Communication Applications

Mr. Jackson

E-mail: harrjackson@dallasisd.org
E-mail: jackson.bryanadams@gmail.com
Contact Number: 214-699-1898 (Call or Text)
Room: Portable D
Planning Period: 4th Period 12:00 PM 12:45 PM
Tutoring:
Mondays 8:00AM-8:45AM & Wednesdays 4:35PM-5:20PM
(Other times available with an appointment.)

Welcome to Communication Applications. My name is Mr. Jackson and I am so excited

to get to work with each one of you this year. The purpose of this course is to teach
you about the communication process and how to communicate effectively in a variety
of settings. By the end of the semester you should have developed the following skills:

Understand the Communication Process

Effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills
Increase confidence
Enhance listening skills
Speech organization and presentation skills

This should be a very enjoyable class. I do have a few expectations that should help us
get the most out of our time together. Please be considerate of these expectations
from the minute you walk in the door of Communication Applications.

Code of Conduct, Expectations & Procedures

Code of Conduct
1) Always be Respectful
2) Always be Courteous
3) Always be Professional
4) Always Strive for Excellence
My expectations for your behavior in this class are as follows:
1) Follow adult directions the first time given.
2) Be on time to class and have assignments and materials.
4) Be responsible for your own learning and behavior.
5) Turn in all assignments completed and on time.
6) When you come to class, begin your warm-up activity immediately.
7) Follow school/district cell phone policy.
8) Stay in your seat unless instructed otherwise. I will dismiss you at the
end of the period.
9) Restroom Break - Students may leave the classroom for a restroom break
based on the following qualifications:
The current restroom incentive
Students must not be failing the course
Only one student will be allowed to leave the classroom at a time.
Students will not be allowed to leave the classroom the first or last
15-minutes of class.
Students will not be allowed to leave the room during 4th period.
No exceptions!
10 ) Eating/drinking in class is a privilege. Please help keep it!

Failure to comply may include the following consequences:

Lowered class participation grades (attendance related)
Call to your parent(s), conference w/ teacher, or conference w/teacher &
parent(s)
Verbal/Written Warning (SIP Student Improvement Plan)
Referred to the VPs office
Detention/ISS/ Suspension/ETC. at the discretion of the administrative staff

Required Materials
You need to bring or have the following materials for class every day:

pen/pencil
paper
binder/notebook
a professional Gmail email account
headphones

Grading Policy
Daily Work
Class Participation
Test/Quizzes
Projects & Speeches
Six Weeks Test
Total

25 %
15 %
20 %
30 %
10 %
100 %

This course relies heavily on class participation and involvement. Students are
expected and encouraged to willingly participate in all class activities, discussions, and
assignments. As a result, a daily and/or weekly class participation grade will be given.
If you fail a test, you can make it up. If you would like to make up a failed quiz or test,
you must let me know in writing immediately by emailing me at
harrjackson@dallasisd.org, or by signing the tutoring/make-up sign up list.

*Please be aware that any category or percentage maybe added, changed, and/or
deleted at anytime during the semester at the teachers discretion.

Absences/Make-up Work
Students are held responsible for all academic work required or performed during their
absence regardless of the reasons for those absences. When a student is absent,
he/she will be responsible for finding out about all missed assignments and
activities the day he/she returns to class, and satisfactorily make up the
assignments and/or activities.
3

The teacher will make every attempt to provide all make up instruction during class. If
the teacher is unable to provide material and/or instruction for any missed assignments
and/or activities upon the students return during class time, the student must set-up
an appointment via email and/or schedule a tutoring time to meet with the
teacher to receive material and/or instruction for assignments and/or
activities missed. Students shall receive a zero for any assignment or test not made
up.
As mentioned previously, this course relies heavily on class participation and
involvement and students are expected to attend each class. To receive credit or a final
grade in a class, a student must attend at least 90 percent of the time the class is
offered. Therefore, if a student has more than 9 absences during a semester class the
student will not receive credit for the course regardless of their semester average.

