English 2 Honors Syllabus

English 1 – Mr. Dennis Rizzo  Phone (860) 695-2063 E-mail: [email protected] Website: kinsellamagnet.org

Course Description: In this class, students will read and respond to a variety of complex texts including novels, plays, songs, poems, short stories, news articles, and films. Students will then use these skills to create a research- based, argument paper. This paper will defend several claims using reasoning and evidence. English 1 is a graduation requirement.

Course Outline

S t a 1. Explain how a central idea develops in multiple texts by citing specific textual evidence. n 2. Analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance the purpose behind a text. d 3. Evaluate an author’s argument and claims in a text. a 4. Draw evidence from literary and informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. r 5. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics. d s

Unit 1 Unit 2

Primary Texts: Animals in Translation: Using the Primary Texts: “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Poe; “True Crime: The Roots of an American Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson; “Minds of Obsession” by Walter Mosley; “How Bernard Madoff Their Own: Animals are smarter than you think” by Did It” by Liaquat Ahamed; The Wizard of Lies by Virginia Morell; “Think You’re Smarter Than Animals? Diana B. Henriques Maybe Not” by Alexandra Horowitz and Ammon Shea

Overview: During the first unit, students read, Overview: During the second unit, students explore discuss, and analyze literary and informational texts topics that have multiple positions and perspectives. focusing on how authors develop central ideas. They will gather and organize research to defend a Students will then produce evidence-based claims position of their own. This will serve as the beginning that address these central ideas. for a research project that explains a claim with clear reasoning and relevant, sufficient evidence.

Grading Policy: Grades shall be based on homework, classwork, quick writes, assessments, and the final exam. There is no penalty for late work. However, students are responsible for contacting the teacher when he or she is absent to collect missing work. Work that is not submitted receives a zero until the assignment is turned in. The following is a breakdown for how each category is weighted: ● Final Exam = 25% ● Homework = 10% ● Classwork = 15% ● Quick Writes = 25% ● Assessments = 25%

Website: Students and parents should subscribe to Mr. Rizzo’s website. This is helpful for students and families to stay up to date with what we are learning in class. Powerschool: Students and families should monitor grades regularly by accessing Powerschool on a phone, iPad, or computer. Students can see Mr. Rizzo if they do not know how to access Powerschool.

Materials: Students will need any texts we are reading in class, their binder with handouts, their iPad and charger, and two writing utensils. Academic Recovery: In order to ensure student success, any student failing the class must come for 1 hour of extra help each week until the failing grade is brought up to at least a 60. The following is a list of times to receive extra help:

 3:15-4:15 on Tuesday  Other days and times by appointment

Make-Up Work: Students will be allowed to resubmit any assignment. When resubmitting homework, classwork, or quick writes, the most recent grade will be the one that is counted. When resubmitting an assessment such as a quiz or essay, a resubmission request must be submitted. This ensures students adequately prepared and studied to ensure an improved grade.

Quizzes: Students will take quizzes designed to prepare them for the SAT and PSAT. These quizzes will be reviewed during the week through weekly warms-ups. Students may use the weekly warm-ups during the quiz.

Teach an Adult: When a person teaches another, both learn, but the ‘teacher’ often learns much more than the ‘student.’ For homework each Friday, students will be required to teach an adult about a topic they learned in class during the week. The task of the student is to discuss and teach a concept covered in class to you. The task for the adult is to write down one or two sentences explaining what was LEARNED from the discussion and tutoring.

Important Apps and Websites

Check your grades here at least once a week to see how you are doing in class and if you are missing any work. If you click on the assignment in the app, you will also see a description that explains the directions for the assignment

Username: ______Password: ______

Accidents happen, which is why I post copies of texts and worksheets from class on my website. This is not an app, but I recommend you save the website to your home screen for quick access. See me if you don’t know how to do this.

Student Signature: ______Date: ______

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______Date: ______