Honors+English+11+Information

Course Description: This eleventh grade honors course encompasses an accelerated study of grammar and usage, composition, and vocabulary. The literature content includes an accelerated study of short stories, essays, poems, novels, and drama from American literature. Multi-paragraph essays and a research paper are required in MLA format. Students are expected to have completed the required reading and have access to a copy of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston Learning Objective: The objective of this class is to help students achieve an increased degree of competency with respect to reading and evaluating literature and the correct use of grammar. Students will be expected to contribute regularly during in-class discussions. Additionally, students will be expected to write clear, concise, well-organized essays and papers that demonstrate the ability to both see and define connections. Quizzes: Students should expect a quiz on every new reading assignment. These quizzes are intended to assess whether or not the student has completed the assigned reading. Students will also be quizzed on biography videos and dramas watched in class. Class work/Homework: Students can expect regular reading assignments varying in length. Students can also expect regular homework assignments relating to literary elements and grammar exercises. All assignments will be checked every day as part of the weekly class work grade (for a total of 100 points each week). Both class work and homework count as 40% of the overall grade. Some assignments will be taken up and graded individually for 100 points (while others will be checked for 10-20 points). I will not announce ahead of time which assignments will be taken up. Therefore, it is essential for students to do their best on every assignment. Papers/Essays: Students will be asked to write both informal essays and research papers that examine certain aspects of the literature being read. The length of these written assignments will vary depending on the assigned topic. Texts/Exams: Students can expect to be tested periodically on the material that has been covered (literature, grammar, and vocabulary). Generally, tests will consist of an objective section (Multiple Choice/Matching/Fill in the Blank), and a short answer section. Tests are graded for 100 points and count as 50% of the overall grade. Projects/Presentations: Students will occasionally be asked to research a topic and presents their findings to the class for a grade. Students may be required to make a poster or other visuals to go along with the topic that they are studying. Some time will be given to work on projects in class, but it will be necessary to finish projects at home. Students will always be notified ahead of time if any purchase, such as poster board, is necessary. Bell ringers: Students must write daily entries in their spiral notebooks (at least 4 sentences daily). Topics will be assigned. I will not announce when bell ringers are to be taken up because it is the student's responsibility to keep them up to date. Bell ringers count as 10% of the overall grade. I will not take late bell ringers, so it is essential to keep up with them and to bring them to class daily. Effort and Participation: Effort and participation are an essential part of this class. If a student refuses to complete an assignment or presentation, he or she will receive an automatic zero that cannot be made up  Makeup Work: All assignments are put into the makeup work folder by the door. It is the responsibility of the student to get the missed assignments and to turn them in. Points will be deducted from the assignment each day unless the student has an excused absence.