IBCourse Syllabus, etc.

Your Teacher: Mrs. Wallace

• Education: BA English from SJSU• 31 years teaching• 25 years at THS• Family: husband, three kids• Pets: 4 dogs (new Bulldog puppy) & 1 cat• Interests: reading, piano, many sports, various TV shows,

movies, ocean/beach, comedy

Contact Information• Email/Phone: lwallace@tusd.net (This is the best way to reach me.)

You can also leave a voice mail message at (209) 830-3360, x2133.• Website: Daily assignments for the class, including vocabulary and

notes, as well as a list of upcoming projects, essays, tests, or quizzes, can be found at http://new.schoolnotes.com/lisettawallace/• Parent Connect: Parents/students may also keep track of their

student’s/their progress on a more consistent basis by using Parent Connect (please see attached information.)• Remind 101: Students and or parents may sign up to receive daily

text reminders for homework, etc. Simply text • @kkw to (469) 444-2742.

Grading Policy and Procedures:• Quarter Grades: A student’s quarter grade is based on the following weighted

percentages:• Participation = 10%• Classwork/Homework = 20%• Tests/quizzes = 35%• Essays/projects = 35%• • 93-100% = A 87-89% = B+ 77-79% = C+ 67-69% = D+ 59% & below=• 90-92% = A- 83-86% = B 73-76% = C 63-66% = D F/Fail• 80-82% = B- 70-72% = C- 60-62% = D- • • Semester Grades are calculated as the sum of the weighted percentages of the two

quarter grades and the semester examination grade• (quarter 1= 40% + quarter 2 = 40% + semester exam = 20%).

Tardy Policy

• If a student arrives after the late bell, s/he is considered tardy. The consequences for tardies are as follows:• 1st-4th Tardy: If a student is tardy, s/he will receive only

½ credit for bell work. If a student is tardy on the day of a pre-planned quiz or test, s/he will not receive any additional time. If the student misses the pre-planned quiz completely, it may not be made up.• After the 4th Tardy: Student will be sent to the Assistant

Principal for disciplinary action and the teacher will contact the parent. (See student handbook).

Make-up/Late Work Policy:• One day to make up work for every day of excused absence.• Unexcused and those who are suspended may not make up work for

credit. • It is the responsibility of the student to find out on the day s/he

returns from an excused absence what work was missed during that absence and to turn in make-up work on time. • Late work in the IB program is NOT accepted. • Work assigned more than three days prior to a student’s excused

absence is due at the beginning of the period on the day the student returns to school.• To make up tests or quizzes, make appointment with the teacher. • The test or quiz must be made up WITHIN ONE WEEK of a student’s return;

if not made up within that time, a zero will be recorded.

Academic Dishonesty:• includes, but is not limited to the following behaviors:• copying and/or paraphrasing ANY source including the internet without using

correct MLA documentation.• copying and/or paraphrasing another student’s homework, tests, or other

assignments under any pretext, including “studying together.”• allowing a student to copy and/or paraphrase your homework, tests, or other

assignments under any pretext, including “studying together.”• Collusion (informing other students of essay/commentary topics or objective-

test questions).• any other behaviors included in the Student Handbook.

• Cheating will not be tolerated. A student who is found to be cheating on an assignment will be given a zero on the assignment and the student’s parent/guardian will be contacted. Additional consequences are outlined in the Student Handbook.

Cell Phones• Are allowed BEFORE SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL, at LUNCH, at BREAK, and WALKING

BETWEEN CLASSES.• During class periods or assemblies, the cell phone and MP3/iPod digital music

player must be turned off and out of visual sight in classrooms, assemblies, and in any other learning environment. • Cell phones may not be used for any reason (including talking, listening, ringing,

text messaging, checking the time, taking pictures, playing games, etc.) and must be off except with a classroom teacher’s expressed permission per BP/AR 6163.4.• Students displaying or using cell phones or MP3/iPod digital music players in the

classroom or inappropriately will be subject to disciplinary measures and be considered in defiance.• 1st Offense: Your phone will go to “jail” & will be returned at the end of the period• 2nd Offense: Your phone will go to “jail” & you will receive a referral to the AP & your

parents will be notified

• Investigation or theft of any electronic device will not be investigated by school personnel; however, parents may file a theft report with the local police department.

