7th Grade, English I, English III, and English IV                         Room 200

“Success is dependent upon effort.” ---Sophocles

Materials Needed: 
    your agenda 
    positive attitude 
    loose-leaf paper/notebook 
    pocket folder w/prongs (7th: yellow; Eng. I: blue; Eng. III: orange; Eng. IV: green) 
    black or blue ink pen, red ink pen, and a pencil 
    highlighter 
    USB jump drive (optional) 
    correction fluid (optional) 
    book to read (personal IPods and MP3 players on a limited basis)

Curriculum: English class will consist of grammar review/practice, vocabulary assignments, writing activities,
and the reading of literature from the textbook and selected novels.

Objectives: This course will: 
    - improve your grammar skills in both oral and written usage; 
    - increase your vocabulary skills in both oral and written usage; 
    - give you an opportunity to write essays and incorporate the six-traits of writing with emphasis on
      proper conventions; 
    - familiarize you with a variety of reading materials such as fiction, nonfiction, drama, etc. 
    - allow you to expand your critical thinking skills through the study of literature.

Grading: Your grade will be calculated on a point system. Points will be awarded for bell work, assignments,
essays, study guides, quizzes, tests, CASE (see below), etc. 

                Points Received/Points Possible = Percent 

                            A = 100-90 
                            B = 89-80 
                            C = 79-70 
                            D = 69-60 
                            F = 59-0

CASE grade (Conduct, Attitude, Supplies, and Effort) will consist of 50 points each quarter and will be
adjusted throughout each quarter. Five points will be deducted for each infraction. It is up to you to
keep these 50 points.

Plagiarism is never acceptable! Plagiarism is cheating by using the work of others without adequate
acknowledgment. It represents a person’s intentional use of words and ideas written by another as if the
ideas were one’s own. Plagiarism further includes copying another student’s work and submitting it as
one’s own or printing off written work from the Internet and submitting it as one’s own. Plagiarism is a
serious offense and will be treated as such. If a piece of submitted work is proven to be plagiarized, it
shall result in a zero on that assignment with no opportunity for the assignment to be redone.

Make-Up Work: It is your responsibility to make up assignments and tests when you have been absent.
If you know that you will be absent, hand in the work before you leave; this also applies to school events.
When you return, ask me about any additional assignments and/or adjustments. Special arrangements will
be made in the event of an extended absence.

Late Work: Do not get into the habit of handing in assignments late; this is a negative trait and will hurt
your grade. You will lose 50% of the credit for any assignment that is turned in one day late; the
assignment will not be accepted after that. If you know that you will be absent, get the assignment before
you leave; your assignment is due on the regularly scheduled due date. This means that you may need to
hand in the assignment before you leave; this applies to all school events. If this is not possible, please
discuss the situation with me for an exception to the rule before the planned absence. (In the case of an
illness or another type of excused absence, school policy will be followed.)

Classroom Guidelines: I expect every student to be respectful of all people, property, and policies.
This means that you need to: 
    - be prepared by having supplies and by having your work completed. Bring a book to read in the event
      you finish your work before the bell rings. 
    - enter my classroom with a positive attitude. 
    - be in your assigned seat when the bell rings. At the end of the hour, tables and chairs will be arranged
      neatly. I will dismiss you, not the bell. 
    - behave responsibly when given privileges of drinks and snacks in the room. 
    - use your own agenda in order to leave the room. 
    - behave appropriately. This means no profanity, no rude gestures, no rude manners, no rude remarks,
      no feet on tables/desks, no tipping on the back legs of the chairs, no throwing trash at the wastebasket,
      etc.

Consequences: If you choose to break any of the classroom guidelines, you will lose CASE points. Upon
continuation of the act or second offense, you will be assigned a detention.

Remember: You are in control of your success. If you need assistance, please ask me; I cannot read your
mind. Convenient times to get my assistance are before school, SIP, or after school.

I want you to have a terrific year!