ENGLISH
ACOSTA RM 517
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students will have opportunities to enhance their knowledge of a wide variety of fictional and
non-fictional texts. Through the study of texts students will be able to interpret, judge,
appreciate, and analyze ideas that will enhance personal fulfillment and contribute to growth
toward becoming an effective communicator. This course provides essential standards based
on the Common Core, 21st Century Learning, and College & Career Readiness. This course
also provides a foundation for students to become life-long learners through the inspiring history
of humanity as seen through the eyes of literature.
COURSE GOALS/OBJECTIVES
Students are expected to gain adequate mastery of a range of skills and applications for their
appropriate grade level in the following areas as defined by California’s Common Core State
Standards: Reading Standards for Informational Texts & Literature, Writing Standards,
Speaking & Listening Standards, and Language Standards.
GRADING CATEGORIES
Grades will be based on participation in the following categories. It is essential that students
stay up to date on assignments and meet all deadlines. If students are absent, it is the student’s
responsibility to meet with the teacher obtain work missed within 2 days of returning.
Category
Description
Percentage
Summative Assessments Midterms, Finals, Benchmarks
10%
Homework
Assigned weekly & due every
Monday
10%
Formative Assessments
Unit Tests, Quizzes, Daily
Checks for Understanding, Exit
Tickets, etc.
25%
Classwork
Classwork, PBL projects, Writing,
Research, Portfolio
55%
Letter Grade Percentage Needed
A
100-90
B
89-80
C
79-70
D
69-60
Embedded Support
After the six-week progress reports are issued, Bassett High School will begin with embedded
support time.
Academic Criteria:
•
Classwork has to be completed to teacher expectations or deadlines
•
Homework must be completed according to teacher expectations
•
Students must maintain a 75% average on tests and projects
•
Students must maintain a 75% class grade
Attendance Criteria:
•
Student must be on time that day
Discipline Criteria:
•
Student must follow teacher defined behavior expectations
No bathroom passes shall be issued during embedded support.
The teacher has final authority on who remains for embedded support.
CELL PHONE & OTHER ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
Mobiles phones and other electronic equipment must have teacher permission to be used in the
classroom during class time.
SUPPLIES
Students are required to bring required books, writing utensils and paper every day. Students
need to be prepared to participate on a daily basis. Students will often be asked to bring a
reading book to class. Students must have a notebook/binder dedicated to English. Markers or
colored pencils along with flashcards are highly recommended. Without the above basic
supplies you will not be able to fully participate and your grade will suffer.
NOTEBOOK
Student’s notebook must be organized with a section for: VOCABULARY, GRAMMAR,
READING, & WRITING. Students are required to keep all handouts, class notes, documents,
projects, and essays for the entire semester. Students will be asked to keep a portfolio of their
work that will be pulled from the notebook. Students must bring this notebook to class every day
with its complete contents as unannounced checks will occur. Failure to do so will affect their
grade.
BOOKS
Bringing books and keeping them in good condition is the student’s responsibility. Students are
issued the literature book. However, other novels will be made available. Students must read
outside of the assigned work in class in order to meet grade level requirements. If a student
checks out a book with the teacher and does not properly return it, the student will be placed on
the school debt list.
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
Students are responsible for making up any missed work as a result of an absence. Students
have the number of days absent to make up the work if the absence is excused. Work missed
due to a truancy cannot be made up and may receive a zero. It is the student’s responsibility to
find out about missed work within 2 days of their return and to schedule make up tests, quizzes,
etc. Much of what is done in class cannot be repeated outside of class. Students must be a part
of instruction and discussion to truly be informed and prepared. Late work will be accepted up to
2 days late, but will be penalized 25%. Late work more than 2 days will not be accepted and
students may receive a zero.
CLASSROOM RULES
•
Be on time and in your seat when the bell rings. If not in your seat, you are considered
tardy.
•
•
•
•
Be prepared to participate in classroom activities.
Show courtesy and respect for self, others and property
Follow directions the first time given and remain on task
Electronic Devices: Seen or heard, they will be confiscated
DISCIPLINE POLICY
•
•
•
•
•
•
First offense:
Teacher counsels student
Second Offense:
Teacher-assigned consequences
Third Offense:
Parent contact via phone/letter
Fourth Offense:
Teacher-parent conference
Fifth Offense:
Counselor referral
Sixth Offense:
Administrative referral
o Exceptions: defiance, profanity and fighting are held separate from this
policy, as will deviant, dangerous and illegal behavior.
PLAGIARISM - CHEATING
Plagiarism is the deliberate act of stealing another’s words, ideas, research and passing it off as
one’s own. It is the responsibility of each student to do his own work whether the assignment is
an essay, examination, or research paper. Plagiarism is the use of part or all of another’s
personal work without proper acknowledgment. If a student uses another’s words verbatim (wordfor-word), quotation marks must be placed around the borrowed passage. The student must also
acknowledge the source even if the passage is paraphrased (re-written in the student’s words).
Using another’s ideas or research data without proper acknowledgment is also considered
plagiarism. Each instructor has a policy on plagiarism; most will assign a grade of F (zero) to any
assignment they consider plagiarized.
Closing
I invite you to work with me as a team for your benefit. Let’s keep the lines of communication
open. I’ll post ways you can connect with me in the classroom.
Sincerely,
Ms. Jacqueline Acosta, M.S.Ed.
[email protected]
626) 931.2800 x2602
Contact Information
Please complete the lines below. It is very important that I have the ability to reach you during school
hours.
Students Name: _________________________________________________
Home Address: _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Parent’s name
Best Number to reach you
Lives with Child Yes or No
Mother:
Father:
Step-Parent/Guardian
Signature: Our Signature below shows that we have read, understand, and are
aware of the expectations and grading procedures for this class.
Student Name
(Print):
Student Name
(Signature):
Parent Name
(Print):
Parent Name
(Signature):