Deltona High School- Teacher: Mrs. Meahl
Building 9-Room 8
English I – Class Syllabus
Course Description: In this course, we will study the literature of world-wide cultures. The essential questions guiding our exploration include:
- (Quarter 1) How have people expressed their desire for freedom?
- (Quarter 2) How do we experience love and the conflicts surrounding it?
- (Quarter 3) What connects us to family, friends, pets, and community? How can we celebrate our differences without marginalizing our differences?
- (Quarter 4) How do humans endure in the face of adversity?
Students and Parents: Please visit our class website to find important and updated information for our class. Handouts, paperwork, and lessons will be updated on the website. http://spmeahl.educatorpages.com/
Weekly Homework:
Students will be given homework on a need basis. Homework will be given if the student fails to complete class work, is absent, out of school projects, or writing assignments.
Course Overview (May be subject to change)
Unit of Study
Reading Selections
Performance Task Focus
1st Nine Weeks
Finding Common Ground
How have people expressed their desire for freedom?
- A Quilt of a Country pg. 3
- Deep Survival pg. 325
- The Survivor and Who Understands Me But Me pg. 91 (Close Reader)
- The Gettysburg Address pg. 27
- I Have a Dream pg. 48
- The Views of the Wall and The Vietnam Wall pg. 33
- VLT: Argumentative Essay Practice
- DIA #1: District Interim Assessment
- Analyze the Text pg. 7
- Analyze the Text pg. 336 #’s 2,3,6, and 7.
- Determine the Central Idea and Summarize the Text pg. 335
- Analyze the Text pg. 322 #’s 1-6.
- Close Reader Questions 1-4
- Analyze the Text pg. 30 #’s 1,4,5,6
- Analyze the Text pg. 53 #’s 3-6
- Eulogy for Dr. Martin Luther King
- Analyze the Text pg.36 #’s 1-3
2nd Nine Weeks
Shakespearean Drama
How do we experience love and the conflicts surrounding it?
- The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
- Acts I-V
- Pyramus and Thisbe pg 283
- From Reading Lolita in Tehran pg. 81
- From Persepolis 2 pg. 84
- Completion of all analyzing the text pages and questions for each reading.
- VLT Argumentative Essay
3rd Nine Weeks
Poetry and Prose
How can we celebrate our differences without marginalizing our differences?
What connects us to family, friends, pets, and community?
- The Odyssey-Homer
- Poetry (At Dusk, My Ceremony for Taking, The Stayer)
- With Friends Like These pg. 141
- From Love’s Vocabulary pg. 163
- The Cruelest Journey pg. 421
- The Journey pg. 441
- When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine pg. 103.
- Complete all analyzing the text questions for each poem.
- DIA #2: District Interim Assessment
- VLT Informative Essay
- Analysis Essay
4th Nine Weeks
Novel Study
How do humans endure in the face of adversity?
- Anthem by Ayn Rand
- Poetry Anthology
- PSA Project.
- Complete all analyzing the text questions.
- Novel Study discussions, and assignments.
- PSA Project
Content Standards/Measurement Topics
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Reading
- Read, comprehend, analyze, and evaluate complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
- Analyze points of view and cultural experiences, drawing on a wide reading of world literature.
Writing
- Produce clear, well supported, and coherent writing (argumentative, narrative, informational) routinely over extended and shorter time frames in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects, synthesizing multiple sources, to answer a question or solve a problem.
Speaking and Listening
- Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations including the presentation of information and supporting evidence in which organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, use of evidence, and rhetoric.
Language
- Demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar, usage, punctuation, and capitalization when writing or speaking.
Textbooks: Florida Collections, cost: $86.93...so do not lose or damage these! You will need to return them at the end of the school year.
Grading Policy: Course grades are a reflection of the student’s level of academic achievement in regards to the content standards. 60% of students’ nine weeks’ grades will be determined by averaging the grades from common summative assessments of content standards; 40% of the grade will be determined by averaging formative assignments and assessments. Please see the DHS Student Handbook for the VCS Grading Policy and DHS Homework Policy.
Submission and Make-Up Policies: All student work is expected to be turned in by the assigned due date. Those students who are absent from school on a due date must turn in work on the day they return to school pending an excused absence. Not to include excused absences, after the assigned due date the student will forfeit a letter grade every day passed the due date. Test makeups will be scheduled at the instructor’s convenience.
Honor Code: Cheating is a level 2 discipline infraction and will receive a referral as such. Students will receive an F on any assignment or test on which they have cheated. Cheating consists of plagiarism, “cut and paste essays,” or copying from other students.
Classroom Expectations:
- Be prompt, polite and prepared for the day’s activities. Have books, notebook, paper and pen ready when the bell rings.
- Respect your fellow students. Do not talk when someone else has the floor and refrain from side conversations. When you are talking, you are not listening, and when you are not listening, you are not learning. We all learn from each other!
- Follow all rules as found in the Student Code of Conduct, especially in regards to the DHS dress code. (Cell phones, MP3 players, and other electronic devices must not be in sight during class.)
Materials Required: blue or black pens; a binder or folder, loose-leaf paper (college-ruled), flash drive, 1 class notebook, and highlighters. Donations of classroom supplies such as tissue paper, hand sanitizer, paper, and blue, black, or red pens are greatly appreciated. Students are expected to keep a folder/binder for this course.
English 1: Mrs. Meahl
Please Return Completed
Contact Information:
I am looking forward to working with you this year. If you or your parents have any concerns or questions, please contact me at spmeahl@volusia.k12.fl.us or schedule a parent conference through our school counseling department.
Please complete, sign,and return this page to the teacher.
- Internet Permission:Please check one.
_____ My student has my permission to use the Internet for school assignments.
_____ I prefer that my student use alternative reference sources and not use the Internet.
- Movie Permission:Please check one.
_____ My student has my permission to view academic related films (PG/PG13).
_____ I prefer that my student be provided alternative assignments.
I have read and understand the rules and requirements of English I.
Student Name: __________________________________________ Class Period ___________
Parent (Legal Guardian) Name: ______________________________________________________
Parent (Legal Guardian) Signature: ____________________________________________________
Phone number where parent can be reached: ____________________________________________
Email of Parent or Legal Guardian: ______________________________________________________