English 10 Honors Syllabus - Rowland High School

English 10 Honors 2010-2011
Syllabus and Class Expectations // Mr. Lamar
Room C5 Extension 3264
Email blamar@rowland.k12.ca.us
Welcome 10 th Graders! I look forward to getting to know you and helping you achieve the very best. This year,
we will survey American literature and focus on themes prevalent in the genre.
Course Objectives
• Students will read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of genre-based American
literature consistent with advanced levels of expectations and performance.
• Students will develop skills and strategies to write and speak with a command of standard English
conventions, and with clarity and purpose.
• Students will demonstrate familiarity and proficiency with the use of technology and various modes of
information.
Core Literature
It is a good idea to obtain your own copy of these books so that you may annotate and take notes in them.
The Scarlet Letter (summer reading)
The Crucible (fall semester)
Huckleberry Finn (fall semester)
The Great Gatsby (spring semester)
The Catcher in the Rye (spring semester)
Required Materials
• Writing instruments (pen/pencils and paper)
• 1”-1 ½” binder or folder
• Elements of Literature, Fifth Course
• Your positive attitude
Classroom Expectations
1. Be in your seat when the bell rings.
2. Come to class prepared. This means you have the materials needed for the class: textbook or novel,
pencil/pen, paper, homework, or project.
3. No food or drinks allowed.
4. Don’t groom yourselves in class.
5. Cell phones and electronic devices will be turned off during the class period and be out of sight.
6. Respect your surroundings. Clean up before you leave the class.
7. Respect others: teacher and your classmates. Raise your hand if you want to be acknowledged.
Class Procedures
• Required reading will be assigned to you throughout the year. You are expected to complete a
thorough reading of the text in order to earn points on pop quizzes, participate in thoughtful discussion,
and to compose insightful essays.
• Formal Writing is a major portion of your grade. All final drafts of formal papers must be typed and in
MLA format or suffer a penalty of 10%.
• Participation points will count for a portion of your grade. It is imperative that you don’t simply absorb
literature passively, but have an opinion and be able to talk about the text in a sophisticated manner.
Participation in the classroom will earn you points, and likewise, violation of the Classroom
Expectations will lose you points.

Tardies
The English Department has adopted a tardy policy, and it will be used in this class.
1st/2nd = Verbal warnings
3rd/4th = Call home
5+ = Detention
Absences and Make-up Work
It is your responsibility to find out what you have missed due to an excused absence (illness, activity, etc.). You
will have one day to make up an assignment for each excused day of absence. If you miss a test, it is your
responsibility to have the test made up when you return. Work not turned in on the assigned due date, whether
it is homework or a project, will receive half credit if it is turned in within 24 hours. Late work will not be
accepted if it is more than a day late. If you are on campus but do not attend my class you must still turn in
your assignments before 3:00 pm.
Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating is the misrepresentation of a student’s own abilities, knowledge or proficiency. A student who cheats
on an exam, homework, or other assignment will receive a zero for the assignment and a referral to the vice
principle. This department policy refers to copied homework, as well as students who choose to use notes
during exams and/or copy the answers of others.
Grading Policy
In accordance with the Honors English Department policy, the following grade scale is used (grades will not be
rounded):
100-97% A+ 89.9-87% B+ 79.9-77% C+ 69.9-0% F
96.9-93% A 86.9-83% B 76.9-73% C
92.9-90% A- 82.9-80% B- 72.9-70% C-
That’s right! No D’s. All Honors classes have removed D’s from the grading scale and the English Department
has agreed on 70% being the cut-off.
Grades will be based on essays, tests, quizzes, quick writes, projects, homework and classroom participation.
Formal Writing = 35%
Tests/Quizzes/Projects = 35%
Homework/Practice = 20%
Participation = 10%
Student/Parent Resources to Mr. Lamar’s Class
I regularly update the course website which contains information on the course, daily assignments, projects
and resources for reading and writing. If you are absent, neglected to copy down the homework assignment,
need directions for a project or would like to utilize some of the support links available you may go to the
course homepage by going to http://rhs.rowlandschools.org/ and then navigating through the
“Classes/Homework” section under “Students”.
Students or parents who wish to contact me may do so through the school’s phone system at (626) 965-3448
or via e-mail at blamar@rowland.k12.ca.us. I will respond as quickly as possible to your inquiries. I welcome
meeting with parents and I will do my best to keep parents informed of student’s progress in my class. My prep
period is 5 th , which is 11:29-12:24 on a regular school day.
Let’s work together to make this a great year.
Cordially,
Brian Lamar
English Department
Parent Signature: ____________________