ENG 1-2 Carrington Course Syllabus 16-17.docx

 

ENGLISH 1-2

Ninth Grade English Language Arts

Course Syllabus

2016-2017

 

Instructor: A. Carrington                            Office: 6949 Genesee Avenue, Room 454

e-mail: acarrington@sandi.net                 Tutoring Available: At Lunch, Mo-Tu-Th-Fr

 

 

TEXTS

• The Language of Literature textbook (we have a class set in the room)

• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

• Independent fiction books of students’ own choosing (must be grade-level; must be approved)

• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

• Memoir/Autobiography of students’ own choosing (must be at least 100 pages)

 

DESCRIPTION

This is a comprehensive English Language Arts curriculum designed to fit the demands of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Ninth Grade English Language Arts focuses on comprehension and composition of informational, literary, and argumentative texts, as well as on speaking, listening, research, and critical reasoning skills. This course exposes students to a variety of texts from American and world cultures. Students read novels, short stories, plays, autobiographies, epic poems, and nonfiction. Students write in various styles with a focus on structure, vocabulary, and writing mechanics. In addition, students engage in a variety of discussions and oral presentations, as well as research and reasoning tasks and processes.

 

Note: Some of the material covered in this class may contain information, language, or views that may be objectionable to certain individuals. In the event that material is offensive to the student or parent/guardian, an alternative assignment will gladly be arranged. Let’s cooperate, not litigate.

 

Writing assignments tied to the Common Core State Standards culminate each unit. It is absolutely essential that these major projects, like all other assignments for my class, be turned in on time or early. No late work is accepted, for any reason. **I am legendarily strict about this.**

 

MATERIALS

A school supplies list is sent home with the student on the first day of school, suggesting but not requiring several items to be purchased for general school usage. However, it is a reasonable expectation that, at minimum, each student will start school with:

• Paper - College-ruled filler paper is strongly suggested

• Pens - Blue and black are pen colors considered appropriate for academics. Red pen is the traditional color used to make corrections. Pencil is used only for Scantron tests, not English assignments. Felt tip pens are not appropriate for written assignments but okay for artwork.

 

SCHOLASTIC EVALUATION

Students are evaluated by the quantity, quality, and consistency of the work they submit. Participation, including oral presentations, is also an essential factor. Student effort is very important in determining grades. Just turning in an assignment is not good enough. It must be done well. Students receive points for nearly everything they will do in this class. Major projects are usually worth the most points, as they reflect the culmination of student learning.

 

SCHOLASTIC GRADING SCALE

Grades are based on points. At each grading period, the number of points earned by the student is converted into a percentage of the total points possible, which will be combined (not averaged) to determine the final grade. Work that is not turned in on time receives a zero (no credit), which will severely lower the student’s grade. SKIP ASSIGNMENTS AT YOUR PERIL!

 

A = 100%-90%                                   C = 79%-70%                                     F = 54%-0%

B = 89%-80%                                     D = 69%-55%

 

CITIZENSHIP EVALUATION

Students are given many opportunities in class to show their skills in cooperation, listening, class participation, and staying on task. If a student is found to be weak in any of these areas, he/she will be counseled and given the chance to change. If the student still does not improve his/her behavior, the student's parent or guardian will be asked to get involved. It is not acceptable for a student to prevent learning or teaching in a classroom. Students with low citizenship lose privileges.

Tardies can greatly damage a student’s citizenship grade. Three tardies result in an “N”. Four tardies result in a “U”. This tardy policy is established by the school.

 

CITIZENSHIP GRADING SCALE

E = Excellent. Always participates. Never talks out of turn. Always prepared. One tardy

G = Good. Often participates. Seldom talks out of turn. Often prepared. Two tardies

S = Satisfactory. Sometimes participates. Sometimes talks out of turn or unprepared. Two tardies

N = Needs Improvement. Seldom participates. Often talks out of turn/unprepared. Three tardies

U = Unsatisfactory. Negatively participates. Truant. Often talks out of turn. Unprepared.

 

INDEPENDENT READING BOOK TALKS

Students are expected to read teacher-approved, grade-level fiction of their choice inside and outside of class. Students must read 25 pages a night as homework Fri-Mon-Tue-Wed, for a total of 100 pages. Thursday nights are for Book Talk prep or written response. One week, they will do a brief, written response about the first 100 pages and the next week, do a book talk (informal oral report) about the next 100 pages. This will go on for 10 weeks, for a total of 1,000 pages.

 

SUBMITTING WORK

Not turning in assignments, completed, and on time is the number one reason why students fail. All written work must be done in academically appropriate ink pen, with the exception of major writing assignments, which must be typed. Several rough draft(s) may be required. Pencil is never acceptable in this English class. **I am legendarily strict about this.** It is essential that every assignment has the correct title, with first and last name, class period, and date (or, if required, MLA format). Major writing assignments that do not meet proficiency for the assignment (70% or higher) must be revised until the Common Core standard is met.

 

LATE WORK

Late work is not accepted unless it is due to an excused absence. Many, but not all, assignments are considered on time as long as they are turned in by the end of the school day (2:30 p.m.). Sports, dance practice, printer problems, etc., do not excuse you from doing schoolwork. Hospitalization, car accidents, power outages, etc. would be negotiable reasons.

