Contact Information

Room 233

bonnert@fsd38.ab.ca

Course Objectives; To develop an ability to

communicate with increasing

maturity, logic, and clarity in both

written and verbal forms.

To increase the ability to listen,

speak, view, read, write, and

represent in a logical, coherent,

and clearly defined manner.

To relate literary (and other

mediums) experiences to own

personal experience and to

broaden knowledge of own

cultural heritage through the

enjoyment of literature; to respond

personally to a variety of texts.

To develop the ability to make

informed critical responses to

literature (and other mediums)

through understanding and

appreciation of form, structure,

and style.

To use writing and other forms of

representation to: explore, clarify,

and reflect on thoughts, feelings,

experiences, and learning; to use

imagination.

To create texts collaboratively and

independently, using a variety of

forms for a range of audiences and

purposes.

ENGLISH 20-2 Mr. Bonner | B Block | Fall 2017

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

ELA 20-2 is the intermediate course in the Language Arts Diploma Program. Emphasis is placed upon practical communication skills and text study. Students will be introduced to a variety of fictional and non-fictional literature to initiate discussion of values and motivate written communication. The ELA 20-2 program will focus on text skills, communication skills, life skills, and language skills.

The ELA 20-2 program is based on

the Alberta Program of Studies.

Units will center on a theme and

skills will be taught through a

variety of activities and

resources. The time designated

to any one unit may vary,

\ depending on the number and

type of skills and activities to

be integrated into that

theme. However, in any

one theme, the six

essential strands of the

Language Arts curriculum will be practiced. Every

attempt will be made to teach concepts in an integrated fashion so that their interrelationship will be understood and applied by students.

ASSESSMENT BREAKDOWN

Skills & Content15%

Literary Explorations

15%

Persuasive Writing

10%

Visual Respose10%

Speaking & Listening

10%

Viewing & Representing

10%

Final Exam30%

ABSENCES:

— It is the student’s responsibility to

determine whether any evaluative

activity has been missed.

— If a student is excusably absent

from class on days during which

an assignment, quiz, examination

or other evaluation activity occurs,

the student shall be given the

opportunity to make up the missed

work through either the original or

replacement work if the following

conditions are met:

If a student is absent, a parent

must call the school to

indicate the reason for the

absence.

In the case of a missed test,

the student must provide a

note from home explaining

the absence.

If a student misses a final

exam, an alternative writing

may be granted, if the reason

for the absence is legitimate.

A legitimate absence is one

caused by illness (supported

by a Doctor’s note), or for

bereavement or other serious

family matter. The parent

must discuss the absence with

the teacher or an

administrator.

LATES:

— I expect that you will arrive to

class on time. If you are late for

any reason, you will knock on the

door and wait outside until it is

convenient for me to allow you to

enter the classroom.

— Repeat lates will result in

disciplinary action.

LONG TEXTS:

J. Stienbeck J. Gantos R.Rose

FILM TEXTS:

B. Levinson S. Spielberg J. Hughes

THEMATIC UNITS:

A variety of shorter and related texts will be used in each unit, and are not

limited to those listed below.

1. The Power of Perception a. The Breakfast Club b. “The Most Dangerous Game” c. “Flowers for Algernon”

2. Responsibility for Self

a. Of Mice & Men b. Rain Man

3. The Balance of Opposites

a. 12 Angry Men b. Catch Me if You Can

4. The Consequences of our Ethics and Morality

a. Hole in my Life b. Film TBA

BEHAVIOURAL/ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

— I expect that you will attend class everyday, prepared to work, with a writing utensil, an organized binder, and any other supplies or textbooks that are being used for the unit being studied.

— Food may be used responsibly, but I reserve the right to disallow food if garbage, or allergies, become an issue.

— Attendance will be taken daily; in the case of an absence, it is the responsibility of the student to complete and submit any missed assignments.

— I expect that you will treat your teacher and fellow classmates with respect. Everyone has a right to be heard and to learn in a secure environment.

— I expect that you will treat the property of the school and the property of others in a proper manner.

— I expect you to always do your best. This means that you will participate in all activities invo lved in this class, including listening and viewing activities, and you must hand assignments in, on time and complete. I expect you to do well—and I know that you will.

