​English 12 a/b Course Syllabus
​Mr. McCoy
Email: [email protected]
Room G-104

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” 
~Aristotle

​"If a teacher is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.
~ Kahlil Gibran

Welcome to English 12...I’m glad you’re here!
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to some of the major British and American authors, to help discover a rich cultural heritage, and to develop a genuine appreciation for some of the most time-tested works of art in the English language. I’m hoping we can have some fun. The more deeply you understand yourself, the more deeply you will understand great poetry and great Literature. Exploring a great piece of poetry/Literature is really exploring a great part of your Self. That being said, Let's begin our Self-realization journey...I will be your tour guide.
~Bert McCoy

The Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC) is a full-year college preparatory English course for high school seniors. The ERWC focuses specifically on preparing you to engage in critical reading and critical writing identified by the California State University (CSU) English Placement Test Committee, and prepares students to meet the expectations of college and university faculty.

Course assignments:
​ERWC is organized into modules and based largely on non-fiction texts, emphasize the in-depth study of expository, analytical, and persuasive reading and writing. The University of California has approved the ERWC for Area “b” credit (of the “a-g” requirements), and the course meets college preparatory requirements for both UC and CSU campuses. We will complete 10 modules over the course of this school year.

Over 50% of incoming freshmen in the CSU system alone are currently required to take remedial English courses due to the lack of preparation for university-level reading and writing. The goal of the ERWC is to prepare students effectively for the rigorous levels of both reading and writing that will be expected of them while attending college.

Course Goals:
Upon completion of ERWC, you will know and show that you are able to do the following:
1. Use your understanding of word roots, prefixes, and suffixes to understand new words and interpret their denotative and connotative meanings.
2. Research, read, analyze, and understand informational, expository, and persuasive texts.
3. Read, analyze, and understand literature, particularly how and why the author wrote as he/she did.
4. Create and sustain arguments [written and oral] based on readings, research, and/or personal experience.
5. Synthesize information from a variety of sources and combine into a coherent, structured, persuasive essay.
6. Demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English.
7. Develop persuasive and expository essays with a clear and appropriate thesis statement; provide specific evidence; cogent explanations; and clear transitions.
8. Move effectively through the stages of the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, formatting and printing, and evaluation).
9. Complete timed writings on impromptu essay topics while maintaining the flow of developed ideas and using concise introductions and conclusions.
10. Use academic vocabulary and sentence structure in your writing.


Our Reading List:
Expository Reading and Writing Course student handbook
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer Published in 1996
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Published in 1932

As well, we will refer to other texts (both fiction and nonfiction), films, advertisements, podcasts, blogs, websites, speeches, TED Talks, and other materials will be supplemented and included in this course. Most materials used will be nonfiction and will complement the texts we are reading in a given module. I reserve the right to alter these works as necessary for differentiated instructional purposes. *Notification of changes will be provided in advance, as necessary.

Required Materials
  • The following should be brought to class every day:
  • Handouts with which we are working on
  • Pens (blue or black ink only)
  • Loose leaf binder paper (college ruled – NO wide ruled paper)
  • Leuzinger School Calendar/Copy down Focused Learning Target (FLT), assignments, and due dates
Class Rules and Procedures
1. Be punctual. If you are in the room but not in your seat when the bell rings, you are tardy.

2. Be prepared: Do your homework and be prepared for the day’s activities. Have your materials out and ready; I will start as soon as the bell rings. Do not begin to line up at the door prior to the bell. The bell can ring, but it does not dismiss you. Prior to leaving the classroom the classroom floor must be clean from debris before we leave the classroom. Make sure that your trash goes in the trashcan, and not simply near it.

3. Be courteous: This classroom serves as a place of learning that is built on a foundation of mutual respect. It is my expectation that each member of this class will show respect for self and others. Any disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. No electronic devices may be visible or audible at any time in the classroom.

4. Leaving the Classroom During Class Office / Nurse: There are occasions when you may need to go to the office or visit the nurse during class. Please remember to bring a signed note back from the office or nurse.

3 Restroom: Please do your best to refrain from asking to go to the restroom during class time.

5. Homework: Please do your best to write legibly, use complete sentences, and turn in your assignments on time.
Homework is assigned Monday through Friday averaging fifteen to thirty minutes per day/evening. Reading assignments, study questions, journaling, essay writing, and vocabulary are some examples of work to expect. Please see me if you will be turning in partial or late homework.

*Work missed due to unexcused absences or tardies may not be made up unless you come talk with me...We will work out an acceptable date.

