Sophomore English 10 Syllabus

Michael Wolfe
E-mail: miwolfe@jeffco.k12.co.us
Phone: (303) 982-2691
Office Hours: 7:00 a.m.-7:30 a.m. & after school by appt.
Website Address: https://www.wolfelhs.weebly.com
Welcome! I am looking forward to a fun and fruitful year with you in English 10. The following syllabus is
designed to facilitate a learning environment conducive to your success.
Course Goals/Objectives: English/Language Arts 10 offers a balanced focus on composition and literature with an
emphasis in American literature. Students read widely to improve their reading rate, vocabulary, and comprehension and
develop skills to determine the authors intent and theme and to recognize the techniques used by the author to deliver his
or her message. Students apply knowledge of purposes and audiences by studying and producing various genres. Oral
communication is practiced in group settings as well through presentations.
Required Books and Materials:
Books: The American literature to be read and analyzed in this course includes: The Crucible, Catcher in the Rye, The

Things They Carried, The Great Gatsby, A Raisin in the Sun, and Of Mice and Men. In addition to these major works we will
read poetry, short stories, and non-fiction articles.
Materials: Academic planner; college ruled, loose leaf paper; blue, black, and red pens; pencils; either a composition
book or spiral for note-taking; 3x3 sticky notes; and some system of organizing all your work.
You must have these materials and the required book EVERY DAY. I expect you to come to class prepared to do your
very best. Double check your backpack before arriving to class to make sure you have all your materials and the correct
book. You will not be allowed to leave class to obtain items from your locker and repeatedly failing to bring
materials will result in a lower grade.
What NOT to have out: Work from other classes, or any technology not explicitly approved for use. This include phones,
tablets/ipads, media players (ipod etc.), and calculators. All of these items are subject to confiscation if out during class.
Regarding Phones: Please keep your phone turned off (or silent) and in your bag. If your phone rings during class, you
will receive one warning before your phone is confiscated. Texting, taking pictures, or checking/updating phone calendars
will also result in immediate confiscation of your phone.
All use of personal technology in class should be done only with permission!

Course Requirements:
Attendance:
Students are expected to be in class, in their seats, on time, and fully prepared every day.
Absences are your personal responsibility and any missing or make-up work should be addressed with the
teacher in a timely fashion.
Class time is precious, so personal needs like using the restroom and filling up water bottles must be handled during
passing periods. Please do your best to minimize class disruptions or missed class time for these purposes.
Writing Emphases:
Perspectives from Past to Present
Literary Analysis
Argument and Debate
Inquiry Based Reports
Literary Patterns
Author Study
Short Fiction

Specifications for all assignments:

A full heading in the top left corner. Provide your full name, date, class period, and a brief description of the
assignment in MLA format.
Neatly written in pencil or blue/black ink on only one side of the paper. Work in brightly colored pen will not be
accepted.
All take-home writing assignment must be typed and formatted according the MLA v7 guidelines.
Assignments must be completed by the time you get to class.
**If an assignment does not meet the above specifications, it may be subject to point deductions, or refusal of the
assignment entirely.
Cheating/Plagiarism:
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM ARE VERY SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. LAKEWOOD
HOLDS HIGH ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS, AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF
THESE EXPECTATIONS. ANY STUDENT CAUGHT CHEATING ON A QUIZ, TEST, HOMEWORK, OR ANY CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT, OR IS
FOUND GUILTY OF PLAGIARISM (TO PASS OFF THE IDEAS OR WORKS OF ANOTHER AS ONES OWN WITHOUT CREDITING THE SOURCE)
OR GIVING WORK TO OTHERS WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF ZERO ON THAT ASSIGNMENT OR PAPER. CONSEQUENCES FOR
CHEATING/PLAGIARISM WILL RANGE FROM A DETENTION TO SUSPENSION IN ADDITION TO A ZERO ON THAT ASSIGNMENT.

Course Policies:
Homework - Although students may not have homework on a daily basis, students are expected to work on long-term
assignments, such as individual writing/reading, at home. All assignments are expected to be turned in on time.
Late Work - 50% will be deducted for an assignment that is late. However, the assignment will not be accepted after one
week of initial due date. Larger projects and writing assignments will have a 10% deduction for every day late up to three
days, at which point the assignment will be given no more than 70% credit.
No late work will be accepted after the grading period deadline.
Make-up Work - Please make every effort to turn in make-up work as soon as possible. Extensions on long-term
assignments are not given due to absences. Students need to be prepared to turn in assignments on the original due
date or on the day they return to school if an absence occurs on the due date.
Re-write Policy - Since writing is a process and not a product, and I am dedicated to your improvement in written
expression, I will always allow you to re-write any papers once for the opportunity to earn a higher grade. Your new grade
will be the average of the two grades. You must resubmit it within a week from when it is returned. It must be attached to
your initial paper with my marks and highlighted with your edits. Any D or lower must be re-written.
Absent Work:
After an absence, it is your responsibility to see me right away to find out what assignments/activities you missed and
when they will be due. You will be allowed the corresponding number of days two school days to make up the work
assigned during an excused absence. Students are encouraged to proactively communicate a pre-arranged absence
whenever possible. Please refer to the student handbook for further details on absence policies.
Remember, you must advocate for yourself!
Website:
Students may also access important course documents on my website. Power Point presentations, textbook reading
guides, and a course calendar will be published on the website. Additional important course documents will be posted on
the website as the year progresses. Students should visit the website frequently to access important resources.
Grading:
Students should focus on knowledge acquisition, the mastery of skills, and their academic growth, rather than on the
accumulation of points.

Grading Scale:
Grade Percentage
A
90%-100%
B
80-89%
C
70-79%
D
60-69%
F
<60%

Rounding Grades:
Final letter grades may be adjusted within a .5%
deviation at my discretion.
Your overall class performance is considered
when making this adjustment.

Class Expectations:
1. Be Punctual and Prepared. Arrive to class on time. Come to class with the required materials, including textbook,
pen/pencil, and homework from the previous class. Socializing should end immediately upon entering the
classroom. Take notes and copy examples done in class. All assignments should be completed to submit at the
beginning of the class period.
2. Be Respectful. Treat all students and teachers with respect and consideration. Remain aware of other students
rights to an education without distractions and maintain a clean and orderly environment in the classroom.
3. Be Involved. Actively participate in classroom discussion and activities. Appropriate questions and comments
are always welcome and encouraged. The learning experience is augmented by consistent, thoughtful classroom
participation. Please consult the classroom participation rubric to understand the guidelines for appropriate
classroom participation behavior.
4. Take Ownership. This is your education, and it requires your efforts and positive attitude to make it worth your
time. Take pride in your work and make efforts to show the true extent of your skills, and not simply the extent of
your motivation.
5. Reading & Note-taking. Students should diligently complete reading assignments as outlined in the course
calendar. Class lecture, discussion, quizzes, and tests will be implemented with the assumption that students
have completed the assigned reading as of the due date.
Parent-Teacher and Student-Teacher Communication
Communication between parents, students, and teachers is a key component of academic success. Therefore, it is
important for all three stakeholders to maintain involvement in the process. While my primary communication will be done
through the gradebook, parents and students are encouraged to proactively communicate questions or concerns
regarding work I prefer to communicate via e-mail, where I can be reached at miwolfe@jeffco.k12.co.us.

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