CLASS INFO SHEET 2012

							Mr. Jinks      CLASS INFORMATION 2012-2013 for English IV and/or Shakespeare

CONTACT INFORMATION: You may call the school at 318.221.2501 and leave a message for
me to return your call. You may also email me at this address: jfjinks@caddo.k12.la.us and I
will respond as soon as I am able to do so.

CLASS WEBSITE: Go to www.schoolrack.com and perform a teacher search for “jinks.” Once
you choose J. Jinks from the list, click on “View the Website.” To download files I have
assigned you to print out and bring to class or to do for homework, go to the menu on the right
side of the page and click on “Files.” Choose the files you need and proceed with download
and printout. Some files are in MS Word 2003 format, and some are in MS Word 2007 format.
If you have Word 2007 or 2010, it should open them in Word Document 97-2003 format.

TURNITIN: I use the anti-plagiarism website www.turnitin.com for student essays and term
papers. When I can schedule a day, I will set up my classes to go to a computer lab so that
everyone can register as a student in my class. You must have a working email address to
register as a user. The website also allows me to email all of my students about class
assignments, reminders, and the like. When I create a writing assignment, you will login and
upload your essay or paper to that website. I will show you more about this as the year
progresses.

CLASS MATERIALS
      notebook [folder with loose-leaf paper is preferable]
      blue or black ink pen [for compositions and tests]
      pencil [for taking notes]
      dictionary FOR HOME USE [with etymologies or word origins] **for English IV only
              {check at home--you may already have a suitable one}
      vocabulary notebook [can be part of your class notebook] ** for English IV only

CLASS FEES: $10 to cover expenses for special materials, books, and photocopies
        NEW for 2012! PaySchool! We are trying a new online fee-paying website that will
allow parents and students to pay school fees electronically. There is a $5 service fee that is
assessed for each electronic payment. We will give you more information as we get it. It
should be possible to look up each teacher on the PaySchool teacher fee list and click “Add to
Cart” in order to build a total of each student’s fees and then pay one time.
        You can always pay your fees with cash or with a check made out to CMHS.
        *I will not collect class fees during the first week of school. I will wait until PaySchool is
set up and functioning properly, then I will announce days for payment of class fees.

GRADING: Grades are based on these items:
     tests
     projects, essays, research papers (I will use the 7th edition of the MLA manual.)
     classwork and homework
     participation
*****Please have work completed and ready for submission on time. If you know that you
will be absent on the day an assignment is due, be prepared to submit the assignment early or
send it to me in print or by email by the due date (especially for research papers or projects).

*****Please note that Caddo Schools do not use Word 2010. If you email me an attached
document, please be sure that it is saved in Microsoft Word 2003 format.

CLASS RULES AND POLICIES:
      1. Listen carefully and follow directions the first time.
      2. Be in your seat with materials ready when the bell rings.
      3. Raise your hand and be recognized to speak or leave your seat.
      4. Be responsible for yourself and your work.
      5. Participate politely. Courtesy is key in class discussions.
      6. Take care of restroom visits and chitchat BEFORE class.
      7. Keep questions and comments relevant to the topic at hand. Remain focused on
          the work for THIS class.
      8. Do not eat during class. You may have water in a container with a flip-top or screw
             cap. No open containers.
      9. Do not sleep, talk, play, or disturb others in class.

IN-CLASS AND OUTSIDE READING: Be ready to read, think about, and discuss what you have
read. I have not completed this year’s outside reading list. When I finish it, I will give you a
copy. In the past I have assigned The Canterbury Tales, Frankenstein, Candide, A Doll’s House,
Brave New World, 1984, Lord of the Flies, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Stranger. Three of
these were your summer reading books that you were assigned to have read by the first day of
school.

MORE ON READING: Many things we will read in class, especially poetry and drama. Most of
the outside reading will be other literature, background information, or research reading.