6. Essays: All essays, with the exception of in-class essays, must be typed, double-spaced, using the 12 point, Times New Roman font, and according to MLA formatting.
*Students not in class on the due date – whether for sports, field trips, or illness – must make arrangements with me to turn your paper. Papers must be delivered into the teacher’s hands.
*Essays will be marked late if they are found in the teacher’s mailbox or on the teacher’s desk the next morning.

7. Quizzes and Tests:
Quizzes will be given to assess student completion and understanding of reading and other material. Students are expected to read all assignments carefully and take notes on class discussions for study purposes.

8. Cheating Plagiarism:
Sharing or copying: another students' essay, homework, test, quiz, project, etc.; and copying directly from a book, magazine, website, TV broadcast, TED Talk, and any other published source (even if you change a few words) – is considered a violation of the Leuzinger High School Plagiarism policy and results in a major deduction of points! Using materials posted on the Internet and claiming them as your own also falls under the heading of cheating. All further offenses will result in a parent conference with an administrator.

Grading:
Grades on assignments are as follows:
96.5%-100% A+
92%-96% A
89.5%-92% A-
86.5%-89% B+
82.5%-86% B
79.5%-82% B-
76.5%-79% C+
72.5%-76% C
69.5%-72% C-
66.5%-69% D+
62.5%-66% D
59.5%-62% D-
59% and below F


Grades will be weighted as follows:
Writing Assignments (in-class & out-of-class) 40%
Tests & Quizzes                                                           20%
Homework, Classwork, & Participation                40%
*Extra credit will be minimal and only as it relates to the topic being taught. Remember: Plagiarism equals a zero.


Classroom discipline:
If a student exhibits inappropriate behavior, one or more of the following disciplinary measures will be taken:
1. Verbal warning to student
2. Student-teacher conference
3. Parent contact and/or parent-student-teacher conference
4. Referral to administration

Although this is the standard procedure, there are certain offenses that will warrant immediate attention from the administration, including violence (actual or threatened), defiance, brandishing weapons, or other serious offenses. As your teacher, I reserve the right to skip steps in classroom discipline and handle specific situations in an appropriate manner. This is a safety zone. As long as you are in this room, you should feel safe from bullying, violence, and prejudice. Any behavior that changes this environment will be handled immediately and with great seriousness.

Teacher Commitment & Office Hours
I love to teach; and, each of you has the right to learn. Extra help is always available; I am available for questions by appointment at lunch. I expect you to take responsibility for your education and work to do your best. Please take the initiative to come and see me if you should have any questions regarding this course, review of your writing, or need to make up work for an excused absence.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I would like to welcome you and your student to ERWC, the twelfth grade level English class at Leuzinger High School. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email me at [email protected] call me at 310-262-2200 X2452 [email is better]. Open communication with parents is one of the keys to student success, and I want each of my students to achieve to his/her fullest potential. I have two (2) requests of you: 1. Please read the syllabus for this course and sign the form below and have your son or daughter return to me by no later than Monday, August 31, 2013.

In addition, we spend some time at the beginning of the year getting to know each other through class activities, index cards, and a powerful movie called, Peaceful Warrior. I’d like to know more, but I need your assistance. Please tell me about your son or daughter (you can use the back of this paper or another piece of paper if you need to).
  • What should I know about your son or daughter to help the school year run smoothly and encourage him or her to succeed?
  • What is important to him or her as a student?
  • What celebrations, challenges, and struggles has your child had at school?
  • What are your concerns, fears, and dreams for him or her?
  • I value your response in any form – list, letter, poem, story, picture, time-line – anything you decide.


Thank you for taking the time to answer this letter. Your son or daughter will receive 25 extra credit points for your efforts.

Sincerely,



Bert McCoy


Please return the below signed portion of the our English 12 Class Syllabus to me by August 31, 2016


Cut here-------------------------------------------------------------


I have read and understood my child’s syllabus for the ERWC course for the 2013-2014 school year. I will encourage my son or daughter to do his / her best, and to ask questions as they arise. __________________[Print parent name] ___________________________________________ [Print student name] ___________________________________________ [Parent signature] ___________________________________________ [Parent email] ____________________________________________[Date]


I have read and understood Mr. McCoy's English 12 Class Syllabus. I agree to abide by the rules and procedures as outlined in this syllabus, and those of Leuzinger High School. I will re-read this syllabus if I forget a rule, policy, or procedure and then, if I have further questions, I will ask Mr. McCoy. I realize that policies, rules, and procedures may be added as necessary. I am willing to make my best efforts to learn this year and spend the necessary time and energy to be as successful as I can be! _____________________________________________[Print student name] _____________________________________________[Student signature] _____________________________________________[Date] _____________________________________________[Email]  

Journals Written 2016

8/20/16
​Journal #1 Amy Cuddy on TED
8/22/16
Journal #2 Shondra Rhimes on Ted "Saying Yes To Everything"
​