Robert E. Lee High School

English 9 Honors Syllabus

Robert E. Lee High School

School Phone: 540-332-3926

English 9 Honors emphasizes four (4) areas: reading, writing, speaking, and grammar. The overarching theme of our class is “Coming of Age.” We will investigate this through the study of short stories, novels, poetry, drama, literary analysis, writing essays, research, public speaking, and vocabulary.

Course Objectives

●To increase a student’s self-confidence through oral presentations (9.1, 9.2)

●To develop analytical thought through higher level reading, writing, discussion, lecture and assessment (9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6)

●To improve writing skills by writing a variety of forms including narrative, expository, analytical, and research based (9.6, 9.7, 9.8)

●To improve grammar knowledge through traditional study of grammar as well as through writing, proofreading, and re-writing activities (9.6, 9.7)

Class Materials

●Writing utensils (pencils, pens – blue or black ink only)

●Three-ring binder with dividers or three-subject spiral notebook (pockets suggested)

●Loose-leaf notebook paper

●Internet access (please let me know if this is a problem; we can make arrangements)

Content Overview

**Timeframes and assignments may vary slightly depending on the weather and needs of the class

FIRST NINE WEEKS

●Literary Themes: “Who am I,” “Oppression and Identity,” ”Mythology and Folk Literature”

- Novels: To Kill a Mockingbird, Diary of Anne Frank, The Odyssey (Robert Fagles translation)

- Short Stories: selections will vary

- Independent Reading

●Language

- Vocabulary/Grammar Review

- Essays

- Oral Presentations

- Research Unit

SECOND NINE WEEKS

●Literary Theme: “The Individual, Family, and Society”

- Drama: Romeo and Juliet

- Non-fiction: selections will vary

- Poetry: selections will vary

- Independent Reading

●Language

- Vocabulary/Grammar Review

- Essays

- Technical Writing

- Oral Presentations

Assessment Policies/Procedures

●Grades will be weighted as follows:

oTests/Projects – 35%

oEssays – 30%

oQuizzes – 25%

oIn-class activities/homework – 10%

oMid-Term/Final – 15% *9-weeks grade averaged and weighted 85% with Mid-term/Finalto calculate final class grade

●The following grading scale will be used (please note this is a 0.5 weighted course):

A+ 98-100A 93-97A- 90-92

B+ 87-89B 83-86B- 80-82

C+ 77-79C 73-76C- 70-72

D+ 67-69D 63-66D- 60-62

F 59 and below

●The following rubric will be used for conduct:

A Respectful, cooperative, responsible

B Occasional lapses in good behavior

C Inappropriate behavior

D Defiant

F Repeated Defiance

●Students with a 90 or higher average and five (5) or fewer total absences in the class may be exempt from the final exam. All students must take the mid-term exam.

Parent Portal

Please be sure to sign up for the Parent Portal as soon as possible. Parent Portal offers you an in-depth look at all your child’s grades. Through Parent Portal, you can see what grade your child has earned on each assignment; additional notation will indicate whether an assignment is late or missing. For more information about Parent Portal please contact the school office at 540-332-3926.

Late/Missing Work

If a student does not attempt or is absent for an assignment, he/she will receive an Incomplete for that assignment. The Incomplete will remain until the assignment is completed. Five points will be deducted for each day an assignment is late. After an assignment is six school days late, the maximum number of points that will be deduced is 25 points. Example: An essay is due on Monday, October 3rd. The student turns the essay in on Wednesday, October 12th. Although the assignment is seven days late only 25 points will be deducted.

If a student is absent when an assignment is given, the due date will be calculated as the number of school days absent plus one to a maximum of 10 days.

Homework

Homework is assigned as a means to practice skills and is generally graded on an effort basis. Homework will not be accepted after we have reviewed the assignment as a class; therefore, students will receive a 50 on non-attempted homework assignments. Please note, while Weekly Writing Assignments (WWAs) are weighted as homework grades, they are the exception to this policy. They will be accepted late, with point deductions per the “Late/Missing Work” guidelines. Furthermore, a student will receive a zero for missing WWAs. **Students will receive more information on WWA grading**

If homework cannot be completed at home, students are encouraged to attend Plus Block for extra help.

