English 1-2 Syllabus

Ms. Shaffer
Room 511
Telephone: 831.796.7500 x 2680
Email: Ashley.Shaffer@salinasuhsd.org
Google Classroom code: _________________
Remind text updates: Contact Ms. Shaffer to add yourself to the Remind text/email
updates.
Welcome to English 1-2! I am looking forward to an exciting, rewarding, and productive year.
Our focuses for the year will be as follows:
Quarter 1
Reading Genre: Short Stories
Writing Genre: Literary Analysis,
Informative/Explanatory Writing
Essential Question: Can one person make a
difference?

Quarter 3
Reading Genre: Shakespearean Plays
Writing Genre: Argumentative Writing
Essential Questions: How do we find balance?
What is right for me vs what is for
others?

Quarter 2
Reading Genre: Poetry
Writing Genre: Informative/Explanatory Writing
Essential Question: How can history predict our
future?

Quarter 4
Reading Genre: Greek Plays
Writing Genre: Argumentative Writing
Essential Question: What makes a hero and/or
defines heroism? How does a hero influence a
culture?

Class Rules: Our class rules fall within the Viking Creed: NSHS
Never Give Up
Turn in all of your work.
Try your best on all assignments.
Contact me when you will be absent.

Stay Focused
Focus on the task at hand during
class.
Talk during appropriate class times.
Use the restroom before class.

Honor Yourself and Others

Be ready to work every day with homework
and class materials.
Only capped drinks are allowed in class.
Save food and gum for after or before class.
Be on time and seated before the final bell
rings.

Stay Positive
Respect others opinions.
Be kind and caring to everybody in
class.
Use appropriate school language in
the classroom.

In addition, all North Salinas High School rules will be followed in our class.
Materials Needed:
All students will need the following each day or as noted on the class calendar:
A class binder or section in a binder with binder paper and 2 dividers (Class
Notes, Homework/Classwork)

*Binder and dividers must be in class for set-up by Monday, August 11th.
SSR Book (Should be kept with you at ALL times.)
2 Different colored pens for correcting (one must be blue or black ink for the
primary work onlyno other colors will be accepted)
A set of colored highlighters
Current novel text (when we are reading one)
Language of Literature text (when not reading a novel)
*Often, work may need to be completed at home using a computer with internet access If
needed, library computers may be used at lunch or after school. Not typing or not completing
homework due to not having a computer at home is not an excuse. If papers cannot be printed
on time due to ink running out or another issue, please email the document to me before class
on the due date.
Classwork Policy:
Expect to work in class every day. It is your responsibility to email or talk to me in order to
make up classwork and homework during an absence. Missing work will earn a 50% grade
until turned in. I accept all late work for 60% credit (without an excused absence). This
includes tests; all tests will be marked down if not taken when you return from an excused
absence. Remember, it is your responsibility to ask for missing work and tests immediately
after returning from an excused absence.
Homework:
Sustained Silent Reading (SSR): Each student will be responsible to read a minimum of
twenty (20) minutes each night. Research has proven that quantity and continuous reading
within ones ability level raises comprehension, critical thinking, reading ability, and even writing
skills, all major components of the English curriculum.
Each Tuesday and Thursday, students will read in class and write responses in their Book
Journals. Students are expected to bring the same novel to class each week until
completed. You may borrow a book from the library, a friend, from home, or from me. Once a
semester you will share and report back on a book you have read with the class in a Book
Talk.
Other Homework: As students are expected to read each night, there will not be a lot of other
homework on a nightly basis except for work not finished in class or to study for a quiz/test.
Specific due dates will be available on the calendar.
Projects: Projects are generally assigned with a week to complete. Please plan
time accordingly so you do not have to throw it together the night before it is due.
Essays: Take-home essays must be typed in MLA format and turned in free
of grammatical and spelling errors. Please use the time provided for pre-writing,
drafting, revising, and editing. Student computers are available in the library to use
outside of class time.
Vocabulary: Vocabulary lessons will be introduced every other week with about 8
words on a list. Studying one or two words each night, then reviewing the others is
highly recommended. These words must be used in student writing and conversations
as well as learned for a quiz every other Friday. To ensure learning of the words is

taking place and not a memorizing-andforgetting routine, quizzes will be cumulative

and constantly be used in class writing and other activities.
*Any major writing assignment may be revised and resubmitted within one week to raise your
grade. (This only applies to those who put forth an honest effort the first time, not to those who
may slap something together knowing it can be revised later.)
*Copied work will receive no creditto either party!! And yes, I read everything. So please,
dont try it.
*Grades may be reviewed at any time through the Home Access Center. It is your
responsibility to review your grades; I suggest checking the HAC at least weekly. If you do not
have an access code, please contact the school immediately. If there is a concern about your
grade, please come discuss the issue at lunch or after school and I would be happy to give you
the time you need. You may also send me an email. Please contact me immediately; do not
wait until the end of the quarter.
Grading:
100-90=A
89-80=B
79-70=C
69-60=D
<59=F

Approximate Breakdown for Grade:

Homework/Classwork
20%
Tests/Quizzes
20%
Essays
30%
Participation/Presentations
30%

Citizenship Grade:
Citizenship grades are issued each quarter.
An Outstanding (O) grade is earned if all of the following criteria are met:
1.
All assignments turned in
2.
No unexcused absences or tardies
3.
Evidence of preparation during class activities
4.
Evidence of active participation and on-task behavior
5.
Excellent textbook care
6.
Book, paper, and writing utensil always brought to class
An Unsatisfactory (U) grade is earned if any one of the following occurs:
1.
Academic dishonesty (cheating) will result in a zero
and a U citizenship grade.
2.
Tardiness will result in detention and, after five
tardies or absences per quarter, in a U grade.
3.
Destruction/abuse of property will result in a fine and a U grade
4.
Excessive neglect of responsibilities will result in a U grade.
A Satisfactory (S) grade will be earned if the criteria for Outstanding Citizenship are not met
and if none of the violations listed under Unsatisfactory Citizenship occur.
*Each day at the beginning of class, we will have warm-up activities for the first few minutes. If
you are tardy, have no materials, or are not working silently, your citizenship grade will be
affected.

Return this paper. You may leave a comment if you desire, but it is not required.

As a parent, I would like for you to know something about my child, _______________:
Write your comment in the space below.

I have read the syllabus and understand the expectations for English 1-2.

_______________________ _________________
Parent Signature
Date

_______________________ _________________
Student Signature
Date