You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Dr. Seuss

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1 You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Dr. Seuss Mrs. Ward -Room 311 English 9 Hillcrest High School pward@tcss.net English 9 expands upon students' demonstrated competencies in English usage and mechanics, oral and written communication, and understanding literature. Class activities focus on analytical and critical thinking, advanced composition, and library research. Students examine, compare, discuss, and write about poetry, novels, short stories, essays, and drama. Skills necessary for success on post-secondary school admission tests are reviewed. Objectives: To apply appropriate strategies in developing reading skills for a variety of purposes in addition to developing an appreciation of the classical and contemporary literature. To recognize elements of short stories, novels, essays, poems, and dramas. To apply listening skills, personal study skills, and principles of standard English in vocabulary. To demonstrate knowledge of language terminology and application of these concepts through speaking and writing. To understand and apply the elements of language through the study of grammar to the craft of writing. Primary Learning Goals: By the end of the course, students should understand: how to comprehend the main point or thesis, the occasion or context, the author s motivation for writing, tone and style, meaning, purpose, and effect of various genres of literature; how to articulate their individual thoughts and analysis of literature through effective writing using standard grammar, sentence structure, and correct paragraph development throughout their writing; how to enhance their vocabulary as a means of effective writing; how to understand and respond accurately to higher order test questions; how to actively participate in group discussions, articulate analysis of literature selections, and develop a thesis or argument for their conclusions in regard to the text; how to effectively research and use proper MLA citation; how to take accurate and useful class notes; how to work effectively in groups or teams; how to make effective presentations to the class. Textbooks: Glencoe Literature: Reading with a Purpose Elements of Language, Third course StudySync McGraw-Hill To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee No Fear Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare The Odyssey by Homer Included in our textbook Additional Novels To be announced if needed **Students are responsible for bringing their textbooks to class. If a student does not bring his/her textbook to class on a day in which work is being taken for a grade, then the student will receive a grade of zero for that work. Students are NEVER to leave their textbooks in the classroom. Students are issued lockers for storing their books; therefore, there is no reason a student should ever leave a textbook in a classroom.

2 '. Materials needed for class: One three-ring binder (I d suggest a 2 inch binder ) Eight subject dividers labeled as follows: Vocabulary, Grammar, Graded Work, Literature Notes, Literary terms, Writing, Work in Progress, Bell Work Composition Notebook/ or a one subject notebook to use as a journal. Novels (purchased by the student) and textbook Loose leaf paper Red pens and Blue or Black ink pens Highlighters- Three different colors would be helpful A flash drive is highly recommended (I WILL NOT PRINT ESSAYS FOR YOU!) Materials for special projects, TBA and books to be purchased. Donations of hand sanitizer or Kleenex and copy paper are requested ( but are not required) A positive attitude. Attendance: Regular attendance is mandatory in order for students to be successful in English 9. The TCSS attendance policy will be enforced in this class. Make-Up Work: Students are responsible for making up any work missed due to an excused absence. It is the student's responsibility to see Mrs. Ward about the work that he or she missed within two days of the excused absence. Any work not made up will receive a grade of zero. Students will need to stay after school to make up tests, and arrangements should be made in advance with Mrs. Ward. Grading Policy/Evaluation:.:. The final grade for each grading period will be based on tests, writing assignments, various projects, presentations, quizzes, homework, class work, journal entries, grammar rules, and independent novel study entries. Mandatory comprehensive exams will be administered at the end of the first, second, and third nine-week grading periods. The comprehensive final exam administered at the conclusion of the course will count twenty percent (20%) of the final grade for the course. The sum of the four nine- weeks' averages will be added to the course final exam grade. This total will be divided by five to get the course final grade. Mandatory comprehensive final examinations are administered to all students except those students meeting the exemption criteria. In order to be exempt from a final exam, a student must possess an A (90-100) average with 6 or fewer absences, possess a B (80-89) average with 4 or fewer absences, or possess a C (70-79) average with 2 or fewer absences, AND have no discipline referrals that result in detention or suspension. The final course grade for students in grades 9-12 who meet exemption criteria will be determined from the average of the four nine- weeks' grades. Students are responsible for keeping up with all assignments and due dates. Incomplete work will not be accepted.

