Mrs. Westenskow email: dorothy_westenskow@dpsk12.org
Room 203 email: westenskowdorf@yahoo.com
Phone: 720-423-6183
Writing for College
As the name implies, this is a writing course to prepare students for college, so the emphasis will be on writing full expository essays. Students may also be required to read and analyze short pieces of literature written in a variety of forms. The “Word of the Day” will help expand vocabularies. All reference material for this class will be supplied, and many classroom notes and assignments can be found on line.
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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE |
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Rather than give you a specific time line for the work, the following is a tentative list of the writing assignments we will work on. We will also work with grammar as needed and sentence variety (fluency). |
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Personal essay |
Process |
College essays |
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Description |
Comparison/contrast |
Combined method |
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Illustration |
Classification |
Research paper (2nd sem.) |
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Cause and effect |
Definition |
Literary analysis |
HOMEWORK
I give homework and I expect you to do the assignments and
hand them in on time. Writing assignments will lose a letter grade for every calendar
day (not class day) late. Writing assignments turned in late one week or more
will receive no better than 50%. Homework not turned in is a “0.” Incremental
work for writing assignments is critical and failure to complete these daily
assignments will result in a reduced grade.
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GRADING |
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Your grade is your reward for learning. In general, I
grade on product, not the effort; however, hard work usually produces a
better product. Your grades will be based on your daily work, tests, and
writing. I will use the school grade scale for letter grades. Based on the
class work, the percentages listed below for daily and test grades may be
revised as the term progresses. |
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Daily |
(15% of grade) classroom work, homework |
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Tests |
(20% of grade) quizzes, major tests (unlikely), vocabulary |
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Writing |
(65% of grade) all essays and major writing assignments |
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Semester grades are determined by averaging the percentages of the two nine weeks |
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WORD OF THE DAY
Every week you will receive twelve words for a vocabulary section in your notebooks. Most of the words will be new vocabulary for you. I will give you the part of speech, a definition, and a sentence for each word. You will need to learn the words and be able to use them correctly in sentences. The first meeting day of each week you will have a usage test on the words. It is your responsibility to get the words if you are absent. If you are absent for the test, you must make it up before the next test is given. If you are absent from school for two or more class days, accommodations will be made. Make up tests must be scheduled with me. Quizzes are a part of your test grade. You may earn bonus point which count toward your test scores. I will explain this in class.
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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY |
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Students will come to class prepared to work with the required supplies |
Notebook for class notes, vocabulary, homework, and essay work |
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Black or blue pens |
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Highlighters |
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Place for handouts |
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Positive attitude |
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Students should have access to a dictionary and thesaurus at home. |
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Cell phones must be turned off and not visable, or they will be confiscated. |
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When absent, students are responsible for getting the assignments from a classmate. |
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Regular classroom attendance is
required to be successful in this course. On the third unexcused absence a
parent/guardian conference will be required with a counselor and the Academic
Dean. Students may be assigned to the Academic Success Room to complete missing
course work and obtain tutoring assistance. Students with habitual attendance
issues may be placed on an attendance contract, face legal intervention through
State attendance laws, or be referred to an alternative school. Habitually
truant students over the age of 16 may be withdrawn from school by an
administrator. Also, it is the student’s
responsibility to find out what materials have been covered in class
when an absence occurs. It would be
advisable to get at least one classmate’s phone number in order to find out
what material has been covered in class.
All students will
be granted three tardies in each class per grading period. On the second tardy, I will inform parents of
the current tardy status and the next consequence. On the fourth tardy, a referral will be given
to the Dean of Students. The student will then receive an assignment to
A note on submitting
assignments in electronic format or via e-mail
As I am a firm believer in students learning how to function
in an increasingly electronic environment, I gladly accept written assignments
saved on USB drives, CDs, or via e-mail; however, if your document does not
show up in my inbox or will not open on my computer and is submitted at the
last minute, the assignment will be considered late. Check with me for Word
format compatibility questions and possible blocking issues of e-mailed
assignments.
Also, please remember that I am here to help you. I am available 30 minutes before school, and
during my planning periods. You may also
contact me via e-mail with any questions you may have and I will respond as
soon possible. I want each and every one
of you to be successful in this class!
http://curriculum.dpsk12.org/standards/read_writing.pdf