Ninth Grade English
Course Outline
Welcome to ninth grade English. We will be studying various types (genres) of literature. My main goal for each student in this class is as follows:
By the end of the semester, you will become a better reader, writer, speaker, and listener than when you began the course.
I hope you will accept this challenge. Consistent effort will be crucial to your success in this course.
Expectations
· You will read and write.
· You will take class-notes.
· You will do assigned homework and have it ready for class.
· You will work in class: individually and with others.
· You will be an active participant and contributor.
· If you are absent, you will meet with me when you return to class.
· You will take the final exam.
· You will harness the powers of the written and spoken word.
· You will gain a better appreciation for the beauty of the written and spoken word.
Requirements for Daily Classes
· Whatever text is necessary for the day.
· A three subject notebook or loose-leaf binder with three sections:
Quick-write Journal
Response Journal/HW
Class Notes
· A folder for hand-outs, class-work, and homework
Types of Assignments
· Classwork
· Homework
· Independent Reading Projects (IRP)
· Vocabulary Homework and Quizzes
· Reaction Papers
· Reflection Papers
· Research Assignment
· Oral Presentations
· Group Projects/Presentations
· Literary Analysis
· Writing Assignments
Saving Your Work
YOU MUST SAVE ALL YOUR WORK THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER.
SAVE ALL TYPED WORK TO YOUR NETWORK ACCOUNT AND IN, AT LEAST, ONE OTHER LOCATION.
WORD-PROCESSING FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT SCHOOL.
Make-up Work (From Handbook)
It is the responsibility of the student to make up all work after an absence from class. Absence from school can affect the course grade since “pupil participation” is part of the final determination of the course grade. The directed study period provides students a unique opportunity to meet with teachers and complete assignments that they have missed due to absence.
Students that miss class because of a class cut or unlawful absence will not be given the opportunity to makeup any assignments and will be the given the grade of “0” for all assignments covered and/or due on the date in question, as mentioned in the Code of Conduct.
Students that miss one (1) day of school due to an excused absence are responsible to makeup work the day that they return to school. Students that are out for more than one day are afforded time equal to the amount of days they were absent from class.
Example: A student absent from school for four (4) days due to a confirmed medical condition will have four (4) days to make up any missed assignments and/or assessments.
*Teachers do have the ability to make exceptions in specific cases*
Late Work
Assignments worth fewer than twenty (20) points will not be accepted late, unless you are absent on the day it is assigned or the day it is due.
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Assignments worth twenty (20) points or more will receive a 15% point deduction for each day late, up to three days. The work will not be accepted after the third day, and the student will receive a zero.
PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING
Although plagiarism is not a violation of the law, it is the highest violation of academic integrity. The act of plagiarism violates our expectation that a student exhibits ethical behavior as expressed in his or her academic work. Plagiarism includes:
· Any deliberate or negligent act of using another’s work or ideas and giving no proper credit (in form of correct citation).
· Incorrectly citing the author. Plagiarism includes NOT ONLY NEGLECTING TO GIVE THE AUTHOR CREDIT FOR HIS/HER IDEAS, BUT ALSO
INCLUDES FALSIFYING INFORMATION AS THAT BELONGING TO ANOTHER AUTHOR.
· Copying or photocopying someone else’s homework or project and submitting it as the student’s own.
· Submitting purchased papers or papers from the internet written by someone else as the student’s own.
· Utilizing internet assistance without proper citation or permission. This includes internet and/or hand held translators, databases, and/or websites.
· Finally, misquoting an author, even though the student may cite the information.
Cheating demonstrates a lack of integrity and character that is inconsistent with the goals and values at Hatboro-Horsham High School. Cheating robs students of their opportunity to become competent. Cheating includes:
· Accessing or giving a test, quiz, or assignment for determining questions/answers in advance.
· Exchanging assignments with other students either handwritten or computer generated, whether you believe they will be copied or not.
· Using any form of memory aid during tests or quizzes without the expressed permission of the instructor.
· Any effort to give or receive aid during an assessment; assessments may include tests, homework, lab work, skill evaluations, and other assignments.
Any student who plagiarizes or cheats on a paper or test/quiz will receive an automatic zero (0) for the paper and/or test/quiz/assignment. In the case of a term paper or project, the student(s) WILL NOT have the option to rewrite or redo the assignment. Plagiarism found in a paper/project will result in a zero (0) for the paper/project grade. If the preceding or proceeding parts of the paper/project are counted as separate grades, they will still be graded and counted. In the case of an assessment, the student(s) guilty of plagiarism or cheating WILL NOT be permitted a re-examination.
CONSEQUENCES FOR CHEATING/PLAGIARISM (this includes any combination of cheating and/or plagiarism offenses):
· 1st offense: Zero for the assignment/assessment (communication w/ a parent or guardian)
· 2nd offense: Zero the assignment/assessment and discipline referral (communication with a parent or guardian)
· 3rd offense: Discipline referral and failure of the marking period during which the action occurs (communication w/ a parent or guardian).
Response Journals:
The best readers are active readers: they think about and question what they read. Your response journal is a place to record your reactions and questions to the texts you read. It is a place to write freely: to think on paper. The journal provides a record of your interaction with the texts that may be consulted later. It will be an excellent resource for class discussion, writing, and studying.
What you might record in a response journal:
Brief summary
Questions
Detailed personal reaction
Predictions
Connection or relevance to real life
Relationship to another text
Writing topics
Relationship to current events
Quotations
Response Groups
You will be assigned to meet with other members of the class on a regular basis. You will spend a considerable amount of time together and must be willing to make a sincere commitment to your group. Your goal is to improve your own writing and reading skills while helping your group members to do the same. Everyone has something to contribute and gain during this experience.
Grading Breakdown
Quarter 1/3 Quarter 2/4
· Class Participation/ Class Participation/
Classwork 10% Classwork 10%
(H: Research Paper 20%)*
· Homework 5% Homework 5% (H: 5%)
· Tests / Quizzes 45% Tests / Quizzes 45% (H: 35%)
· Papers/Projects 40% Papers /Projects 40% (H: 30%)
Listen carefully for any changes made to the information provided above.
I understand the requirements and guidelines explained above.
______
Student
______
Parent or Guardian