Today we will be introducing ourselves (or introducing yourself to Mr. F), going over the syllabus and the course, looking and discussing a couple of videos, and homework.
ENGLISH 9: Exploration of Literary and Nonfiction Genres
Course Description
Aligned to the Common Core Standards, English 9, a writing and reading-skills developmental course, integrates a variety of literary genres with various writing techniques and writing projects. It is designed to strengthen the student’s comprehension of a wide range of reading materials found in high school and the world beyond, and to give students the opportunity to develop as a writer by introducing and incorporating many different writing strategies into the student’s own work. The literary genres covered will include short stories, poetry, novels, as well as non-fiction memoirs, personal essays, and expository texts. Students will be required to write a personal essay, poetry, a short story or fable, short analysis essays, and an expository essay. The class will break each genre down by investigating the author’s use of literary devices. A list of these devices (found in Unit Objectives) will be given to the students at the beginning of each unit. Class discussions, group analysis, and teacher-directed explorations will be applied to the material read. In nonfiction selections students will explore audience, purpose, supporting details, and persuasive techniques in practical real world situations. In all units, the class will develop writing assignments using the six steps of the writing process.
Texts (some or all of the following): Holt McDougal: English 9 (an anthology), The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Night, Dawn, Day, Fahrenheit 451, To Kill A Mockingbird, and selected poems from various authors.
Unit 1 - Short Stories
Unit 2 - The Novel - Fahrenheit 451
Unit 3 - Non-fiction - Night
Unit 4 - Drama - Romeo and Juliet
Unit 5 - Expository Essay
Unit 6 - To Kill A Mockingbird
JOURNALS
Students will be required to keep a reading log/note log on google docs throughout the year. This log will be the student’s journal. In this journal will be reading reflections, lists of literary devices found in stories and novels, creative assignments that correspond with readings, pre-writing exercises, analytical writing.
NOTE: I read every journal entry and you will lose points for skipping entries or not following directions. If you do not understand an assignment please ask.
GRADES:
Tests – 25% of overall grade
Papers—25% of overall grade
Projects—20% of overall grade
Quizzes, class work, homework—20% of overall grade
Journals—10% of overall grade
Scale:
100- 93 = A
92.49- 90 = A-
89.49- 87 = B+
86.49-83.00 = B
82.49- 80.00 = B-
79.49-77.00 = C+
76.49- 73 = C
72.49-70.00 = C-
69.49-67.00 = D+
66.49- 63.00 = D
62.49- 60 = D-
Below 60 = F
Late Work: Late work is marked down 10% every day it is overdue until it reaches 50%. Please note that this policy includes papers.
Students should expect homework 3-4 nights a week.
Required Materials:
1 Pocket Folders (to keep handouts, note guides, returned work)
Paper
Pencils and Pens
Highlighter
CLASSROOM RULES
General Guidelines:
- Be prepared when class begins. It is imperative that all pencils are sharpened and materials are ready when the bell rings. If you are out in the hall when the bell rings you will be counted tardy.
- Class discussions should be conducted in an orderly and respectful fashion. Students should not disrupt their classmates and should respect the opinions of others.
- Do not talk when I am talking.
- I dismiss you, not the bell!
- Cell Phones - need to be placed in Cell phone jail at the front of the room at the beginning of class. If for some reason I have to take your cell phone from you, it will be tortured and turned into the office for your parents to retrieve.Cell phones:STUDENT CELLULAR PHONESStudents are prohibited from possessing cellular phones during instructional time in the classroom. Rather, cellular phones need to be either stored in lockers or placed in a drawer assigned for such purposes by classroom teachers. Teachers will make every effort to negate the need for cellular phones to be used in the classroom and will never require students to use a personal device. In the extremely rare case in which a cellular phone will enhance the delivery of instruction or aid students in demonstration of knowledge, a teacher may request a waiver of this policy for a specific period of time with a defined end date to be approved by the superintendent or his/her designee. Students will still be able to use cellular phones between classes and at lunch, as this restriction applies only to instructional time in classrooms. Should a student be found in violation of this policy, the phone will be confiscated and stored in the office until a parent/guardian is available to retrieve it or verbal permission is given by the parent/guardian to return the device at the end of the student’s school day, we will not release confiscated phones back to students without the approval of a parent/guardian. Students 18 years of age or older do not need parent/guardian approval, however the device will be held in the office until the end of the school day.
Behavioral Expectations
- Respect others and their property. This respect extends to remaining quiet during announcements, directions, lectures, and presentations.
- Learning is the 1st priority.
- Make Good Choices and Be Accountable for the bad ones.Other Things:1) Plagiarism - 1st time you can redo the assignment for 50% off; 2nd time - Zero for the assignment; 3rd time - "F" for the semester.2) Blues sheets/Travel.3) RASH
Academic Dishonesty~ Plagiarism Policy
When plagiarism is suspected (but not acknowledged by the student), the student will be subject to a panel composed of the classroom teacher, one other teacher, and the superintendent. By discussing both style and content with the student, this panel will determine whether or not the student’s work was plagiarized.
If plagiarism is determined, whether by student’s admission (with or without the panel) or by the panel’s judgment, the offending student will be subject to the following consequences:
For each semester in each course:
First offense
~50% penalty on the retake
Second offense
~Score of zero with no retake
Third offense
~Zero in the course
Vocabulary Words - to look up (make sure you have part of speech and a definition)
Scruples
Nocturnal
Reciprocate
Indolent
Gaunt
Futile
Furtive
Bland
Palpable
Gossamer
Naive
No comments:
Post a Comment