English+11+Course+Expectations

English 11: American Literature Course Expectations **A.)** **Contact Information**

Mr. Joe Freeman Office A-2 (across from Mr. Bell’s Office) Extra help: by appointment or drop in. I teach during B and D blocks but am free otherwise. jfreeman@randolphschool.net (256) 799-6185  begin_of_the_skype_highlighting   (256) 799-6185  end_of_the_skype_highlighting  (office) (860) 417-9172  begin_of_the_skype_highlighting   (860) 417-9172  end_of_the_skype_highlighting  (mobile)* (Please exercise good judgment if you choose to contact me at home).

**B.)** **Honor Code**

The Randolph Honor Code states: “Of utmost importance to every Randolph School student is the Honor Code. The school believes every student is honor-bound to refrain from lying, cheating, plagiarizing, and stealing” (Randolph Student-Parent Handbook).

The Randolph Honor Pledge states: “I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this work.”

Keep in mind that the application of this code to the English classroom is comprehensive and thorough, and, at times, it can get fuzzy. Below are some guidelines regarding the practice of academic integrity in the English classroom:

1.) Remember that the honor code is, first and foremost, a principle. If you make every effort to act with integrity in both word and deed, you will probably never run afoul of this code. **You will never get in trouble if you ask questions about honor and academic integrity. If you are unsure of anything, please ask.** 2.) Often, we make errors in judgment and commit lapses in integrity when we feel panicked or overwhelmed. Plagiarism and cheating can seem like easy solutions to a heavy workload or a way to understand particularly challenging literature. Learn to realize those times when cheating might become an issue and guard against succumbing to such temptation. Also, keep in mind that, on average, plagiarized work impacts one’s final year end grade by less than one point. How much is your integrity worth? 3.) We all make mistakes, and moments of dishonor cause tremendous feelings of guilt and shame. If you knowingly break the honor code, your conscience will bother you long before a teacher or the Honor Council will ask you to answer for your actions. While admitting your mistake will not eliminate all consequences of your action, doing so will do much to restore your own integrity and the trust others place in you. Do not be afraid to come forward with an honor violation.

In general, the following actions constitute a violation of the honor code:

1.) **Plagiarism**—using someone else’s **ideas** without proper citation. Notice that it is the use of someone’s IDEA, and not someone’s words, that constitutes plagiarism. **2.)** **Submitting written work prepared in whole are in part by another person and passing that work off as your own.** 3.) **Collaborating on an assignment without permission**.

4.) **Receiving extra help on an essay without citing that help.** You can, and often will, work together during the writing process. This sort of collaboration is generally encouraged. However, whenever you receive and employ suggestions made by another student or teacher, you need to acknowledge that extra help in writing on the essay. Even a handwritten note next to your pledge will suffice.

5.) **Submitting work for this class that you have already employed in another context** (either at Randolph or at another school). I expect all work to be original to this class.

**6.)** **Giving or receiving aid on a quiz, test, or in-class assignment.**

7.) **Using any sort of print or electronic study guide at any point in the reading and writing process (Sparknotes, Cliffs’ Notes, Pink Monkey, etc…).** This final violation can be difficult to understand and follow. It is of critical importance, however, that you avoid any consultation of these sources, even as a way to further your understanding of a reading assignment. First, others’ ideas will overshadow your own without you even realizing it. Secondly, you will rob yourself of the opportunity to craft a personal relationship with the text. Literary analysis is ultimately an exploration of this personal relationship. You’re already much smarter than the Sparknote.

We will return to the topic of honor and academic honesty throughout the year. This topic comes first in this packet because it is the most important expectation that I will hold you to this year.

**C.)** **Required Materials**

At every class meeting, you are required to bring the following: While I encourage you to bring your laptop as a useful tool, you need not bring it to every class meeting. You will need it in class during the writing process, however.
 * 1) A copy of the text under consideration
 * 2) A three-ring binder equipped with loose leaf paper
 * 3) A pen (pencils are for math)

**D.)** **Class Participation** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Class discussions are the central vehicle of intellectual inquiry in the English classroom. In developing reading, writing, thinking, and speaking skills, you will be asked to make vocal contributions to class discussions. Speaking becomes particularly important in our study of literature, as our collective understanding of a text becomes broadened and deepened by disparate perspectives and understandings. Through class discussions, we will develop the habits of mind necessary for serious scholarly inquiry. As such, each member of our class has a responsibility to propel and sustain thoughtful and relevant class discussions. Because class participation is so important, you will be evaluated by me, your peers, and yourself on your level of class engagement. This evaluation will count for 10% of your final grade. **It is unacceptable not to speak in the English classroom**. Model discussion participants demonstrate that they:

- <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">can regularly offer insightful observations and ask questions that provoke fruitful discussion. - <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">have an articulate voice and an ability to speak in clear and precise terms. - <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Are thorough and thoughtful in their reading and preparation. - <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">listen carefully, patiently, and quietly to the ideas of others. - <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Can defend their arguments with TEXTUAL evidence. - <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Are serious in their approach and respectful in their behavior. - <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Take care not to dominate class discussions, deliberately providing opportunities for equal participation and encouraging quieter students to engage. - <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Support and constructively assist their peers. - <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Have the courage to take intellectual and personal risks, especially to advance and deepen ideas and inquiry.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">E. Decorum **

Tardiness shows an inattention to detail and a lack of respect for the important business of the class. Lateness will inevitably be met with the appropriate number of points.

