In high school, students will focus on active engagement with the text.  They will analyze, identify, define, explain, and critique rather than merely understand, describe and use text.  Students will be guided to become well-rounded active readers.  Students will read classic and contemporary literature from a variety of cultures. Students this year will aggressively work to improve their reading and writing skills, to best prepare themselves for an education beyond the grade school and high school level.Not only will you read and write, but you will also present through various mediums.  We will also review grammar, mechanics, and usage in order to achieve a command of Standard English.  This course will ensure that you are given the tools needed for “HIGH LEVEL SUCCESS”.  Its purpose is NOT to prepare you for the next grade, but for future academic and professional endeavors.
This course will cover the following: fiction (short stories), nonfiction works, novels, poetry and interpretation,
drama, and plays. It will also consist of grammar practice and composition writing. This course also requires
students to conduct and compose a research paper, which will be explained in detail when assigned.

Fall Semester Plan of Action:
1. Fiction and Short stories
2. Nonfiction stories
3. Novel

Spring Semester Plan of Action
4. Poetry (Poetry Booklet Project)
5. Research Paper/Project
6. Drama/Tragedy

**Reading materials will vary based on grade**

All  necessary links for class activities can be found in your class page of Schoology. You will also have a Google Classroom homepage.

If you ever need direct contact with me outside of class time. I will respond to messages between 4pm-7pm Monday- Friday and 8am- 12pm on Saturdays. Any messages sent on Sunday will be answered on Monday.

Google Voice: ‪(562) 731-0420
Schoology Messaging
Email:ashley.lipkins@lausd.net 

* To improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English.

* To provide cultural and diversity  norms, school content, and social skills to better prepare them for their next school year.

* To support the 21st century standards and guidelines for the synchronous and asynchronous platforms.  

* To give students full access to high-quality English language Arts, while progressing students through the ELA level continuum.

* To strengthen English language and literacy skills.

* To participate in sustained dialogue on a variety of topics.

* To explain their thinking and build on others’ ideas.

* To construct arguments and justify their positions persuasively with sound evidence.

* To effectively produce written and oral texts.

* To construct a fully developed powerpoint on specific topics or topics about their lives.

* To determine sentence correctness for misplaced modifiers, faulty parallel structure, unnecessary shifts,
wordiness, ineffective diction, subject-verb agreement, comma splices, run-on sentences, and
fragments.

* To evaluate data and library resource materials to prepare a formal research paper using correct Modern
Language Association (MLA) documentation.

* To format writing through computer technology and word processing and apply the 6+1 Trait Writing
rubric/checklist correctly for writing assignments.

*Students are expected to be present in class (in person) everyday. Should a student miss in person class, be sure to contact someone who was present in class as well as check both Schoology and Google Classroom by 4pm on the day of absence.

*If you have any questions or concerns, ask verbally or use classroom "Parking Lot".

*All classes will be conducted in Room 112 at  King/ Drew Medical Magnet High School, located at 1601 East 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059

*A crucial element of English Language Arts is to teach students the following skills, which consists of Reading, Writing, Listening and speaking the english language.
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Respect is the touchstone of our class. We will come up with a set of shared classroom expectations based on student interpretations of what respect of various kinds looks like the first week of class. Students and teacher sign a collaborative class contract agreeing to abide by these expectations. Any student who does not follow the expectations will receive consequences for their actions.


Breaking of any of the school and/or classroom rules will result in the following actions:
1. Verbal Warning
2. Teacher-Student Conference
3. Punish work
4. Teacher-Parent Contact (letter, email, or phone call)
5. Office Referral

- School issued laptop (fully charged)
- 1 designated notebook or binder for my class
- 1 pack of loose leaf paper
- 1 pocket folder
-  1 flash drive designated for my class ( must be at least 1GB)
- 2 packs of posit notes ( standard square size)
- 3 packs of pens (1 black, 1 blue, 1 red)
- 1 pack of pencils ( non mechanical preferred)
- 1 personal pencil  sharpener
- A great and positive ATTITUDE ( purchase should not be necessary)

* Students and/or parents must communicate the reason for an absence as soon as possible.
* It is the student’s responsibility to find out what was missed when he/she was absent. It is also the
student’s responsibility to make up any tests, essays, or other assignments missed.
* If a student has an unexcused absence or tardy, he/she earns a “60%” for each missed graded activity—NO EXCEPTIONS.
(Students have 5 school days to get an absence excused.)
* Continued absences will result in home contact.  
* Attendance is taken at the beginning of class as students enter the classroom. If the student is not in their seat within the first 5 min of class they are considered tardy.
* All tardies must be discussed with me within the last 5 min of that class period. Following explanation, I will determine if the tardy is excused or not.
* DO NOT TRY to discuss the tardy with me as you enter, simply take your seat immediately.
* Frequent tardies will not be accepted and will involve parental contact.

