9th Grade Fall Syllabus
Welcome to 9A English. I hope this semester is fun, enjoyable, challenging, thought-provoking and educational for you. We will be concentrating on reading comprehension, writing analytical and persuasive essays, and of course, the mechanics of writing - otherwise known as grammar. We will be using the following books:
VOCABULARY WORKSHOP: Level C
HOLT HANDBOOK
ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE
MY PERSPECTIVE
You are expected to keep a notebook for my class. A separate three ring binder would be nice - one that you can put papers into (which I will thoughtfully hole-punch for you so that you can put them into your binder). EVERYTHING I GIVE YOU SHOULD BE PUT INTO YOUR NOTEBOOK! That means handouts, your homework, your class work, your tests, your essays - in short, everything you will do or have done in my class should go into your notebook. This acts as protection for both you and me. Sometimes teachers make mistakes (Yes, that does happen. Even with me.) If I forget to record a grade (and that does happen sometimes) then you have proof that you did the work. If you have thrown it away then........there goes your grade. So keep ALL your work in your notebook. At the end of the semester I will check your notebook for organization and completeness. This is a major grade. (And keep it small and lightweight! Those backpacks get heavy!)
This semester, we will read Homer’s The Odyssey and many short stories, which we will base our projects on - rewrites, story boards, and games. Many of our projects will be collaborative group efforts and some will be individual ones, but you will receive two grades on each - one for the writing or execution and the other for the idea or concept.
During this semester we will write two persuasive essays. After we have read the short story "The Most Dangerous Game", we will do research on animal intelligence and emotions; then using our research, we will write a persuasive paper regarding how humans should treat animals. The second persuasive essay will be assigned after we have read Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado". We will do research regarding the mystery surrounding Poe's death and then we will write a persuasive essay on the probable cause of one of our greatest writer's demise.
After we have read Homer's The Odyssey, we will work on a research paper, which will involve doing research in the library, creating an outline, a bibliography, twenty-five notecards, and a five- page research paper in MLA format, on some aspect of mythology.
All of your essays and your research paper must be submitted to turnitin.com. Your vocabulary and grammar homework may be submitted to google.docs. All other work may be turned in as hard copies.
Now for the good news: I don’t give homework over the weekend. Now for the bad: I do give homework - lots of homework! But I do give you plenty of time to do it. If you are absent, then you are allowed to turn in the work the next day after your return. So if you are absent on Monday, you return on Tuesday, then you will turn in the work on Wednesday. The week’s work, as well as the due dates, will be on the blog. The handouts will be in the baskets on the long table by the door. The week’s agenda will be posted on the web log at hollywoodhighschool.net. It is up to you to check the the blog on the school’s web site, and the baskets for any work you may have missed during your absence. Saying that you didn’t know about the work is not a valid excuse - it will be posted on the web site, and the hand outs will be on the table.
If you have internet access then you should log onto hollywoodhighschool.net, go to the teacher’s web log and click on my name (Bridges - in case you’ve forgotten) and there you will be able to see an updated agenda for your class. Print out the agenda and - that’s right - put it in your notebook!
Class participation is a must. The class is only going to be as good as we all make it. If you help make the class fun and interesting, yet you have a borderline grade, then that extra class participation grade may make the difference between a lower and a higher grade. So don’t fall asleep! Pinch yourself, say something smart and interesting, or ask a good question and your grade just might go up.
Finally, let’s make this a safe environment where everyone feels secure and valued. Let’s respect our differences and realize that it is these differences that make the world wonderful and brilliant.
The grading schedule is as follows:
90 - 100 = A
80 - 89 = B
70 - 79 = C
60 - 69 = D
59 - 0 = F
Tests are worth 30%
Essays are worth 30%
Homework is worth 20%
The Notebook is worth 10%
Class participation is worth 10%
Finally, if you are not happy with a grade you have received on an essay, then you may rewrite the essay, incorporating my corrections into your rewritten essay and turn it in for a higher grade of one letter; for example, if you made a “B over B” on an essay, then you may rewrite the essay incorporating my corrections into your writing, and then turn in the essay for an “A over A”. You must turn in your original essay with the corrected essay to get credit.
If you are not happy with a grade you received on a vocabulary test, then you may rewrite the word, write the definition of the word, write the word in a grammatically correct sentence, and your vocabulary test grade will be raised one letter grade. You may raise your grade on any test by writing the question and then writing out the correct answer. You must turn in your original test with the corrected test to get credit.
I am here to help you expand your intellectual horizons, to think critically, to become more aware of the world around you, to grow in appreciation of literature - and to pass with a good grade. I am here to help you. You can make this happen by working with me and being respectful to everyone in the class, including yourself.
To make this an enjoyable year for all, I ask that you refrain from using your cell phone in class, to listen when others speak, and to always behave in a manner that shows respect for oneself, and the thoughts and humanity of others.
I have read this and understand the requirements of the class.
Student:___________________________________________________________
Parents:___________________________________________________________
