Course Syllabus

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English I Course Information – Benjamin Lukey

 

Dear Students and Parents,

 

Welcome to Weddington High School!  I am honored to be a part of your educational experience here.  This letter outlines my course policies and procedures.  After reading these policies, students should keep this sheet in their course binders for future reference.  In case you have any questions or concerns, my contact info is listed below. Email is usually the most efficient way to contact me.  I am eagerly looking forward to a great semester with all of you!

 

Sincerely,

Benjamin D. Lukey

Teacher Contact Info—WHS phone: 704-708-5530/e-mail: benjamin.lukey@ucps.k12.nc.us

Course Description—English I is a survey course.  All genres of literature are studied; this includes novels, drama, poetry, short stories, and various types of non-fiction.  There is also a focus on improving students’ skills in written and oral communication through the study of grammar and vocabulary, group and partner work, class discussions and presentations.

Classroom Rules

  1. Be professional:
    • Come to class on time and prepared for work.
    • In everything we do, give your very best.
    • Don’t waste my time.

  1. Be respectful:
    • Treat others the way you wish to be treated.
    • Control your verbal and non-verbal communication.
    • Don’t waste each other’s time.

 

  1. Be Proactive:
    • Learn classroom routines and follow them independently.
    • Read directions and ask for help.
    • Don’t waste your time.

 

Adherence to these rules may look different in different situational contexts, so I will refer back to them frequently and model my expectations continually throughout the semester.  They are posted conspicuously at the front of the classroom for this purpose.  As you can see, one overarching principle is that students should not waste anyone’s time, including their own.  This is not just about getting classwork done efficiently.  Education should not be a waste of anyone’s time, and ideally it should never even feel like a waste of time.  I will treat every lesson as crucially important, and I will always give each class my very best.  I expect my students to do the same.

 

Grading—Grades will fall into three main categories.  They are as follows:

  1. General Assessments – 40% (This category includes tests, essays, major projects, etc.  Think of it as “the big stuff” we do.  There are usually 3 or 4 of these items each grading period.)
  2. Quizzes – 40% (This category obviously contains quizzes, but also included in it are in-class projects, presentations, and informal writing assignments.  There are usually 6 or 7 of these items each grading period.)
  3. Class work/Homework – 20% (This category includes grammar workbook pages, vocabulary exercises, in-class activities, and homework assignments.) 

 

Homework—While I don’t assign much material as homework, there is always something you should be doing at home for my class – reading a novel, reviewing notes, studying for a test, etc.  You always know of upcoming quizzes and reading deadlines, so be mindful of those each night.

Extra Credit—I offer extra credit at least a few times each grading period, and all students are given the same opportunities.  No extra credit is ever offered on an individual basis.  These opportunities vary each six weeks and the details will be explained to students as the semester progresses.

 

Books—Although we do use the Holt-McDougal literature and grammar textbooks purchased by the school, I will not issue them.  Instead, we will use a class set.  However, there are more than enough books for students to check out if they need to study or to do make-up work.  When we study a novel, students will be issued individual copies as well as a reading schedule.  The novels should be brought to class every day.

Required Materials

  1. A three-ring binder approximately 1” thick (This may be shared with another class if it is larger)
  2. Five dividers for the binder
  3. Loose-leaf paper for the binder
  4. Pencil, HB #2
  5. Pen with black or blue ink (work submitted in ink of other colors will have points deducted)
  6. Highlighter (if the directions for an assignment call for highlighting, work submitted without appropriate highlighting will have points deducted)
  7. A book for Sustained Silent Reading (please see separate letter outlining expectations for SSR)
  8. Chromebook and charger (if issued)