 

MAKEUP WORK

Students are expected to complete all assignments that were done in class during their absence. Make-up work is the responsibility of the student, not the teacher. I am almost always available at the beginning of class, at lunch, or via e-mail to answer questions about what the student missed. Just ask! However, I would appreciate advanced notice (even if it’s early the same day) that a student or parent is coming to see me for a list of several missed assignments.

 

If a student has an excused absence the day an assignment is due, the work must be turned in the day the student returns to school in order to receive full credit. It is the student's responsibility to make sure this work is turned in, not the teacher’s.

 

If a student is absent on the day of a test, he or she must take the make-up test within three school days of the day he or she returns. To preserve test security, tests are not passed back.

 

CLASS PROCEDURES

Attendance: Attendance in school is mandatory until age 16. Parents are held responsible, by law, for their child’s truancy. Excessive absence will result in lower citizenship and scholarship grades. Class time is crucial and repeated failure to attend is unacceptable. Roll is taken daily.

 

Behavior: Disrespect such as put downs, the use of the phrases “shut up” or “gay,” profanity, racial or ethnic slurs, or gender-based slurs will not be tolerated. This will be taken extremely seriously. Any such behavior will result in a student/teacher conference and may result in a call home to the parent/guardian and lowered citizenship. Repeat offenders will be written a referral.

You are expected to sit properly in your chair. You are not to put your head on your desk (if you are ill, please let me know). You are not to sit, crawl, or lie on the floor. One “Bless you!” per sneeze is enough. Repeat offenses will result in parent contact, referral, and lowered citizenship.

 

Detention: Classroom detention is held after school, in Room 454. Students are expected to report for detention by 2:28 p.m. within two school days. Students are always notified verbally that they have been assigned detention and for how long. If a student does not attend detention, the teacher will double the detention and will call the parent or guardian to inform him/her of the situation. The student could then be written a referral.

 

Plagiarism and Cheating: If you request, give, or receive information on a test or assignment, you will receive lowered semester citizenship and a zero on that test or assignment. If you copy someone else’s work and present it as your own or allow others to copy your work, all persons involved will receive lowered semester citizenship, a referral, and a zero on the assignment.

 

Restroom/Nurse: Use the restroom in the time provided before and after class. Bathroom passes should only be used in the case of an emergency. Students must sign in and out. Passes to the nurse will be given at the teacher's discretion. Usually, the student will need to wait for the teacher to get the class started before time can be taken to write a pass. If student has a long- or short-term medical problem that requires special consideration in these areas, the parent needs to contact me via a note sent with the student or an e-mail. I will follow up on it to verify.

 

Tardiness: Class time is valuable, and disruption to the classroom environment because of a student’s lateness is unacceptable. Students must be in their seats when class begins, quiet and ready to work. Students not in their seats when the class starts may be considered tardy. The school tardy policy will then be put into effect. Tardies are indicated on the roll sheet daily.

 

Tests: There is NO talking during tests.  You may raise your hand to ask a question only BEFORE the test has begun; any other talking will be viewed as cheating or disruption of the testing environment and will result in a zero. To avoid further disruption, I may let you take the entire test before giving you a zero. My silence does not constitute acceptance of your behavior.

 

Trash: Anyone caught throwing anything into the wastebasket from a distance farther than two feet will be assigned detention for ten minutes. Students are expected to throw away trash only during group activity times. Please hold onto trash until then, or wait until the end of class.

 

OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR -- THEME: PERSPECTIVES

 

Semester One                        Perspectives in Non-Fiction

 

Unit 1: How do Texts Work? Overview of Text Forms

CCSS Writing Assignments: Baseline friendly letter, pro/con, persuasive/argument W.9-10.7

Skills: identifying text features, literary vocabulary, etc.

 

Unit 2: Reading, Writing, and Researching Expository Texts

CCSS Writing Assignment: Informative/Explanatory Research Paper W.9-10.2

Skills: marshaling evidence, note-taking, using and crediting sources, recognizing bias, etc.

 

Unit 3: Reading, Writing, and Researching Persuasive Texts

CCSS Writing Assignment: Persuasive/Argument Composition W.9-10.1

Skills: defending a position, structuring ideas logically, using valid reasoning and evidence, etc.

 

Unit 4: Reading and Writing Non-Fiction Narratives

CCSS Writing Assignment: Real Narrative Experiences/Events W.9-10.3

Skills: dialogue, sequencing, pacing, description, sensory language, reflecting on experience, etc.

 

 

Semester Two                        Perspectives in Fiction

 

Unit 5: Reading and Writing about Fictional Narratives

CCSS Writing Assignment: Literary Analysis RL.9-10.3

Skills: character development, complexity, interactions, etc.

 

Unit 6: Reading and Writing about Poetry and Drama

CCSS Writing Assignments: Literary Devices RL.9-10.6 and RL.9-10.7

Skills: point of view, identifying stylistic devices, author’s choice of subject representation, etc.

 

Unit 7: Reading and Writing about Short Stories

CCSS Writing Assignment: Literary Analysis RL.9-10.5

Skills: analyzing author’s choices, recognizing elements of literature, structural analysis, etc.