Competencies are the knowledge and skills a student needs to be competent in in order to pass a course.

Reading

1. Students will be able to read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts for key ideas and details.

2. Students will be able to read and analyze complex literary and informational texts for key ideas and details.

Writing

3. Students will be able to write effectively using different types of texts appropriate to purpose and audience.

4. Students will be able to use the Writing Process to produce and publish clear and coherent piece of writing.

Language

5. Students will be able to demonstrate command and control of the conventions of standard English when writing or speaking.

6. Students will be able to determine and apply the meaning of words and phrase.

Speaking and Listening

7. Students will be able to initiate, integrate, and evaluate the exchange of information, and present information through strategic use of appropriate media.

In order to fulfill the department's mission, its members committed to the following initiatives:

Rigor

Teachers are increasing students' ability to challenge themselves and reach their full potential.

Grammar

Whether it be to inform, persuade, express, or entertain, students must be able to manipulate language effectively way to reach their audience and achieve their purpose.

Vocabulary

Students will be able to communicate effectively in a 21st century world if they have the language to do so.

The H-DHS English Department has a consistent policy on late work and retakes.

Late Work & Retake Policy

It is the belief of the English department that students will be given multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency on our course competencies. As such, students will be assessed on what they KNOW and are ABLE TO DO. However, because learning how to be responsible citizens is part of our school’s civic and social expectations, we believe that students should be held accountable for the work that they are expected to do.

Formative Late Work

If a student does not arrive to class with his/her formative assessment, s/he must complete a Missing Work Log where s/he articulates the reason for the incompletion; the log may also require a parent’s signature. This log will be kept on file with the teacher. The formative grade will be entered into the gradebook as an INC for up to two weeks. After that timeframe, the INC will be transferred to a 0% for the assignment. If a student habitually does not complete formative work and accumulates Missing Work Logs, s/he may be required to serve afterschool in the Academic Support Center; that action will be left up to the teacher’s discretion.

Summative Late Work

If a student does not complete or scores poorly on a summative assessment, s/he will be required to complete a Summative Retake Contract. This contract will require the student, at the discretion of the teacher, to complete certain formative steps prior to a retake. If a student does not meet the expectations outlined in the contract, s/he will forfeit the right to earn credit on the assessment and will, instead, be required to demonstrate proficiency on the competency in a different way.