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  • Spring 2024 English II Course Syllabus 

    Ms. Danielle Altringer 

    South Aiken High School 

     
     
     
     
     
     

    Email: daltringer@acpsd.net 
     
     
     
     
     

    Remind: #81010  

    Code: @altringer 
     
     
     
     
     

      

     

    Course Objective: 
    By the end of the course, students should master the grade 10 standards of the SC College and Career Readiness (CCR) standards. These grade-specific standards are vertically aligned throughout grades 9 and 11 standards and, together, they define the skills for understanding that grade 10 students need to have for future success. 

     

    Course Description:  

    Units of study for English 2 include reading literature, reading informational texts, writing, language, and speaking/listening. A full list of standards can be found at the front of student textbooks or at . 

     

    English 2 students will read at least three major works of literature per semester (i.e. a play, a novel, or a nonfiction book).? Students will read, independently, a novel or novel-length work of literary nonfiction each quarter.? Finally, students will write a least one full-length essay each quarter that utilizes planning, writing, revising, editing, proofreading, and typing of a final draft in MLA format. Tentative lesson plans are located on my class website. 

     

    ~For English 2 Honors Only~ Definition of Honors Level Courses* 

    Honors courses must be developed and implemented to: 

    • Provide depth in rigor, complexity, challenges, and creativity beyond the college preparatory (CP) level course as outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. 

    • Be more challenging than CP level courses in order to foster growth for advanced learners. 

    • Offer a differentiated program of study that provides an array of opportunities for all students based on their aptitudes, achievement, and interests. 

    *Retrieved from Appendix A South Carolina Honors Framework Implementation Guide 

    Assigned Texts:  

    • There is a class copy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Collections 10.  

    • Please note the textbook is available online. Access information will be provided to each student during the first few days of class.  

    • Various readings and pieces of literature (Including, but not limited to: novels, short stories, poems, and scholarly articles). 

    Required Materials: Let me know if you need help acquiring any of these by the second day of school! 

    • Needs: 

    • One 3-ring binder (1 inch+) – Can be combined with another class as long as English work is clearly divided 

    • One pack of college-ruled paper 

    • One 3-prong folder 

    • Pencils and pens 

    • Highlighters 

    • Suggested: 

    • Sticky notes 

    • Page flags 

     

    Computer Requirements: All students need a charged laptop daily. Always have your computer charger. 

     

    Grading System: 

    • 60% Summative assessments (tests, papers, projects, presentations, etc.) 

    • 40% Formative assessments (daily work, homework, quizzes, participation, etc.) 

    • All accurate grades are in PowerSchool. Semester 1 = Quarter 1 (40%) + Quarter 2 (40%) + EOC Exam (20%) 

     

    Tardy Policy: You will be marked tardy if you are not in the classroom when the bell rings, NO exceptions. 

     

    Redo/Retake Policy: Students who receive a grade of 69 or below on a summative assessment will be allowed one opportunity to redo/retake the assessment only after remediation or re-teaching takes place. Teachers have the discretion to re-administer any assessment. 

     

    Make Up Work: Students are responsible for making up any work missed during their absences from school.  It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for assignments to be made up once they return to school. Students will be given the amount of days missed to complete the assignment(s), as per Student Handbook guidelines. If you are absent for a major assignment, you will only be able to make this up if the absence is excused. If you are absent, I will place any handouts or worksheets in the Absent Bin. All other work is cataloged in Schoology. 

    Late Work: I accept late work for partial credit. All late work must be submitted within 5 days of the assignment being due, with exceptions to summative assignments having no late submission period. Late work will receive an automatic 20% deduction. Late work submitted after 5 days will be for no more than 50% credit. No late work will be accepted once the unit is complete.  

    Cheating: Cheating, on any type of assignment, will result in a zero, parent contact, and an administrative referral.  Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following infractions: (a) copying off of someone’s paper, whether in or out of class, (b) sharing assessment questions or answers with other students, (c) sharing your work with other students, (d) using materials from other sources such as books, encyclopedias, or the Internet when the assignment is expected to be the original work of the student, (e) any kind of plagiarism ie. including the use of another source without properly citing it or copying and pasting from the internet, and (f) any use of Artificial Intelligence writing software.  Copying and pasting answers is strictly forbidden. A detailed overview of this policy can be found in the student handbook. 

     

    Plagiarism Consequences:  

    • 1st Offense: zero on assignment with an opportunity to redo for full credit; email/parent contact  

    • 2nd Offense: zero on assignment; no opportunity to revise; email/parent contact 

    • 3rd Offense and beyond: zero on assignment; no opportunity to revise; email/parent contact; discipline referral 

     

     

    Classroom Procedures and Expectations 

     

    Be respectful - Worry about yourself - Do not impede the learning of others 

    • Entering Class 

    • Enter class calmly and read the board for instructions.  

    • You will have a Bell Ringer to complete every day. You should start working on this immediately. 

    • Bell Ringers need to be kept in your folder – kept in your class bin. 

    • You can place your things down in the room and then go to the restroom, but you need to be back before the tardy bell. 

    • You need to be seated in your seat and working on the Bell Ringer when the tardy bell rings. 

     

    • During Class 

    • Your behavior must align with class standards and expectations. 

