Instructor: Mrs. Gasparovic: aka: Mrs. G
Room: Media Lab: 6:55-7:55
Contact Email: srg@chavezwaterman.com or stacey.gasparovic @leonagroup.com

Course Description:
English 12 is a Senior Level English course designed to significantly grow your English skills in order to equip you for college and /or a professional career. Whether or not you expect to pursue an English-focused career, strong reading, writing, and analysis skills are essential in nearly all fields, and are an integral part of a fulfilling personal life. Therefore our classwork will aim to provide a broad application for the skills we cover. This class will prepare you for higher education both through the type of work and the amount of work we will accomplish. College courses can be very demanding (especially in the amount of reading and writing expected of you) and some careers outside of the traditional college setting will also require extensive reading therefore this class will help you make that transition smoother.

Objective:
The goal for English Language Arts 12 is to refine, apply, and extend the solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and strategies developed in English Language Arts 9 through 11. Using the lens of leadership skills, English Language Arts 12 students will develop a world perspective by analyzing classic and contemporary texts in a variety of genres; including post-colonial literature. Twelfth graders will synthesize information, ideas, and themes to understand the past, the present, and to think about the future. Students will identify and apply their own leadership skills and prepare for responsible action as American citizens in the context of a global world.

---

Course Overview:
Throughout the semester, the following works will be read and analyzed: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, The Great Gatsby, Macbeth, and other literature (both fiction and non-fiction), as well as poetry. Major writing assignments will include research papers, argumentative, and analytical essays. Journal writing and note taking will also be an important part of English 12.

---

Expectations:
In order for us to maintain a productive classroom environment and accomplish all that we need to accomplish, it is absolutely necessary that you are in class on time and ready to work every day. “On time” means in your seat by the time the bell rings. “Ready to work” means you will have all your necessary supplies with you (pen, notebooks, paper, novel, completed homework, etc., and you will be prepared to participate and contribute the necessary effort. Tardiness/Unpreparedness can and will result in disciplinary action and loss of credit for some assignments. Please be aware of any further classroom policies which are posted in the classroom.
My expectations:

• Mutual respect for one another, our classroom, our school, and our community.
• Promptness. Assignments are due on date stated, for each day that an assignment is late you will lose 10% or one letter grade.
• You are young adults so come to class prepared!
• Adherence to classroom and school rules.

Your Expectations:

• A classroom environment conducive to learning.
• A teacher that is prepared with the day’s lesson.
• Open communication with teacher and the ability to come to a mutual consensus to any misunderstanding/miscommunication that may arise in the future.

Classroom Rules:
We are here to learn and to teach so the classroom environment must be one of mutual respect. Therefore, I am a devout follower of the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”. If you are having difficulties with class material, topics, or any other concerns please be a young adult and speak with me. I cannot read your mind and will not know if you are confused or are having other issues. So, if you do not speak with me, I cannot help or find someone else to help you.
Following is a list of classroom rules:

• Ear bud/phones must be removed turned off and put away.  If I observe you using your phone, you WILL place it on my desk for the rest of the hour. Any further issues and it will be taken up with administration. 
• Foul language will not be tolerated, therefore; you will be asked to leave until you are able to use appropriate language within the classroom. I may even call your parent/guardian.
• Arriving to class tardy will not be tolerated; if you need an escort to class I will gladly locate one for you.
• Our classroom is an environment of respect, please remember that and do not interrupt others when they are speaking. 

Late Work:
I will accept late work, but will LOWER the grade ONE FULL GRADE for EACH DAY that it is late. If an assignment is due on Monday, but you give it to me on Tuesday, the highest grade it can receive is a ‘B’. If it is turned in on Wednesday, the highest grade will be a ‘C’. Most major homework assignments or projects are assigned well in advance, and so their due dates are very firm. If you are absent and your work is not turned in on time, this “late work policy” applies (therefore, if your work is done and you are going to be absent, get someone to turn it in for you). If you are absent on the due date of a minor assignment, I will accept it during the next class. Catastrophic events will be dealt with in an appropriate and sensitive manner. (Computer problems are not catastrophic events; handwrite assignments if necessary or accept the late penalty). 

Plagiarism:
 Plagiarism (stealing someone else’s work) is not tolerated for any reason whatsoever!  All sources related and referred to in a research paper or any paper must be properly cited.  Any paper where the written material is plagiarized will result in not only a failing grade for the assignment but a failing grade for the class! There are no exceptions!

​Grading (per block):
I do not weigh grades in any class; therefore all grades earned are based on the total points possible for that card marking. 

Attendance
It is your responsibility to come to class everyday, to be on time, and to be prepared; even if you were out the day before. If it is necessary for you to miss a day of school please call the main office and leave a message. Upon your return to school you need a written excuse to receive missed assignments and it also lets me know that your parents knew you were absent. Otherwise, I will have to assume that you have been plagued with the rather contagious and deadly-to-your-graduation “bug” called senioritis. It is important that you bring in an excuse so that the absence may be changed to an excused absence! Once again, it is your responsibility to see me in reference to your absence and missed assignments. This must occur during journal, at the end of class, or after school.
If you are tardy, please sign in on the tardy sheet and take your seat quietly so as not to interrupt class. Three tardies equal a half hour detention, which will be served within one week’s time.
If you are absent more than 10 days, you are in jeopardy of failing this class. 

​Tutoring
I will be available for tutoring every Monday-Friday afternoon from 2:00-2:30 p.m. If necessary we can attempt to make other arrangements. I am also available via email.  Remember you are young adults and I expect you to come to me with any concerns, questions, comments, or whatever you need to discuss with me.