English 9 Honors

Walker Valley High School

2016-2017

Instructor: Name: Erica Rogers

Email:

Course Description

English 9 is the study of basic communication skills, literary skills, usage, and speech. It also includes the review of grammar and its application to composition. The course has an emphasis on the development of writing skills (narrative, expository, and argumentative), and an introduction to literary selections ranging from novels to informational texts.

English 9 Honors includes the same material as English 9, with a more intensive study of composition and literature. Grammatical skills should be intact with little / no remediation necessary. Students will be required to read more literary works and informational texts.

Remind

Remind is free service which allows teachers to send text and/or email reminders to students and parents about homework, tests, projects, etc.

To sign up for the text reminders, send the message “@bk3f7” to the number 81010.

To sign up for email reminders, send a blank email message to .

Class Supplies

ByTuesday, January 10th, 2017, students will need to have the following materials:

  • 3-prong pocket folder
  • Notebook paper
  • Pencils/Pens
  • Post-it Notes (sticky notes)

Students are expected to bring these supplies and their textbook to class every day. Repeatedly coming to class unprepared will result in disciplinary action.

In addition, there is a one-time $5 English fee. Funds from this fee go toward buying classroom supplies, technology, and other items to enhance learning.

Honors students will also need to purchase copies of To Kill A Mockingbirdand Romeo and Juliet. Amazon and McKay’s usually have inexpensive copies of both works. Books should be purchased and brought to school by Monday, January 23rd. If you are unable to purchase a copy of the book, please let Ms. Rogers know before this date in order to make other arrangements.

Course Policies

Classroom Expectations:

1. Prompt- students will arrive on time and complete activities in a timely manner.

2. Prepared- students will bring all necessary materials to class.

3. Polite- students will be kind and considerate when interacting with teachers and peers.

4. Participating- students will participate fully in all class activities.

5. Personally Responsible- students will take responsibility for their actions.

Discipline

The following measures will be taken to address improper classroom conduct:

1st Infraction – Warning

2nd Infraction –Parent Contact

3rd Infraction –Parent Contact and additional consequence determined by teacher and/or principal

Gross insubordination, intimidation, violence, and other major offenses will result in an immediate written referral to administration and possible removal from the classroom.

Late/Make-Up Work

Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date. Late work will be penalized 8 points per day that it is late. Late assignments will not be accepted after the 5th day.

It is the student’s responsibility to make up any work missed due to an absence- excused or unexcused. Students have the number of days missed to make up assignments. (If a student misses three days, the student has three days to turn in make-up work.) Work received after the allowable days will be considered late and penalized 8 points per day. Students who are suspended 1 to 5 days will have 2 days to make up missed assignments, and students who are suspended 6 to 10 will have 4 days.

Cheating/Copying

Cheating will not be tolerated in this course. All work must be the student’s original ideas and work or contain appropriate citations to identify the source. Cheating will result in an automatic zero on the assignment. During a test, there will be absolutely no talking. If a student is caught talking, it is considered cheating and will be an automatic zero.

Tutoring

Tutoring will be available every Monday afternoon after school until 4:15pm. Also, tutoring will be available Tuesdays and Fridays during MAP. Students must sign up for tutoring at least one day in advance on the Tutoring Calendar in Ms. Rogers’s room, and students attending tutoring during MAP must get a tutoring hall pass from Ms. Rogers.

Restroom/ Hall Passes

Class attendance and participation are crucial to student success. As such, hall passes will be given for emergency situations only. Students should use the restroom between classes. If a medical condition exists that requires more frequent restroom use, a medical note must be on file with the nurse.

Electronic Devices

No use of electronic devices to record or transmit class activities, resources, or information is permitted. At NO time are students allowed to use devices in class to listen to music, take photos, record video, play games, use social media, or send/receive texts. Devices should be silenced and put away during class time. ONLY under the direction of the teacher may students use their cell phones and/or other electronic devices. Students who violate this policy risk having their cell phones confiscated or other disciplinary action.

Classroom Library

Students will have access to my classroom library (as well as the school library) throughout the semester. My classroom library contains numerous books on a variety of subjects geared toward young adult (YA) interests. The YA genre is very broad in the themes and content it covers. Parents and students should discuss the child’s reading selection to determine if the content and reading level are appropriate for the student.

Assessments and Grading

Quarter grades will be calculated based on the following percentages:

Assessments (tests, papers, and quizzes): 45%

Daily Work (classwork and homework): 35%

Midterm/ Final Exam 10%

Independent Reading: 10%

Semester grades will be an average of the two quarter grades. Three points will be added to the student’s final semester grade for the honors course.

Each unit will have a unit test and writing assessment to measure student mastery of state standards. Types of writing will include narrative, argument, and expository. Course topics are outlined below in the Course Calendar. Tests and papers will be weighted twice as much as quizzes.

Each 9-weeks, students will read 1200 pages independently. Students will use sticky notes to mark “signposts” and “text codes” as they read each book. (Signposts and text codes will be explained in the first week of school). Students will conference with the teacher about their reading at regular intervals and schedule a final book talk with Ms. Rogers to receive credit for the pages read. This work will count as 10% of the student’s grade:

# of pages / 550 / 700 / 850 / 900 / 1050 / 1200
Grade / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100

**Students should be reading a minimum of twenty minutes per night**

Grading Scale

A: 93-100B: 85-92C: 75-84D: 70-74F: 69 - Below

Course Topics and Schedule by Semester*

Week / Semester 1 / Topic
1 / Jan 5-6 / Course Policy and Procedure
2 / Jan 9-13 / Argument Unit
3 / Jan 17-20 / Argument Unit
4 / Jan 23-27 / Argument Unit/Poetry
5 / Jan 30 -Feb 3 / Poetry/ Short Story Unit
6 / Feb 6-10 / Short Story Unit
7 / Feb 13-17 / Short Story Unit
8 / Feb 22-24 / Short Story Unit/ To Kill A Mockingbird Research
9 / Feb 27 -Mar 3 / TKAM Research
10 / Mar 6- Mar 10 / Midterm Review
** / Mar 13-17 / Spring Break
11 / Mar 20-24 / TKAM Unit
12 / Mar 27-31 / TKAM Unit
13 / Apr 3-7 / TKAM Unit
14 / Apr 10-13 / Film Study Unit
15 / Apr 18-21 / Film Study Unit
16 / Apr 24-28 / Romeo and Juliet Unit
17 / May 1-5 / Romeo and Juliet Unit
18 / May 8-12 / Romeo and Juliet Unit
19 / May 15-19 / Review
20 / May 22-25 / Final Exams

*Course calendar subject to change