Foundations
Syllabus
For a printable version of the syllabus, click here.
Foundations of English
2008-2009 School Year
Lutheran High School
Mayer, MN
Instructor—Mr. Kris Gustin
Room 105
Phone: (952) 657-2251 ext. 303
Email: kgustin@lhsmayer.org
Class website= http://lhsmayer.org/gustin/foundations/index.htm
Grade Levels—Grades nine or above
Prerequisite—Satisfactory performance on the
Ninth Grade Placement Test or Transitions in English
Length of Class—Full year
Course Summary Description—Primary emphasis
in Foundations of English is placed on the fundamentals of English.
It is a full year course covering the basic elements of grammar, study
skills, composition, research, vocabulary, short story, novel, drama,
journal writing, speech, and presentations. The course also serves
as an introduction to and presentation of the tools needed for advanced
literature courses.
Integration of Faith and Christian Leadership
Service: Christian leaders are dedicated
to living in a Christ-like manner. One of the most critical components
of Christ’s ministry was service to others. With that ministry
in mind, opportunities will be sought out for this classroom to provide
a service to others, modeling the love of Christ in an effort to serve
His Kingdom.
Course Objectives—The student
will:
1. Apply essential study skills in an effort to improve
academic performance.
2. Apply a variety of strategies to expand vocabulary.
3. Actively engage in the reading process and read, understand, respond
to, analyze, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate a wide variety of
fiction, poetic and nonfiction texts.
4. Write in narrative, expository, descriptive, persuasive, and critical
modes.
5. Engage in a writing process with attention to audience, organization,
focus, quality of ideas, and a purpose.
6. Apply standard English conventions when writing.
7. Locate and use information in reference materials.
8. Demonstrate understanding and communicate effectively through listening
and speaking.
9. Critically analyze information found in electronic and print media,
and will use a variety of these sources to learn about a topic and
represent ideas.
10. Apply all foundations of English skills to his or her life as
a Christian.
Reading Comprehension: It goes without saying that
improving the reading comprehension of students in this class is critical.
With that in mind, the course will present many strategies to assist
the student in discovering a strategy that works for him or her. These
strategies include guided reading, oral reading, silent reading, connecting,
analyzing, questioning and others.
Writing: This class will help develop
the student as an academic writer. Special emphasis will be placed
on organization, paragraph development, sentence variety, and using
research in writing. Students will write often, as writers make better
writers.
Course Outline
1. First Semester
a. Study skills (1 week)
b. Grammar Mechanics (2 weeks)
c. Short Story (2 weeks)
d. Writing Process (1 week)
e. Composition and Editing (3 weeks)
f. Novel (3 weeks)
g. Computer and Library Research (4 weeks)
h. Essays (2 weeks)
2. Second Semester
a. Poetry (2 weeks)
b. Epic (2 weeks)
c. Speech (3 weeks)
d. Personal Essay (2 weeks)
e. Drama (4 weeks)
f. Novel (4 weeks)
g. Semester Wrap-up (1 week)
Weekly lessons throughout the year will focus on vocabulary,
journal writing, grammar usage, testing, and communication skills.
Evaluation Procedure—Lutheran
High School policies are defined and clarified in the Student Handbook.
Grading Scale: Each student is evaluated
based on the satisfactory completion of daily assignments, worksheets,
quizzes, presentations, papers, and tests.
| A 95-100 |
C 77-79 |
| A- 92-94 |
C- 74-76 |
| B+ 89-91 |
D+ 71-73 |
| B 86-88 |
D 68-70 |
| B- 83-85 |
D- 65-67 |
| C+ 80-82 |
F 64 or less |
Homework: Homework and class work are
to be done with full effort. Your work should always be your best.
Any dishonest work will be recorded as a 0 and reported to the principal.
Makeup work from a planned absence is due the day the student returns
to class.
Late Work: Homework not completed before
class will be considered late. Late assignments will be accepted for
50% credit for one week after the original due date.
Cheating/Plagiarism: It is expected
students will be honest in all academic work and will be responsible
for their work. Academic dishonesty is a serious violation of both
academic standards and Biblical teachings. Academic dishonesty includes,
but is not limited to: cheating on assignments and tests, plagiarism,
submitting the same paper or project in more than one course without
prior consent of the instructors involved. Depending on the severity
of the offense, the student will receive no credit on the assignment,
additional assignments, and/or be referred to the principal for further
discipline according to the Parent/Student Handbook.
Testing: Grades are determined by the number of points
accumulated divided by the number of points possible. Generally, tests
and papers are made equivalent to 100 points and daily work is worth
either 10 or 20 points, depending on the assignment. Tests missed
due to a planned absence will be taken the day the student returns.
Values are assigned as follows:
Tests/Papers/Projects/Book Talks 40%
Daily Assignments/Participation 60%
Semester Exam: The semester exam will cover all
of the material presented during the semester. The exam will be worth
10% of the semester grade, with each quarter grade being worth 45%
of the semester grade. The final exam is objective.
Projects: These grades will be weighed as a test.
Projects occur as part of the research, creative writing, and novel
units. Other projects may be assigned periodically as well.
Participation: This is not a daily
grade, but it will figure into final percentages.
Extra Credit: Extra credit will be very limited.
Work should be done with effort the first time, so extra credit should
not be needed. Under special circumstances, a student my request or
be given an opportunity for extra credit. Extra credit will not be
granted without first contacting parents.
Other: Failure of a semester results in having to
retake the semester as this class is required of all LHS graduates.
Classroom Expectations—Classroom
expectations and disciplinary actions will comply with the Student
Handbook.
Textbooks and Other Necessary Materials
Glencoe Literature: The Reader’s Choice.
New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2007.
Writer’s Choice: Grammar and Composition. New York:
Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2001.
Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Viking, 1993.
Avi. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.
Folder or 3-ring binder for organizing notes and handouts
Two notebooks (one for notetaking and one for journals/grammar warm-ups)
Pencils and/or pens
One box of facial tissue
Integration of Technology—Each
student will be required to submit papers produced on a word processor
using Times New Roman 12 point font, making use of spelling and grammar
tools. During the research unit, the student will use online reference
materials and Internet sources, learning to determine useful sites
from inaccurate sources. Each student will also be encouraged to make
use of PowerPoint presentations as part of projects.