See page 14 of the Student Handbook & Code of Conduct for additional homework information and guidelines.

Cheating/Plagiarism

See Student Handbook & Code of Conduct page 24

Major Assessment Timeline

**Timeframes and assignments may vary slightly depending on the weather and needs of the class

●Weekly assessments will be given for vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills.

●WEEK 1

oSummer Reading Assignments – Quiz

●WEEK 2

oPoint of View: To Kill a Mockingbird – Test

●WEEK 3

oConflict: Diary of Anne Frank – Essay (in-class)

●WEEK 4

oCharacterization and Symbolism: To Kill a Mockingbird – Project

oTheme: To Kill a Mockingbird – Essay (in-class)

●WEEK 5

oPropaganda: Diary of Anne Frank - Project

oWriting Revision – Essay

●WEEK 6

●WEEK 7

oThe Odyssey - Test

●WEEK 8

oEpic or Epic Hero: The Odyssey – Essay (in-class)

oThe Odyssey - Project

●WEEK 9

oWriting Revision – Essay

●WEEK 10

oMidterm

●WEEK 11

●WEEK 12

oResearch Paper – Essay

oResearch Presentation – Project

●WEEK 13

●WEEK 14

oWriting Revision – Essay

oDramatic Foil: Romeo and Juliet – Essay (in-class)

●WEEK 15

oRomeo and Juliet – Test

oRomeo and Juliet Performances - Project

●WEEK 16

●WEEK 17

oPoetry – Test

●WEEK 18

oWriting Revision – Essay

oFinal

Classroom Procedures

●Procedure for Beginning Class

oBe in your assigned seat when the tardy bell rings

oBegin “Do Now” assignment immediately

●Procedure for Ending Class

oTake all of your materials with you. Do not leave anything in your desk except the

Writer’s Inc. book

oStudents are to remain in their seats until dismissed

●Procedure for Tardy to Class

oYou will be considered tardy if you are not in the classroom when the tardy bell rings.

oThe Tardy Policy listed in the Student Handbook will be strictly enforced.

●Procedure for Turning in Papers

oWork that is to be turned in should be placed in the appropriate tray on the bookshelf.

●Procedure for Missing Work

oIt is your responsibility to obtain the work you miss when you are absent.

oMissing work will be in the appropriate tray on the wall above the bookshelf.

oYou should check the tray on the first day you return to school before class begins.

oDO NOT interrupt class to check the folder.

●Procedure for Finishing Work Early

oIf you finish an assignment/test/quiz early, you need to remain seated and quiet.

oYou should work on makeup work or read your independent reading book.

oIf you become a distraction to other students, 5 points will be deducted from your

grade for that assignment/test/quiz.

●Procedure for Restroom/Water Breaks

oWater bottles are allowed; no other drinks or food is allowed.

oYou may use the restroom with permission; however, refrain from asking to

be excused from class during instructional time.

●Procedure for a Substitute

oAll class rules and procedure apply!

oBe courteous!

• Cell Phones
• Cell phones will be collected at the beginning of each block and returned at the end of each block.
• The teacher is not responsible for lost, stolen, or broken phones.

In addition to these procedures, all students are expected to abide by the policies and procedures listed in the Student Handbook & Code of Conduct.

Parent Contact Information and Syllabus Agreement

After you have reviewed this syllabus with your parents/guardians, please sign this form and return it to your teacher by Friday, August 21, 2015.

Student’s Name ______

Student Signature ______

Parent Signature:______

Parent Name(s): ______

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Contact Information: Is it okay to contact you via e-mail concerning your child? ____ Yes ____ No

If “yes,” please provide an email address you check frequently:

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If “no,” please provide a phone number where you can be reached:

______

Comments or Concerns:

______

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