Written Communication

Semester II

Miss Hansra

Email: rhansra@naperville203.org

Available: 3rd, 4th, and before by appointment                   

Phone: 420-6966 x 1090

Umbrella Question for Grade 10
What is my role in a variety of communities?

Goals: During each unit this year, you will:

1. Review and refine writing in the narrative mode
2. Expand writing skills by writing essays about ideas from outside observable experiences
3. Use textual evidence to defend a topic drawn from specific pieces of literature
4. Apply the elements of literary analysis to a significant literary work
5. Begin working with first person research
6. Continue to compose pieces of writing using the process approach (pre-write, draft, revise, edit, and revise again)
7. Read and understand a variety of literary genres (novel, short story, and drama)
8. Discuss literature in a purposeful manner

9.      Improve correct grammar and usage through writing

Note:  Your success in this class will stem from your willingness and ability to work hard and to come to class prepared (stay on top of the readings).     

Policies:  To ensure that our class runs smoothly, you are expected to adhere to the policies in your red book.  Here are a few suggestions in helping to keep the peace in the classroom:

v      You must come to class prepared with your homework each day.

v      Stay attentive and on top of your assignments.

v      Write your assignments in your notebook everyday.

v      Read my comments carefully and listen to my suggestions.

v      RESPECT and TOLERATE all of your classmates.

Daily Supplies:  Be sure to bring these supplies to class everyday:

!    
A pen (blue or black in only) and a pencil

!     A spiral notebook (to be used only for this class)

!     A folder with pockets or a binder

!     Loose leaf paper

!     Appropriate books

Attendance and Absences:    

v      Be in your seat and prepared for the day’s material when the bell rings.

v      If you are late with a legitimate excuse, present a signed pass before you are seated.

v      If you are late without a pass, these instances will be noted.  Every 4 tardies will result in a 6:30 detention.

v      If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to refer to the website to stay on top of your assignments.

v      If you are absent from class on the day of a planned test or quiz, you must be ready to take it the day you return. 

v      If you are absent on the day a paper is due, you must hand it in immediately upon your return.

Late Work:

¹  If work is late due to an excused absence, you will receive one day for each day missed to make up your work.

¹  If work is late due to an unexcused absence, you will receive NO CREDIT for that period.  NO MAKE UP WORK will be accepted.

¹  If any major assignment is incomplete, the assignment will drop a letter grade each day it is late. 

¹  If any homework assignment is incomplete on the day it is due, the assignment receives NO CREDIT.  No late homework assignments will be collected.

Field Trips:      You must notify me in advance of any field trip that causes you to miss my class.  You must hand in all work due on the day of your field trip before school that day.  Any missed quizzes or exams must be made up before your field trip. 

Written Assignments:  All written assignments that are to be turned in must be typed.  If you do not have a computer at home, the computer lab and writing center are open at 7:00 am.  Please plan in advance for your use of these computers.  Because the computer lab and writing center are open before, after, and during school, no excuses will be accepted regarding printer problems or “lost” material.  Save everything on a disk and back it up to a hard drive. 

Note: Do not trust the H drive, as it sometimes doesn’t work.

Please feel free to approach me with any comments, questions, or concerns that you may have regarding anything!  I am here to help you succeed both inside and outside of the classroom.

Print Student Name:_______________________________

Student Signature:________________________________

Student Email Address:____________________________

Print Parent Name:________________________________

Parent Signature:_________________________________

Parent Email Address:______________________________

UNITS OF STUDY

³      Major assignments: unit test, literary analysis paper on a dominant trait

³      Supplemental work: history study, Internet research, film study, drama performances

³      Major assignments: unit test, literary analysis paper

³      Supplemental work: internet research, film study

³      Major assignment(s): place paper

³      Supplemental work: short stories, film study, writing workshop

³      Major assignment: novel study and discussion

³      Supplemental work: Socratic seminars, writing reflection

Assessment

Students’ semester grades will be calculated by dividing each student’s total earned points into the total points possible from all assignments, quizzes, papers, tests, and projects.  Each quarter is worth 40% of the semester grade.  The semester exam is worth 20% of the semester grade.

First drafts of papers are usually worth 70-100 points.

Final drafts of papers are usually worth 30-50 points.

Homework is usually worth 5-15 points.

Quizzes are usually worth 10-30 points.

Unit Tests are usually worth 50-100 points.

Projects are usually worth 25-50 points.

²      Keep an assignment notebook

²      Take notes in class

²      Read and write regularly

²      Turn in assignments on time

²      Monitor your progress

²      Stay organized

²      Get make-up work after an absence

²      Initiate conferences in the Writing Center – it’s there to help you!