English 12
Course Description/Overview/Welcome Statement
Course Overview
Our goal is to form a secure space where we can read, write, collaborate, and grow as we master our curriculum so that we end our year as competent and confident readers and writers with the necessary skills to succeed in all endeavors.
Reading: We will read a wide variety of texts together and independently this year, including novels, short stories, articles, dramas, poems, and essays. Please contact me if you or your guardians have any questions or concerns regarding texts used.
Writing: We will continually practice our writing skills for a wide range of purposes and audiences, including but not limited to journaling and personal reflection, expository essays, argumentative essays, research essays, and poetry. Writing will be required in and out of class both collaboratively and independently.
Discussion:Speaking and listening are integral to English and in our standards. Thus participation in the form of speaking and listening will be required and assessed.
Learning Expectations
Learning Expectations:
The English Language Arts Standards for English 9 may be found here: http://www.uen.org/core/core.do?courseNum=4290. Daily learning targets and success criteria will support mastery of these standards.
Assessment of Progress
Assessments:
A range of formative and summative assessments using reading, writing, and discussion skills will be used such as multiple choice and free response, essays, poems, debates, presentations, and multimedia work. Some assessments (formative) will not be graded since students should not be punished while practicing a skill. Students should earn credit for their learning always, thus students may retake any assessment they earned below a 60 on after demonstrating additional practice on the skill(s). There will be major summative assessments over term content in the last two weeks of each term.
Course Materials
Materials
Students need a pen/pencil, a folder or binder, their textbook (My Perspectives from Pearson, and a journal.
Technology
Canvas: All students have free access to Canvas, an online classroom. Please find assignments, information, and discussion forums in Canvas at provo.instructure.com
Remind101: You and your guardians can sign up to receive text announcements by texting @eng9hphs to the number 81010.
Movies: Film clips and videos will be used occasionally to support our curriculum (e.g., viewing the movie version of a text we read). Some video may be rated PG or PG-13: If you prefer your student to have an alternative activity during these rare instances, please contact me.
Cell Phones: All students are expected to follow school policy by keeping these out of sight during class (including headphones) except if granted permission from me for academic purposes (e.g., researching the answer to a question in class). I reserve the right to preserve our classroom environment by confiscating phones if necessary.
Classroom Procedures
Classroom Expectations
Plan for Success: Come to class prepared with your supplies and ready to learn.
Practice Safe Behavior: Unsafe behavior, physical and emotional, will not be tolerated.
Provide and Receive Honest Feedback: All our interactions should be constructive, honest, beneficial to all parties, and necessary.
Promote a Positive Attitude: Positivity is vital and smiling is encouraged! Have fun.
Academic Integrity
I will not accept academic dishonesty in any form, including plagiarism. All work should be your own, original work with any sources correctly cited in MLA format. Dishonesty of any form will result in the student attending tutoring to complete a supervised redo of the assignment.
School Policies
Students are expected to be familiar with and follow all school policies. Find them at www.phs.provo.edu/policies. I also abide by all school policies and the handbook can be found at http://provohigh.provo.edu/faculty-staff/ .
Calendar of Due Dates for Major Assignments
Grading and Assessment
I will promptly grade assignments and update PowerSchool. Students must turn all work in at the assigned time.
Grading Scale:
A: 100-93 A-: 92-90
B+:89-87 B: 86-83 B-: 82-80
C+: 79-77 C: 76-73 C-: 72-70
D: 69-60
Work Category Weights: Test/Project: 50%; Quiz: 30%; Classwork/Homework: 20%
Completion of all four terms with a grade of 60 or higher grants 1 English core credit.
Due dates will be posted in PowerSchool at least the week of the assignment. Late work for a term has an absolute due date of the day prior to the term end. Term 1 ends October 18; Term 2 ends January 12; Term 3 ends March 16; Term 4 ends May 25.
Makeup and late work:
All work is critical in our progression towards achieving the standards. It is your responsibility to come during tutoring hours for makeup work prior to any planned absence and immediately following an unplanned absence.
All assignments have a due date. Completing work after the due date limits my ability to provide accurate feedback and help your progress. If you are not able to turn in an assignment on the due date, you must turn in a “Missing Work Plan” paper to me instead outlining the reason for the delay and your plan to complete it promptly.
Zeroes for missing work prevent an accurate picture of student achievement. 0’s will serve as a placeholder for missing work with the expectation that it will be replaced with an accurate measure of student work on the assignment quickly.
Progress Reports and Report Cards
Report cards are issued each term. They will contain an academic grade and a conduct grade.
Connecting Home to School
Monitoring Student Progress:
I encourage students and their guardians to monitor progress closely. To support this goal, an emailed announcement noting class goals and content will be sent out at the start of each term. Canvas and PowerSchool will have details on assignments. I will send out alerts regarding failing grades near the end of each term. Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
Mrs. Merritt Harris
Phone: (801) 373-6550 ext. 3332
Office Hours: Before and after school and by appointment
Email: merritto@provo.edu
English 
Spanish