English 5-6 Syllabus

Teacher:         Mr. Barsness

Contacts:        lmbarsne @guhsdaz.org
                        623-435-6300

Room:             104

Welcome to English 5-6!  This syllabus outlines the learning goals for this course as well as policies and procedures that you will be expected to follow.  If you have any questions or concerns, I encourage you to contact me early in the year.

Academic Outcomes:
1)      Writing: The writing focuses for this course includes the following: an expository essay, personal narrative, persuasive writing, literary analysis and responses, functional writing, and research.  Further, the district assesses English 5-6 students on the compare and contrast essay, and students are tested on this in the fourth quarter.  Next, vocabulary development will be routinely emphasized.  You will also learn and review basic skills of writing which includes grammar instruction, capitalization, punctuation, pre-writing, and editing techniques.

2)      Reading: You will read a variety of written works over the course of the year including novels, short stories, poetry, and non-fiction.  Novels that students will read will include The House on Mango Street, Of Mice and Men, and The Catcher in the Rye.  Also, English 5-6 students will work in groups called “literature circles” in which you will pick a book from a short list and work with your group in understanding and analyzing the novel.

Classroom Rules:
1)      Respect yourself, your classmates, the school, and me.
2)      No language of hate.
3)      Come to class prepared.
4)      Cell-phones, CD-players, or other electronic devices are not allowed out on campus during school hours. If an electronic devise is out, it will be taken from the student and given to the office, and they will assign the student a detention or further consequences (see handbook).
5)      School rules apply here, including dress code and the sweeps policy.

Consequences if You Choose to Break a Rule:
1)      Conference with me.
2)      One hour detention.
3)      Parent/guardian conference and one hour detention.
4)      Discipline referral to the Dean of Students.

«     If you misbehave when a substitute is here, it is an automatic three-hour detention.

Grading Scale:
1 - (90 and up)  2 – (80 to 89%)  3 – (70 to 79%)  4 – (60 to 69%)  5 (failing) – (59% and below)

Grades are based on completion and scores of homework (25%), participation/in-class notebook (15%), and tests/quizzes, papers, and final projects (60%).  Late homework will be accepted up to one week after it is due for half credit.  If you plagiarize (cheat/copy) you will receive no credit for the assignment and will not have the opportunity to turn it in late for half-credit. 

A Note on Absences:
If you miss class and it is excused, you will able to make up the class work you missed for full credit if completed the day after you return.  If you have a multi-day absence, discuss with me options for completing missing work.

Remember the sweeps policy: a tardy is the same as an absence.  If you show up late without a pass, you will report to the sweeps room for the hour.  If an assignment is due on a day you miss because of sweeps, it is still due on that day by 2:40 or it is late.

Materials:
You will need to have a folder, a notebook, loose-leaf paper, pens/pencils, plus any necessary books.  You must bring these materials to class everyday.  Homework completed on ragged-edged paper will not be accepted.

Procedures:
Class begins when the bell rings.  When you enter the classroom, quietly begin the posted assignment (bell work).  At the end of class, you will remain in your seat until the bell rings.  Finally, you get two bathroom passes per semester, and must have your ID to leave class (school policy), so take care of your business before class!

To Parents/Guardians:
Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time during the school year if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.  E-mail is most convenient for me.  I believe that parent-teacher contact is a powerful tool to help your child succeed in school.  I also encourage you to ask to see your child’s homework, which they will have almost everyday except on Fridays.  Thank you for your support!