HamiltonHigh School

Hamilton High School

English 11 Course Information and Syllabus

2021-2022

          Dr. Laura Brudvik            

Room: C108                

Office Hours: Most days by appointment 

Phone: ext. 5060

Email: brudvik.laura@CUSD80.com

Website: https://www.cusd80.com/Domain/11524

Hamilton High School’s Mission Statement: To prepare students to be successful in their academic, personal, and professional lives.

English Department’s Mission Statement: Cultivating diversity, integrity, and tenacity through literacy and critical thinking to empower students to be engaged community members.

Diversity Statement: All individuals have a right to an educational environment free from bias, prejudice and bigotry. As members of Hamilton High School educational community, students are expected to refrain from participation in acts of harassment that are designed to demean another student’s race, gender, ethnicity, religious preference, disability or sexual orientation.

Goals

1)    Be prepared for academic success by…

1.   Reading a variety of diverse texts, literary and informational, in and outside the classroom.
2. Expand understanding of conventions of Standard English (grammar, usage, and mechanics), and vocabulary, appreciating nonliteral meaning, shades of meaning, and relationships to other words.

2)    Be prepared for personal success by…

1.   Understanding individual strengths and weaknesses; working to gain confidence, self-awareness, as well as gratitude.
2.   Utilize learning tools provided in class to build a better understanding of oneself; likes, dislikes, and passions.

3)    Be prepared for professional success by…

1.   Using writing as a tool for communicating, identifying and focusing on a purpose, writing to a specific audience, and adapting the form and content of writing to accomplish a particular task.
2.   Participate in discussion, providing relevant information, synthesizing a multitude of ideas and texts with fellow peers.

Course Description: 

English 11 offers an integrated program of writing and literature, focusing on the study of American Literature and persuasive/argumentative writing. Students will also write a compare and contrast composition, research paper, narrative, and a literary analysis. The Pearson curriculum, and Arizona College and Career Readiness standards will be used to elevate students’ current skill levels. 

Year at a Glance

Supplies: 

• Binder and/or folder 
• Students must keep all handouts and returned assignments in a safe place. 
• Pencil and/or blue and black pen
• Red pen 
• Highlighters in Yellow, Green, Pink and Blue 
• Have some available in class, but it is better to bring your own

Google Classroom Use: 

Some, but not all, assignments will be posted on Google Classroom for students to complete. In addition, there will be a digital copy of everything handed out in class placed on Google Classroom if a student is absent from class. 

Remind App: 

The best form of communication outside of the classroom with Dr. Brudvik is through the Remind App. 

• To opt into text message alerts, text @5Brudvik11 or @6Brudvik11 to 81010. 
• To join the class from the Remind app, select “join a class” and enter the class code @5Brudvik11 or @6Brudvik11.

Grades

Quarter Grade Evaluation                                  Semester Grade Evaluation

Practice – 30%                                                       Quarter One – 40%

Summative Assessments – 30%                            Quarter Two – 40%

Writing/Projects - 40%                                            Semester Exam (no exemption) – 20%

Grades can be checked on Infinite Campus. A minimum of 2 grades a week will be entered into Infinite Campus. 

Grading Policy:

English teachers focus on instruction of effective communication techniques. We strive for students to leave our classes prepared to write and speak effectively in both college and career situations. Thus, we expect our students to proofread and revise every assignment prior to submission. Because of Arizona’s adoption of the national Common Core Standards (ACCRS - Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards) as of 2011, every student is held to high expectations within a rigorous curriculum. Please review the following grading scale so that you are aware of how you will be assessed.

All Junior English teachers will utilize the following grading scale.

Homework Assignments:

• Homework assignments are those given from one class period to the next.
• Regular assignments are due at the beginning of each class period. 

Late Work:

• To receive full credit for an assignment, work must be turned in on the assigned due date UNLESS the student has an excused absence (contact teacher for extenuating circumstances). 
• Each day an assignment is late, a student will lose 10% for each day the assignment is not turned in the first 5 days. If a student turns in a late assignment on the 5th day, the student will lose 50%. If a student turns in an assignment on the 6th day an assignment is late, it is a permanent zero.*

*This late work policy is the same used by Chandler Online Academy (COA).

Missed Quiz or Test:

•  If a student has an excused or unexcused absence the day a quiz or test is administered, he/she must schedule a makeup day and time with Dr. Brudvik. 
• A student has two class period days to make up a quiz or test. If a student fails to show up during the scheduled makeup day and time, he/she will receive a zero.

Major Assignments - Essays and Projects: 

If assignments are designated as a project or essay, there may be a penalty of 10% off each day it is late, up to five days. It is encouraged to communicate with Dr. Brudvik if there is an issue regarding your completion of an assignment ahead of the due date, so Dr. Brudvik can help you come up with a solution. 

Extra Credit: 

Extra credit will be given out throughout each quarter to individuals and sometimes in group settings. Students have the opportunity to apply points to any assignment, test or quiz to help boost grades. 

Plagiarism:

Definition from Hamilton High School Student Handbook: Copying the work of another person (student OR author) and submitting it as your own, obtaining unauthorized or undocumented material from the Internet or other sources, or securing teacher materials or work in a dishonest or unauthorized way are all considered cheating.” Papers and essays must be submitted to Feedback Studio (formerly known as Turnitin.com), a widely used secondary and collegiate plagiarism detection tool, before they will be accepted by the teacher. Instructions for submitting work will be distributed in class. For clarification, students also should not arbitrarily decide to engage in group work. The teacher will provide students those opportunities and will notify them when collaboration is appropriate.

