High Tech High International
English 4—Language and Composition
Instructor: Pam Baker
Email: [email protected];
Office Hours: After school on Tuesday and Thursday until 5:00 pm
Welcome to Senior Year! This is a year full of stresses, celebrations, challenges and accomplishments -- and will go by quickly! I feel honored to be able to share this journey with you and look forward to being a support as you navigate these uncharted and very exciting waters. In addition, this year we will be pondering big questions, like -- What is truth? What is real? How are our opinions shaped? How is technology a force for good and bad? etc, as we explore the limits and definitions of reality through our Virtual Reality Project with Engineering. I am looking forward to the conversations we will have together as we grapple with these ideas.
Course Objectives:
Grading/Evaluation:
50% = Writing Assignments
20% = Project work
20% = Homework/quizzes
10% = Citizenship (dress code, tardiness, etc) /In-class activities/participation
A=90-110%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F=below 60%
(Note: At HTHI, both a D and F are not considered passing)
I make every attempt through class content, grading, and workload to make sure that you leave this class prepared to succeed at the college level. Your preparation and contributions are essential to making this class meaningful and useful for your future success.
Summer School: Receiving a semester grade below a C- in this class means that the semester must be made up in summer school. Please note: Since this is a blocked class, this one semester class counts for a year’s worth of English.
Summary of Policies
Tardies – Because quizzes and directions for activities are given at the beginning of class, it is in your best interest to arrive to class on time. In addition, students arriving late (or returning late from breaks) often disrupts the rhythm and flow of learning. Please be aware that tardies will affect your weekly citizenship grade so please communicate with me if there are any issues I should be aware of.
Late Assignments: In order to prepare you for the expectations of college, I do not accept late assignments. If you do not turn an assignment in on the day it is due, you will receive a 0 for that assignment unless otherwise cleared by me. If you are absent, please check the class calendar and website for assignments.
Note: Technology is not an excuse for late work. If you are having computer trouble, please make arrangements to borrow a computer, or come in at lunch or after school to work on assignments. You can also hand-write assignments if needed (except essays).
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is bad -- don’t do it -- and will result in an F for that assignment. I very rarely come across intentional plagiarism -- it’s usually unintentional and results from not knowing how to use outside sources. So we will be sure to work on that. In a nutshell though, whenever you borrow a phrase, a sentence, or a paragraph from an outside source, you must give credit to that source for the words you are using. Additionally, don’t cut and paste information from the Web into your essay because this is also considered plagiarism. To help in identifying and correcting any incorrectly used or cited outside material, I will be using Turnitin.com. If you are unsure about how to acknowledge an outside source in your essay, please see me. I’m happy to help.
Class Behavior: My expectation is that you will come to class prepared to participate in activities and class discussion. I expect that you will be courteous and respectful to your fellow classmates and to me during discussions and activities, and that you will accept and respect that we do not all believe the same thing. I’m a big supporter of the “Step up, Step back” norm as it encourages more vocal students to create space for the quieter students to contribute.
Food and drink in class: Healthy snacks that are non-disruptive and won’t make a mess are allowed. Drinks are allowed. I provide supplies for tea/coffee/cider and have snacks available in my cupboard. Any donations or contributions to keep this going are always welcome! These privileges are contingent upon students cleaning up after themselves.
Student Support: For students who would like some extra instruction in English, tutoring is available on campus. I am also available and happy to provide extra instruction during lunch and after school on Tues and Thurs by appointment.
Dress Code: Professional-looking dress is required at this school, just as it would be in the workplace. Therefore, buttoned, collared shirts and/or sweaters are required for guys, and modest blouses or shirts are required for girls. Hats/beanies (including sweatshirt hoods) must be taken off in the building. Excessively low hanging pants or low cut shirts are not allowed. Please see your student handbook for more details.
Computer Use: Computers may not leave the classroom unless I have given permission. All computers must be put away and plugged into chargers at the end of class. Computers must be used for class work only; inappropriate use during class will result in loss of computer privileges. See http://www.hightechhigh.org/tech-support/aup.php for HTHI computer use policies.
Note: There are laptops available for checkout. If you think you might need one, you must have your parents sign a consent form prior to taking one home. Please see Fran today to ensure your form is on file, in the event you need a computer.
Miscellaneous requirements: Cell phones are allowed in class with permission and only during work-times -- NOT during class discussion. Unless you have specific permission to use these items, keep them turned off and in your backpack. If I see or hear them during class discussions, I will take them.
Remember -- Your citizenship grade is tied to your class behavior.
English 4—Language and Composition
Instructor: Pam Baker
Email: [email protected];
Office Hours: After school on Tuesday and Thursday until 5:00 pm
Welcome to Senior Year! This is a year full of stresses, celebrations, challenges and accomplishments -- and will go by quickly! I feel honored to be able to share this journey with you and look forward to being a support as you navigate these uncharted and very exciting waters. In addition, this year we will be pondering big questions, like -- What is truth? What is real? How are our opinions shaped? How is technology a force for good and bad? etc, as we explore the limits and definitions of reality through our Virtual Reality Project with Engineering. I am looking forward to the conversations we will have together as we grapple with these ideas.
