English 5 and 6 (11

th
Grade English) A, B, E, and F Blocks: AG03
Instructor: Mr. Wolkoff email: garthwolkoff@gmail.com

2014-15 11
th
Grade English:
Everything is Discussion; Everything is Argument; Everything is Inquiry

FIRST HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Read this same syllabus on our class website at
http://www.garthwolkoff.com/11th-grade.html. As youre re-reading the syllabus, find something
about which you can argue in support or in opposition. Copy and paste what you are going to support
or argue against; you can even quote! Then write a TE/EA paragraph about your position and email it
to me by Mon., Sept. 8
th
. Also, sign and turn in the Student/Family Contract. These assignments
contribute to your homework grade for the first marking period.

Welcome to 11
th
Grade English. You have made it halfway through high school. Congratulations.

However, not to be a downer, but now is when everything gets hard. In your junior year, everyone will
have at least two Regents class, and some people will have up to four. Tack on an extra Regents in
Englishwhich I will explainthe PSAT and the SAT, and for some of you, an AP test as well. Thats
a lot of tests, a lot of studying, and a lot of work to master. But you can do it! Youve come this far.

There are three main differences between English in 10
th
Grade and English in 11
th
Grade:
1. This year, your will need to be more analytical. You will be asked to come up with your own
inferences, conclusions, and analysis for the fiction, plays, non-fiction, and poetry we will read.
2. You will be writing in a much more formal academic and argumentative stylethe kind of
writing that will prepare you for college.
3. And throughout the year, you will be prepared for not 1 but 2 English Regents exams:
A. The Comprehensive English Regents (the old, and for some, easier Regents), which youll
take Regents week, June 18
th
. New York State has said that this may be the last year the
old Regents will be offered.
B. The Common Core Regents (the new Regents in English Language Arts), taken on
Tuesday, June 2
nd
. This is the Regents with the new state standards. Some people think
its harder, some think its easier. In any case, EERYONE will take both, and the State will
put down your highest score, so in effect, you get two changes to get your highest score!

What will we be doing in class?
We will begin with argumentative writinga five to seven paragraph essay about your position
after reading about a conflict between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois about how
African Americans should uplift their communities in the 20
th
Century.
We will read the novel The Scarlet Letter and take positions on the moral questions posed by
the novel.
During the third marking period, we will read a collection of poetry from Poetry Out Loud,
compete in the Poetry Out Loud contest, and read the Shakespearean play, Othello.
We will prepare for the SAT.
We will read the novelsBodega Dreams, Native Son, or The Great Gatsbydepending on
your interest, reading comprehension skills, and the success of your work in class.
We will prepare for both the Common Core English Regents and the Comprehensive English
Regents.
We will create websites, wikis, and videos.
We will work with Vocabulary.com
You will lead in class discussions and make presentations
You will have on-line discussions.
SECOND HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Send me a professional gmail email address by Tuesday,
Sept. 9
th
(if you dont have class that day, you can still send the email). My email address is at the top
of the page. YOU WILL NEED THIS EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THE CLASS. You can create a gmail
address by going to gmail.com or google.com. A professional email address includes at least your
last name; it identifies you. brooklyndiva@gmail.com is not acceptable. But S_Smith1997@gmail.com
is. An email to a teacher or a professor has a salutation: Dear Mr. Wolkoff or, if you prefer something
more informal, Hi Mr. Wolkoff. It also includes a signature, such asBest, Sarah Smith or Sincerely,
John Johnson. Again, this signature helps identify you. This assignment contributes to your
homework grade for the first marking period.

Part of the work we do in 11
th
Grade English is transforming you from a high school reader, writer,
and thinker, to pre-college levels. You will continue this work the following year in 12
th
Grade.

My expectations of you are high, but simple.
Come to school every day.
Come to school on time.
Come prepared to class with all your materials.
Do all your homework and turn it in on time.
Study for your exams.
Turn in your best work, not something you put together in 30 minutes during the previous
class.
Work thoroughly, thoughtfully, compassionately, creatively, and cooperatively in groups.
Treat your work, your fellow students, yourself, and your teacher professionally.

Grading Policy:
30 percent homework and classwork and online work
40 percent Mastery Work and online work (I will tell you when online work is a Mastery
assignment)
30 percent midterm/final exam

Students may receive a grade of 15% higher on their June 2015 Report Card based on their Regents
score at the discretion of the teacher.

Class policies, procedures, and materials:
1. Class begins at the first bell, not the second. Students are expected to be on time.
2. Do Nows: Students late for class without an excuse cannot make up the Do Now.
3. Class ends at the final bell, not before. Students are expected to pack up only after the bell.
4. Students are expected to have ALL their materials in class. Failure to have books, papers,
photocopies, pens, or loose-leaf paper will affect their classwork grade.
5. HOMEWORK POLICY: No late homework will be accepted. Mastery Work can be handed in
late, but it cannot receive higher than a grade of 65% (a low 3 on a rubric; barely passing).
6. Students cannot pass the class if they do not hand in a Mastery Work or take the midterm/final.
7. Students cannot pass if they dont average a 3 or 65% on their mastery work and midterm.
8. Students must have a dedicated English folder(s) or binder for handouts.
9. Students need to have a black or blue pen in class. Other colors will not be accepted.
10. Students must have post-its for taking notes on in their books.
11. Students must have loose-leaf paper for in-class work everyday.
12. Students must have their school planner in class everyday.

Homework #3: Bring folders, pens, post-its, planner, and a packet of loose-leaf paper for credit
by Tuesday (or Wednesday for F Block), September 9
th
.