AP ENGLISH 11    POLICIES     MR. SHELTON

 

Texts

Short Story Masterpieces, Warren and Erskine, eds.

Gulliver’s Travels, Norton Critical Edition, Swift; Rivero, ed

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kesey

The Sound and the Fury, Norton Critical Edition, Second Edition, Faulkner

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Viking Critical Edition, Joyce

Advanced Composition Skills, Fox

A Handbook to Literature, any edition, Holman and Harmon

1984, Orwell

Canterbury Tales, Chaucer

The American Heritage College Dictionary, Fourth Edition (or other standard collegiate dictionary)

 

Grading

The first semester grade will be the average of the two quarters and the final examination.  The second semester grade will be the average of the two quarters.  Elements of the quarter averages will be weighted with composition and multiple-choice exercises receving the greatest weight.

 

Daily Assignments, Multiple-Choice Exercises, Quizzes

All daily assignments must be handed in on time when called for in class to receive credit.  No credit will be given for late homework assignments unless the student has an excused absence from class.  Homework must be done carefully and fully with the appropriate texts for the student to make satisfactory progress.  Homework assignments should generally take about one hour to complete.  Multiple-Choice Exercises will be penalized 50 points for one-day’s lateness.  Exercises later than one day will receive a zero.  Quizzes may be given at any time over any material.

 

Late Essays

To avoid penalty, a student must hand in a paper done outside class when it is called for in class if he is present in class.  If a student is absent from class when a paper is due but present at school on that day, he must hand in the paper before 3:30 p.m. to avoid being penalized for lateness.  If a student is absent from school on the day a paper is due, he must hand in the paper on his first day back in school to avoid penalty.  If a student is present at school on the day a paper is due but does not hand in the paper and then is absent on successive schooldays, the days of absence will count as late days .  Late papers will receive the following penalties:  1 schoolday late, minus 10 points; 2 schooldays late, minus 20 points; 3 or more days late, zero credit.  All course requirements must be completed to the satisfaction of the teacher even if an assignment is too late to receive credit.

 

Assignment format

Timed AP essays should be written in longhand in blue or black ink on every other line of ruled notebook paper.  Other essay assignments should follow the MLA Format handout.  All other assignments must include the student’s first and last names.  (Assignments without names will be penalized ten points.)  All assignments must include the pledge.  Use standard 8 ½  x 11 paper.  Type or write in black or blue ink on one side of the sheet. on writing assignments, double-space or skip every other line and underline the thesis statement and each topic sentence.  Do not use paper torn from a spiral-bound notebook.  Do not use Liquid Paper or similar substances to correct errors:  mark through the error instead.

 

Computer Problems

Students are responsible for computer, printer, and internet malfunctions.  Lateness will not be excused because your printer will not function or because a computer lost your document.  Complete assignments a few days early to avoid last-minute problems.  Always save computer documents frequently, both a copy on the hard drive and  copies on two floppies.  Plan ahead to ensure you have the needed paper, ink cartridges, and so forth.  Do not depend on the school’s equipment for last-minute printing, editing, and so forth.

 

Class Behavior

The student must be on time to class and sit in his assigned seat.  He will not ordinarily be excused from class to go to his locker, to go to the restroom, to make telephone calls, or to tend to other personal business except in genuine emergencies.  He must bring all necessary materials (pencils, pens, paper, books, homework, and so forth) to class with him, including a handkerchief or pack of tissues. Only English work may be done in English class.  Unnecessary talking and movement, as well as face-making, missile-throwing, sleeping, slouching, drunkenness, and other disorderly conduct is not permitted.  Sports equipment, radios, cell phones, cassette and CD players, water pistols, real pistols, magazines unrelated to class, games, drinks, food, and so forth are not permitted.  The student should keep his tie tied, his shirt buttoned, his shoes and socks on.  His feet should not be put onto desks.  He should keep aisles clear of books and bookbags.  He should clean the area around his desk before leaving at the end of class.  He should not write on desks, walls, or floors.  He should not touch another’s property or open drawers in the teacher’s desk or file cabinets.  He should not write on the blackboard or post materials on the bulletin boards.  The student may not eat or drink in the classroom or open or close windows without permission.  He should throw away waste only after class.  He may sharpen pencils anytime during class without permission provided that no one else is at the sharpener.  Each student is expected to respect the teacher and the other students and to be courteous to them.  Personal attacks will not be tolerated.

 

Office Hours

The student should see me as soon as possible whenever he has questions about academic work or any other problem  with which he thinks I can help.  Conferences will occur in my office in  the Upper School (111).  The student should make an appointment as soon as  he knows he needs to see me.  I am available after school at 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays,  and Thursdays and during periods 1, 6,  and 7.  (But, in quarter 2, I have a study hall during period 7.)