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English 4 Syllabus & Supply List
Emilie Zusman
emilie.zusman@yourcharlotteschools.net
(941) 575-5450 ext. *7055
Classroom C110
Class Description
This course defines what students should understand and be able to do by the end of 12th grade. Knowledge acquisition should be the primary purpose of any reading approach as the systematic building of a wide range of knowledge across domains is a prerequisite to higher literacy. At this grade level, students are working with universal themes and archetypes. They are also continuing to build their facility with rhetoric, the craft of using language in writing and speaking, using classic literature, essays, and speeches as mentor texts.
The benchmarks in this course are mastery goals that students are expected to attain by the end of the year. To build mastery, students will continue to review and apply earlier grade-level benchmarks and expectations.
The course includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- determining central ideas or themes of a text and analyzing their development as well as summarizing the key supporting details and ideas;
- interpreting words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyzing how specific word choices shape meaning or tone;
- analyzing the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole;
- integrating and evaluating content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words;
- delineating and evaluating the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the source, relevance and sufficiency of the evidence;
- analyzing how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take;
- writing in response to reading, emulating authors' structures, word choices, styles, etc.
Classroom Expectations
- Be on time to my class.
- Be respectful.
- Always come to class prepared.
- Turn in assignments on time. Late assignments will receive ½ credit for up to one week following the due date.
- It is your responsibility to request make-up work. You will have two days for every one day you are absent.
- No food or drink in the classroom – water is the exception.
- Chromebooks will be used daily – no use of phones or airpods in the classroom. Failure to follow this rule will result in phone confiscation. After three phone confiscations, the phone will need to be picked up by a parent/guardian from the office.
- Cheating of any kind will result in a zero.
- Follow CCPS Code of Conduct
Staff webpage, Google Classroom, Remind
My CHS Staff website can be found by going to the Charlotte High School homepage and clicking on ‘Staff’ and clicking on Mrs. Emilie Zusman. On my staff page you will find Google Classroom and Remind codes for your class period. Google Classroom is a great resource for students to keep in touch with class information, access class documents, finish classroom assignments at home, and to retrieve make-up work during an absence. I will refer students to my Google Classroom website consistently throughout the year.
Supplies for class
- Pencil box/bag to keep all supplies in
- Wired headphones for chromebook use
- Pocket folder
- #2 Pencils/Erasers
- Highlighters
Optional supplies for class
- Disinfectant wipes
- Hand sanitizer
Classroom Grading System
100-90 A
89-80 B
79-70 C
69-60 D
59 and below F
I will be grading based on quality of work. If you come to class prepared, work hard, and are doing your best to improve yourself and your reading and writing skills, you will do well in my class. Our goal is for you to receive a passing grade on FSA and GRADUATE! Let’s work together to meet that goal.
Make-up work
It is the student’s responsibility to request make-up work in the event of an absence. Google Classroom will be the primary resource for retrieving missing information and classwork while at home. Please refer to CCPS Code of Conduct for additional information.
CCPS Code of Conduct
All class policies align with stipulations set forth by the CCPS Code of Conduct. An online version of the CCPS Code of Conduct can be found on the CCPS web page.
BE A LEARNER, BE A LEADER, BE A TARPON!