    • If you need to use the restroom, write your destination and time in your agenda and bring it to me to sign. One person can be out of the room at a time.   

    • Students may not leave class without an agenda. Restroom visits over 5 minutes will be considered skipping class and this behavior will be disciplined (exceptions are made for nurse/administration approval). 

    • If you finish any assignment early- *complete missing work  *do homework  *read  *write.  You will always have something to do.  

    • You may have water and snacks that are not loud, messy, or distracting. Trash goes into the trash can! 

    • Cell Phones need to be turned off and in your bookbag. Not doing this will result in a phone violation office referral. At any point, I can change this rule to require all students to turn in their phones should it be needed. You are welcome to charge your phone every day.  

    • There will be times where you can listen to music – you NEED to use headphones and I should not be able to hear your music. NO HEADPHONES OR AIRPODS should be out unless I have directed you to use them.  

     

    • Behavior/Discipline 

    • Classroom Rules: 

    • Be ready to learn 

    • Be in your assigned learning area, have all needed supplies, be attentive to the lesson  

    • Be an active listener 

    • Listen to learn – not respond, eyes open and on me when I am teaching, take notes when needed, ask clarifying questions 

    • Use positive language  

    • Use words that are supportive and kind, if it is not respectful it has no place in our classroom  

    • Do not interfere with your peers learning 

    • Be engaged in the lesson, follow directions, all non-academic activities will take place during non-primary instruction times  

    • Keep your area clean and safe 

    • Bookbags should be out of the main walking path, drinks need to have lids, all trash needs to go into the trashcan  

    • Follow all school rules 

    • Consequences for not displaying appropriate behavior: non-verbal and verbal warnings, a mini-conference and change of seat, written warning, notifying the school counselor, parent contact, and administration contact. I do not hesitate to call parents/guardians! 

     

    • Materials/Supplies 

    • You should come to class ready to learn with all needed materials. We will use laptops often. 

    • You will need your laptop charged EVERYDAY! 

    • Please be respectful of my personal property.  NO students are allowed in my desk area without my permission.  Supplies are available in your student stations. Do NOT take anything from my desk.  

    • You can always borrow pencils, pens, and sticky notes. You can use the pencil sharpener, hole puncher, and stapler. 

    • Please sharpen your pencil before class begins or after I have finished addressing the class.  Do not sharpen while anyone is speaking.   

    • Backpacks and any other bags need to be stowed next to your desk, NOT on top of your desk. 

     

    • Turn-in/Paper Management 

    • All papers are to be placed in the appropriate bin. 

    • All papers should include your name, the date, and class period on the left side.  

    • Many assignments will be accepted virtually, but you are responsible for printing out necessary essays, projects, etc. BEFORE the due date. I am available during WIN Time to assist you with this, if needed. 

    • Virtual assignments go to Schoology. Accurate grades are in PowerSchool. 

    • The Absent Bin can be found in the back of the room.  

    • Graded work will be placed in the Pass Back bin. I will pass out graded work once a week, but you can pick it up as you need. 

     

    • Independent Reading 

    • We will be reading silently for extended times throughout each week.  During this time, you should have your selected novel. Make sure you are reading and doing nothing else. 

    • I have an extensive classroom library for YOU! There are procedures in place for checking out and checking in books – it is essential that you follow these. If I do not have a book that interests you, you will need to go to the library during your own time. 

     

    • Ending Class 

    • Do not pack up until class is over. Return all materials to their designated locations. Clean up any trash around you. STAY SEATED.  WE DO NOT LINE UP AT THE DOOR.  

     

    • MLA Heading  

    FirstName Last Name 

    Ms. Altringer 

    English 2 

    Day Month Year 

    Assignment Name 

    • General Heading 

    FirstName LastName 

    Date 

    Assignment Name 

     

    • Email Etiquette 

    • Use your school email 

    • Subject Line: Be Specific! 

    • YES: “Independent Novel Check-out Issue” 

    • NO: “Help” 

    • YES: “Make-up Work 9/13/22” 

    • NO: “missing work” 

    • Opening: “Ms. A,” -or- “Ms. Altringer,”-or- “Good Morning,” -or- “Good Afternoon,” 

    • Content: Be brief and use a respectful tone 

    • Closing: “Best,” -or- “Thank you,” -or- “Sincerely,” -or- “Regards,” 

    • First and Last Name, Class Period 

    • Do not expect responses between 5pm and 6am. I will respond within 24 hours, usually sooner. Follow-up with me if you do not get a response within 24 hours. 

    • Classroom Library 

    • Almost every book in the classroom was purchased by me, please ensure you are handling them with care.  

    • When you want to read a book, you will need to check it out from the library.  

    • Use your phone to scan a QR code to check-out the book.  

    • When you are done reading a book, you will need to place it in the “Book Return” basket. 

    • Classroom Furniture/Cleanliness 

    • All furniture, including tables, chairs, and couches, should not be moved from the area they are in unless you ask and receive permission. 

    • Use the furniture in the ways in which it was intended. No eating or drinking on the couch. 

    • If you are not on task, you will not be able to use flexible seating. It is a privilege that can be taken away.  

    • Always clean up after yourself. If you spill something, ask to get paper towels, etc.