Literature & Composition II 2023-2024 Course Syllabus
Mr. Matheny mathenyr@issaquah.wednet.edu

Welcome to Sophomore English! This course will emphasize critical thinking, analytical reading & writing, and academic discussion. In order to get the most out of our class time, students should come prepared for class by keeping up with regular outside readings and writing assignments. Your engagement in class discussions and your learning will greatly benefit from keeping up with the books we are reading, and class will be better for everyone!

Texts

The Girl with Seven Names
Lord of the Flies
Macbeth
Serial (podcast)
Book Club (students choose one)
The Nickel Boys
Born a Crime
Blood, Water, Paint
Chronicle of a Death Foretold
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
And more!


Final Quarter/Semester Grades
93-100% A 87-89% B+ 77-79% C+ 67-69% D+
90-92% A- 83-86% B 73-76% C 60-66% D
80-82% B- 70-72% C- 59% F

Summative Assessments (70% of grade)
Major assessments will include timed writes, essays, Socratic seminars, reading tests, vocab / grammar quizzes, and projects. With the exception of vocab / grammar quizzes, assessments aim to evaluate a student’s ability to think critically in relation to the text.
Students who do not complete summative assessments may be in danger of failing the course. If you fall behind on a major assignment, such as an essay, please communicate with me and we can figure out a suitable timeline for you to catch up.

Formative Assignments (30% of grade)
Smaller assignments will include reading quizzes, daily work, shorter writing assignments, outlines, rough drafts, and class discussion.
When it comes to participation, students are expected to “initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively” (Common Core State Standards). A unit-based participation grade is based on the following criteria:
• Class discussions. I will often track student participation during discussions. Students accumulate tallies on my participation log by asking questions, answering questions, sharing opinions, and making relevant comments.
• Group discussions. I will record students who actively engage in small group discussions.
• Being a good listener is nice, but an active listener who does not participate aloud will only score a minimum passing grade.
• Students who disengage from class to the point that they are not even listening to class discussions can score below a passing grade.

Homework / Late Work:
1. There will often be homework for this class. The length and difficulty will vary greatly. I will help you plan ahead; plan ahead.
2. Homework is due at the beginning of class.
3. Missing work is scored as zero. No late homework will be accepted for full credit without communication; check the website daily to assure you are prepared. If your assignment is late, attach a note or comment to explain why and advocate for credit. Email me as early as possible to advocate for yourself. No late work for previous units will be accepted. All work has a due date. Staying current with deadlines will increase your
success in the classroom. Assignments will close permanently at the end of each
unit. Formative work will not be accepted after the end of the unit final deadline.
Summative work will be accepted within the semester but is subject to the following
late penalty: a deduction of 10% per week late, with a max of 40% deduction. Work that
does not successfully demonstrate the learning objective or follow directions will be
returned to you to revise and resubmit. Work is scored in the order received. So if you
turn in an essay late, expect for it to be graded after the ones turned in on time.
4. We will accept late work without penalty to move a student from an F to a D, but
within reason. “Within reason” could mean the following:
i. Only accepting work that meets or exceeds a certain standard
ii. Only accepting work that is submitted before a final deadline (not two
days before graduation)
iii. Only accepting work that is still relevant (so not the notes on Chapter
1 from September 9th)
iv. Consideration of the impact of unexcused absences on the student’s
learning and performance.
5. Keep all work until the end of the semester so that you have proof your grade is accurate.
6. I reserve the right to keep any written assignment or quiz/test as well as use it for others’ education.

Communication. You are always welcome to e-mail. Please keep the following in mind:
1. Your emails must have appropriate spelling/grammar and include a relevant subject, your name, and class.
2. If you need help on an assignment, you must e-mail at least 24 hours before the due date. Otherwise, you likely will not get an answer in time.
3. You will always get a response when you e-mail me…even if it is just “Thanks” or “Got it.” If you do not receive a response, I did not receive your e-mail.
4. If you’re not at school, neither am I. Please don’t email at night expecting a reply before class the next day.

Cell Phones and Laptops
Our class will operate best without the distractions of personal devices. I will let you know when we are using laptops. Cell phone use during class will not be tolerated, and cell phones should be neither seen nor heard so long as the students are my classroom—before or after the bell.