SUGGESTED BOOKS FOR CLASS: A copy of No Fear Shakespeare Hamlet – this gives the
      Shakespearean text on one page and a modern translation on the facing page –
      this works if you have trouble with Shakespeare. If you want your own book to mark in
      AND you can read Shakespeare fairly well, try The New Kittredge Shakespeare
      paperbacks (edited by James H. Lake), the Folger Library paperbacks, or the Arden
      paperbacks.
**You do not have to rush out and purchase one, but your writing style manual will be the
MLA handbook, 7th edition. You can also try the MLA website.

SHAKESPEARE: When we get to Shakespeare, I will teach Hamlet and/or Macbeth, including a
film study as appropriate. If we have time, I will add a Shakespeare comedy for enrichment.
**ASCOT (The American Shakespeare Center on Tour) is not showing any local performances
on their website schedules for 2012-2013, but I will try to find out what plays may be being
performed in our area. Bonus points are possible for writing reviews of APPROVED plays.
SUMMER READING BOOKS: Students are supposed to have read these AND be prepared for
tests or assignments on them:
        Lord of the Flies by William Golding
        Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
        The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

TO BORROW OR TO BUY: Books are becoming increasingly expensive. To save money, try to
borrow books from a friend or library. If you like to take notes and underline in your books,
please buy your own copy for class use. If you use an e-reader, you will need to show me that
you are indeed reading the assigned texts.

A SPECIAL NOTE TO SENIORS (AND PARENTS OF SENIORS):
        I am one of your senior class faculty sponsors, and at senior class meetings I will provide
information to seniors about senior class activities, including vital information about
graduation activities, expectations, and responsibilities. I coordinate with the school
administrators to provide this information multiple times per year, and I expect seniors to
share this information with their families.
        If you miss a senior class meeting, come to me or to Mr. Gallant to find out what
happened and what information you missed. We keep extra copies of handouts to give to
students who were absent. Students who go to off-campus programs, such as the Career
Center, will not be excused from their programs to come to most senior meetings. When Mr.
Gallant deems it necessary (as in the case of the graduation information meeting in January),
he will contact the appropriate administrators of off-campus programs to secure permission
for you to come to a senior class meeting at Magnet. Again, please remember that it is your
responsibility as a senior to know the information and share it with your family.
        I look forward to working with you this year. I know that the senior year can be quite
hectic. If you need help with my class, please see me to schedule some time for tutoring. If
your parents have any questions, they may call the school at 221-2501.

A NOTE TO PARENTS REGARDING THE USE OF VIDEOS AND FILMS OF LITERARY WORKS:
        Shakespeare (and other dramatists we may study) wrote his plays to be heard and seen
in performance; he did not write them to be read in silence from the printed page. In order for
students to receive the full impact of and greatest benefit from studying Shakespeare and
other authors, they must see and hear plays performed and learn to critique film adaptations
of novels. Since requiring students to attend live Shakespeare performances presents
difficulties, I will be using videotaped performances and film adaptations of literary works to
provide this performance aspect for my students. Please be aware that I do not show films in
class solely for entertainment value. I use videos and films as teaching tools, and when I can
find good performances of Shakespeare and good film adaptations of other literary works, I try
to incorporate them into my program. Educational value comes first; entertainment value is
merely a bonus. I preview all videos before using them in my classes, and I try very hard NOT
to show any films with gratuitous sex, violence, or profanity. However, when a film has enough
educational merit to warrant its use in my class then I will use it, and if possible I will edit out or
skip over objectionable material.
         As a teacher and a father I understand concerns that parents may have about films used
in their children’s classes, and I do not want to circumvent your authority regarding educational
choices for your child. Having been both a student and a teacher at Magnet High, I have found
that our upperclassmen are intelligent and capable enough to handle the mature and sensitive
life issues that are central to many literary works. If at any time you have any questions or
concerns, please feel free to contact me at school at 221-2501. I am looking forward to this
year very much, both in teaching your children and in learning from them.