Honors English 10

Honors English 10 is a rigorous, two-term course in American literature. HELA10 challenges students to strengthen their
skills in descriptive and argumentative writing, literary analysis, vocabulary acquisition, research, public-speaking, and
collaboration. By studying significant textsnovels, poetry, short stories, and non-fiction from our countrys rich
literary history, students develop their appreciation of American letters while expanding their awareness of the political and
socio-cultural events that spurred many authors creativity.

Ms. Rusinowski
Email: sarah.rusinowski@lok12.org
Website: rusinowski.weebly.com

GRADING
Assignments: 30%
Quizzes and Tests: 20%
Writing Assignments: 30%
Final Exam: 20%
(*The term exams for HELA10 will include a writing assignment and a poetry test.)

UNITS OF STUDY

HELA10 A HELA10 B
1. Independent Reading (Fiction) 1. Info. Reading/Writing American
Assessments: Skill-Based Test and Me as a Greats
Writer Impromptu Essay Assessments: Annotated Bibliography and
Presentation
2. Class Novel: The Absolutely True Diary
of a Part-Time Indian 2. Excerpts from Narrative of the Life of
Assessment: Argumentative Essay Frederick Douglass
Assessment: Impromptu Essay
3. Class Novel: The Great Gatsby
Assessment: Test 3. Narrative Fiction Multi-Book Unit
Assessment: Test
FINAL EXAM:
Literary Analysis Essay and Poetry Test FINAL EXAM:
Social Commentary Analysis Essay and
Poetry Test

*Other concepts to be covered throughout HELA10 include, but are not limited to: poetry annotations
and workshops, literary element review, vocabulary study, close reading and passage analysis, Socratic seminar
discussions, quizzes, short stories, historical/era breakdown of literature, grammar, punctuation, sentence
structure, and more.

In addition to Ted Talks, various clips, author biographies, etc., the following films (or excerpts from these films) may be
viewed: Dead Poets Society, The Great Gatsby, Freedom Writers, Pleasantville, The Words, Good Will Hunting, The Perks of Being a
Wallflower, and Ordinary People. (*Possible adjustments at teachers discretion.)
My Beliefs:
1. Learning is our number one goal.
2. Classrooms, activities, and instruction should be organized in order to ensure learning for all students.
3. Students should be rewarded for creating high-quality work.

My primary goal is to help all of my students become

1. Critical thinkers.
2. Confident, capable readers and writers.
3. Passionate (but reflective) leaders.1

Expectations:
1. Arrive on time, prepared with all necessary materials.
2. Respect everyone in our classroom (students, teachers, and guests) and the room itself.
3. Take responsibility for your own learning and behavior.
4. Be willing to challenge yourself.

CLASS POLICIES:
Late Work Policy: Work turned in after it is due may be penalized at teacher's discretion.
*Important note: Essays are due at the beginning of class. No time will be provided for students to print/submit their
work at that time. Essays submitted any time after the beginning of class will be considered late.

Retakes and Redos: Retakes and redos may be available at teacher's discretion with the exception of the last
week of the term.

Partial Credit: Partial credit will be awarded for work that is turned in on-time but is not complete.

Procrastination: The best time to begin is now; dont delay. Emergencies caused by procrastination are
invalid.

Office 365 E-mail / Communication & Absences: Please check your school e-mail every day. If you are
absent, call a friend or e-mail the teacher for missed work. Few valid excuses exist for not knowing what occurs
while you are gone.

Conduct: Students are expected to behave as mature young adults. Bullying, vandalism, insubordination, and
the use of inappropriate language (profanity, slurs, etc.) will not be tolerated. These activities will result in a
students removal from the room and/or formal disciplinary consequences.

Materials Needed: Three-ring binder, loose-leaf paper, highlighter, pen or pencil, and a composition notebook.

Computer Malfunction / Loss of Electricity: In the event that a computer malfunction or a loss of electricity
causes an assignment to be delayed, a parent/guardian must contact the teacher as soon as possible to confirm
the problem.

1 Leaders: through their actions, words, and strength-of-character, leaders motivate and inspire others.
 ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
(Plagiarism, Cheating, & Receiving Adult Assistance on Formal Assessments)
Honors students possess integrity: they do not cheat (plagiarize the work of others, copy assignments, etc.), and
they do not utilize the assistance of adults (teachers, tutors, parents and adult relatives, older siblings, etc.) when
completing formal out-of-class assessmentssuch as essaysthat gauge the students abilities. Honors students
proudly produce their own work.
INTEGRITY
Integrity can be defined as doing the right thing, even when no one else is watching. Cutting corners, betraying
trusts, and neglecting values are destructive behaviors that degrade ones integrity. Rather than
compromise your character, strive to live an honorable life.
ASSISTANCE WITH COURSEWORK
I check my e-mail very frequently; this (rather than the school phone system) is the best way to ensure
the quickest response. If a student wishes to set up a time to work before or after school, it can easily be
arranged.

RESOURCE INFORMATION:
*Moodle Password: rusinowski

LAKE ORION HIGH SCHOOL POLICIES

CELL PHONES AND OTHER PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY DEVICES:

STUDENT USE OF A TECHNOLOGY DEVICE:
Students may utilize Personal Technology Devices during the school day during passing time, in hallways, and during their lunch
period. Devices may never be used during assemblies, speakers, or emergency drills. The default policy in all classrooms during
instructional time is NO CELL PHONE USE ALLOWED. Cell phones should be OUT OF SIGHT and NOT USED from bell to
bell. The only change to this policy occurs when the classroom teacher specifically states that cell phones may be utilized for an
education purpose in class that day. Teacher may confiscate cell phones from students who do not adhere to this policy.

Discipline Procedure for students violating personal technology device classroom rules:
1. First Offense: Teacher refers student to administration following parent contact. Discipline consequence: 2-hour detention.
2. Second Offense: Teacher refers student to administration following parent contact. Discipline consequence: 1-day suspension
without personal technology device.
3. Third Offense and Beyond: Teacher refers student to administration following parent contact. Discipline consequence: 2 or
more days suspension. Potential parent meeting with administration prior to the student reentering classes to develop a
behavioral plan.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT/PLAGIARISM:
Students are expected to do their own work. Plagiarism is defined as stealing and passing off the ideas or words of another as ones
own and is prohibited. Academic misconduct, including cheating and plagiarism in any form, is a disciplinary issue that will result in a
disciplinary referral.
1. First Offense: Opportunity to redo assignment; disciplinary consequence may range from detention to suspension. Student
may be assigned work to understand and prevent future academic misconduct.
2. Second offense (and beyond): Student will be given an academic consequence, such as a zero on the assignment; standard
disciplinary consequence is one-day suspension with assignment to understand and prevent future academic misconduct.

TARDY POLICY:
Students are required to be in class prior to the tardy bell. Students will be marked absent if tardy more than 10 minutes late to first
hour or 5 minutes late to hours 2 through 4. Detentions will be assigned starting with the fourth tardy (cumulative among all hours).
 By signing below, I indicate that I understand all of the information on this syllabus.
This is due on Friday, September 8th.

______________________________________ _________________
Student Signature Date

_______________________________________ _________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date

If you would like to receive occasional email updates, please include the address (or addresses) below:

If there is any information you would like me to know, please feel free to include it below.