Course Title: Creative Writing 1 & 2
Instructor’s Information:
Name— Rebecca Renner
Contact Information— You can email me at: rarenner@volusia.k12.fl.us. Stay up-to-date with course information by following the class blog: https://rennernsb.wordpress.com/. On it, I will post each day’s activities, so you won’t miss anything.
Resources and materials needed for the class:
- A notebook of your choice
- A folder or small binder
- Writing utensils of your choice
- Access to a computer with internet connection. If this is not available at home, make arrangements at the beginning of the school year for a place (i.e. the media center, public library, or a friend or relative’s house) to complete potential assignments.
Course Objectives:
The objective of this course is to study modern literature—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and scripts—with the intent to emulate and join the conversation that is modern American letters.
Course Description:
Students study prescribed texts, investigate popular publications, and produce work of their own to share and discuss in workshops.
Methods of Instruction:
Students will engage in creating a small community of their peers in order to facilitate a discourse on their own work and the work of others. Students will read, write, critique and discuss in class.
Class Website: https://rennernsb.wordpress.com/. You should visit this page every day. You can obtain make-up work here and find supplementary material for assignments.
POLICIES
Homework/ Classwork Policy:
Students who are submitting late work (due to absence) have one day, or one day for each day absent (whichever is greater), to submit work unless the teacher determines there are extenuating circumstances which necessitate an extension. It will be a best practice for students to make up tests within a school week of the original assigned date unless the teacher determines there are extenuating circumstances which necessitate an extension.
Workshops: Due to the in-person nature of workshops, students must collaborate with their peers to reschedule if they are absent the day their piece is to be discussed.
When you are absent, YOU are responsible for checking the class blog and making up all work. We do not do make up work during class. See me during office hours (Tuesday – Friday) for instruction regarding makeup assignments.
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday – Friday (first 30 minutes of the lunch hour). Whenever your overall average grade falls below 70%, you MUST attend office hours to bring your grade up to passing. You MAY CHOOSE to attend office hours any time you need extra time or help with your work.
Late Work:
Completed late work will be accepted for half credit up to three weeks after it is due. After three weeks, late formative work will not be accepted. However, if you are struggling to finish an assignment, please attend office hours for additional time and assistance.
Intervention and Remediation:
The focus of instruction should be on getting students to achieve their full learning potential.
- When students demonstrate a lack of proficiency on standards they must receive intervention(s), which may lead to assessment retakes or alternative assignments.
- When students demonstrate a lack of mastery on standards they may receive intervention(s) that require them to attend office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week. Office hours take place during the first thirty minutes of the lunch period on the four assigned days listed above.
- Each 9 week grading period, students shall have the opportunity to retake at least one summative assessment. All retakes require that the student attend office hours for intervention assistance on Tuesday through Friday. Additional retakes shall be determined by the teacher.
Grading Practices:
Students and parents need timely and accurate feedback in order to effectively monitor learning progress.
- When a student’s score on a retake is less than the original score, the higher score will be used.
Letter grades are a reflection of the student’s level of academic achievement on the courses’ performance standards as defined in the high school curriculum guides/maps. The following grade scale shall be used to determine a letter grade and the following quality point system shall be used to determine grade point average and honor roll:
| Grade | Grade Range | Quality Points | Description | ||
| A | 90-100 | 4.0 | Outstanding Progress (Mastery) | ||
| B | 80-89 | 3.0 | Above Average Progress | ||
| C | 70-79 | 2.0 | Average Progress (Proficiency) | ||
| D | 60-69 | 1.0 | Lowest Acceptable Progress | ||
| F | 0-59 | 0.0 | Failure | ||
| I | 0.0 | In progress toward grade level proficiency
in skills and concepts |
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GRADES: Each unit includes opportunities for formative and summative assessment, including unit tests and quarterly comprehensive exams. We follow school policy regarding formative (40%) and summative (60%) assessments, re-teaching, retesting, and makeup work.
VIMS GRADEBOOK: You and your parents should check the online grade book WEEKLY for satisfactory progress – missing and incomplete assignments are entered as an “M” or an “I” and calculate into your average as a zero until the work is satisfactorily completed according to the standard rules for makeup and retakes.
Class Participation:
All students are expected to take an active part in the learning environment of the classroom. This means coming to class on time and being prepared to learn.
Academic Dishonesty:
The Volusia County School Board’s Code of Student Conduct has defined Academic Dishonesty as a level II offense. Academic Dishonesty is defined as “Dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the school district. Such behavior may result in reduction in grades, classroom discipline as determined by the instructor, suspension or expulsion from school and/or school activities including student organization”.
STUDENT NAME ____________________________________________________________________PERIOD________________________
I have read this course guide and shared it with my parents. I understand the expectations regarding assignments, grades, daily supplies, my binder and textbook, electronics, technology, work habits, behavior, attendance, and extended study hours.
PARENT NAME(S) __________________________________________SIGNATURE_______________________________________________
PARENT PHONE #s_______________________________ PARENT EMAIL_______________________________________
CHEATING AFFIDAVIT
I, __________________________________________________________________, acknowledge that claiming another person’s work, i.e. copying from another student, the internet, etc., is plagiarism. Any work that is plagiarized will automatically receive a zero, and the grade will not be eligible for remediation.
Student Signature: _________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature: _______________________________________________________________________
Ms. Renner's Classes 