Our English 4 syllabus
My Otley’s English 4 Syllabus Room: D-12 Email: rotley@neisd.net Friday Morning Tutoring: 7:45 -8:45 AM Tuesday Afternoon Tutoring: 3:30-4:30 PM Library Tutoring Times: 4:15-6:00 PM Course Description: English IV, the foundational English course for 12th grade students, is composed of genre specific units incorporating the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, including reading/literary study, writing, inquiry and research, listening, speaking, and presenting. The intent of this course is to equip students with the communication and thinking skills essential for success in social, academic (including SAT and ACT) and real-world situations. Unit Overview: Semester One (Fall 2021) Unit 1A--Strategies for Critical Reading and Response Unit 1B--Composing the Literary Analysis Essay and Creating Original Literary Texts: Fiction/Literary Nonfiction Unit 1C--Analysis & Composition of Literary Text: Poetry Unit 2A--Rhetorically Analyzing and Composing Texts that Argue and Inform Unit 2B--Analyzing Argumentative Texts through the Rhetorical Analysis Essay Unit Overview: Semester Two (Spring 2022) Unit 3A--Analysis & Composition of Literary Text: Drama Unit 3B--Making Connections across Texts with Rhetorical and Literary Analysis Unit 4A--Opposing Viewpoints: Composing the Argumentative Research Essay Unit 4B--Finding my Voice and Message: Composing with Multiple Genres and Modes Materials: ● Writing utensils (pens, pencils) ● Composition Book (Writer’s Notebook). This is VERY IMPORTANT! ● Folder/Binder to keep returned papers Grading Grades are provided to communicate a student’s mastery of the content and skills outlined in the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). Grade categories are as follows: Daily Work 60% Assessments/Projects 40% Semester Exams 20% Students wishing to complete an assignment after the deadline must make arrangements with Mr. Otley. Late work should be completed outside of regular class time, preferably during tutoring. Late work will incur a 20% penalty. Tutoring times are posted outside the classroom, beside the door. Semester exam exemptions will allow all high school students with good attendance, behavior and academic performance to exempt up to three semester exams in any subject for each semester. Semester exam exemption guidelines will apply to all high school students who meet the following criteria: Course Semester Grade Average Number of Absences Per Course Number of Tardies Per Course 95 or above 3 or fewer 3 or fewer 90-94 2 or fewer 2 or fewer 85-89 1 or fewer 1 or fewer 80-84 0 0 No exam exemptions will be allowed if:  the student has received a “U” in conduct for the exempting course during the semester;  the student has received a “No Credit” in any course for the semester;  the student has been suspended off-campus, assigned to ISS II or sent to an off-campus alternative setting in that semester. For further details about reteach/retest and credit protection, please refer to the Grading System/Explanations in the NEISD Student-Parent Handbook. https://www.neisd.net/cms/lib/TX02215002/Centricity/Domain/205/2019-2020%20Secondary%20Handbook.pdf Students may receive one of the following conduct grades on report cards: E (Excellent), S (Satisfactory), N (Needs to Improve), or U (Unsatisfactory). Conduct grades may impact eligibility for exam exemptions per district policy. Parent/Teacher Communication Email is the best way to communicate with teachers because there are no phones in classrooms. Phone calls made to the front office will be returned by teachers within 24 hrs. The phone number for the Madison office is 210-356-1400. Student grades are always available for review on Skyward, which is available through the school’s and/or NEISD website. Classroom Conduct: Please arrive to class (in person OR online) on time, prepared with necessary materials, and ready for the day’s agenda and activities. You are expected to be polite and courteous to your teacher and fellow classmates. This is a safe, welcoming learning environment where all individuals and points of view are respected and appreciated. As a student, you are expected to work hard and put forth your best effort on a daily basis.