Sample Letter to English Students' Parents

Dear Parents/Guardians of the Class of ____,

Welcome to Senior English with Margaret Johnson.  I thought that you’d like to know what we’re going to accomplish this semester year.  Each student has a text and a notebook containing my course content, project list, a grade sheet, and handouts.  They also have a bookmark with all the stories we will be reading. Listed below are several things (including course content) that you should be aware of.  I will try to notify you twice each quarter with a small report, sent home with your senior about how things are going. I’m looking forward to a great year.

Margaret F. Johnson 

PROJECTS 20% Each student is required to do two (2) projects cleared with me. These are considered long-term assignments and will be handled according to school policy. There can be no duplication or working in groups.

 1^ST Quarter Projects (worth 5%) listed below are due no later than Oct. 27^th.  Each project must be a written      paper with one exception. None of these written projects can be longer than three pages or less than two -- TYPED

·        Write a paper based on one of the authors we have read. Start your research with what the textbook has to say and then continue with sources from the library.

·        Write a scene not included in one of our readings, which gives us a better understanding of the character, the situation, the ending or the beginning of the short story. 

·        If you were going to make one of the stories we’ve read into a movie, what music would you use to underscore the story? You must play the music for us in class and hand in a TYPED justification.

·        Pick a time in history that you enjoy or understand and write a short story, using you as the main character, giving us details of the time. When the reader is through reading the story they will better understand the period. Example: You like the American Revolution so you’d write a story about what it was like to help Betsy Ross sew the flag or fight with George Washington or fight with the British.

 2^ND Quarter Projects (worth 15%) are due no later than Jan 12^th. Various projects based on our semester readings are available (see project list in their notebook). Each project requires a written paper, analysis, and/or justification that I will give each student individually. Whichever project is chosen must relate to the story.

PAPERS 10% This includes a memoir and/or poetry.

TESTS 35% There will be six to seven major essay tests given over units that have been read, sometimes over an individual reading and other times over several readings. Your child can choose whether to take the test or accept the % grade accumulated over the quizzes given on most units. Students will be notified about the tests. Tests will always be considered a long-term assignment and handled according to school policy.

DAILY WORK 35% Quizzes over each story read, journal writing, and various exercises will be considered daily work.

BONUS GRADE 5% This grade includes such things as discussions, staying on task, and tardies.