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Honors Sophomore English Syllabus

Syllabus[]

Purpose of the Course[]

The aim of this course is to thoroughly prepare each student for upper level English courses and collegiate work through intensive reading and comprehension.

Class Objectives[]

Students will be introduced to literary analysis and analytical writing through the study of short stories, plays, poetry and novels. Students will apply the elements of composition in a variety of mediums.

Supplies that are needed by Monday, August 4, 2008[]

  • 1 ½” or 2” Three-ring binder with pockets
  • Journal-spiral single-subject notebook(freshman only)
  • Blue or black ink pens
  • Insertable tab dividers(5)
  • Loose-leaf paper
  • Highlighter(1-any color)
  • 3” x 5” notecards
  • Texts

Optional supplies[]

  • tissues
  • bag of individually wrapped candy(no gum please)



It will be necessary to have access to a dictionary and thesaurus throughout the year. We will also be doing projects that will require poster board. At least a week’s notice will be given before required.

Grading[]

Point System – assignments are weighed in relation to their overall significance to the course.

  • Tests: There will be several unit tests. These tests will be over both material covered in class and materials read outside of class. Tests will consist of multiple choice questions, true/false questions, matching questions, identify questions and of course the ever popular—essay questions.
  • Quizzes: There will be quizzes given throughout the year. Students will not always(but usually will) be notified in advance of these quizzes.
  • Writing Portfolio/journal(freshman only): Each student will keep a writing portfolio/journal that includes all of the essays they have written throughout the year.
  • In-class/At-home Assignments: Students will have weekly homework assignments. Students will also be responsible for outside reading and studying.
  • Group/Individual Presentations: Some units require collaborative work.
  • In-class Participation: Discussions are crucial to the success of this class. Each week a quiz grade will be given based on class participation. You earn points for paying attention, keeping up with the reading, adding observations, asking relevant questions, taking notes, etc. You will lose points for being unprepared, getting off-topic, treating another student discourteously, or not paying attention.

Classroom Rules[]

  1. Be in class on time.
  2. Follow directions.
  3. Respect others in both your words and your actions.
  4. Follow the policies set forth in your ELCA Student Handbook.
    1. A warning will be issued with a first offense by a student.
    2. The second offense will result in demerits as assigned by the student handbook.
    3. The continual offenses will result in parent contact.

General Policies[]

  1. Student Contract: I really love teaching and I encourage having fun in the classroom. To keep class running smoothly I have found it necessary to initiate a student contract. Although the class syllabus is contractual in nature, students sometimes fail to read or fully understand its contents. Thus, I require all students(and parents) to provide me written acknowledgement of agreeing to the contents of this syllabus. Well-informed students make wiser choices and are more likely to succeed in my classes. Should you find errors or problems in the syllabus or wish to provide suggested changes, please let me know immediately. At orientation please find the sign up sheet and initial that you have read your student's copy of the syllabus. The students will do the same when school begins.
  2. Attendance: Students are expected to provide notification/documentation of absences. Students will be responsible for make-up work.
  3. Make-Up Policy: If it is necessary to be absent from class, there is a limited amount of time to complete missing work.
    1. NO MAKE-UPS WILL BE GIVEN DURING CLASS-NO EXCEPTIONS. Work can be completed after school on pre-set days.
    2. It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to approach the teacher and find out any work that was missed and to schedule a time to complete this work. The teacher will not approach students with this information. Refer to posted weekly syllabus for assignment summary.
    3. Any work due on the day of an absence is due at the beginning of class on the day you return. I will not ask for the assignments.
    4. The time for questioning about missed work is before or after class or school. The matter will not be addressed during class.
    5. The time allotment for make-up work to be completed in accordance with the ELCA handbook. Any test or work not made up before this time limit will become a PERMANENT zero.
    6. If a student is absent for the class period before a test, quiz or project is due, the student is still responsible for that material unless new material was given the day the student was absent.
    7. A school-sponsored event will follow the same restrictions as an excused absence from class. The teacher must be notified prior to the planned date of absence.
    8. Make-up work will only be allowed for EXCUSED absences. Absences are excused according to ELCA policies. Any unexcused absences or unexcused tardies will result in an automatic zero. THESE POLICIES WILL BE ENFORCED OUT OF CONCERN FOR THE STUDENTS’ EDUCATION. THE POLICIES ARE DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE PROCRASTINATION AND PROMOTE THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULTS ON MAKE-UP WORK.
  4. Academic Honesty: Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated and will be dealt with according to the ELCA handbook. Just don’t do it!

Help Class[]

DISCLAIMER: This syllabus provides a general plan for the course. Deviations may be necessary. The scheduling and contents of this syllabus are subject to change.
The following are the major works that we will consider this year. You will need to acquire a copy of each. I will also provide supplemental readings(either in hand-out form or from the Literature book).

Help Class is by appointment only. If help is needed, contact me the day before--either by email or before/after class and school. Thanks, Ms. Gaugler.
Feel free to email me anytime.


Course Scope and Sequence[]

Fall Semester[]

  • Lord of the Flies (Summer Reading for Honors)-Golding
  • Mythology-Edith Hamilton
  • Our Town-Thornton Wilder
  • Emma -Austen
  • Antigone -Sophocles

Spring Semester[]

  • Poetry(Literature book)
  • A Tale of Two Cities-Charles Dickens
  • Julius Caesar-Shakespeare
  • The Glass Menagerie-Tennessee Williams
  • Selected Short Stories-(Literature book)

Additional (Honors) Texts[]

  • The Screwtape Letters-C.S. Lewis
  • A Midsummer's Night Dream-William Shakespeare
  • The Taming of the Shrew-William Shakespeare


  • Vocabulary for Achievement, 4th course
  • Townsend Press Vocabulary
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