mr youngs' class policies

English Language Arts Department
Policy on Texts Selection

Literary texts in the English Language Arts courses are thoughtfully selected by English faculty and approved by District administrators. English teachers consider the contribution that each work may make to the education of the reader, its aesthetic value, its authenticity, its readability for a particular group of students, and its appeal to adolescents. The approved curriculum includes classic and contemporary texts selected particularly to equip students for their future as citizens in a democratic society and readers in post-secondary study. In acknowledging that all texts may not suit all students alike in style and substance, English teachers respect the right of individuals to be selective in their own reading while opposing efforts of individuals or groups to limit the freedom of choice or to impose their own standards or tastes upon the students at large. Students or parents who find a particular text not suited to their needs are advised to see their teacher and select an alternative text for independent study.

Class Participation

To make an enjoyable, serious, and rewarding study of literature and writing, you must support the learning community of the class by participating fully: 

    reading assigned texts before class,  
    submitting homework on time,   
    writing in class,   
    taking notes,   
    asking questions,  
    answering questions,  
    sharing in discussions,   
    joining in class time activities. 

Criteria for assessing general class participation centers on focused attention, contribution (joining in), approach (willingness), and production (quality of contribution). Participation score is averaged in each quarter. Poor attendance and poor discipline may count against this score. See Attendance Policy below.

At the high school level it is expected that students should require a minimum of coaxing to join in a learning activity and maintain their focus on study. Good, sustained focus on the learning tasks at hand are needed for achievement. It is key to spend class time productively!

Attendance
 
A student's participation depends his or her attendance. Attendance/absenteeism effects one's participation score.The dilemma attendance/absenteeism should be self-evident: How well can one participate if one is absent? How well can one take notes? How well can one ask questions of the instructor? How well can the instructor ask questions of the student? How well can one discuss topics with the class? For the academic welfare of the class as well as the individual student good attendance counts toward the participation score;likewise, poor attendance takes away from it.

Much material in this course is delivered in class.  It is not a correspondence course.  Not surprisingly, the students who have difficulty, frustration, and even failure with the content of the course are often the same students who have high absenteeism. As this is a preparatory course, a student is not withdrawn from class after three absences (as at university) per semester; rather, he or she receives a 5 point bonus if he or she has no absences (excused or unexcused) per quarter, 3 points bonus if 5 or fewer absences per quarter. This policy is amended, and/or disregarded and special consideration is given to students who require extended absences due to illness, surgery, and school trips, etc.  Restroom/Locker trips, tardies (more than 3 per quarter) are counted as "absences" in this regard.

Homework and Assignments

Assignments are posted on this website.  See the navigation button above.

Two Kinds of Assignments  (and how they are marked "credit vs. late")

There are two categories of assignments:  overnight homework and larger assignments (such as projects, formal compositions).

Overnight homework is due by the beginning of the next class period. As it is of the nature to be reviewed and built upon in that next lesson, late overnight homework will not be accepted for credit per se; however, a student may submit late overnight homeworks for "check marks." Check marks will be considered toward the participation grade; and, if a student has only two or fewer check marks in a quarter these marks will be upgraded to full credit (to allow for the good student who simply forgets an assignment without encouraging the chronically lazy or forgetful student.)

It is imperative that students read take-home texts and complete written work before class as assigned. In-class activities and discussions can be productive for the class only if you do your homework.

Larger assignments--those of a project nature--along with their deadlines for submission and criteria for assessment will be announced in sufficient time for quality work. Such assignments may be submitted for credit if submitted before deadline or after the deadline with excused absence, per school rules.

Work submitted "late" for a larger assignment is subject to a 7% per day late penalty.  
   
Homework or assignments due on a day when a student is unexcused absent receive a zero and cannot receive credit, in accordance with school policy.
 

Missed Classes and Make Up Work Are the Students' Responsibility 
 
If a student misses a class, it is his or her responsibility to ask what was missed, request any handouts or texts, and make-up any work. For absences, a student will be given make-up time commensurate with the time missed. For one-day absences, a student must submit work and make-up tests upon his or her return (or it will be considered late, subject to penalty). Students must keep their notebooks up-to-date; make up in-class writings. 

 

Make Up & Tutorial

Mr. Youngs usually stays after school on Wednesdays for students who need academic help or to makeup tests.  MISSED TESTS ARE TO BE MADE UP WITHIN ONE WEEK.  Grace of two weeks is given -- then test score is recorded as ZERO.

Extra Credit
 
From time to time extra credit opportunities are offered.  EXTRA CREDIT IS EXTRA.  That is, to be eligible to receive extra credit a student must have completed all required assignments.  Extra credit work is not a substitute for regularly assigned work.  It is in addition to assigned work.