My class rules: Students will...

• 1) bring required materials to class daily.• 2) be in their assigned seats when the tardy bell rings and will stay there throughout the• period unless directed otherwise by the teacher. Students may not leave the classroom• without permission.• 3) participate in class discussions and class work in an appropriate and polite manner (for• example, waiting to be called on, not interrupting others).• 4) respect one another. Absolutely NO bullying will be tolerated.• 5) take care of personal business (for example, using the bathroom, applying cosmetics,• sharpening pencils) before the tardy bell rings - not during class. • 6) follow directions the first time they are given.• 7) not engage in any activity which is irrelevant or inappropriate to the work being done in• class (for example, chewing gum, wearing earphones or sunglasses or hats in class;• removing phones [see Cell Phone Policy] or cosmetics from purses, pockets, or bags during• class; pushing, hitting, or touching other students, or touching the belongings of others).• 8) not bring food or drink, except water, into the classroom.• 9) wear the school-approved lanyard at all times on campus, as per student handbook.

Consequences of breaking a rule:•1st time: Oral warning.•2nd time: Discuss problem briefly with student after class.•3rd time: A parent/guardian will be informed by a phone call that a discipline problem is developing.•4th time or severe disruption: Student will be referred to

the Assistant Principal for further disciplinary action.

IB – 2 Year CoursePart One: 2nd semester junior year• 20% • Works in Translation

Albert Camus: The StrangerSophocles: Oedipus RexIbsen: A Doll’s House

• Assessment: One oral group presentation on one of the Part 1 works, two small pieces of pre-writing (one of which, a reflective piece, will be assessed along with the written assignment for each Part 1 work, and a written assignment of 1,200 to 1,500 words on one of the Part 1 works. The oral presentation will be internally assessed, but the reflective piece and the written assignment will be externally assessed.

Part 2 – Senior Year

• Detailed Study• 15%• Assessment: The individual oral commentary (IOC) takes place in the

senior year. The students will be internally assessed under examination conditions. The format of the test is that [a] it consists of a commentary on an extract from one work studied in Part Two and additional questions on Part Two works; [b] the time parameters are 20 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to present and 10 minutes to answer questions; [c] the teacher will choose extracts for both the commentary and the questions; [d] the individual oral commentary will be recorded on audio cassette; [e] sample recording will be dispatched for moderation by I.B. examiners, but the oral will be internally assessed.

Part 3 – Senior Year

• Groups of Works• Art of Drama• 50%• Assessment: Two Papers, externally set and externally assessed,

written under examination conditions in May of the senior year. Paper One is a commentary based on poetry or another text to which the techniques of literary criticism can be applied; students write one commentary on one of two unseen texts. Paper Two requires answering one of six questions based on the Part Three works studied and, if relevant, a Part Two work of the same genre. Each Paper is two hours.

Part 4 – 1st semester of junior year

• School’s Free Choice [15%] • Works: Joseph Conrad: Heart of Darkness• Maxine Hong Kingston: Woman Warrior• Alejo Carpentier: The Lost Steps

• Assessment: Individual oral presentation (IOP) of a topic, chosen by the student, based on Part Four works and taking place in the junior year. The oral presentation is 10 to 15 minutes and is internally assessed by the teacher.

Non-IB Requirements

• Reflective Essay• Work-place Documents (now assessed at a different grade level – but

we will still do them).

Important Reminders

• No food or drink (except water) in the classroom• Cell phones turned off and put away (unless you have permission

from the teacher)• Absolutely NO bullying• Wear your lanyard at all times• Always ask permission to leave the room• Sign out and back in when you use the restroom• Be in your seat when the tardy bell rings• If you have a question or concern, please ask me• Please get help if you need it (I am here both before and after school

on most days)

Remember Your ABC’s

•A ttitude – Be positive & open-minded•B est effort –ALWAYS give 100%•C haracter – Be honest, respectful, & caring