John F.

Kennedy Middle College High School

English Language Arts 2A/B 2017-18
Mrs. Callon (951) 738-2200 Ext.6216
scallon@cnusd.k12.ca.us
cnusd.k12.ca.us

Course Description
“World literature has the power in these frightening times to help mankind see itself accurately.”
~Nobel Prize winner Alexander Solzhenitsyn~

Welcome to the English Language Arts program at JFK Middle College High School. This will be an
exciting year as we explore various components of English in our journey to attain your full potential
in Language Arts. This class is designed to strengthen your reading, writing, listening, critical
thinking and speaking skills. You will strengthen your understanding of the structures of literature
through diverse works of world literature. You will also have an opportunity to write for various
genres to meet the California Common Core Standards: Argument, Explanatory, Informative, and
Narrative. Course content is meant to prepare you for college and career.
Student Expectations
 We will analyze diverse works of world literature, focusing on literary devices, criticisms, and
conventions as we relate themes of literature to our lives, society, and history.
 We will master several styles of essay writing by strengthening our writing, peer editing,
research, and grammatical skills through cooperative learning projects, essays, and
presentations.
 We will demonstrate through writing, discussions, cooperative learning, research, and
presentations our ability to think critically in preparation for entering college
and careers.
 We will develop as writers as we will have the time to write, revise, edit,
publish, and reflect in class. This will be a “writing process” classroom.
 We will cultivate a passion to become life-long learners and critical
thinkers.
Class Rules
Consequences
 Seated and ready to work when bell rings  Friendly Warning
 Respect ourselves, peers, and teacher  Student/Parent Conference
 Electronic devices & phones off or on vibrate  Detention/Referral

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend on a daily basis to reach their full potential. Students
are also expected to be in class at the start of the period. When students are
absent, it is their responsibility to get the notes from teacher/peer, the work missed, and turn
in work that was due on the day absent. Students are encouraged to see teacher
first during the Excel period to get the details of work missed. When returning from an absence, it is the
student’s responsibility to confer with the teacher if any part of the assignment is confusing to the
student. In addition, some learning opportunities can not be made up. These may include, but are not
limited to: class discussions/semiar or activities, lecture, video clips, CLIC/media experiences,
presentations, group quizzes, whole class revision sessions and writing workshop conferences.
Therefore, absenteeism is discouraged.
Plagiarism/Cheating Policy-Students will turn in original work. Plagiarism/Cheating will result in
earning a zero for the assignment with no make-up opportunity and a referral to administration. We will
be using Turnitin through our district Canvas LMS as our main platform to submit all original work and
essays. Go to cnusd.k12.ca.us to access your Canvas LMS account.

Course Requirements

Classwork and Homework are assigned to meet these requirements:

Semester Two Units:

MSND (Speaking and Listening performance)
Virtue & Vengeance (Presentation & Argument research paper)
Night (Informative)
S2 Final
For the purpose of quarter and semester grade reports, listed below is how grades are calculated:
(Superior)=A (90-100) (Strong)=B (80-89) (Adequate)=C (60-79) Weak=F (0-59)

Late work: Late work will be accepted ONLY within a seven day time frame (1 week) AND will be
deducted one full letter grade. After one week, late work will NO longer be accepted (this includes the
weekend & non-class days). Late work must be labeled “Late” and turned in to either: the bin next to my
desk (Room 216), dropped off at my mailbox in the front office, or emailed to me at:
scallon@cnusd.k12.ca.us( preferred method). Computer issues are not an acceptable excuse for missing
assignments. If necessary, handwritten work may be turned in, typed as is, then re-submitted for a grade.
Texts: Students will use the new myPerspectives ELA curriculum offering a variety of ways to interact
directly with the text. Students will have an opportunity to annotate by writing in their print consumable
or annotate in their digital Student Edition found at cnusd.k12.ca.us (click on Student/Student
Resources/Pearson EasyBridge/realize). Trade books such as A Midsummer’s Night Dream and Night
will also be used to compliment and highlight specific units.

Assessment & Grading

***All students and parents will receive online access to grades and assignment scores 24/7 through
the Student/Parent Q Connect portal. Upcoming events, reminders and teacher-student text messaging
will only be conducted with a Remind account using your phone or www.remind.com no later than 8pm
Monday-Sunday. Send a text to this number: 81010 with this message: @la2201 to join our
remind class. For your information, grades are updated approximately every two weeks in my class and
grades are not negotiable.
 Students will be assessed by both formal and informal means and grades will be discussed with
students during writing workshop conferences periodically and the Excel periods.
 Some writing assignments will be scored on a credit, half-credit, or no credit scale.
 Students will have the opportunity to revise their writing to improve it and their grade.
 Students will self assess and peer assess various writing pieces and set goals for improvement.
 All Final Drafts must be typed and MLA formatted.
 All work turned in must be neat and free from: tears, stains, wrinkles, and have the correct
heading on it to receive a grade.
Materials Due Date:
The following materials must be brought daily:
1. White 8 ½ x 11 college ruled paper 4. Post it Notes (for annotating texts)
2. Blue and Black pens 5. Assigned Textbook (you will be notified)
3. Highlighters 6. *One-subject spiral notebook or laptop

2
*Your one- subject spiral or digital notebook should have dividers arranged in the following order:
1. Unit Introductions 2. Whole-Class Learning 3. Small-Group Learning 4. Independent Learning 5. Unit Assessments

RETURN only this sheet to Mrs. Callon

Student and Parent Agreement

“We have read and understand the course description, student expectations, class rules,
attendance policy, course requirements, assessment & grading, materials needed, and accept
them as stated.”

In addition, clips from our core units, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Night, and other videos will
be viewed in class this year. By signing the bottom of this slip, you give permission to allow
your son/daughter to view these clips.

__________________________ _______________________ ______ ____________

Print Parent/Guardian Name Print Student name Period ID number

__________________________ __________________________ __________

Parent/Guardian Signature Student Signature Date

Parent/Guardian Contact Information:

_____________________ _____________________ ________________________

Home Phone # Work # Cell #

Email:______________________________

Best time to be reached at: ____________________

Preferred Method of Contact (Circle one):

HOME OR CELL WORK PHONE E-MAIL

*OPTIONAL--IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW, FEEL FREE TO WRITE ANY

INFORMATION THAT YOU THINK I SHOULD KNOW IN ORDER TO HELP YOUR CHILD
HAVE A SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN MY CLASS--