Dear Students and Parents/Guardians: Welcome to English 2 Honors: American Literature!

Make sure to review all of the information in this packet to make sure you are following all guidelines for this course. Please review the Student Parent Handbook and the information listed on the Horry County Schools web page for any general questions that you may have about the English curriculum, as I will exactly follow the English 2 Honors curriculum. If you have any specific questions, I encourage you to contact me. E-mail is the best way to reach me: kvargo@horrycountyschools.net. Otherwise, you can call me at 843-650-5600 ext. 2620. Please contact me anytime throughout the semester or year if you have any questions or concerns. As with any English class, reading and writing will be the two most major components. There will be many opportunities for each student to use the classroom library to independently read a book of his/her choice. A student can also bring in a book of his/her choice as well for the weekly opportunities to read a book of interest during class. Please make sure that you approve of every text your child reads in class. Included in this packet are a course outline, texts to be studied, materials required, classroom rules, and a signature form. Please read through all of the information in this packet, and sign and return the signature page no later than Friday, January 25, 2013. Again, I am available to answer any questions that you may have now and throughout the semester or school year. I look forward to our semester together in English 2 Honors! Sincerely,

In English 2 Honors, students refine their knowledge of language through a focused study of American literature. They read and view a variety of informational texts as well as four major types of literary textsfiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, and dramaboth inside and outside of class. Through literary texts, students study the authors craft by making inferences, determining point of view, and analyzing theme and figurative language. By reading a variety of informational texts, students analyze an authors development and support of a thesis and create a variety of responses to texts. English 2 students analyze propaganda techniques and critique how bias is revealed in texts. In addition, students continue to develop and use in their reading, writing, oral communication, and knowledge of vocabulary that includes roots, affixes, euphemisms, and idioms Required Materials for Students: Three-ringed binder, loose-leaf paper, pens, pencils, and highlighters (at least 3 different colors) Statewide Grading Scale A=93-100 B=85-92 C=84-77 D=70-76 F=below 70 English Department Grading Breakdown Summative Assessments: 60% of total grade Tests Major projects and presentations Formative Assessments: 30% of total grade Quizzes Short writings Applied Practice: 10% of total grade Shark Bait Class Work Homework Assignments

Mrs. Kelly Vargo Course Description

Assignments are graded on a point-value basis, with points determined by the difficulty of the assignment and the length of time given to complete the assignment. Students will be given due dates, point values, and any necessary rubrics when the assignment is given.

Classroom Expectations
Be in your seat, ready to work, before the bell rings. Respect the teacher and all classmates.

No late work is accepted unless a student has been absent from class. Otherwise, the student has five days to make up all missing work. Parent/Student Notification of Grades
I update grades on Power School as soon as an assignment is assessed. Please check Power School frequently to see updated grades and contact me if you have any questions or concerns. If you are unable to access Power School, I can provide you with a weekly grade report; please let me know if you need me to do this for you. With so many students and so many grades, this is my way of keeping in daily contact with parents and students about grades and assignments.

Come to class prepared with all necessary materials. No food, drinks, hats, sleeping, cell phones, or earphones (with music) in class. Put forth your best effort; be the best student you can be! Follow all class and school rules. Use planners on a daily basis to record what was done in class and what homework was assignment along with its due dates. This is an academic class, not a study hall. Working on assignments for another class will force me to take that assignment from you during my class. Please go to the bathroom or go to your locker before you come to class.

Information on Classroom Reading Materials

One of our schools primary goals is to develop lifelong learners, with literacy being a key component in this process. Reading a wide range of materials helps our students develop these literacy skills. While our schools classrooms and media centers make every effort to provide only the highest quality reading materials, we understand that parents want to help their children make a wise choice as it pertains to what their child reads. Parents who may have questions about their childs reading material may contact their school media specialist to request additional information regarding the title, including possible professional reviews of the title. The school media specialist will work collaboratively with parents to identify titles that will help develop a love of reading.

Consequences for not following classroom procedures 1st instance: 2nd instance: 3rd instance: 4th instance: Warning/conference with student Lunch/after school detention E-mail/phone call to parent Contact administration/discipline referral

Absences, Excuses and Tardies

Students have five days after returning to school to make up all missed assignments. It is the students responsibility to find out what he/she missed and arrange and appropriate time within those five days to make up those assignments. After five days, NO credit can be earned for that assignment. Please see the St. James High School handbook for the rest of the policies on these topics.

Academic Honesty
Plagiarism is the unauthorized or uncited use of another persons words and/or ideas. Cheating includes copying another students assignment (or any part of it), sharing assignments, and using cheat sheets, or other written, verbal, or electronic information that is not your own. Passing off someone elses work as your own is cheating and will result in a zero on the assignment, as well as an immediate referral to administration and parent notification.