English 7/8

Plan for Success

Ms. Aschmann

2023-2024

Course Description

ENGLISH 7-8 H Two-semester course, grade level 12

Prerequisite: Completion of English 5-6, 5-6 H; Instructor recommendation.

This course is designed for academically advanced, highly motivated students who were successful in English 5-6 H or are recommended for placement. Writing, speaking, and presentation skills are further refined in the context of all forms of academic and creative writing. Students study the diverse cultures of the world through literary analysis of those cultural, historical and political events that have shaped the human experience. Library research leads to the production of an extensive research paper.

Materials Required

Blue/black pens, pencils

Various supplies for projects          

3 x 5 index cards

Public library card

Flash Drive

Composition book

From time to time, students will be required to procure reading materials to support the district curriculum and state standards.

Grading System

All assignments are graded on a point system: class work, bell work, homework, writing assignments, journals, quizzes, tests, and daily assignments.  Since all the work we do is important, assignments are not weighted; rather, all work counts the same toward the well-being of a student’s grade.  Major writing assignments and tests are worth more points than smaller daily assignments.  Grades will be sent home every two weeks; parents must sign the grade check and students must return them to me.

According to district policy, extra credit may not exceed two percent of a student’s grade.

Grading Scale

100-90%   --  A

89-80%     --  B

79-70%     --  C

69-60%     --  D

Below 60% is a failing score, an “F.”

Semester Grades

Semester grades are calculated as follows:

1st term --     40%

2nd term --    40%

Final Exam – 20%

Rules, Regulations, and Attendance

1. Students are expected to follow PUHSD and TGB  High School rules at all times. 

2. Students are expected to behave in a manner that enhances teaching and learning. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and, accordingly, will be addressed following the Student Code of Conduct Handbook.

3. Because attendance and punctuality are crucial to student success, students must make every effort to be in class on time every day. If an ongoing problem arises, a parent will be called by me for notification, and to set up a conference if necessary. 

4. PUHSD and Trevor G. Browne High School attendance policies and procedures are in effect. Students who accumulate a total of 12 excused/unexcused absences in any class may lose credit for the semester after all interventions have been exhausted. 

~~~Interventions include (but are not limited to) phone calls home, contacts with student liaison, attendance contracts, communications with counselor, communications with registration office, requests for parent meetings, letters home.  If a student’s attendance precludes his/her success in this course, placement in evening school will be recommended. ~~~

“Absent” is defined as nonattendance in an assigned class or activity for more than one-half of the period. (PUHSD Governing Board Policy J-1561 JHR)

“Tardy” is defined as not being in the assigned class or activity when the tardy bell has finished ringing. (PUHSD Governing Board Policy J-1561 JHR)

5. Title I Program: Academic tutoring and test preparation is available to all students. Additional support for passing classes and graduating on time is the intent of these services.  Support through Title I funding is available in the areas of: math, reading and English. 

Make-up and Late Work Policy

1. Following an absence, a student will have a reasonable amount of time to complete missing work. Usually this means one day for every day missed.  If there are complicated circumstances, please come and talk to me and we can make the necessary arrangements.  It is the student’s responsibility to come in the morning he/she returns to school to obtain missing assignments.  If a student does not come in, he/she will not be allowed to make-up the work.
2. Long term assignments scheduled far in advance of their due dates may not be turned in late. If you are going to be out of school, make arrangements with me to turn the work in early.  If you are absent on the due date, make arrangements for somebody to bring the assignment to me.  **Long term assignments scheduled far in advance of their due dates may not be turned in late. **
3. If you are absent on the day of a test, it is your responsibility to come in the day you return to school to either take the test or make arrangements to take the test. Failure to do so will result in a zero for that test.
4. The opportunities to make-up group work, class activities, and cooperative learning sessions are extremely limited. Many of these activities can not be recreated on an individual basis.  The best way to avoid this problem is not to miss class!
5. I do not accept late work. Neither bell work nor pop quizzes can be made up. However, in extenuating circumstances you may complete and submit an approved alternative assignment in lieu of the original.
6. I am available for make-up work and extra help before school, during advisory, or after school. If you are unable to see me then, come and talk to me and we will make other arrangements.
7. All students are encouraged to take advantage of the tutoring opportunities for extra help with assignments.

Academic Dishonesty

Cheating, copying another student’s work, talking during a test or quiz, and plagiarism are all forms of academic dishonesty.  I have a zero tolerance policy:  if you cheat, you receive no credit for the assignment, I call your parents, and send a referral to the office.

All sources for essays must be cited and documented following MLA format.  Some essays may utilize APA format as well.  Failure to cite sources results in plagiarism, the worst of all forms of academic dishonesty. 

If you have questions, please come and talk to me.

Trevor Browne High School English Department

Plagiarism Policy

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, plagiarism is:

• Stealing and passing off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own
• Using (another’s production) without crediting the source
• Committing literary theft
• Presenting as original an idea derived from an existing source

Plagiarism is an extremely serious offense. Colleges and universities punish plagiarism with failure of the course, loss of credit, or expulsion. Therefore, students will be taught how to cite sources properly, to paraphrase, and other ways to avoid plagiarism. In our effort to prepare Trevor Browne High School students for college, career, and life we have established the following policy:

Offenses are accumulated on a semester basis.

Dear Parent/Guardian(s):

In order to inform you of the structure of my class, I have given your student a Plan for Success to share with you.  Please review this with your student; if you have any questions, you can

            call me at 602-764-8749

            send e-mail to aschmann@phoenixunion.org

Please fill out the bottom portion of this form so that I know you have read and understand what is expected of your student. 

Let’s all have a wonderful and productive school year!

Sincerely,

Ms. Aschmann

Acknowledgment

Student:

I have read the Plan for Student Success and understand what is expected of me.  I will keep it in my English folder as a reference.

___________________­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________                                                                       __________________________________

Student Name                                                                                                   Student Signature

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Parent:

I have read the Plan for Success and understand what is expected of my student.

____________________________________                                                    ___________________________________

Print Parent Name                                                                          Parent Signature

Home Phone______________________________

Work Phone____________________