English Language Arts 10

Mr. Rowe
The mission of Clarkston Community Schools is to cultivate thinkers, learners, and
positive contributors to a global society.
~ Dr. Rod Rock, Superintendent
English Language Arts 10 is designed to help students develop an enjoyment of literature by
focusing on reading, speaking, listening, and thinking. As a writer, each individual will work
toward enhanced expression, flexibility, creativity, accuracy, and other areas of personal growth.
We will work on the following units this semester:
Choice and Circumstance Unit with an emphasis on non-fiction reading strategies and the
basics of argument writing
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck with an emphasis on narrative reading strategies,
thematic study, and writing a literary analysis essay
Poetry Unit with an emphasis on understanding aspects of the writerly life, reading and
understanding poetry, and writing and revising a polished poem
Independent Reading I strongly encourage parental involvement when making reading
selections.
Please refer to my Weebly website for descriptions of the novels we will be reading in class.
Classroom Expectations
Be on time. Tardies count.
E veryone has the right to voice an opinion, but know when and how to do it appropriately.
R isk: take a chance on learning.
E veryone in the room is a valuable part of this community.
S mile. Laugh. Have a positive attitude.
P ick up after yourself. Garbage on the floor clutters the room.
E njoy our differences. Its what makes life interesting.
C ome to class prepared. Be prepared to think, to work, to participate!
T alk to the teacher! Tell me what I need to know to help you.
F ollow the dress code. Reveal your soul, not your skin.
U nderstand that I get the final say. I am the teacher after all.
L ost? Ask questions, ask for help, ask again until you get what you need.
Above all, be respectful!
Grading Structure
Summative assessments (major grades at the end of each unit)
Formative assessments (homework and other daily assignments)

--80%
--20%

Student Evaluation
Please keep all work. Check to be sure that work completed is accurately shown on your grades
that will be posted regularly online.
Materials
3-ring binder or folder to keep all handouts, notes, and assignments for this class only
Writers Notebook this should be a separate spiral or composition notebook
student planner
paper and writing utensils
*If for any reason you are unable to purchase any of the materials listed above, please let me
know.
Workplace Skills and Attitudes
As a member of the class you will be expected to participate in this course as if it were a
professional work environment. These skills and attitudes reflect your ability to act in a mature,
cooperative, responsible, and respectful manner at all times.

Skills
time management
successfully communicating with
both teachers and peers
setting and completing
tasks/trimester goals
asking for and offering assistance
following directions
listening to instructions, discussions
and lessons
making thinking visible by speaking
up in class

Attitudes
contributing to a positive classroom environment
respect for classroom, building and peers
staying open-minded to all opinions, thoughts and
interpretations of classroom material
willingness to express your own opinions,
thoughts and interpretations
authentic engagement in the learning process

Typed Assignments
ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE WHEN YOU WALK INTO CLASS (unless otherwise
stated). You will not be given time at the beginning of the hour to just print off your
work.
In the rare case of computer or printer failures, I will accept a copy of your paper via
email. If this is not possible, a handwritten copy with a note from a parent or guardian to
verify the validity of the problem will be required. In all other cases, a typed, hard copy
should be turned in.
Papers should be double-spaced, typed in 12 point font, and labeled with your first name,
last name, date, and hour.
All typed assignments must also be submitted to www.turnitin.com by the specified due
date.

Student Absences and Late Work

Attendance is mandatory to ensure success in the classroom
It is your responsibility to seek out make-up work if you are absent.
You will have the same number of days that you were absent to make up missed
assignments, per our school policy. This does not include major assignments (more than
one week prep time); these are due on or before the assigned day, regardless of prior
absence.
If an assignment is due on a day when you are absent, you will be expected to turn it in
the day that you return.
Projects, papers and homework will be accepted late. Assignments one day late will be
worth 90% of the points earned; assignments two days late will be worth 80% of the
points earned; assignments three days late will be worth 70% of the points earned;
assignments four or more days late will be worth 60% of the points earned.
I will not accept late work during the last week of the semester. No exceptions.
Technology Usage
Because the mission of Clarkston Community Schools is to prepare students for 21 century
learning, there will be several components of this course requiring students to access computers/
technology from home or on a students own time. These requirements may include but are not
limited to:
typing papers
participating in online discussions
viewing clips on YouTube or a similar website
listening to songs online
creating podcasts or videos
peer review of writing assignments online
st

If it will be difficult for you to access a computer from home for these purposes, please let me
know as soon as possible. Together, we will find a solution to this problem so that your success
in this course will not be compromised.
Please be aware, the use of personal devices is not allowed in the classroom unless you have
been given permission in advance. The best policy is to keep your cell phone in your backpack
or pocket, unless a lesson allows for its use to enhance learning.
Donations
Throughout the course of the semester, we go through many class supplies. Donations to the
class are greatly appreciated. Here is a list of items on the class wish list: facial tissue
(especially helpful during cold & flu season), pencils, pens, loose leaf paper, and books for the
classroom library.
Contact Info

Email: jerowe@clarkston.k12.mi.us

Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.

Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is a very serious problem in U.S. schools and colleges. It is our intent with this brief
paper to make certain that all students and their parents understand what plagiarism is, and that
the consequences for plagiarizing are very serious.
Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional presentation of anothers work as ones own.
Anothers work includes everything from published books and other media to a siblings or
friends assignments. In short, the ideas, vocabulary, sentence structure, and overall
organization of a paper, project or assignment must be the students own. Plagiarizing any part
of an assignment will result in complete loss of credit for the assignment. Furthermore, an often
overlooked component of plagiarism includes a student who gives his or her work to another. In
these cases, both parties will receive the same consequences.
Depending upon the extent of the plagiarism, students may be failed for the semester. There will
be no option to rewrite a plagiarized assignment or to substitute extra credit work for it.
Plagiarism includes:

Copying titles, unfamiliar vocabulary, phrases, sentences, paragraphs or

graphics from any source without enclosing them in quotation marks and,
immediately after, crediting that source;
Close paraphrasing of any source by: 1) switching the order of, substituting, or
changing a few words in a phrase or sentence without crediting that source
directly after the paraphrase; and/or 2) changing a few words or sentences in a
paragraph from any source, without crediting that source directly after the
paraphrase; and/or 3) changing the order of paragraphs from any source.
Presenting unique ideas as your own for example, putting completely in your own
wording unique ideas that are not common knowledge, without crediting that
source directly after presenting the unique idea. Common knowledge is defined
as information and ideas that could be found in more than one source.

Avoiding plagiarism is not difficult if you want to avoid it. If you are not sure whether you are
plagiarizing something or not, list the source from which you obtained the information in
parentheses right after the questionable section. Be sure to include this source and its complete
bibliographic information in a Works Cited, List of Sources, or Bibliography attached to the end
of the paper or project. Students must keep all research notes and drafts of their assignments
until the final graded assignment is returned to them. Students must be able to turn in to their
teacher all of their notes and sources for an assignment if a teacher questions the source of a
students words or ideas.
By signing this paper, you affirm that you have read the above information on plagiarism
and have understood it. You also understand that if a student plagiarizes any part of a
paper, project or assignment, he or she will receive no credit (a zero) for the entire project.

After reading through the course syllabus and plagiarism policy, please return only this
page by Monday, September 12th.
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Students Name (print)_____________________________________

Hour ____________

Signature of Student ______________________________________

Date____________

Signature of Parent ________________________________________

Date____________

Parent Email address __________________________________________________________

Is there anything else you think I should know (seating needs, health concerns, etc.)?