Syllabus: Composition and Literature II

Chillicothe High School

Instructor Contact Information

Name: Fallon Forbes
Phone: (660) 646-0700
Website: https://mrsforbeschs.weebly.com/
Email: fforbes@chillicotheschools.org

Course Description
This course focuses on the literary form of fiction, non-fiction, and the novel. Major novels studied will include
Night, Julius Caesar, and, if we have time, Ender’s Game or Nothing But the Truth. Writing skills and vocabulary
building are emphasized. Techniques for using the library are studied. The End-of-Course exam is required for
graduation.

Units of Study
Over the course of the school year, we will be studying the following units:
● Short Stories
● Editorial
● Informative Texts, Speeches, and Advertisements
● Career Interest Presentation
● Night
● Argumentative Writing
● Julius Caesar

PLEASE NOTE: Units of study are subject to change.

Accelerated Reader
Students will be required to earn 30 points per quarter through reading Accelerated Reader books. The AR
points represent 15 percent of students’ quarterly grades. Students will be given the occasional opportunity to
read in class, but reading time will not be given everyday.

Vocabulary
Students will be studying vocabulary throughout the course of the school year. Vocabulary packets will be
given once every week; each vocabulary packet will be worth 5 points. Students will be quizzed over each
week’s vocabulary.

Article of the Week

The title of this assignment is slightly misleading. Students will read a news article every other week about a
current event. After reading the article, students will write a paragraph response to the article. Article
annotations are 12 points each week. The paragraph response is worth 15 points. Together, the annotations
and response are worth a total of 27 points every other week. Article of the week annotations/responses are
NOT accepted late since students have two weeks to complete them.
Turning In Assignments
Google Classroom, an online site where students can view, work on, and submit assignments, will be utilized
for Composition and Literature 2. Students will be added to the appropriate section by me. When turning in
assignments, students must use Google Classroom unless otherwise specified.

Plagiarism
All student work turned in for credit will be original work. Any use of outside sources must be documented
using in-text citations and a Works Cited page. All information copied word for word must be in quotation
marks, and the quote must be documented using in-text citations and a Works Cited page. Any copying and/or
plagiarism on any assignment, paper, project, etc. will result in a zero. Parents/guardians will be
called/contacted, and the student and parents/guardians will meet with me and school administrator.

PLEASE NOTE: It’s plagiarism (AND cheating) when you give your completed work to someone to copy from.

Late Work
When a student has an excused absence (such as illness), he/she will be given two days for each missed day to
get make-up work turned in without it being considered late. A pre-arranged absence (such as a doctor’s
appointment) or an absence due to a school activity requires students to communicate the situation with me
prior to the absence; work is still due on the assigned day. (There may be instances that are unique, and
students are encouraged to discuss any absence with me so that they are able to complete work and receive
credit.)

If a student does not turn work in on time, that work will be capped according to CHS’s grading policy. A cap
means that students can earn credit up to the determined percentage (cap).

● Late Homework: Students can earn 80 percent (cap) on late homework until two weeks after the due
date. Homework turned in after two weeks but BEFORE the end of the quarter will result in a 60
percent (cap). After the quarter ends, all grades are final and no late homework from that quarter will
be accepted.
○ Example: If a student turned in a late homework assignment by two weeks after the due date
and earned an 85 percent, that student’s grade would be capped at an 80 percent. If the
student earned a 70 percent, the student would earn the 70 percent since the score was below
the cap for late assignments turned in before the end of the two-week grace period. If the
assignment was turned in AFTER the two-week grace period, the student would earn a 60
percent.

● Late Projects/Papers: If a student turns a project or paper in late, that project or paper will be capped
at a certain percentage based on how late the paper or project is. Papers and projects can be turned in
until the end of the quarter. After the quarter ends, all grades are final and no late papers or projects
from that quarter will be accepted.
○ 1 day late=90 percent (cap)
○ 2 days late = 80 percent (cap)
○ 3 days late = 70 percent (cap)
○ 4 or more days late = 60 percent (cap)

○ Example: If a student turned in a paper 1 day late and earned a 95 percent, that student’s grade
would be capped at a 90 percent. If the student earned an 80 percent, the student would earn
the 80 percent since the score is below the cap for a paper that is 1 day late.
Absentees
It is the student’s responsibility to acquire make-up work. Please check with Mrs. Forbes for make-up work.

Grading Scale
96-100 A 73-76 C
90-95 A- 70-72 C-
87-89 B+ 67-69 D+
83-86 B 63-66 D
80-82 B- 60-62 D-
77-79 C+ 59-0 F

PLEASE NOTE: Remember that AR points count for 15 percent of each student’s grade, so if a student does not
accumulate AR points, then the highest grade that the student can receive is an 85 percent.

Classroom Expectations
● Class will begin and end on time.
● We will value instructional time. We will be engaged learners!
● Everyone in class will be prepared.
● We will respect each other. We will engage in open and respectful communication and collaboration.
● We will have a positive mindset. We will learn from our mistakes.
● We will celebrate each other’s successes. We are a TEAM!
● NOTE: All CHS rules (including the cell phone policy and the food and drink policy) will be observed in
my classroom.

Technology Expectations
● Only tabs that students are currently working on for Language and Composition II should be open
during class time; listening to music is acceptable while students work as long as the student brings
his/her own earphones.
● Cell phones should be put away at all times.

Materials
● Writing utensil
● Paper
● One pocket-folder for handouts
● Chromebook and charger
● Earbuds or earphones

Hall Passes
Students have three hall passes per quarter; students may use these passes in situations deemed appropriate.
After a student uses all three of his/her hall passes for a quarter, he/she may still leave the room in situations
deemed appropriate. However, said student will then earn a tardy.
 Student-Parent Contract: Composition and Literature II

Parent Name_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Student Name________________________________________________________________________________________________

Relationship to student_________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone contact number(s) (please specify home, work, or cell)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Email Address_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Would you prefer to be contacted through phone or email?

_____Phone _____ Email

Please take this opportunity to tell me anything about your student that you feel is important for me to know—strengths,
weaknesses, outside of school commitments, etc. I strongly believe that a student’s performance is directly affected by the stress in
his or her life, and it is helpful to me to know as much about your student as I can early on in the school year.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please read through the syllabus with your student and then discuss the course. What is your and your student’s expectation for his
or her grade in this class?

_____ A _____ B+ _____ C+

_____ A- _____ B _____ C

_____ B-

By signing below, you verify that you and your student have read through and understand the syllabus.

Parent Signature_______________________________________________________________ Date___________________________

Student Signature_______________________________________________________________ Date__________________________