Syllabus

English 2 CP Syllabus

Leadership Public Schools San Jose

Ms. Gzesh

Description of Course:

This course is a college preparatory English class, focused on developing students’ skills as readers, writers, thinkers, and speakers. Our studies for the year revolve around two essential questions: “How is my identity shaped by culture?” and “How do writers use their craft to convey meaning?” We will analyze these topics through reading, writing, and class discussions. We will read interviews, poems, novels, plays, short stories, and expository texts. Then we will write literary analyses, personal narratives, interviews, short stories, and a variety of other genres to demonstrate our understanding and strengthen our skills as readers, writers, thinkers, and communicators.

Units of Instruction:

We will deepen our understanding of our central questions through four related units of study, each driven by more focused questions that will help us explore the theme of identity from a new angle. These units are as follows:

Unit 1: Voices of Modern Culture

Essential Questions: 1.     How can cultural experiences shape, impact, or influence our perception of the world? 2.     How does voice function in and beyond the contexts of writing?

Major Texts: Short Stories, Lit Circles, Excerpts Major Assessments: 1. Artifacts of Culture Project 2. Presenting Two Voices

Unit 2: Cultural Conversations 

Essential Questions: 1.     How do external factors affect one’s sense of identity? 2.     How do we synthesize multiple sources of information into a cohesive argument?

Major Text: Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Excerpts from The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Major Assessments: 1. Writing About a Cultural Conflict 2. Writing a Synthesis Paper

Unit 3: Community

Essential Questions: 1.     How can an author use a work of fiction to make a statement about culture? 2.     How might the cultural fabric of the community be stretched or altered when it encounters new ideas and members?

Major Text: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, The Second Coming by W.B.Yeats Major Assessments: 1. Researching and Reflecting on Community 2. Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

Unit 4: Justice

Essential Questions: 1.     What is the nature of justice? 2.     How does one construct a persuasive argument?

Major Text: Antigone by Sophocles, A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Conner Major Assessments: 1. Composing a Persuasive Text 2. Creating a Living Tableau

In addition to the grade-level required reading and writing, students will be provided opportunities to read books of their own choice and design projects on desired topics. 

Materials:

Each day, you are responsible for having:

1. Binder (1 ½ inch)
2. 5 labeled section dividers for your binder
3. College-ruled white paper/spiral notebook
4. Pens/Pencils/Eraser (blue or black pens ONLY)
5. Your SpringBoard Student Edition (SB SE)
6. Reading Materials (anthology, novel, play, whatever we are reading as a class)

7.   English Take-Home Folder

English Binder Organization:

You will need your English binder for every English class, and will pick this up on your way in the door every day BEFORE the bell rings. Your binder should be clearly marked with your first and last name, your English class block, and your teacher’s name, and will be organized in the following order (the bolded words are what should appear on the divider tabs):

Front of Binder:          Signed Syllabus

Section 1:                    Unit Handouts (Launches, Exit Tickets, Class Handouts, HW)

Section 2:                    Writing Assignments

Section 3:                    Vocabulary

             

Section 4:                    Grammar & Usage (all grammar handouts, tests, quizzes)

           

Section 5:                    Quizzes, Tests, Unit Study Guides, Test Prep

Organization is a key skill for success. Therefore, your binder will be checked and graded for proper organization. Binder checks may occur at any time, so be prepared.

Grading:

Grading in all academic classes at LPS San Jose is based on mastery of content standards and recorded on several different scales, represented below.

Name and Significance of Grade	Percentage Score	Letter Grade Equivalent
Advanced                                    (Above Grade Level)	90-100%	A-/A/A+
Proficient         (Solid Grasp of Grade-Level Material)	80-89%	B-/B/B+
Basic                      (Minimal Requirement for Passing)	70-79%	C-/C/C+
Below Basic                                 (Below Grade Level)	60-69%	D-/D/D+
Far Below Basic                    (Far Below Grade Level)	0-59%	F

In order to graduate from LPS San Jose, and for this class to count for college, students must perform at a Basic/70%/C- level or better.

Academic Grades:

Students’ academic grade for this class will be based on their mastery of the seven clusters of standards identified by the state of California.  Clusters are weighted according to their importance, as identified by the state board of education.

Standard Cluster	Explanation	Percentage of Overall Grade
Word Analysis	Understanding of vocabulary terms, parts of speech, and word origins/derivations.	10%
Reading Comprehension	Understanding of structure, format, and organization of texts, and ability to determine an argument’s credibility.	10%
Literary Response / Analysis	Understanding of literary devices (e.g. foreshadowing, plot, characterization) and their effects.	15%
Writing Strategies	Ability to write well-organized and clearly supported arguments.	20%
Written and Oral Language Conventions	Proper use of English grammar and mechanics of writing.	5%
Listening and Speaking	Students’ ability to discuss complex ideas. Mostly assessed through Socratic Seminars.	10%
Homework & Organization	Graded nightly assignments and binder organization	10%
Final Assessments	Will include comprehensive final exam and portfolio of best essays from the year.	20%

Cheating & Plagiarism:                                                 

Cheating and/or plagiarism (copying) will result in zeros for everyone involved, a comment in PowerSchool, parent contact, and an email to Principal Pacheco. Cheaters will be added to the LPS San Jose database, and any incidences of cheating will become part of your high school academic record and will greatly affect your chance of getting accepted to the college of your choice. The following actions are considered instances of cheating:

            1. Talking during tests and/or quizzes or discussing test or quiz materials with students                     from other blocks and sharing answers.

            2. Using notes when not allowed during tests/quizzes.

            3. Copying assignments or allowing your work to be copied.

            4. Using other people’s ideas or words without giving them credit in the proper way.

Let’s have a great year together.  It depends on students, parents, and teachers to make this year memorable and successful.

By signing below, you indicate that you have read and understand the information on this syllabus and agree to give your best effort in this class.

Student’s Name (print) ___________________________________________________________

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