English II

Mr. Miller

Room 24

210– 534 - 9690

miller@actchs.org

Welcome! 

I am very excited to develop a wonderful learning experience with all of you this year!  My belief is that every student can produce remarkable work and learn the skills that will offer them a future of success, given the right tools, environment, and instruction.  ACT has an amazing core of teachers and administration that will do everything necessary to provide these things to the student, and in turn, the student will find themselves achieving at levels they never knew were possible.  Look forward to great things ahead!

Course Objective:

English I will be firmly rooted in the objectives set forth in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) guidelines along with the academic standards of the Academy of Careers and Technology Charter School District.   Students will have opportunities to expand their knowledge through extensive reading, writing, and oral presentations.  Students will also gain exposure to a variety of technologies.  As a focus at ACT, the student will use computers in many ways to include typing of papers, research, grammar tutors, practice tests and quizzes.  The course will concentrate on a variety of literary genres, vast grammatical conventions, literary analysis, and an intense focus on the writing process.   There will be several projects that will display the students’ mastery of various genres, composition, and grammar throughout the course.

Supplies:

You will need a pen/pencil, note-taking notebook (one-subject or multi-subject with one section dedicated to English), and a journal (composition notebook) everyday for class.

Absences and tardiness:

Success in the classroom requires participating in class assignments and discussions.  We will be doing group work, so other people will be counting on you to bring your knowledge and skills to class.  A student is counted tardy if he or she is not seated in their desk by the time the tardy bell rings. 

Late Work:

All daily work is due at the end of class unless otherwise instructed.  Homework and major projects are due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date.  Penalty for late work: 10 pts. off of the highest possible grade for every day it is late (e.g. One day late = 90% highest possible grade.  A “95” paper will receive a “90,” an “85” paper will receive an “85”)

Makeup Work for excused absences:

It is the student’s responsibility to check with the teacher after an absence to obtain missed work.  They may often receive make-up work in their attendance folder on the day after the absence.  The student and teacher will make arrangements for make-up due dates.

Academic honesty:

Students who copy others’ work and students who give their work to be copies should expect a ZERO on the assignment.  Cheating and getting work off the Internet or from other sources without giving them credit (citing sources) is not allowed under any circumstances.  This applies to any test, homework, essay, and other assignment that is turned in for a grade reflecting your personal work.  ACT student code of conduct will be applied if a student is guilty of cheating.  Parents will be notified if cheating occurs.  The only exception is when the teacher directly states that students may collaborate on an assignment or if the student is participating in approved peer tutoring.

Tutoring:

Anyone who needs help can come by after school on most days.  I encourage tutoring because it allows the student to receive personalized assistance with the subject matter.  Please contact myself ahead of time to schedule a tutoring session so I may make that time available and uninterrupted by my other responsibilities.

** This syllabus is subject to change and may need to be in order to accommodate for student and teacher needs.