Mrs. Salce’s Junior English
Class Syllabus
Room: 535
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 545-3100 ext. 2535
Tutoring: 5th Lunch and after school by appointment
Course Description:
The Junior English course is essential in providing the foundation for advanced English studies. This
comprehensive course examines the writing process for narrative, argument, synthesis, and analysis writing.
Students will read a variety of non-fiction and fiction texts focusing on the development and progress of the
American Dream. Additionally, students will acquire a repertoire of new vocabulary and grammar skills in
preparation for standardized college admissions tests and academic writing. The ultimate goal of this course is
to help students’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills develop in order to achieve college and career
readiness.
Units of Study:
Each unit contains a formal embedded assessment that assesses the quarter’s
major learning goal(s). This assessment will require students to utilize a series
of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills to compose an artifact
indicative of their learning. Additionally, there will be multiple choice
assessments and smaller formative assessments throughout the semester.
Thematic Focus
First Quarter:
The Foundation of the American Dream (Native American
Literature, Puritanism, Classicism)
Second Quarter:
The American Dream—From the Collective to the Individual
(Romanticism, Dark Romanticism, Transcendentalism)
Major Works
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
A variety of excerpts and short works will
also be studied to introduce students to the
skill sets for close reading of fiction and
non-fiction.
Extended Length Non-Fiction texts
Third Quarter:
The American Dream Meets Reality (Realism and
Modernism)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fourth Quarter:
The American Dream in a Changing World (Harlem
Renaissance and Post-Modernism)
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Student Text:
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
Elements of Literature Book (Yellow Book)
Students will check-out novels as needed
Films:
Clips from the following films will be used at the teacher’s discretion throughout the year to enhance students’
understandings of how film adaptations are a visual interpretation of written text, subject to the director’s
interpretation. Please indicate your approval of these films on the syllabus acknowledgment form.
 The Crucible (1996) PG-13 Nicholas Hytner
 The Great Gatsby (1974) PG Jack Clayton and (2013) PG-13 Baz Luhrmann
Materials Needed:
For this class, students will need the following:
3 Subject Spiral College Rule Notebook (Mead recommended)
 Label first subject ‘Reading Journal’
 Label second subject ‘Class Notes’
 Label third subject ‘Grammar and Vocabulary’
2 pocket folders (one with prongs in the middle, one without)
Blue or Black Pen
Donations (if so inclined):
*I keep regularly stocked group ‘stations’ in the classroom for students to use throughout the year.
These stations include the following items and donations are greatly appreciated:
o Tissues
o College-Rule, Loose Leaf Paper
o Dry Erase Markers
o Staplers
o Post-It Notes
o Scissors
o Highlighters
Grading:
Student work will be graded using an 80/20 weighting system. 80% of a
student’s grade will be all assignments and classwork and 20% percent of a
student’s grade will be the final exam. Classwork point values will follow
these general guidelines:



50-100 points Performance Tasks (including FormallyGraded Assignments, Embedded Assessments, Written
Products, Writing Processes, and Formal Projects)
25-100 points Tests/Quizzes
10-30 points Student Practice Work (includes
homework and classwork)
Grading Percentage Distributions:
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
1-59%
*Rounding
A
B
C
D
F
occurs at .5
Late Work:
Plagiarism and Academic
Dishonesty:
Students are expected to submit
their own work at all times. This
means that work copied from the
internet, a classmate, a sibling, etc.
will always result in a failing grade
and a referral to administration.
Because our learning in this course builds from assignment to assignment, it is critical that work
is submitted on time. Students are permitted to turn in work up to one week late to receive no
more than half credit. The class calendar is a great resource for staying on track!
Absences:
When absent, students are responsible for submitting missing work in the appropriate folder. There will be no
reminders from Mrs. Salce and forgetting to turn it in will not be permitted as an excuse. Tests missed will be
posted on the tests missed board.
Papers submitted without names are subject to a late penalty and are the responsibility of the student to
locate in the ‘no names’ folder in the classroom.
Tardy Policy:
Students with unexcused tardies to class will miss critical “into class” activities that he/she will not be
allowed to make-up for credit. The process for tardy students will be as follows:
1st Time—Verbal Warning
2nd Time—Verbal Warning
3rd Time—Classroom Consequence
4th Time—Parent Contact and Classroom Consequence
5th Time—Administrative Referral
Behavior Expectations:
Campus

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS):
o As members of the Coyote family, we pride ourselves on our
dedication to Community, Values, Honor and Scholarship.
Students are expected to meet specific positive behavioral
standards both in and out of the classroom. These behaviors,
such as being respectful and practicing academic honesty, are
what make Campo Verde such an amazing place to learn. During this school year,
students will participate in a school-wide initiative focused on the promotion and
reinforcement of the expected standards of behavior.
Mrs. Salce

Respect and Kindness
o These are Mrs. Salce’s two guiding concepts for creating a positive classroom learning
environment. Govern your behavior with respect for the teacher and your classmates
and apply kindness to all that you do within the course. With these two concepts at the
forefront of all of your decisions in regards to classroom behavior, work completion, and
overall ethics, you will find that you will have more fun and learn more this year!
A Quick Note About Technology:
Students are encouraged to bring their own technology (phones/computers/ipads/Kindles) into Mrs.
Salce’s classroom; we will use it quite often throughout our various learning adventures. However, all
students are expected to adhere to the policy for technology usage posted on the “into class” slide
each day. This policy will direct you each day to if and how the technology will be used and where to
store it until further directed. Students who do not follow these daily protocols will have their
technology taken and sent to the front office for pick up at the end of the day.
Welcome to Class! It’s going to be a great year!
Parent Contact Form
After reading Mrs. Salce’s syllabus, please complete the following information:
I have read and understand Mrs. Salce’s syllabus and have completed the online information
form.
___________________________________
Parent Printed Name
______________________________________
Student Printed Name
___________________________________
Parent Signature
______________________________________
Student Signature
Please initial next to each film below indicating your approval of your child’s viewing teacher-selected
clips of them as a part of the learning process in class:
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

The Crucible (1996) PG-13 Nicholas Hytner
The Great Gatsby (1974) PG Jack Clayton
The Great Gatsby (2013) PG-13
___________
___________
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