Course Title: English 2

Teacher: Jordan Allen

Room Number: Period 1 (142)
Period 2 (223)
Email: jordan_allen@dpsk12.org
Phone number: 720-423-6164
Tutoring hours: After school every day except Thursday in room 142
Course Website: http://southallen.weebly.com
Course Overview
English 2 is a year-long course in which students explore the literature of the world, diverse cultures, and the issues facing
the global community. The course incorporates culturally diverse non-fiction and fiction texts from various time periods,
including contemporary literature. Students will demonstrate their understanding of world literature and issues through
various forms of writing, including literary analysis essays, research papers, and narratives, and use collaborative
discussions to explore, evaluate, and synthesize multiple perspectives. In order to prepare students for college and career
readiness, students will practice public speaking and presenting skills and use technology to support their learning.

Essential Learning Goals

1. Students will determine and analyze the development of a theme, including how authors use figurative language
to support theme.
2. Students will use valid and sufficient evidence to support analysis and claims in both speaking and writing.
3. Students will delineate and evaluate arguments and claims in a text, including how authors use rhetorical devices
to develop an argument.
4. Students will produce clear, coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to
the task.
5. Students will analyze seminal U.S. documents of historical and literary importance, including how they address
related themes and concepts.
6. Students will participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on topics, texts,
and issues, building on others ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
7. Students will determine or clarify meanings of unknown and multiple-meaning words.
8. Students will initiate and participate in a range of collaborative discussions.

Units of Study
Unit 1: The Other Wes Moore
Unit 2: Women Hollering Creek
Unit 3: Night
Unit 4: The Things They Carried
Unit 5: Hamlet

Required Materials
Spiral notebook
Pen/pencil
Tablet and charger

Course Expectations
English 2 is designed to help you grow as a reader, writer, listener, speaker, and thinker. I expect you to not only be
responsible for your own learning but to contribute to the classroom community by sharing your expertise, opinions,
experiences, and writing. In order to accomplish these goals, you must be positive, engaged, and motivated. Please come
to class prepared to learn and participate.

Grading Policies
Grade Book Set-Up
Your grade is determined by the following scores:
Process (practice work, homework, daily assignments, ect.): 25%
Product (assessments, major assignments, and essays): 65%
Final Exam: 10%

Grading Scale
A: 90%-100%

B: 80%-89%

C: 70%-79%

D: 60%-69%

F: 59% or below

Revised Work
You may redo all process assignments and essays for a higher grade. Tests, quizzes, final exams, and district tests cannot be redone.

Late Work
In order to be successful in English 2, you need to complete work in a timely manner. Major projects and writing assignments that are
late will receive a 10% per day deduction, and I will not accept class or homework assignments that are more than one week
late. Please see me outside of class in order to catch up on missed work.

Absence/Attendance Policy and Make-Up Work

Students are expected to maintain 95% attendance and are responsible for making up work they miss. If you missed class because of
an excused absence, field trip, or suspension, you are not excused from the missed work. It is your responsibility to make up any
missed assignments within five days of the absence. I will not accept make-up work for an unexcused absence.

Homework Policy
Homework is designed to supplement classwork and unit assessments. Homework will consist of reading one novel every four to six
weeks and completing writing, vocabulary, and grammar assignments. These homework assignments are an integral part of your
learning experience, so it is important for you to complete and submit all homework in a timely manner.

Kindles/Schoology
Students will be continuing their work with the Digital Content Initiative (DCI) this year in English 2. This means that students will
be completing the majority of the work that they do in class on their assigned tablet. We will also be using the Schoology platform as
a means of receiving and turning in assignments. It is our goal that this process will increase student achievement and participation as
well as better prepare them for life beyond high school. In order to be successful in this class, you must bring your charged tablet
every day.

Behavior Expectations

Electronic devices are not allowed in the classroom. If I see a cell phone, I will take it and send it down to one of the deans.

If you are not in your seat when the bell rings, you are tardy. It is disrespectful and disruptive to be late to class. If you are
frequently tardy, I will have a conference with you and contact your guardians. If you continue to be tardy, I will contact the
deans.

Feel free to eat in class, but please pick up after yourself and ensure that you dont disrupt class.

Use appropriate language. I do not tolerate the use of curse words in my classroom.

Please do not abuse passes. I realize that everyone needs to use the restroom occasionally; however, I will not give you more than
one pass a week. If you are caught in a destination that is not indicated on your pass, you will lose your pass privileges.

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Copying from a peer, text, or internet source is a serious offense and will
result in earning a zero on the assignment and recorded as cheating in the grade book. Please see the student handbook for
a detailed definition of plagiarism as well as a description of the consequences.

My class is a Hate Free Zone: Bullying, discrimination, and disrespect will NOT be tolerated. This room is a safe place for
every race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.

Please dont hesitate to reach out to me if you need any help. I will be in room 142 before and after
school, and I will respond promptly to emails sent to my DPS email (jordan_allen@dpsk12.org)
Please read over this syllabus with your parent/guardian. Fill out the portion at the bottom, and return it to Ms.
Allen on Friday, August 26.
Student Printed Name: ___________________________ Signature _______________________
Parent/Guardian Printed Name: ____________________ Signature _______________________
Parent/Guardian Phone Number:

Parent/Guardian Email (if available):

Primary language(s) spoken at home:

Preferred language of contact: