Course Information for Power and Justice
Mr. Evans
Power and Justice is a semester long English class which is one of the English elective choices at West High. The class focuses on issues of… power and justice (surprise!). As with all WHS English classes, the course is designed to teach students to become better writers, readers, communicators, and thinkers. This is done through a variety of fiction and non-fiction looking at a range of ideas from personal power to global injustice. We will read two novels, O’Brien’s The Things They Carried and Orwell’s 1984 and a variety of shorter literature and non-fiction selections.
There are 3 basic grading categories in this class: essays,
class work, and participation. I use the
term “essay” to refer to a variety of writing, from personal responses and
reflections to literary analysis. These
assignments typically occur at the end of a unit and require synthesizing what
has been studied over the prior days and weeks.
These assignments can be made
up. They can be turned in late for
reduced points. They typically account
for up to half the course grade. Class
work refers to the day-to-day activities, ranging from reading checks to
journals to literature responses. Much
of this work will not be graded – it will, however, be needed in order to write
the essays and participate for points.
Of course, some of this work will
be graded. Most of this cannot be made up, especially reading
checks, as there is no value in doing the activity after we’ve moved on. Participation is essential to fulfill our
standards for speaking and listening and may account for up to a third of the
grade. As for attendance and tardies, I
follow the WHS policy. A standard grade
scale is used: 90%-100% = A 80%-89% = B
70%-79% = C 60%-69% = D 59% and lower = Fail.
A few words on make-up work: Although make-up work is available for
excused absences (not Truancies), no make-up assignment can replace missed
classroom instruction. There are no
make-ups for missed reading checks.
Assignments will be posted daily on the website; however, students
should still check with me upon returning to class. ABSENCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE for not turning in
essays. If an absence is planned,
students should arrange to turn in the assignment early. Otherwise, drop the assignment off at the
front office, e-mail it to me, or have another student bring it in. If asked, the Attendance Office will request
work from teachers for absences greater than 3 days. After an absence it is the student's
responsibility to obtain and turn in make-up work. I am available to answer student's questions
and explain assignments. Late work is
marked down one letter grade for each day late. Being
absent on the day that an essay or project is due is NOT an excuse for turning
it in late. Make arrangements to
turn the assignment in early or have it dropped off at the Principal’s office
by the end of the day it is due; otherwise, late penalties will apply. If a printer breaks or runs out of ink,
students can print in the library, try the student computer in my room with
their thumbdrives, or e-mail the assignment to me
(preferably attached, as a Microsoft Word document) to avoid late penalties.
I can be reached by email at jevans@etusd.org. You can leave a message at 310-533-4299 xt.
7841.
(Print just the
portion below, get signatures, and return)
I have read the standards and
expectations for Power and Justice and accept the responsibility for meeting
these expectations.
Student Name
__________________________
Date___________
Student
Signature_______________ Parent
Signature____________