3 minutes long. Door shuts as the bell rings. Be on time or don’t attend class.No gum. No food. Water bottles only.Saying “Shut up” or swearing will cost you 5cents. The F-bomb will cost you 25cents. No credit. Don’t disrupt my class.

You are responsibleStudents are RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL WORK MISSED DUE TO ABSENCES.  It is the student's responsibility to learn which assignments were missed while they were not in class and complete them by the date given by the me.   Contact me in person or by email.   It is hard to make up class work and in-class discussions, so please be in class.  Excessive absences and tardies may result in a lower grade. 

Tardy Tank or In-school SuspensionIt is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to find out what you missed.  In-school suspension and Tardy Tank are NOT excused absences.

NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Seriously. I mean it. Unless there is a note from your parents I will not accept late work.And don’t “What if?” me to death. Learn how to ask a question without it please.Don’t make excuses. I hate excuses. You’ve known me for a full semester and you know what I expect of you. You also know how to get and keep and A in my class.

Be selfish with your education

You make your own choices. Do your homework to prepare for the upcoming class. The more you do, in class and as homework, the better prepared you will be for the CAHSEE.I want 100%passing rate this year.Oh! BTW, PERFECT SCORES IN BOTH PARTS OF THE ELA CAHSEE and you get $50 from your favorite English teacher.

Any essay you are given on a test or will be a 5 paragraph essay unless specified.

Anyone who did not write 5 paragraphs on the last Benchmark writing exam received a 1. If you summarized instead of explained you received a 1. (And some of you were lucky the rubric didn’t include grammar and spelling. Jeeesh.)

All TYPED essays Will be doubled spaced, in the Times New Roman font, size twelve and it WILL BE IN MLA FORMAT WITH MLA CITATIONS.

5 strands of CAHSEE writing – once a week

Persuasive (Argument) Narrative (First and Third Person)Expository (Explanatory)Response to LiteratureBusiness Letter

Do NOT write the following words on your essaysI think…This quote means…In this essay I will write about…My point is…Honestly…In conclusion…

Good

Bad

Stuff

Things

And never start a sentence with...

Well SoBut AndSince OrLike Because

Answer questions (written & verbal) in COMPLETE SENTENCES with CONNECTED PRONOUNS.

That’s it.The more you do the homework, the more you listen to what I am trying to teach you, the less you disrupt the class with annoying behavior,the more fun we will have, the more you will learn and then you will be ready not only for CAHSEE but for freakin’ college.