Senior English Syllabus

Michael Wolfe
E-mail: miwolfe@jeffco.k12.co.us
Phone: (303) 982-2691

Office Hours: 7:00 a.m.-7:30 a.m. & after school by appt.

Website Address: https://www.wolfelhs.weebly.com
Welcome! I am looking forward to a fun and fruitful year with you in Senior English. The following syllabus
is designed to facilitate a learning environment conducive to your success.
Course Goals/Objectives: This course is designed for the college bound senior with a primary emphasis on collegeready modes of communication: reading, writing, speaking, listening, and close analysis of language. The core texts are a
combination of classic and contemporary fiction, non-fiction, informational texts, all aligned with The Common Core and
Jefferson Countys C-CAP pacing guides. English/Language Arts 12 blends composition, analytical reading, and literature
into a cohesive whole. Students combine purposes, patterns, and genres in writing while incorporating research and
rhetorical techniques. Collaboration and critical thinking lead to more complex presentations and products, with students
honing their comprehension skills while reading more complicated literary and non-fiction texts. Ultimately students will be
st
equipped with 21 century skills through the use of and application of various media and technology.
Students will primarily engage in college preparatory writing, but will also be evaluated though activities that will
continually develop their ability to analyze a variety of text types. Students will learn to read, write, and speak with greater
alacrity, sophistication and skill to be better prepared for the next phase of their lives after high school. Students will write
for business, academic, and professional purposes. They will learn basic business formats and practice them in practical
settings. Students must demonstrate a mastery of standard English vernacular and the ability to write with concision and
appropriate style for various purposes and audiences. Finally, students will discover a post-high school educational and
career direction, and the course assumes that all students will require some kind of education and/or training after high
school.
Required Books and Materials:
Books: Everything is an Argument, Angelas Ashes by Frank McCourt, The Storyteller by Jodi Piccoult, The Book Thief by

Markus Zusak, 1984 by George Orwell, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, Hamlet by Shakespeare, The Visit by Friedrich
Durrenmatt, and other supplemental readings.
Materials: Academic planner; college ruled, loose leaf paper; blue, black, and red pens; pencils; either a composition
book or spiral for note-taking; 3x3 sticky notes; and some system of organizing all your work.
You must have these materials and the required book EVERY DAY. I expect you to come to class prepared to do your
very best. Double check your backpack before arriving to class to make sure you have all your materials and the correct
book. You will not be allowed to leave class to obtain items from your locker and repeatedly failing to bring
materials will result in a lower grade.
What NOT to have out: Work from other classes, or any technology not explicitly approved for use. This include phones,
tablets/ipads, media players (ipod etc.), and calculators. All of these items are subject to confiscation if out during class.
Regarding Phones: Please keep your phone turned off (or silent) and in your bag. If your phone rings during class, you
will receive one warning before your phone is confiscated. Texting, taking pictures, or checking/updating phone calendars
will also result in immediate confiscation of your phone.
All use of personal technology in class should be done only with permission!

Course Requirements:
Attendance:
Students are expected to be in class, in their seats, on time, and fully prepared every day.
Absences are your personal responsibility and any missing or make-up work should be addressed with the
teacher in a timely fashion.
Class time is precious, so personal needs like using the restroom and filling up water bottles must be handled during
passing periods. Please do your best to minimize class disruptions or missed class time for these purposes.

Writing Emphasis:

Writing for Application

Critical Theory
Critical Lenses
Evaluating Conclusions that Define Our Human Experience
Qualitative Research
Reflective Presentation

Specifications for all assignments:

