SPRING SEMESTER SYLLABUS

NINTH GRADE CLASS REQUIREMENTS
SPRING SEMESTER

TEXTBOOKS: ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE
VOCABULARY FOR HIGH SCHOOL

ENGLISH WORKSHOP

During the course of this semester, we will read short stories, poetry, novels, THE ODYSSEY, and ROMEO AND JULIET. As part of the requirements of this class the student will be required to do the following:

1. The student will take a district required assessment covering literary analysis. The district mandated test will assess the student's understanding of literary themes, univeral themes and themes across literary genres. The student will be asked to develop concepts and ideas from the text, and show how these concepts are related to the text. The student will be assessed according to how well s/he can analyze and synthesize these concepts in a well organized and well written essay.


2. The student will also be required to keep a separate notebook for English. (Be sure to get a small, light weight notebook - your notebook is going to get heavy!) Most importantly: KEEP ALL HANDOUTS AND RETURNED WORK, CLASSWORK, HOMEWORK AND TESTS IN THIS NOTEBOOK! At the end of the semester, the notebook will be checked for organization and completeness and creativity. This is a major grade. I really appreciate creativity so feel free to put your drawings, your poetry in your notebook. Let it express who you are.


3. The student is expected to check the weblog on Sunday night for the week's assignment for this class. The address is hollywoodhighschool.net; click on blogs, click on jbridges and then click on 9th Grade English. The student should either print out that week's assignment or copy it down and carry it in his/her notebook. The print out of the week's agenda will be posted on the bulletin board by the door.

4. The upcoming tests, assignments, and due dates will be projected onto the screen and posted on the blog.

5. The handouts for the day's class will be placed in the wire basket on the table by the door. A student returning from an absence should check the blog, and check the wire basket on the table for work that has been passed out during the student's absence.

6. Homework will be assigned Monday - Thursday. No homework will be given on Friday.

7. Tests will be given about every two weeks and ample warning will be given for each test. Notification of the test will be on the weblog and projected on the screen.

8. Students are responsible for make-up work. No make-up work will be given for truancies. The student will be allowed one day after her/his return from a non-truant absence to turn in the late work. The prior day’s assignments will be posted in the classroom and it is the student’s responsibility to keep track of the work and to turn it in the day after her/his return.

9. If a student is not happy with a grade s/he received on a test or an essay, s/he may rewrite the essay incorporating the corrections that I have made on the essay, or if it is a test, then s/he may rewrite and correct the missed answers from the test on a separate sheet of paper. The student must then staple the revised essay or test to the original and turn it in. The corrections must be sufficient to show the student has learned the material. The student's grade on the assignment will be raised one
letter grade; for example, if the student made a b/c on an essay, then after the revisions, the grade will be raised to an a/b.


10. Fifteen absences per semester may result in an “F” in the class, or may lower the grade and/or result in less than adequate marks in cooperation and work habits.


Tests are worth approximately 20%
Classwork is worth approximately 20%
The literary analysis is worth about 20%
The notebook is worth about 15%
Journals are worth about 15%
Participation is worth about 10%


90% -100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = FAIL

As part of the ongoing effort to increase reading comprehension and to promote a love for reading, students may read a book of their own choosing for the ACCELERATED READING program. This is for extra credit and each AR test and each reading log is worth 100 points. The student will select a book from the Accelerated reading list, which will have an AR designated sticker on the binding and can be checked out from the school library. The AR assignment includes a reading log, and passing the AR test, which can be taken in the library before school, during nutrition, lunch, and after school. The first due date for the book, the reading log, and the AR test is Friday, February 9th.  The second date for the book, the reading log, and the AR test will be Friday, April 13th. The third date for the book, the reading log, and the AR test will be Friday, May 4th.


Extra points will be given for creativity. Class participation is a must and will be factored into the grading. Being alert and participating in class could be the deciding factor in determining a borderline grade.


There are a few rules that are necessary to ensure a safe, clean, comfortable, educational, and creative environment: No eating in the classroom - we do not have custodial services in 503.  No phones, unless it is being used for educational purposes such as research, educational games, or note taking and the teacher specifically gives permission.  No private conversations unless it is during "pair and share".  No talking when others are speaking. No roaming, running, or playing around during class.

If there are any questions please feel free to call me at 323-993-1700, or better yet, e-mail me at jkatbridge@aol.com. You may also keep track of agendas by going to hollywoodhighschool.net and clicking on “weblogs”, "teachers”, “J. Bridges” and that will direct you to my class weblog.

Sincerely,

Judith “Kate” Bridges



I HAVE READ THIS WITH MY CHILD,  AND I UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS CLASS:

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