Please adhere to the standards of class dress. If I notice you out of dress code, I will ask you to remedy the violation, and I will assign you the appropriate number of points.

Mobile phones have no place in the classroom. I ask that you leave your phones in your locker. If you must bring your phone to class, it should remain off, out of sight, and preferably out of reach. I will probably overreact to a phone ringing in my classroom. I will DEFINITELY overreact to pocket texting in my classroom. Avoid any unpleasantness by vigilantly guarding against having your mobile phone on in class.

Class discussions can and will get lively, and I enjoy moments of levity. We must take care not to interrupt, shout-down, bully, or intimidate any of our classmates, however. Members of the class should feel safe and comfortable in expressing their ideas and feelings in an open, non-judgmental environment.


 * F. Organization**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">SAVE EVERYTHING! **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;"> Learning is a process, and your notebook should make your personal learning process and progress explicit (meaning you keep all of your written work). Keeping your work as organized as possible enables you to see, to analyze, and to understand it much better. Use section dividers to organize your binder in whatever way works best for you. Surely you will benefit from this organization.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">You are expected to take notes, though the format and content of these notes is up to you. Experimenting with different methods and styles of note-taking will allow you to develop a system that you find most effective. Please be sure to move beyond recording only those ideas placed on the board, however. My use of the board as a teaching tool can be sporadic—many pivotal ideas and concepts will not be recorded for your convenience. Feel free to see me if you are in need of any more suggestions regarding this topic.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">G. Expectations Regarding Written Work

1.) **Papers** **are due at the beginning of class on the given due date.** You will be given frequent opportunities to write. Assignments will vary in length from a paragraph to multiple pages (up to seven). You should expect to submit something at least once per week, and much of your writing work will be in addition to the readings. All writing assignments should be typed and printed before class. In a bind, you may email me the document, but I must have receipt by the beginning of class to avoid any lateness penalties. Please make email submission the exception and not the rule.

2.) **Papers should be properly formatted**. Please double space your work, write in 12 point font (I like Times New Roman, but I’m flexible), and preserve one inch margins. Inflating or deflating margins and spacing is an easy way to telegraph a disregard for the dictates of the assignment.

3.) **We will often utilize peer review.**Constructively criticizing a person’s writing is a compliment. Peer response groups will provide every writer with a true audience (not just me). These response groups will be utilized on many (though not all) assessments given this term. In order to work, however, reader must make thoughtful, insightful, and constructive comments, giving the honest feedback necessary for effective revision. Responders should be careful to comment upon and annotate, not change or alter. By earnestly participating in peer response exercises, you will improve your own reading and writing skills and assist your peers in improving theirs.

4.) **You may rewrite essays.**Revising is the most important, and often the most overlooked, step in the writing process. In fact, the writing process never truly ends, but always is bolstered by periodic rewriting. Published works usually go through scores of drafts before they are sent to the press. Draft copies of much “classic” literature models the painstaking attention that authors and reviewers give to rewriting. You should always take care to revise your written work. Furthermore, I will almost always accept rewrites of previous essays. **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">I do ask, however, that you submit any rewrites with an accompanying cover letter explaining how and why you changed the essay **. Your rewrite grade will be averaged with your original grade to provide a final assessment grade.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">5.) **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Plan to meet with me about your writing **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">. I am always available for writing conferences at our mutual convenience. During the term I will ask you to make appointments to discuss your coursework with me. These conferences provide you with an opportunity to improve your writing through a focused and individualized discussion of your progress as a writer and student. At the same time, they allow me to address topics and issues that I may not have fully or effectively conveyed to you. In my own development as a writer, nothing has helped me as much as small-group conferences in aiding my development and fluency.

6.) **I give extensions.** That said, I have a few stipulations for those extensions. First, you must ask for an extension at least 24 hours before the assessment is due. Secondly, you need to have some legitimate reason for needing the extension. Frankly, I accept most reasons. Finally, you must be prepared to name a reasonable deadline for submission. I will hold you to that revised deadline.

A FINAL SUMMARY OF MY EXPECTATIONS - arrive at every class meeting fully prepared (homework and materials). - submit all coursework in a timely fashion. - treat others with respect and decency, particularly in the course of class discussion. - assume responsibility for your own learning and the learning of your peers. - provide constructive feedback to your classmates. - seek out extra help whenever needed. - take the business of the class seriously. - strive to improve as a reader, writer, thinker, and speaker - offer extra help whenever possible. - keep classrooms clean (no gum or food—drinks must have lids). - take emotional and intellectual risks. - have fun.
 * I expect you to ** :

- arrive to all class meetings with a clear plan. - Make myself available for extra help whenever possible (within reason, of course). - Establish and maintain a comfortable learning environment. - Return graded assignments in a timely fashion (I should not take longer than one week). - Provide constructive feedback on essays and in class. - Seek out extra help whenever needed. - Accept feedback politely and attentively. - Take emotional and intellectual risks. - Care deeply about your progress as a student and person.
 * You should expect me to ** :