A full heading in the top left corner. Provide your full name, date, class period, and a brief description of the
assignment in MLA format.
Neatly written in pencil or blue/black ink on only one side of the paper. Work in brightly colored pen will not be
accepted.
All take-home writing assignment must be typed and formatted according the MLA v7 guidelines.
Assignments must be completed by the time you get to class.
**If an assignment does not meet the above specifications, it may be subject to point deductions, or refusal of the
assignment entirely.
Cheating/Plagiarism:
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM ARE VERY SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. LAKEWOOD
HOLDS HIGH ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS, AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF
THESE EXPECTATIONS. ANY STUDENT CAUGHT CHEATING ON A QUIZ, TEST, HOMEWORK, OR ANY CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT, OR IS
FOUND GUILTY OF PLAGIARISM (TO PASS OFF THE IDEAS OR WORKS OF ANOTHER AS ONES OWN WITHOUT CREDITING THE SOURCE)
OR GIVING WORK TO OTHERS WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF ZERO ON THAT ASSIGNMENT OR PAPER. CONSEQUENCES FOR
CHEATING/PLAGIARISM WILL RANGE FROM A DETENTION TO SUSPENSION IN ADDITION TO A ZERO ON THAT ASSIGNMENT.

Course Policies:
Homework - Although students may not have homework on a daily basis, students are expected to work on long-term
assignments, such as individual writing/reading, at home. All assignments are expected to be turned in on time.
Late Work - 50% will be deducted for an assignment that is late. However, the assignment will not be accepted after one
week of initial due date. Larger projects and writing assignments will have a 10% deduction for every day late up to three
days, at which point the assignment will be given no more than 70% credit.
No late work will be accepted after the grading period deadline.
Make-up Work - Please make every effort to turn in make-up work as soon as possible. Extensions on long-term
assignments are not given due to absences. Students need to be prepared to turn in assignments on the original due
date or on the day they return to school if an absence occurs on the due date.
Re-write Policy - Since writing is a process and not a product, and I am dedicated to your improvement in written
expression, I will always allow you to re-write any papers once for the opportunity to earn a higher grade. Your new grade
will be the average of the two grades. You must resubmit it within a week from when it is returned. It must be attached to
your initial paper with my marks and highlighted with your edits. Any D or lower must be re-written.
Absent Work:
After an absence, it is your responsibility to see me right away to find out what assignments/activities you missed and
when they will be due. You will be allowed the corresponding number of days two school days to make up the work
assigned during an excused absence. Students are encouraged to proactively communicate a pre-arranged absence
whenever possible. Please refer to the student handbook for further details on absence policies.
Remember, you must advocate for yourself!
Website:
Students may also access important course documents on my website. Power Point presentations, textbook reading
guides, and a course calendar will be published on the website. Additional important course documents will be posted on
the website as the year progresses. Students should visit the website frequently to access important resources.

Grading:
Students should focus on knowledge acquisition, the mastery of skills, and their academic growth, rather than on the
accumulation of points.

Grading Scale:
Grade Percentage
A
90%-100%
B
80-89%
C
70-79%
D
60-69%
F
<60%

Rounding Grades:
Final letter grades may be adjusted within a .5%
deviation at my discretion.
Your overall class performance is considered
when making this adjustment.

Class Expectations:
1. Be Punctual and Prepared. Arrive to class on time. Come to class with the required materials, including textbook,
pen/pencil, and homework from the previous class. Socializing should end immediately upon entering the
classroom. Take notes and copy examples done in class. All assignments should be completed to submit at the
beginning of the class period.
2. Be Respectful. Treat all students and teachers with respect and consideration. Remain aware of other students
rights to an education without distractions and maintain a clean and orderly environment in the classroom.
3. Be Involved. Actively participate in classroom discussion and activities. Appropriate questions and comments
are always welcome and encouraged. The learning experience is augmented by consistent, thoughtful classroom
participation. Please consult the classroom participation rubric to understand the guidelines for appropriate
classroom participation behavior.
4. Take Ownership. This is your education, and it requires your efforts and positive attitude to make it worth your
time. Take pride in your work and make efforts to show the true extent of your skills, and not simply the extent of
your motivation.
5. Reading & Note-taking. Students should diligently complete reading assignments as outlined in the course
calendar. Class lecture, discussion, quizzes, and tests will be implemented with the assumption that students
have completed the assigned reading as of the due date.
Parent-Teacher and Student-Teacher Communication
Communication between parents, students, and teachers is a key component of academic success. Therefore, it is
important for all three stakeholders to maintain involvement in the process. Parents are welcome to communicate with me
when the need arises. I prefer to communicate via e-mail, where I can be reached at miwolfe@jeffco.k12.co.us.

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2015 Senior Syllabus Signatures

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