— I expect that at no times will anything impair our ability to communicate (cell phones, ipods, hats, etc.) and reserve the right to confiscate the item if it becomes an issue.

EARNED ZERO POLICY:

— If excusably absent on the due date, the assignment is due the day you return to school.

— If absent when the assignment is given, you are still responsible for the due date, unless away for an extended time, then an extension shall be given.

— The following assignment policy will apply to the class: o Assignments submitted on the due date – Will be marked in as

timely a fashion as possible (typically 2-3 weeks or less, depending on the size/type of assignment). These assignments will be given a rubric, and formative feedback.

o Assignments submitted within 2 weeks from the due date – Will be marked as other assignments allow (these are not the priority, and the only timeline that can be assured is prior to the end of the semester). Students will receive no formative feedback.

o Assignments submitted after 2 weeks from due date – Will be

awarded a zero, unless special arrangements are made at the discretion of the teacher. This is known as an assignment “Dead Date.”

MAPLEWOOD & COURSE

WEBSITE: Maplewood provides information about your grades and attendance. It can be accessed at the above link or by following the links on the school’s webpage (fchs.fsd38.ab.ca). Assignments and handouts can be found on-line: website.

COURSE DOCUMENTS bonnerfchs.weebly.com

BEHAVIOR PLAN (DISCIPLINE

CYCLE):

If your behavior is unbecoming of a mature young adult, the following will happen:

1. Verbal warning and/or conference

with teacher

2. Notification of parent/guardian

3. Conference with parent/guardian

4. Written referral/administrative action

Failure to complete all major course work will result in MANDITORY FLEX until work is completed.

CHEATING:

— Providing or using unauthorized assistance, such as:

Copying another’s work (including plagiarism) Telling others what is on a test Presenting another’s ideas as your own Taking notes/aids into a test situation

— May result in the student(s) receiving a zero (0), or students will be

asked to complete an alternative assignment for a maximum of 50% of the original mark, and being referred to administration.

ASSIGNMENT EXPECTATIONS:

— Sloppy or illegible work WILL NOT be accepted. If I can’t read it, I can’t grade it.

— You forget your name, I will not mark it until it is claimed. — Every single assignment, over a single page, must have a proper title

page.

EXTENSIONS:

Extensions on assignments will only be considered if a student makes arrangements at least one (1) day prior to the due date. An accompanying signature/note from a parent indicating the circumstances of the extension would be welcomed.

REWRITES: — Major Written Assignments

may be rewritten, but a student/teacher conference must occur with appropriate documentation. Please note the following.

— Assignments that do not move up at least one scoring category in two of the reassessed sections of the rubric will not be given a new mark.

— Matters of Correctness is never available for a rewrite.

— Matters of Choice can be rewritten based on teacher discretion.

E Pf S L P

The student has demonstrated excellent achievement of grade level expectations. The student demonstrates a subtle and thorough understanding.

• a comprehensive grasp of the subject matter;

• an ability to make sound critical evaluation of the material given;

• a very good capacity for original, creative, and/or logical thinking;

• an excellent ability to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and to express thoughts fluently.

The student has demonstrated basic achievement of grade level expectations. The student demonstrates an adequate and general understanding.

• an acceptable basic grasp of the subject material;

• a general familiarity with the relevant literature and techniques;

• an ability to develop solutions to moderately difficult problems related to the subject material;

• a moderate ability to examine the material in a critical and analytical manner.

The student has demonstrated strong achievement of grade level expectations. The student demonstrates an in-depth and well-developed understanding.

• a substantial knowledge of the subject matter;

• a solid familiarity with the relevant literature and techniques;

• some capacity for original, creative, and/or logical thinking;

• a good ability to organize, to analyze, and to examine the subject material in a critical and constructive manner.

The student is not meeting grade level expectations. The student demonstrates limited and insufficient understanding.

• a familiarity with the subject material;

• some evidence that analytical skills have been developed;

• some familiarity with the relevant literature and techniques;

• attempts to solve moderately difficult problems related to the subject material and to examine the material in a critical and analytical manner, which are only partially successful. Unit tests, quizzes, and plagiarized

work can never be rewritten.

Excellence

Poor

Proficient Satisfactory

Limited