Ms. Kurtz   English 10 
Requirements and Policies 2009-10
OR:  How to Succeed in English Class

Required Materials

Come to class prepared!  Bring your course binder*, a working dark blue or black ink pen (not pencil), and your book** every day.

*Course Binder:  A three ring binder filled with looseleaf paper, a folder or pocket, and divided into sections:

1. Calendars, assignments, and policies (print this out!)
2. Notes (lit, writing, etc)
3. Handouts (readings, worksheets-except grammar & vocab)
4. Logs
5. Vocab, Grammar, Lit Terms

Pocket or folder inside your binder: It's a good idea to keep a folder or pocket for homework you need to turn in, or assignments that don't have holes punched. I strongly urge you to keep this folder inside your English binder rather than having a separate homework folder.

Streamlining your binder--what you need to keep in there and what you can take out:

• Keep in binder all year: Policies, Logs, everything in vocab, grammar language section.
• Take out of binder at the end of each unit and store at home (where you can find it to review for final!): Notes, Handouts
• Portfolio Pieces: There is not a separate section for these because you will store all drafts in your portfolio in class. Save EVERYTHING for your writing portfolio. This includes all drafts--especially graded drafts, separate comments, any peer reviews, and pre-writings. You will receive a quarterly grade for the completeness, effort, and quality of your portfolio.

**Books:  You will be issued a literature textbook to keep at home and there is a class set to use during class.  Other novels will be issued that you will need to bring back and forth.

Assignments

Most assignments are required to be typed in standard typing format. All written work must be legible, in dark blue or black ink, or typed. Note that no written work will be accepted in pencil. All assignments must have the appropriate heading (see bottom of page), otherwise you might not get credit.

What if you do not have access to a computer or printer? There are computers in the library for your use during and after school.  Always use the standard typing format  unless you pre-approve a change with me.  Save all typed writings on a USB drive, computer disk or and/on your school account.  You will need these writings for revision and quarterly portfolio.  (You can email documents to yourself, too).

On Time, Late, and Make-Up Work

Edline is required in this class. You will need to access information on our class Edline page. Make sure you activate your account, write down your password somewhere safe, and create a question and answer in case you forget your password. Please give your parents their activation code as well.

Homework  is due at the beginning of the next class period. Late homework will be penalized starting at 20 points off per school day, unless you were legally absent. (See Absences, below.)

Major Papers and Projects due dates apply even if you are not in class on the day they are due or the class day before.  If you have an extenuating circumstance see me before the due date or have a parent or guardian call me in the English department during school hours:  587-6690 x3319. Late penalties will be specified for each project.

Absences:

•  You are responsible for all classwork, homework, quizzes and course content when you are absent.  To find a calendar, explanations of how to make up classwork and homework, and links to relevant content you are required to check Edline. You should be able to keep up with much of the work, even if you are absent.  If you do not have internet access at home, plan to stay after school to use the library computers. (Or I would be happy to sign a pass for the library if you have a study hall, or during your lunch).

• For additional handouts, explanations, and to go over content you missed, you speak to me to make arrangements to stay with me after school to make up the work.

• Short term absences:
  • For excused absences, up to two class days in a row, you will have one week to make up the classwork, homework, quizzes or tests.  
  • No make-ups if you were truant or cutting class.

• Longer absences:
  • 4+ days out of school, call to request homework from your principal's office. 
  • For long, frequent, or planned absences, you must see me for special arrangements (at least several school days before the absence if it is planned)

Submitting late or make-up work: Do not leave work on my desk or in my mailbox.  Hand assignments directly to me during your class period or when I’m in the English office.   

Make-up/Extra Help:  I am usually available 2:30-3:10 Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.  Make an appointment to be sure that I’m there.

Computer Problems
 

Save and print out drafts frequently, and never wait until the night before to start a major project or writing assignment.  If you cannot print the document at home, you can print it out at school before class.  There are a number of ways to do this before the class on which it is due: 

• Plan ahead: type it at school (save it to your account) and print it out
• You could email yourself the text as part of the body of the message or as a Microsoft Word document attachment
• Save a copy to a USB drive and print it out at school 
• If you do not have Microsoft Word at home, you’ll need to do a “Save As” and save the file as a “RTF” file in order to open it at school. 
• If the format is incorrect as a result of the computer problem, you may turn in what you have and speak to me at that time for a due date for the correctly formatted document. 
• If all else fails, email me the document to prove that it is finished: r_kurtz@saratogaschools.org and then bring a hard copy.
• Worst case scenario: If you've tried all the above and still cannot get a printed copy of your work, you can take a late penalty.

For extenuating circumstances either see me before the due date or bring me a hard copy of what you have, (worst case, a handwritten version) NOT a computer disk, and we can discuss an extension.  

Note that the school computers use Microsoft Word 2007. See me with compatibility questions.

Grades:

Each Quarter Grade: All assignments are out of 100 points (they are percentages) and I do not weight categories. Instead, I weight each assignment:

• Major projects usually count 4 times.  Each part of the project may count 1 or more times.  Assignment handouts will specify how each major project will be graded
• Writing Portfolio Pieces and Tests count 2 to 4 times.
• Quarterly Portfolio will be due before the end of the quarter and will include revisions, keeping all drafts, a reflective piece about your writing. This counts four times.
• Classwork usually counts once. If you are absent, you need to make up classwork.
• Logs, Homework, and Quizzes count 1-2 times.

Final Grades = Average of (1st Quarter, 2nd Quarter, 3rd Quarter, 4th Quarter, Final Exam)

The Final Exam is two tasks of a practice Regents Exam and is the same for all 10th graders.

 
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