Consequences of Plagiarism

• First offense: A phone call or email to a parent, and 50% loss on the assignment. 
• Second offense: A zero on the assignment, a referral to administration, phone call or email to the parent, and three-days out of school suspension.
• Third offense: A zero on the assignment, a phone call or email to the parent, and a nine-day suspension.
• Fourth offense mandates being dropped from the class with an “F” along with consideration for alternative placement.

Cheating: 

Cheating on homework, tests and quizzes will result in a zero. Cheating is considered as any of the following: 

• Copying answers from another student’s paper during a test or quiz. 
• Use of any type of notes during a closed-book test or quiz. 
• Copying another student’s work, either entirely or in part. 
• Having someone else do the work for you, either in or out of class. 
• BOTH PARTIES, the person who copied the work and the person who allowed the person to cope, will receive the consequences similar to plagiarism. 

Digital Code of Conduct

The Governing Board intends that technological resources provided by the District be used in a safe, responsible and proper manner in support of the instructional program and for the advancement of student learning. It is the policy of the Chandler Unified School District to maintain an environment that promotes ethical and responsible conduct in all electronic resource activities by staff and students. The District reserves the right to monitor use of the District’s systems for improper use without warning or prior consent. Students shall be informed that computer files and electronic communications, including email, are not private and may be accessed by the District at any time. Inappropriate use may result in disciplinary action and/or legal action in accordance with the law and Board policy. Please visit the student 

Cell Phone Policy in the Classroom:

• When a student enters Dr. Brudvik’s classroom, airpods/headphones should be put away in backpacks, and cell phones turned on silent. Cell phones should be placed on the right-hand corner of each desk. 
• Students are responsible for using their cell phones properly i.e. not play games, browse the internet, or interact on social channels during class time. 
• At times when technology, such as a laptop, is not available in class, the teacher will allow cell phones to be used to complete an assignment. 
• Consequences for abusing cell phone use during class:
• First Offense: A brief conversation with the teacher to help get the student back on task. 
• Second Offense: Cell phone is taken away for the duration of class time. A private conversation with the teacher to help strategize ways to keep the student focused. 
• Third Offense: Cell phone is taken away for the duration of class time. A phone call or email home to parent informing of cell phone distraction during class. 
• Fourth Offense: Cell phone is taken away and given to Hamilton security to be picked up at the end of the school day. A phone call or email home to parent, and administration informing of cell phone distraction during class. 
• Fifth Offense: Cell phone is taken away and given to Hamilton security to be picked up by a parent. The student will lose his/her right to use the cell phone in the classroom. Student’s cell phone must be turned over to the teacher at the beginning of class. A phone call home to the parent, as well as a referral will be written up and sent over to the administration. 

Attendance

•  A.R.S. §15-803 (B) states that absences may be considered excessive when the number of absent days exceeds ten percent of the number of required attendance days prescribed in A.R.S. §15-802. Ten percent equates to nine (9) days of absences per semester regardless of whether they are excused or unexcused. After ten (10) absences a student may be dropped from the class.
• Students with excessive excused absences will be required to provide medical documentation to remain in class and excuse any further absences. If additional absences occur, and medical documentation is not provided, the student will be referred to administration.

Tardy Policy:

• Students are expected to be in class on time every day. On time means each student should be in his or her seat and prepared to begin class BEFORE the final bell rings.
•  A student is considered tardy if he/she arrives to class two (2) minutes after the final bell, and does not have a pass from the front office, nurses office, or another teacher.
• If a student is tardy three (3) times, a phone call will be made home.
• If a student is tardy five (5) times, a referral will be made to administration.

Bathroom Policy: 

• Students are allowed to use the bathroom during class by asking during an appropriate time (in between lessons or presentations, independent work time, group work). Please do not interrupt the teacher or a student presentation to ask to use the bathroom. 
• Students must sign out and sign in on the bathroom sheet, and write themselves a bathroom pass. 
• Students MUST leave cell phones on their desks while using the bathroom. 

JUNIOR ENGLISH STUDENT/PARENT/GUARDIAN CONTRACT

Student Name_________________________________________           Period_________

                                                  (please print)

This page must be signed and is due on or before Monday 7/26.  This syllabus is a type of contract. By signing it, you are indicating that you understand the policies, objectives, and expectations for Dr. Brudvik’s 11th grade English class. The syllabus will be available on our Google Classroom. 

Student Signature_____________________________________   Date________________

Dear Parent or Guardian: 

Communication is an important element for your child’s success in this class. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  The best mode of communication for me is email—I check it daily.  My email address and phone number are at the top of the syllabus, as well as on the website. brudvik.laura@CUSD80.com 

Use of video and film. Throughout the year I may show pertinent clips and possibly full length, rated PG-13 movies that coincide with the curriculum.  Your signature is required for these viewings. If you do not feel comfortable with your child seeing a PG-13 clip or film, simply write a blurb by your signature, and I will find something else for him/her to do during that time. 

As this year progresses, you can keep track of your student’s grades through Infinite Campus.  The system automatically sends out missing-assignment emails at the end of each week.  

I enforce the CUSD and HHS policies as presented in the Hamilton High School Handbook; please review it on the school webpage.  

Sincerely, 

Dr. Laura Brudvik

I have reviewed this syllabus with my child, and we understand the objectives, policies, and expectations of this class. 

Parent Signature_______________________________________     Date_____________