Oles English

Freshmen

Reading and Writing

2007-2008

The primary emphasis of the Reading and Writing course is to improve your skills, fluency, and speed as a reader, develop your ability to take notes, organize and improve your written expression and vocabulary development. To accomplish these goals, you need time, support, and resources, all of which you will find in this class. The purpose of this class is to teach you the skills and strategies that will help you accomplish those goals. You must take responsibility for achieving success.

Texts

· Short Takes- model essays for composition(provided in-class)

· Great Essays

Red Sky at Morning

Night(provided in-class)

Midsummer's Night Dream-a graphic novel, not available until January

 

Reading

Students in this course will:

· Read every day for twenty minutes.

· Use strategies to read a variety of types of texts.

· Choose books they want to read on their own.

· Demonstrate their understanding of what they read using multiple response projects

Writing

Students in this course will:

· Write coherent, thoughtful explanations of or responses to what they read

· Learn how to assess and improve their own writing while writing muliple essays in different rhetorical modes

· Generate their own writing topics and questions to help them write.

Language

Students in this course will:

· Use appropriate strategies and word-attack skills to comprehend new unknown words.

· Expand their vocabulary through direct, weekly study of words and roots, including assessments

· Discuss words as ideas to extend discussion of texts.

Speaking

Students in this course will:

· Read aloud

· Participate in class and group discussions about what they have written and  read.

· Ask for help when they need it.

· Learn and use appropriate academic vocabulary to discuss ideas and texts.

Late Work Policy:

Part of learning to perform well in high school has to do with being responsible. You must have your assignments ready to turn in at the beginning of class. It is late if it is in your locker or you are trying to finish it at the last minute. Please do not phone your parents to bring it in. (It will still be late!)Work turned in late will be 10% off . No work will be accepted after a week.This does not include excused absences. In that case you will be given a fair chance to make up the work without penalty. Any absences due to sports, activities, or family vacation must be brought in the day you return or they will be marked late. Check before you leave or check the web site for assignments.

Presentation:

Most work must be neatly typed for final copies. If you do not have access to a computer, plan ahead to use one at school.

How to Reach Me:

Please use my website to check weekly assignments, long term projects and class information. This site is updated weekly sometimes daily. You are responsible for all work missed. For absences due to illness you will be given extra time but if you are absent for athletics or activities you must have those assignments ready on their due dates- use the web site to keep up.

Parents please use email to reach me, poles@judgememorial.com -I will return phone messages but this will take longer.