Faculty In Depth

Name:

Erwin, John

Class:

English IV

E-Mail:

None

Phone:

None

Teacher Background:

I was born in San Diego, California, but raised throughout my high school years in Sedona, Arizona. After attending a year of college at Grand Canyon College (Phoenix) and serving in the U.S. Army, I recieved a B.A. in English from Northern Arizona University in 1975 and a M.A. in English in 1977. I have taught at MacArthur High School since 1979. My wife, Sue, and I recieved are Ph.D.s from the University of Oklahoma in 2002. My hobbies include reading, writing, solving the JFK assassination, photography, and following Major League Baseball. (In a perfect world, the Texas Rangers would win the World Series.) I have three wonderful children (Jeff, Jennifer, and Michael) and two genius granddaughters, Riley and Reagan.

Class Description:

This is a general senior level survey course. However, we will attempt to meet the needs of all students and their future plans as well as possible. During each grading period, we will alternate the course content among literature, grammar, and composition. As determined by our school board, the majority of the literature taught will be British literature, but I will supplement it with other literature that I think has value to the student. The formats for this literature will be mostly short stories, dramas, and poetry, but we will complete at least one novel together as a class. Testing on literature will always involve writing and critical thinking skills rather than multiple-choice questions about plot. The emphasis of the formal grammar studies will be practical usage problems. Writing assignments will include essay formats used in college and several expository pieces stressing personal, logical expression. At least one formal essay will be completed during each grading period. There will be weekly writing assignments to complete outside of class and collected in your English notebook.

Grading Scale:

100-93 = 4.00-3.50 = A
92-85 = 3.49-2.50 = B
84-75 = 2.49-1.50 = C
74-65 = 1.49-0.90 = D
64-0 = 0.89-0.0 = F
Tests = 75% of your final grade
Daily Work = 25% of your final grade-
Your current cumulative grade will be posted each week in the classroom. Your individual average will be identified by an "I.D." code number to protect your privacy.

Make Up Work:

The week's assignments are written on the white board. A permanent record of all assignments is posted on the bulletin board. When you are absent , it is your responsibilty to check the posted work you've missed. Complete your make up work as quickly as possible. If you need extra time, tell me! There will be no grade penalty for work missed resulting from excused absences. "Cut off" dates for assignments will be posted for late work. (This is not "meanness" - what is the point of taking a test and THEN going back to complete the work that was meant to prepare you for the test?)

Absentee Policy:

The student absent for a school activities absence has no daily make up. All other absences will cost the student -20 points off an averaged daily grade (=-2 off 9-weeks grade). An absence can be made up by copying the answers to a chapter test onto notebook paper. This must be done within two days after the absence unless special arrangements are made.

Missed Tests:

Missed tests will be made up 7th hour on Wednesday or by arrangement. You will have no longer than one week to complete any missed tests. You will have no longer than one week to complete any missed test. As a reminder (not to shame you) I will list students with missing tests in the room. (This can work to your favor if I have messed up and not given you credit for a test you took.!)

Extra Credit:

Smaller, immediate extra-credit assignments will spring naturally from classroom discussions and formal testing. Additionally, there will be larger projects to earn a maximum of 150 daily points or 25 test points scheduled once every nine week's grading period. Formats will be given later but will include outside book reports, creative writing and art projects.

Homework:

The majority of our assignments will be short enough to complete during the allotted class time. (Again, if you need extra time, after using the time I've given you, then tell me!) "Real" homework will usually consist of occasional reading and the Weekly Writing Topics. Completed daily assignments should be placed in the appropriate basket on the teacher's desk, always using the heading:

(paper heading)
FULL NAME
ASSIGNMENT(page#,story title, etc.)
HOUR/DATE

I need your honest work on assignments. Because all test items are taken from lecture and homework lessons, and since these practice assignments represent only 25% of your final grade, they are not worth cheating on. I need your true daily scores to help me plan my presentations and they will help you gauge your study for tests. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO COPY YOUR ANSWERS. ALL PAPERS INVOLVED IN COPYING., CHEATING WILL BE ASSIGNED A "0" GRADE.

Tardies/Hall Passes:

As outlined in school policy, you can only leave class with a teacher-issued hall pass. Tardies will be dealt with according to official handbook policy.