Tips For Success in This Class:
• Do your homework and have it ready before class starts!
• Be ready to read, read, and read! If you don’t read, what will you write and talk about?
• Check the Canvas website daily. When absent, check the digital unit calendar to find out what you missed before coming back to class.
• Communicate. If you’re struggling, if you need help, if you’re absent—reach out to me.
• Participate and be an ACTIVE learner!

Restroom Use. Be reasonable:
1. Always sign out and take the pass. Sign in and return the pass. Please avoid leaving during instruction.
2. You are responsible for what you miss while you’re gone.
3. If you take advantage of this policy, you will no longer be allowed to go to the restroom.

Mr. Matheny’s Don’t do any of these (other than use your cell phone inappropriately):
• Talking while others are talking (me or other students) or during videos.
o This is rude; please do not do it.
• “I was gone last class. What did I miss?” Please check the website before asking questions.
• Academic dishonesty—I unfortunately catch students cheating each year, and the result is always the same: extra paperwork for me (I really want to avoid unnecessary paperwork) and a zero on the assignment for the students involved. Please read the school’s Academic Integrity Policy carefully and ask questions if you have any!

Academic Integrity/Honesty Policy Summary:

Academic integrity speaks to a student’s commitment and responsibility to pursue scholarship openly and honestly. It respects the concept that learning is the primary purpose of education, secondary to grades and credits.

Academic Dishonesty is defined as any action or attended action that may result in creating an unfair academic advantage for oneself or an unfair academic advantage or disadvantage for any other student.

A student shall not attempt to earn credit or receive a grade for coursework (tests, quizzes, assignments, discs, projects, essays) in a manner other than defined as acceptable by each instructor.

Academic Integrity violations are tracked throughout a student’s entire high school career (grades 9 – 12). Academic Integrity violations include, but are not limited to:

• Plagiarizing or submitting any part of another person’s work as representing ones’ own scholarship
• Distribution/sharing of class assignments or test information in either written or verbal form to another student without teacher permission
• Unauthorized Collaboration – working with others without the specific permission of the instructor on assignments that will be submitted for an individual’s grade. This applies to in-class or take-home assignments/homework, projects, tests, or labs.
• Collusion – supporting the lack of integrity/honesty by another student, as in allowing one’s work to be copied or submitted for assessment by another. Collusion also includes the use or sharing of identical or highly similar passages of one’s own work, or the work of another, unless specifically authorized by the teacher.
• Technology Malpractice – any misuse or abuse of private or public technology in relation to grades or in acquiring an academic advantage, including infractions of the school technology user agreement, language translation websites, cell phone messaging or picture transmission.
• Without clear permission from your teacher, using AI tools to complete an assignment (even just portions of an assignment) is not allowed. Student use of AI to complete assignments will be treated the same as if a student submitted work from the internet or work written by another person. Once work is determined to be AI-generated, the plagiarism policy will be implemented.

Consequences for Violation of Academic Integrity/Honesty:

The degree or level of violation of the academic integrity/honesty, including specific circumstances, will be weighed in each case. Depending upon the severity of the violation, consequences may be accelerated even for a first time offense.

Standard Consequence for 1st violation is:
 failing grade for the assignment/ test/project, parent contact
Standard Consequence for 2nd violation ranges from:
 failing grade for the assignment/test/project
 loss of credit for the entire course if the violation is within the same course and within the same grading period as the first violation
 Please note – if the course is a graduation requirement, the student will need to take responsibility to make up the course requirement on their own, i.e. summer school, correspondence course, etc. as approved by the student’s school counselor.
Standard Consequence for 3rd violation of integrity/honesty policy, regardless of the class or grading period, is:
 withdrawal from class with failing grade, including a reduction and possible rearrangement of the student’s academic schedule


PURSUE EXCELLENCE ACT WITH INTEGRITY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER
-Participate to the best of your ability

-Come prepared and ready to learn

-Follow through with assigned tasks
-Take risks and embrace that failure is a part of success

-Be willing to ask for help -Be accountable for your choices

-Have a growth mindset

-Use technology for the purpose of learning

-Present yourself honestly

-Take pride in your work
-Look for strengths in all people

-Practice empathy

-Respect personal differences

-Embrace and encourage collaboration

-Advocate for each other