1. Syllabus: 10th Grade Pre-IB English II
Lake Weir High School
Mr. Cahill

2. Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to provide 10th grade students with knowledge and skills, using texts of high complexity, advanced integrated language arts study in reading, writing, speaking, listening and language in preparation for entry into the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) program.
Through the application, analysis, evaluation and creation of complex ideas that are often abstract and multi-faceted, students are challenged to think and collaborate critically on the content they are learning.
The class will include many different types of literary works including novels, plays, short stories and poetry.
Throughout the year the literature will be supplemented with vocabulary, grammar and writing concepts.

3. Necessary Supplies:
(Subject to change, notice will be given well in advance)
Binder
Composition notebook
Pens (blue or black)
Pencils
Highlighters
Loose-leaf paper (college ruled ONLY)

4. Grading and Percentages
Grades will be calculated from a variety of sources including daily grades, vocabulary tests, grammar tests, essays, speeches, projects, and quizzes and tests on novels and other reading selections.
Percentages:
Tests & Quizzes – 45%
Essays, speeches, projects - 45%
Homework - 10%
*Essays and projects will require a longer time to grade and post.

5. Rubrics and Scale
Formal writing assignments will be graded using a Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) and IB rubrics. FSA rubrics will be gone over in class and can be found on
Assignments will be written in MLA style and will be required to be typed and formatted according to MLA specifications.
Grading Scale:
90 – 100 = A
= B
= C
60 – 69 = D

6. Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.
Any act plagiarism on a project, paper or test will result in zero for the assignment and is an Honor Code violation.
Be aware that there are websites such as turnitin.com that can and will be used to check for plagiarism.
This is a zero tolerance policy.

7. Late Work/Absences:
Students will have the ability to turn in work, however 10 points per day will be deducted from the grade for the assignment.
If a student is absent on the due date, he or she will have 3 days to turn in the missing assignment before incurring deductions on the grade.
Appointments can be made if the missing work is a project, quiz or test before or after school.

8. Classroom Behavior:
Good manners and polite behavior are required. Students will show respect to the teacher and each other at all times. 
Every tardy will be recorded and referrals will be written on the third tardy. 
Students must do their own work.
Copying, cheating, and plagiarism will result in a zero and referrals will be written. 
Cell phones must remain on silent and in the backpack during class unless they are required for the assignment.   
Students must focus and stay on task so they can turn in high quality, complete classwork on time.
Late classwork, homework, and projects will be penalized 10 points a day to be subtracted from the actual grade the assignment received.

9. Food and Drink:
Water and Gatorade will be the only beverages allowed in the classroom.

10. Communication Devices:
Cell phones, smart phones and other forms of mobile communication devices are prohibited during class.

11. Texts: Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer (summer reading)
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Fahrenheit Ray Bradbury
The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
Othello - William Shakespeare
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Thief and the Dogs – Naguib Mahfouz
The Stranger - Albert Camus