Course Objectives:
- to provide you with the writing and research tools needed to succeed in your academic career;
- to help you in attaining the confidence and ability to communicate clearly and effectively;
- to develop your ability to read and think critically through examining challenging texts.
- to familiarize you with the various persuasive and manipulative devices used in the media and in politics in order to become critical consumers of information.
- To examine the power of language as an instrument for change.
Grading/Evaluation:
50% = Writing Assignments
20% = Project work
20% = Homework/quizzes
10% = Citizenship (dress code, tardiness, etc) /In-class activities/participation
A=90-110%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F=below 60%
(Note: At HTHI, both a D and F are not considered passing)
I make every attempt through class content, grading, and workload to make sure that you leave this class prepared to succeed at the college level. Your preparation and contributions are essential to making this class meaningful and useful for your future success.
Summer School: Receiving a semester grade below a C- in this class means that the semester must be made up in summer school. Please note: Since this is a blocked class, this one semester class counts for a year’s worth of English.
Summary of Policies
Tardies – Because quizzes and directions for activities are given at the beginning of class, it is in your best interest to arrive to class on time. In addition, students arriving late (or returning late from breaks) often disrupts the rhythm and flow of learning. Please be aware that tardies will affect your weekly citizenship grade so please communicate with me if there are any issues I should be aware of.
Late Assignments: In order to prepare you for the expectations of college, I do not accept late assignments. If you do not turn an assignment in on the day it is due, you will receive a 0 for that assignment unless otherwise cleared by me. If you are absent, please check the class calendar and website for assignments.
- If you are absent on the day an essay is due, email a digital copy to me and then bring a hard copy at the beginning of class when you return in order to receive credit.
- If you are absent and it is excused, you are allowed to make up the work you missed but it is up to you to schedule make-ups and turn in assignments not available online within one day of your absence.
- If a reading assignment or activity is available online, you are responsible for the homework due on the day you return.
- Homework due on the day of an absence must be emailed to me if possible or turned in immediately upon your return.
- In-class work or quizzes/tests can be made up at lunchtime on Friday. You may not make up test or quizzes that have been passed back to the class.
Note: Technology is not an excuse for late work. If you are having computer trouble, please make arrangements to borrow a computer, or come in at lunch or after school to work on assignments. You can also hand-write assignments if needed (except essays).
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is bad -- don’t do it -- and will result in an F for that assignment. I very rarely come across intentional plagiarism -- it’s usually unintentional and results from not knowing how to use outside sources. So we will be sure to work on that. In a nutshell though, whenever you borrow a phrase, a sentence, or a paragraph from an outside source, you must give credit to that source for the words you are using. Additionally, don’t cut and paste information from the Web into your essay because this is also considered plagiarism. To help in identifying and correcting any incorrectly used or cited outside material, I will be using Turnitin.com. If you are unsure about how to acknowledge an outside source in your essay, please see me. I’m happy to help.
Class Behavior: My expectation is that you will come to class prepared to participate in activities and class discussion. I expect that you will be courteous and respectful to your fellow classmates and to me during discussions and activities, and that you will accept and respect that we do not all believe the same thing. I’m a big supporter of the “Step up, Step back” norm as it encourages more vocal students to create space for the quieter students to contribute.
Food and drink in class: Healthy snacks that are non-disruptive and won’t make a mess are allowed. Drinks are allowed. I provide supplies for tea/coffee/cider and have snacks available in my cupboard. Any donations or contributions to keep this going are always welcome! These privileges are contingent upon students cleaning up after themselves.
Student Support: For students who would like some extra instruction in English, tutoring is available on campus. I am also available and happy to provide extra instruction during lunch and after school on Tues and Thurs by appointment.
Dress Code: Professional-looking dress is required at this school, just as it would be in the workplace. Therefore, buttoned, collared shirts and/or sweaters are required for guys, and modest blouses or shirts are required for girls. Hats/beanies (including sweatshirt hoods) must be taken off in the building. Excessively low hanging pants or low cut shirts are not allowed. Please see your student handbook for more details.
Computer Use: Computers may not leave the classroom unless I have given permission. All computers must be put away and plugged into chargers at the end of class. Computers must be used for class work only; inappropriate use during class will result in loss of computer privileges. See http://www.hightechhigh.org/tech-support/aup.php for HTHI computer use policies.
Note: There are laptops available for checkout. If you think you might need one, you must have your parents sign a consent form prior to taking one home. Please see Fran today to ensure your form is on file, in the event you need a computer.
Miscellaneous requirements: Cell phones are allowed in class with permission and only during work-times -- NOT during class discussion. Unless you have specific permission to use these items, keep them turned off and in your backpack. If I see or hear them during class discussions, I will take them.
Remember -- Your citizenship grade is tied to your class behavior.