English 12A

2015-2016

Instructor

Mrs. Grimm

E-mail

[email protected]

Course Description
This fast-paced, multi-tasking semester senior course focuses on specific skill building in the area of
communication, both written and spoken, while structured around a students future career. Areas
studied may include: resumes, interviews, letters, surveys, product comparisons, academic vocabulary,
community service, job shadows, presentations, and professional dress. Pre-requisites include English
9, 10, & 11.
Student Materials Needed:
Three-ring binder/Folder

Notebook paper

Pen

Grading:
Marking Period Grades will be determined as follows:
Homework, papers, projects, daily work 50%
Attitude, participation, attendance 30%
Responsibility 20%
Semester Grades will be determined as follows:
Marking Period Grade 80%
Exam -- 20%
Grading Scale:
A
= 93% - 100%
A= 92% - 90%
B+
= 89% - 87%
B
= 86% - 83%

BC+
C
C-

= 82% - 80%
= 79% - 77%
= 76% - 73%
= 72% - 70%

D+
D
DE

= 69% - 67%
= 66% - 63%
= 62% - 60%
= 59% - 0%

NC
CR

= 0% - 59%
= 77%

Assessments
Assessment will take many forms including papers, projects, speeches, demonstrations, self-evaluation, peerevaluations, role-playing, practical application, and other pertinent forms of measuring a students growth and
knowledge. All final papers and projects are expected to be TYPED and looking professional.
Attendance
Attendance is compulsory, therefore students lose 50 points for every UNX, UNT, or NCO and 12.5 points for
every tardy on the 100 point scale for attendance. EX, MED, and VER have no effect on the grade.
Attitude
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~Winston Churchill
Having a positive attitude is paramount to ones success in life. The ability to be positive is a difficult one to
teach, but not to assess. If a student comes in daily with a positive attitude, tries his/her best always, encourages
classmates, and takes the high road in challenging situations, then he has earned a grade of excellent for
attitude.
If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm. ~Vince Lombardi
Community Service
Community Service is defined as active participation in services volunteered to benefit a community or its
institutions. For further descriptions and FAQs, please see my blog. Each student is expected to complete at
least 20 hours of community service. In order for the CS hours to count, the CS form must be filled out
completely with contact name and number clearly written. Forms are due_____________.
Final Exam -- Senior Exhibition Project
Students will be expected to produce a 15-18 minute presentation on their job shadow experience/ interest for
their exam. This will be presented starting mid semester. A 2500 word minimum magazine-style research
article will also be due. Presentation date _______________. Paper Date ____________.
Group Work
Businesses advise that educators train students to work well with others; therefore, a few assignments are
completed in groups. Students are expected to be active, civil participants in their groups. Rubrics and grading
criteria will be provided when applicable. Grades for group projects will be both individual as well as whole
group.
Homework
Students will be expected on their own time to finish work not completed in class. Depending on the
assignment, there may be an hour a day on average. Students will also be expected to complete out of class
work at businesses or within the community on their own time possibly occurring 36 hours during the semester.
Interview Day
Interview day involves the students experiencing a series of mock interviews during the school day with
professional adult volunteers. Professional attire is a must for this assignment. Should procuring professional
attire be an issue, please see me. Resume copies should be brought to the interview. Interview day is
_____________________.
Job Shadow
Students will find an adult(s) (not their parent) in a career field of interest with whom they can shadow.
Students may work with just one person or several different people as long as the student completes lasts at least
16 total hours. Students may miss two days of school for this activity, however a parent/guardian will need to

call and excuse the absence PRIOR to the job shadow experience. Once the job shadow has taken place, the
appropriate paperwork must be filled out and turned in to Mrs. Grimm in order for the day to be verified. There
is a time sheet for students to fill out documenting their job shadow. Forms are required to be filled out in full
for the hours to count. Forms are due____________.
Extra Credit:
Students may always accumulate extra credit. The points will not be reflected in the grade until the end of the
semester. Students who are missing ANY work at the deadline will not have their grade enhanced by EC. Any
work may be turned in late up until two weeks prior to the end of the semester for the extra credit points to be
counted. Deadline for late work this semester is _________ -- NO EXCEPTIONS.
Late Work
Students are expected to turn in work during their class time when due. Anything turned in after their scheduled
class time due date is considered late. Students will need to make arrangements to submit major
assignments/projects if they are due on the day they are going to be absent EVEN IF THE ABSENCE IS
UNEXPECTED!!! Assignments may be emailed to me, however they MUST be here before or during that
students scheduled class time to be considered on time. Last date for turning in late work is _____________.
Responsibility
When I job shadow, research, and visit various job sites to learn about qualities necessary to be successful, I
hear repeatedly that businesses desire RESPONSIBLE employees. Being on time, paying attention to details,
following through, and considering others needs and thoughts all encompass the responsibility grading category.
With this in mind, 20% of the marking period grade will be based on the timeliness of student work. Every
assignment that is late will cause a 10% deduction in the responsibility grade. Attention to details will be
counted in the skill-based grading of the assignment.
Participation
Participation is essential for successful learning; therefore active participation is required in this class. If
students want to earn a grade of excellent in participation, they need to ask appropriate questions, add
germane comments, volunteer answers, and, of their own volition, be actively involved in the daily learning.
Attendance Procedures
See Student Handbook
Students are responsible for obtaining information about what happened the day(s) they missed; if they have
further questions, need additional support, or require more assistance, they may make an appointment with me.
Resources:
There are a variety of resources available through my website, which can be viewed at:
http://elizabethgrimm.weebly.com/
Plagiarism
Students who use ANY PART OF ANOTHERS WORK, whether intentional or not, without proper quoting and
citing, will be given a zero on the assignment and be expected to complete the assignment properly and in a
timely manner determined by the teacher for credit only. A second offense will result in failure for the entire
semester.
Behavioral Expectations:
Common sense and school rules apply. There will be NO PASSES ISSUED, bathroom or otherwise, so come to
class prepared.
Grimms Two Rules (R-E-S-P-E-C-T)

1.
2.

No one has a right to interfere with a students right to learn.

Please sign and return by class time on ______________. I will issue credit for completing this homework
assignment and then return the syllabus. If you have any questions or concerns, I can be reached at the high
school at 231-865-3101, ext. 2143. If you prefer, you may e-mail me at [email protected].
I have read and understand the above syllabus.
___________________________________
Student Signature
Date

______________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date

___________________________________
Printed Student Name

____________________________________
Printed Parent Name

Email address(es):