meverdi@leepublicschools.net

243-2781, ext. 2303

Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 2:30-3:15

Other afternoons and before school by appointment

Course Descriptions and Policies

Honors English 11:

Honors English 11 is a look at America’s story as told through its literature.  Students will have the opportunity to explore that story, with an emphasis on its cultural and personal implications, by reading a great variety of non-fiction, at least seven novels, and numerous short stories and poems.  We will also spend a good deal of time examining and practicing the use of effective language, including an extensive project on the work of one author which is a standard part of junior Honors Literature. The Honors option adds in-depth literary analysis and more challenging writing practice to the college prep option.

Our literature units will include Native American, Puritan, Revolutionary Period, Romantic Period (including Transcendental and Anti-Transcendental), Realist, Regional, Modern, and Contemporary literature.  Our writing practice will include both creative and expository assignments, focusing on literary analysis and persuasion;  there will also be projects designed to improve your skill in public speaking.   By the end of the year, students will be able to comprehensively answer the following questions using knowledge of American literature:

                   -How does American literature tell the American story?

                   -How does literature both reflect and seek to change society?

                   -How does literature encourage us to ask meaningful questions           

                           about life and human experience?                  

Students will be able to formulate, state, and prove analytical points based on literature and culture in writing, speaking, and other creative formats.

For our time together to be both enjoyable and productive, I ask students to keep a few things in mind.  First, that  “the mission of Lee Middle and High School is to provide a safe and respectful environment that supports individual academic success and personal growth for each student in order to become a contributing member of society.” This is our responsibility to students; in response, I certainly expect them to be respectful of themselves and others by being present at the bell every day, prepared to actively and appropriately participate in their own learning. Our primary text is Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience.  Students must have a notebook or loose-leaf binder in which to take notes, a folder in which to keep handouts, and a pen with them every day.

Since a free and lively intellectual discussion cannot occur unless everyone in the group feels that his or her ideas will be considered and respected, I expect everyone to listen to each other courteously and maintain a positive and encouraging attitude toward all members of our learning community.  Since that community extends to the entire school, students are expected to follow all school rules in our English classroom.  They may bring bottled water to drink, but not other drinks;  they may not wear hats in this classroom; however, there will be occasions on which I may give students permission to use an I-Pod, for example if music helps them focus during a writing period.  Under no circumstances may students have cell phones out during English class; phones will be confiscated and sent to Mr. Turmel according to school regulations.

In regard to grades, my policies are as follows:            

        75% is the numeric average of tests, quizzes, essays, group projects, etc.

        25% is homework

        daily extra credit is given for participation

Students may occasionally be required to come for brief writing conferences before or after school, but these will be scheduled at mutually agreeable times. I deduct 10 points a day off compositions that are late, and I do expect that tests that are missed due to excused absences be made up within two days.  If students miss a graded assignment due to an unexcused absence, we will meet to determine whether or not they may take a make-up.  Academic honesty is expected at all times; cheating, including plagiarism, will result in no credit for that assignment. 

College Prep English 11:

College Prep English 11 is a look at America’s story as told through its literature.  In this class, students will have the opportunity to explore that story, with an emphasis on its cultural and personal implications, by reading a great variety of non-fiction, novels, short stories and poems.  Our units include Native American, Puritan, Revolutionary, Romantic, Civil War, Realist, Modern, and contemporary literature. We will also spend a good deal of time examining and practicing the use of effective language, emphasizing essay writing, but including creative writing and other modes of expression with an emphasis on audience and purpose. 

It is an exciting and challenging body of literature that will move students toward both college and adult life. I encourage open discussion and personal connections with the literature and frequently supplement it with a variety of art and music. 

Our writing practice will include both creative and expository assignments, focusing on literary analysis and persuasion; there will also be projects designed to improve students' skill in public speaking.   By the end of the year, they will be able to comprehensively answer the following questions using knowledge of American literature:

                -How does American literature tell the American story?

        -How does literature encourage us to ask meaningful questions about human

                                               life and experience?

They will be able to formulate, state, and prove analytical points based on literature and culture in writing, speaking, and other creative formats.

For our time together to be both enjoyable and productive, I ask students to keep a few things in mind.  First, that  “the mission of Lee Middle and High School is to provide a safe and respectful environment that supports individual academic success and personal growth for each student in order to become a contributing member of society.” This is our responsibility to students; in response, I certainly expect them to be respectful of themselves and others by being present at the bell every day, prepared to actively and appropriately participate in their own learning. Our primary text is Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience.  Students must have a notebook or loose-leaf binder in which to take notes, a folder in which to keep handouts, and a pen with them every day.

My grading policies are as follows:            

         75% is the numeric average of tests, quizzes, essays, group projects, etc.

         25% is homework                                                  

         extra credit is given for participation

I deduct 10 points a day from compositions that are late, and I do expect that tests are missed due to excused absences be made up within two days.  If students miss a graded assignment due to an unexcused absence, we will meet to determine whether or not they may take a make-up.  Academic honesty is expected at all times; cheating, including plagiarism, will result in no credit for that assignment. 

Applied English 11:

Applied English 11 is the first year in a two-year program designed to help students improve the reading, writing, and verbal communication skills needed to be successful in careers and as citizens.  They will have opportunities to explore their own interests and abilities, research career options, develop personal career plans, and complete a number of career-oriented tasks, such as resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills. Much of this work will be done on computers, and they will compile all of it in a career portfolio that will travel with them to Applied English 12.

Since “the mission of Lee Middle and High School is to provide a safe and respectful environment that supports individual academic success and personal growth for each student in order to become a contributing member of society,”  I expect full participation of the students, who are the most important members of our school community.  This class is designed with them in mind –their daily presence and enthusiastic participation is required for success.  To encourage these positive life habits that will encourage career and personal success, I give weekly grades consisting of participation in daily tasks, completion of required work, participation in group discussion, and level of cooperation with class and staff.  In addition, all completed products will be graded; failure is not an option – all these assignments must be revised until they are acceptable. 

In addition, to help students become lifelong readers for both enjoyment and employment, we will read quite a bit including short stories, several novels, and a variety of non-fiction. We will do both informal and formal writing about the literature as well as other topics, practicing grammar, revision, and other ways to make writing more effective.

Applied English 12:

Applied English 12 is the second year in a two-year program designed to help students improve the reading, writing, and verbal communication skills needed to be successful in careers and as citizens.  In this course, they will have opportunities to improve interviewing skills, learn about workplace legal and ethical issues, explore workplace health and safety, and practice reading and writing in practical contexts.

“The mission of Lee Middle and High School…to provide a safe and respectful environment that supports individual academic success and personal growth for each student in order to become a contributing member of society” cannot be fulfilled without full participation of the students, who are the most important members of our school community.  This class is designed with them in mind –their daily presence and enthusiastic participation is required for success.  To encourage these positive life habits that will encourage career and personal success, I give weekly grades consisting of participation in daily tasks, completion of required work, participation in group discussion, and level of cooperation with class and staff.  In addition, all completed products will be graded; failure is not an option – all these assignments must be revised until they are acceptable. 

In addition, to help students become lifelong readers for both enjoyment and employment, we will read quite a bit including short stories, several novels, and a variety of non-fiction. We will do both informal and formal writing about the literature as well as other topics, practicing grammar, revision, and other ways to make writing more effective.

Homework