Remediation Process for Failing Grades

To ensure the success of every student at Bryan Adams High School, each student
usually has the option to remediate any assignment that he or she receives a grade
below 70%. When a student chooses to remediate an assignment, he or she must
adhere to the following process:

The student will be required to attend mandatory tutoring before he or she is

allowed to remediate the assignment.
The student will have up to one week to sign up for tutoring to remediate the
assignment based on the teachers tutoring schedule.
If the students work is satisfactory upon remediation, the highest grade the
student may receive is 70%.

Each student is encouraged and it is highly recommended that the student

take every opportunity to remediate any assignment where he or she
receives a failing grade.

Late Work

It is in the students best interest to turn in their work completed and on time.
LATE AND INCOMPLETE WORK IS UNACCETABLE! Late work includes
forgetting to bring something to class, not having it done, not having it in your
possession upon the teachers request, or anything similar to these circumstances.
The teacher recognizes that certain circumstances may cause a student to turn in
assignments late; the student should refer to the process for the Remediation of
Failing Grades to turn in any late work.
If a student makes an appointment for tutoring, the student should make every effort
to be there. A NO-SHOW WITHOUT PROPER NOTIFICATION IS UNACCEPTBLE! If a
student fails to notify the teacher before the time he or she scheduled, the following
consequences may occur:

The student may not be allowed to remediate the assignment depending on

when the appointment is made.
A 10 point deduction off the final grade of the remediated assignment.
Call to your parents(s), conference w/teacher, and/or conference w/teacher &
parent.
Verbal/Written Warning (SIP)
Referred to the VPs office

Noncompliant Work/Assignment
For the purposes of this course, noncompliant work is considered as any
work/assignments that is incomplete, or does not follow the teachers directions and/or
requirements.
Any assignments that are submitted to the teacher that is incomplete, incorrectly
formatted, and/or does not follow the teachers directions/requirements will receive a
grade of zero. NO EXCEPTIONS! If the student resubmits the assignment as requested
within the designated time frame given by the teacher, the students grade will be
adjusted up to full credit.

Please be aware that if the student has taken advantage of any previous extensions
given by the teacher for an assignment that has been submitted incomplete, incorrectly
formatted, and/or does not follow the teachers directions/requirements, the student
may not have the opportunity for resubmission. As a result, the student will not receive
any credit for the assignment and a grade of zero will be record for that particular
assignment.

Tardies
Tardiness is defined as not being in a specified place at the appointed time. If a
student is not in class by the time the tardy bell rings, he or she must provide a tardy
pass to the teacher from the front office/tardy cart. Please be aware that tardiness
is unacceptable and all consequences for tardies will be handled by the
principals office. If the student appears to have excessive tardies (daily/weekly) on a
continuous basis, the teacher will also notify the parent to come up with an action plan
to assist the student in getting to class on time.

** Please note - In order for a student to be counted present for a class period, the
student must arrive within the first 10 minutes of class. If the student arrives
after the first 10 minutes of the class period, the student is considered to be absent for
that class period. Therefore, the student can be marked absent at the teachers
discretion.

Academic Honesty
Be forewarned that plagiarism and cheating is unacceptable of any form at Bryan
Adams High School, and within Dallas ISD. Any student involved in such behavior will
temporarily receive a zero, referred to the principals/VPs office and a phone call
to their parent(s). Depending on the severity of the infraction, the student(s) may face
additional disciplinary action. THIS POLICY WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED

Cell Phone/Electronic Devices

According to Dallas ISD, classroom disruption by students cell phones or other
electronic devise is prohibited. All cell phones and similar electronic devices must
remain turned off and out of sight for the duration of class. Electronic devise utilized in
a learning context, such as laptops, IPODs etc., may be permitted at the teachers
discretion. Always remember to wait for instructions from the teacher and/or
get permission before the use of such devices.