3 .:. All assignments are expected to be turned in at the beginning of class on the day they are due. No late work will be accepted for class work or homework. Homework is not worth any points if it is submitted late. Each assignment (such as major writing assignments and projects) will have two due dates: the first represents full credit; the second represents a maximum grade of (70%). After the second date has passed, the work receives a maximum of (50% or lower). Work is considered late any time after the teacher has already collected the work from the class. Students who miss an in-class assignment or quiz have two days per absence to make it up upon return; otherwise they will receive a zero on the assignment. All quizzes and tests missed due to athletics, extracurricular activities (field trips), and planned absences MUST be taken on the day upon return to school. If the work is not made up before or after school the student will receive a 0 on the test or quiz. It is the student s responsibility to schedule a test or quiz makeup. I will not chase students down to make up work! There is simply too many of you for me to keep up with. It would be advisable for students to make a conference appointment with me prior to a planned absence. Computer issues, trouble, internet problems, printing errors, or lack of ink are not valid excuses for late work. Please plan ahead before the due date for work that must be processed. You may print essays and work in the library for a fee before class. Cheating will not be tolerated in this class. Copying another person's homework or class work, telling someone what was on a test or quiz, using notes on tests and quizzes, and copying any source without giving credit is considered cheating. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. Anyone caught talking, passing notes, using a cell phone, or communicating 'in any way with another student during a test is considered cheating. Any student caught cheating will automatically receive a grade of zero on that work and will be referred to the office for appropriate disciplinary action. Respect yourself enough to do your own work. I expect quality work and a consistent effort. Academic integrity is of the utmost importance. Class Procedures: Please be seated by the time the tardy bell rings. When the bell rings to end our class period, you should remain in your seat until you are dismissed by me. The bell is for me and I will dismiss you. Bell work- Students will be given bell work to do at the beginning of each class. This work must be made up like all other work in the class when a student is absent. Assignments-Students will be required to read literature assignments outside of class for the entire year. In addition, students can expect to have other homework during the week. Parents, please call the school or Mrs. Ward if you have any questions about your child's work. Students' homework assignments will be written on the board each day. Students are to copy down their assignments. The student is responsible for the assignments that are written on the board. Questions and help- Students need to raise one hand and wait for the teacher to give them permission to speak. Students needing additional help with classwork need to arrange in advance for help after school with Mrs. Ward. Passes- Since it is important for students to be in the classroom as much as possible, hall passes will only be given on a very limited basis. Students are expected to go to the bathroom before or after class, not during class. Cell phones- Cell phones must be turned off and put away in a back pack or purse upon entering the classroom. Once the class begins, students may not use their cell phones unless given direct permission from the teacher. Students who use cell phones during class without permission will have their cell phones confiscated and sent to the office. There is no discussion on this policy.

4 I allow one OOPS homework assignment per nine weeks. This means that you can forget to do your work once with no penalty. Inform me that you are using your OOPS when you turn in the assignment by writing OOPS at the top. If you do not use your oops. I will add 10 percentage points to your lowest quiz grade at the end of the nine weeks. (In other words if you made a 76 on a quiz but never used your oops, I will change the grade to an 86 before grades are posted.) Please bring all your materials to class each day. Do not expect to return to your locker. If you forget something and MUST go back to your locker, you will be considered tardy to class. I would suggest a 2 inch binder for the course. You may want to take out graded work at the end of each nine weeks. Keep everything from the course until after the final exam. (And even then you may find many of the handouts from class useful in courses that you will take after this year.) Once the class has started, remember to stay in your seat unless you have permission to move around the room. Please do not get up during instruction to retrieve a paper, staple an assignment, or throw something away. It is very distracting to those around you and me. I do not assign extra credit to individual students to pull up a low grade. I may occasionally offer extra credit opportunities to the entire class. Clean up the area around and under your desk each day when you leave please. Put all trash in the trash can on your way out the door. Teachers have to clean their own classrooms. Thank you in advance for helping me with this task. Classroom Expectations for Students: 1. Follow directions the first time they are given. 2. Raise your hand and wait to be called on before speaking. 3. Show respect to others by working quietly, listening attentively, speaking politely, and keeping your hands to yourself. 4. Bring all necessary materials to class. 5. Be in your seat when the bell rings. Remain in your seat until you are dismissed by Mrs. Ward.6. Keep all food, drinks, and gum out of the classroom. Consequences if a student chooses to disobey: 1st offense: verbal warning 2 nd offense: verbal warning and parent phone call 3 rd or severe offense: office referral FINAL THOUGHTS Be diligent, be focused, work hard, and know that you are actually going to have some FUN in the process. I look forward to sharing your freshman year with you. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Dr. Seuss

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6 ." Dear Parent: **Please return this page to Mrs. Ward** You are invited to visit our English class at any time by appointment. If you have concerns about the class, please do not hesitate to contact me at or me at Please review this course syllabus with your child and ensure that he or she has the materials needed for class. The 9 th grade can be very challenging and stressful for some students as the rigor of their academic classes increases. You can help prepare your child for this class by doing the following: 1) Please insist that your child do his/her homework. I like for all of the parents/guardians to be aware that your child will have homework almost every night. Homework is not work that students are given time in class to do; it is work that is to be done at home. 2) Mid-nine weeks' progress reports will be sent home each grading period that you will need to sign and return within two days. Please contact me immediately if you do not receive a progress report from your child. 3) Please sign below to indicate that you have read the course syllabus, including the course outline, grading policy, attendance policy, make-up work policy, class procedures, and materials needed for class. I would like for all parents to provide an address, if possible, so that I may send out class information when necessary. I look forward to teaching your child this year. Parent's signature Date address Daytime phone Please review this syllabus with your parent and sign below to indicate that you understand the information provided. I look forward to teaching you this semester. Student s printed name Date Student's signature