English 4

Dare to know! (Sapere Aude!) Immanuel Kant, What is Englightenment?

Teacher: Jay Szydzik
Classroom: Room 716
Email: To be determined

Course Overview

English 4 is a year-long course in literature and composition. Literature selected for this
course will have a coherent structure and theme, while covering a diverse set of genres
and authors. Students will inquire about, analyze, and evaluate literary devices,
techniques, and characteristics of the literature assigned for class. Since this will be a
reading and writing intensive class, expectations will be high due to the students natural
ability to meet high expectations. Assessments will cover crucial aspects of English: the
writing/reading process, essay construction process and its structure, the research paper,
and the literature assigned for class. Students will develop an insight into the core themes
of the purpose education: Enlightenment and Emancipation.

Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will develop (or begin developing):

1.) Critical Awareness
A critical awareness of social tensions as presented across multiple domains of inquiry
related to language, culture, and power.

2.) Appreciations of Linguistic and Literature Diversity
An appreciation of multiple varieties of language and literature that fill historical,
contemporary, local, and global contexts.

3.) Critical Approaches to Understanding Language and Literacy across Multiple Domains
of Inquiry
Critical approaches to understanding language and literature through multiple formats
including but not limited to: PowerPoints, visual/audio representations, informal/formal
peer review/response, etc.

4.) Dispositions of an Intellectual/Researcher
A critical method for exploring, investigating, and understanding literature in context and
for distinct purposes.

5.) Critical Empathy
An awareness of issues of equity and justice in language and literature.

In addition to these specific objectives, this course is framed around two broad concepts
associated with critical engagement in this course: reflection and action. The reflection-action
sequence includes the following modes of inquiry:
Reflection
Reflection is critical interrogation. It is the critique of both the self and the other, the
internal and external reality of the individual within literature and within a real-life
context. In reflecting (literature being an inseparable tool for this), we ask: Who am I?
What do I know? How do I know it? What is my personal philosophy? How can I
understand all of this in terms of my own educational and personal experiences in relation
to other peoples experiences and needs?

Action
Action is a transformative practice. It demands social adjustments of things in order t o
improve the conditions of practice and participation in society to promote Just change.
Action depends on human agency (the will to do) and insists on the agency associated
with the liberatory and transformative wills of individuals and groups (i.e., personal and
collective resolve). In acting, we ask: How do my actions change things? What can I do
to affect the status quo? Do I except things as they are or do I see them as the result of
human effort and therefore changeable? How do my actions affect the pursuit of
Enlightenment and Emancipation for myself and others? What role does literature have in
my goals, motivations, and needs?


Classroom Library
Students will have access to a variety of books that were provided by the school.
Additions can be made through donations or by student requests. The parents have the
option to limit what their son/daughter reads. These books should be treated with respect.
The teacher reserves the right to assign consequences should the student not return the
book in an appropriate fashion. A notebook will be provided for any students who wishes
to checkout a book.


Classroom Procedures, Rules, Consequences
Here are the procedures for how a typical class will be run,
Primary Procedures
1.) Students will enter the class on time, turn in assignments when necessary, sit down,
read the objective(s) and warm-up for the day silently, and await further instruction.

2.) After the warm-up is completed, students will then participate in class
activity/activities as assigned by the teacher.

a) Students will participate in these activities respectfully and do as required by the
teacher for the lesson to run smoothly and without unnecessary interruptions

3.) At the end of the class, which is called closure, students will wrap-up their
activity/activities and follow the teachers directions

The teacher reserves the right to alter the activity/activities based on how it is running,
student needs, and/or classroom behavior
Secondary Procedures
1.) Bathroom Pass Requests
Do not ask for these in the middle of teacher instruction or if it disrupts another student
After instructions have been given and the student understands the activity, then student
may ask for a bathroom pass or if it does not cause a significant disruption/violation to
class rules/procedures
Passes will be given on a good-faith policy, as in, the teacher will assume that if a
bathroom pass is requested, the student has a legitimate need to use it.
The teacher reserves the right to restrict the number of passes allowed.
2.) Absent/Make-Up/Late Work Policy
I am available after school for help with homework or if a student needs explanations for
something class-related
Appropriate interventions will occur (based on teacher discretion) for any late work or
missing assignments
If absent, it is the responsibility of the student to ask for any work and/or notes that
she/he missed for class that day
3.) Tardy Policy
Definition of Tardy: if a student does not have BOTH FEET inside the classroom at the time
of the bell, that student is considered tardy.
If you are late to class you will have to sign the tardy sheet.
-1-2 tardies = Warnings
-3 tardies = Phone call to parents from teacher
-4 tardies = D-Hall.
-6 tardies = Office referral
If you are tardy for more than 20 minutes, you are considered absent and you will be sent
to the assistant principal
-this is a State law
-If you are tardy for more than 20 minutes, you must have a valid pass in order to not be
considered absent



Rules
1.) Be Prompt
Be in your assigned seat and working on the assigned warm-up/do now work when the tardy bell
rings

2.) Be Prepared
Bring all your supplies and materials with you to class

3.) Be Polite
Follow all directions, policies, and procedures the 1
st
time they are given

4.) Be Respectful to: yourself, others, and Mr. Szydzik
Treat each person in this room with respect and dignity

5.) Be Productive
Follow all procedures and policies as outlined in the Aldine ISD student handbook and class
guide
(Rules to be added or changed depending on student vote)


Consequences
For any infractions of the rules, consequences will be enforced.
However, students have the option to apologize for their actions if they agree to
discontinue any inappropriate behaviors and the teacher will not press the issue further.
The teacher reserves the right to suit the appropriate consequences depending on the
severity of the action of the student who violates the rules.
Teacher will not hold a running record of each students infractions. The teacher realizes
everyday realities of pointless stress, confusion, and emotional conflicts that are beyond
the control of the individual. Each day is a new day and the teacher will expect the
student to choose how they want to be perceived.
Appropriate responses will be taken based on the nature of the offense and the response is
based on the teachers discretion

Infraction Response Policy Numbers
Student apology option
1
st
) Warning (with/without student option to apologize for infraction)
2
nd
) Teacher-Student conference
3
rd
) Parent is contacted
4
th
) Action plan created
5
th
) Parent/Teacher conference
6
th
) Office referral


Grading Scale

100-90 = A
89-80 = B
79-75 = C
74-70 = D
69- 0 = F

Aldines Grading Policy
Grades are reported on a nine-week basis with progress reports at the third and six weeks.
Report cards will be sent home each nine weeks. The parents of students making a failing
grade in any subject will be notified of the need for a conference with the teacher who
issued the failing grade. In arranging such conferences, the teacher will give the parent
the option of at least two dates for the conference. Error in notification will not
necessarily constitute a change of grade.


Notebooks
Your interactive notebooks will stay in the class
They will be placed in the appropriate file cabinet