Tutoring
Tutoring is always available for students that may need it for the course. Please see the
current tutoring schedule below. However, if a student needs assistance outside the
standard tutoring hours, he or she may contact the teacher to schedule a time.
Mondays @ 8:00AM 8:45AM & Wednesdays @ 4:35PM 5:20PM

Library
Students are encouraged to utilize The Bryan Adams High School Library as a resource
for any course work. Additionally there will be times that the entire class will have an
opportunity to utilize the school library during class time. However, you may access
the website to find out other ways to utilize the library at
http://library.dallasisd.org if needed.

What To Expect From The Instructor

It is important for you as a student to know what to expect from me as your instructor:
I will be available to you!
o As always, I will be available to you during the traditional school hours
and setting (class time, tutoring, etc.) However, technology has allowed
for more flexibility to assist students with course questions and/or
concerns. As a result, I will also be available to you via email, online chat,
text messaging, and voice calls for course and school related information
and questions. However, please remember WE ARE NOT FRIENDS! As
a result, our communication out side of school must and will be school
and course related only. Additionally, please remember that all

technological communication can be tracked. Please remember to use

professional and school appropriate communication.
I will provide several reminders of upcoming due dates for projects and
assignments.
I will return all assignments to you promptly, and will make every attempt to
include individualized comments and suggestions with each assignment.
I will keep you posted on your grades weekly or bi-weekly. (You should never be
surprised about your final six weeks grade.)
I will hold our personal written or verbal communications in confidence.
I will treat all members of the class fairly, and will do my best to accommodate
individual learning styles and special needs.
If any of these points need clarification, or when special circumstances arise that
require my assistance, please let me know so that we can discuss the matter
personally.

This syllabus may be changed at anytime at the discretion of the teacher. However, you will
be notified before any changes will be made or go effective.

Tips for Success in Communication Applications

Attendance: Each day in class is important. Some days you learn from the teachers lecture or
prepared assignments and activities. Other days you will be watching fellow classmates giving
speeches and presentations. And yes, some days you may be the only person speaking in class.
Each of these occasions offers multiple learning opportunities. The more you are in class the better
you will do in the class.
Attitude: Though the prospect of getting in front of the class may be intimidating, remember that
you are in class to develop a necessary skill. Also, your fear is not uncommon. According to Steven
A. Beebe, author of Public Speaking, in a survey seeking to identify peoples phobias, public
speaking ranked as the most anxiety-producing experience most people face. The teacher and your
fellow classmates are all in this together with one goal: Improving your ability and skills. Remember:
YOU CAN SUCCEED!
Complete all assignments and readings: Your textbook (if used), lectures notes, handouts,
group, and written assignments all offer valuable information designed to improve your oral and
written communication abilities. If you need additional help with any assignment, please come to
tutoring.
Class participation: Be active in class discussions. Ask questions. Share ideas. All of these will
deepen your understanding of the assignments and your overall understanding of the class and its
purpose.
Invest time toward your communication skills and speech development: The steps of
coming up with the right topic, narrowing the topic in the best speech, researching and organizing
your information and then writing the speech is a lengthy process. Start working on your speeches
well in advance of the due date.
Practice improving your communication skills and speeches: Will cover several
communication skills and topics. In order to improve those skills you must use them as quickly and
often as you can.

After writing your speech make sure you practice it over and over. The more you practice it out loud
(preferably to an audience) the more accustomed you will become with the speech. In turn, your
anxiety or communication apprehensions will decrease as your familiarity with the speech increases.
Be Open to Receive and Review Feedback:
Communication abilities: Some people are natural communicators, and some people may have a
few more opportunities to improve there communication skills. Whatever stage one may be, it is
imperative that he or she considers constructive criticism as one way to improve themselves versus
someone personally attacking them. If you receive feedback from the teacher about a way you can
improve your communication, remember the feedback is only for growth and not destruction.
Public Speaking: After you have given your speech you will receive feedback from the teacher
and/or from your fellow classmates. Examine the feedback for comments that can help you improve
your next presentation. Use each assignment as a stepping-stone to becoming a better speaker.