Students will be graded based on the following:

Participation:
Classroom Activities ---------25%
Collaboration --–-15%
Homework–---------10%

Projects/Test:
End of Lesson Project-30%
Oral Assignments and Presentations ------------20%


The following scale will be used:
90–100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
below 60% = Fail

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY OF ANY KIND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

*In the case of excused absences, the student has the same number of days he or she missed to
complete makeup work.
* For each day the assignment is late, 10 %-age points will be deducted.
* Completed makeup work must be returned in the appropriate tray.
* If a student is absent on a test day, he or she is responsible for taking the test the day he or she
returns (if the absence is excused).
* No graded work will be allowed to be made up for unexcused absences.
*A student with extenuating circumstance shall be granted a period of time agreed upon by the student, teacher,
and parent, without lowering the academic grade. This agreement must be done in writing.

Assessment and Evaluation:
1. Weekly Constructed response
2. Weekly Assignments/Quizzes  (includes Vocabulary Builders, Grammar, and Greek & Latin Roots Study)
3. Essay Writing (at least twice per quarter)
4. Projects/Presentations (including book reviews and critiques, PowerPoint presentations)
5. Daily Class work and homework assignments
6. Daily Bellwork/Journal writing
7. Comprehensive End of the Quarter Exams

Outside Reading Component:
Students are required to read and critique a teacher-approved novel every other quarter (every 10 weeks)  for a grade. Students
must bring their novel to class every day.

All in-class assignments will be completed electronically unless told otherwise.
All writing assignments must be typed, double-spaced, with a size 12 point font, in either Times New Roman or Arial and have a 1 inch margin all around. All writing assignments must include the correct heading discussed in class. (See teacher for help with format.)

Cellphones should be completely silenced and not visible while in Room 112. I will keep a designated section of the classroom for charging. All phone charging requests MUST BE take place BEFORE class begins for the day (Before the start of the days warmup). You must provide your own charger and you must retrieve your own phone 5 min before class ends and prior to former dismissal.

Should I hear or see your phone:

1st offense: Verbal Warning and lost of charging privileges
2nd offense: Phone removal ( you may retrieve the phone at the end of the day)
3rd offense: Phone Removal ( Parent contact home and the parent must be the one to come retrieve the phone)
4th and final offense: Phone Removal with all stipulations of 3rd offense; phone must be turned in at the beginning of class and will no longer be allowed in your own possession during class time.

The word “netiquette” is short for “Internet etiquette.” You should be aware of the common rules of netiquette
for the Web and employ a communication style that follows these guidelines.

* Blog style posts  should be treated as serious classroom discussion only, unless noted by the teacher.
* All electronic communication between the student and teacher shall be limited to the sanctioned
sources, (i.e., Goggle email or voice and Schoology accounts)
* Any electronic communication through any non-sanctioned means (i.e., personal texting, Twitter, Facebook) is
prohibited, per the district policy manual.

*So that instructional time is not disrupted, students will be allowed four bathroom passes per
quarter( every 10 weeks)

* This will be monitored through the bathroom sign in/ out process. Student must keep bathroom pass on them at all times until return to classroom.

The information in this course syllabus is subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. All
students and parents will be notified of changes.

Dear Parents of King/ Drew Golden Eagles Scholars:

Welcome to a new and exciting year at King/Drew Med Mag HS.  I am looking forward to working with you this year.  It is my belief  that it takes the hard work and dedication of the parent, teacher, and student in order to ensure success in the classroom. I guarantee you if your child applies himself/herself and you are supportive; then your child will exceed on all levels.  The mistakes that your child makes from this point on can have  lifelong consequences.  It is my goal to guide your student in the right direction both academically and behaviorally.  Just as you held your child’s hand on the first day of preschool and kindergarten, you need to tighten your grip starting today because your job as a parent/guardian  is far from over.  With this as a preface to our year together, I expect the parents/guardians of my students to:
-Read and if necessary respond to every memo, letter, note, graded assignment, flyer, syllabus, and all other written communication that I send home.
-Ask your student daily what they did in class and if they have homework
-Ensure that your child actively reads at least 20 min per day (their choice of material)
-Communicate with me as soon as concerns arise by phone, in person, or e-mail.
-Review  “Schoology” weekly
-Attend all parent meetings, workshops, and conferences or send someone in your place
-Ask questions
-If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact me ASAP.  Thank you in advance for your support.  I am looking forward to our partnership.
 
Cordially yours,
 
Mrs. A. Tornero,
English Language Arts Instructors  
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I certify that I have read and understand the course, academic, behavioral, and grading requirements, by writing my name in the following space provided. By answering the following questions, you acknowledge that you have read the syllabus in its entirety and you will abide by this agreement.