Ms.

Salazars 11th Grade English Class

About Ms. Salazar:
I received my bachelors of art in English and my bachelors of science in Secondary
Education at the University of Idaho in Fall of 2017. I enjoyed playing music and was a member
of the college marching band for three years as a trombone player. Though not much of a natural
athlete, I do enjoy watching basketball (Go Vandals!), and I was an active member of the boxing
club for two years as well. I enjoy reading and writing of all genres, especially poetry, fiction,
and creative nonfiction. I have a lot of books in class that you can read if you would like. Fun
fact about me: I have a hedgehog; hes very grumpy, much like many people you know before
theyve had their coffee in the morning!
How to Contact Ms. Salazar:
If you need to let me know you will be absent, please have your guardian call the schools
office and have them call me. If you need to contact me directly for any reason, feel free to email
me at: sala9186@vandals.uidaho.edu Or, preferably, contact me through my website
classroomenglishonline.weebly.com. On my website you can find resources to help you succeed
in class, assignments missed due to absences, instructions for assignments when you need a
reminder, and a copy of this syllabus if you lose this one. There are also resources for your
parents on my website if they need anything, and they may also message me if they would like.
Learning Goals of the Class:
In this class, we will be reading two fictional novels from the literary canon (Lord of the
Flies and The Great Gatsby). We will also do a library project where you choose a book of any
genre youd like that makes a social commentary, read it, and do a presentation and essay on it.
This will show you multiple purposes of fictional novels, and it will allow us to practice our
literary analysis and close reading skills. Each class period, 15 minutes will be designated to free
reading. You will be required to have a journal to record the title, author, and plot happenings of
that days reading. This selection for reading must be a narrative. Other than that, we will be
doing activities to prepare you for the ACT/SAT, and just general college preparation. Rubrics
will be provided for these assignments as they are assigned, and they will be handed out and
posted online as well.
Classroom Expectations:
We will write a classroom constitution for each class period on the first day of class. I
will ask what you expect of me, and I will ask what I respect of you. I believe that I should be
aware of what you expect from your instructors rather than just have your instructors tell you
how its going to be without taking into consideration how each person learns best and lives best.
What I ask that cannot be argued with, because they are basic moral expectations that every class
must follow to be functional and achieving, are these points listed below:
Treat each student with respect, their ideas, speech, and backgrounds as valued as your own.

 Treat the teacher with respect, for she is here to help and support you in any way she is able.
Treat all guests will respect, for students that disrespect guest speakers or subs will have to face
consequences for their misbehaviors.
Use academic honesty at all time in all classes. Plagiarism and cheating are not tolerated in this
class or any class in any level of education. Not sure what counts as plagiarism or cheating?
Learn here: http://www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/what-is-plagiarism/ and
http://www.academicprograms.calpoly.edu/content/academicpolicies/Cheating
Grading Scale:
100(+)-90 %: A
89-80 %: B
79-70 %: C
69-60 %: D
59-0 %: F
Major essays will usually be 100 points each (There will be 3, one included in the final project).
Spelling tests or grammar exercises will be 20 points. Journal entries will be checked once every
two weeks for 20 points. Tests and essay rough drafts will be 50 points. The final project will be
200 points. Late work will only be accepted in instances where there are excused absences
(having talked to me before hand). This late policy is practice for what college classes will be
like, so keep this in mind. I will remind you of due dates, you will have access to these due dates
online, and if you want to know your grade, just ask me and I will tell you. Not all college
professors will be this way, but I want this class to serve as college preparation and life
organization preparation. Take advantage of the opportunities I am providing you.
**Extra credit is available when opportunities are given, not when Im asked a week before the
quarter ends. I will often ask for a close reading practice, a book report, a research essay of some
other issue, or something of the like (5-7 points). Sometimes a box of tissues or whiteboard
markers would be offered as extra credit as well (2-3 points), but only when specified.