English I Pre-AICE English Language

Grade 9

Classroom Syllabus

Instruction:

E-mail: Phone:

Website:

Dear Students:

Welcome to English I Class! I look forward to meeting and working with all of you. This course emphasizes the improvement of reading comprehension, literary analysis, writing process, and oral response to a variety of literary genres through cooperative group work, technology, and research, among other things. Furthermore, as part of the Cambridge Academy, you will also prepare for the examinations which focus on Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Listening. For starters, let’s review the aims and expectations of this class:

AIMS:

· Enable students to communicate accurately, appropriately and effectively in speech and writing.

· Enable students to understand and respond appropriately to what they hear, read, and experience.

· Encourage students to enjoy and appreciate variety of language.

· Complement students’ other areas of study by developing skills of a more general application (e.g. analysis, synthesis, drawing of inferences).

· Promote students’ personal development and an understanding of themselves and others.

Component / 1st Nine Weeks / 2nd Nine Weeks / 3rd Nine Weeks / 4th Nine Weeks
Literature / Novel:
The Three Theban Plays: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (Translator Robert Fangles)
Penguin Classics Edition
ISBN: 9780140444254
Short Stories:
Cask of Amontillado
The Most Dangerous Game
Poetry:
Calypso
Penelope
Siren Song / Novel:
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Signet Classics Edition
ISBN: 9780451526342
Short Stories:
How Private is Your Private Life?
The Privacy Debate
The Pedestrian / Novel:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 9780446310789
Short Stories:
I Have a Dream
The Scarlet Ibis
Poetry:
Caged Bird
Theme for English B
Dream Deferred / Tragedy:
Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare Made Easy) by William Shakespeare
Barron’s Edition
ISBN: 9780812035728
Poetry:
Seven Ages of Man
Sonnets
Benchmarks/
FCAT Focus / Vocabulary
Research & Reference
Main Idea/ Author’s Purpose / Vocabulary
Comparison
Research & Reference / Vocabulary
Main Idea/Author’s Purpose / Vocabulary
Research & Reference
Composition / 1 Expository & 1 Persuasive Prompts
8 Short & Long Responses
3-4 Cambridge Practice Exams / 1 Expository & 1 Persuasive Prompts
8 Short & Long Responses
Research Paper
3-4 Cambridge Practice Exams / 2 Expository & 2 Persuasive Prompts
4 Short & Long Responses
3-4 Cambridge Practice Exams / Literary Criticism
3-4 Cambridge Practice Exams
I. Materials

For this Language Arts class, you will need:

1. A binder (this can be separate or part of your A Day/B Day notebook) with loose leaf paper

2. Dividers that separate your binder or folder into 4 sections: “Bellringers” “Literature” “Writing,” & “Cambridge.”

*Under Bellringers, you will keep all the warm-up activities that will begin each class. Under Literature, you will need to keep your Literary Terms that you will work on in the beginning of each Nine Weeks and any notes on Reading Comprehension. Under Writing, you will keep your Writing Process packet and all the drafts you are working on. Under Cambridge you will keep all the information, practice exams, and assignments related to the Cambridge assessments*

4. Pencils and blue or black pens

5. Highlighters

6. Pocket dictionary & thesaurus

7. USB Flash Drive or Diskettes with which to save documents

Novels to be purchased or checked out from a library. Only the Edition in Bold will be Accepted:

· The Three Theban Plays: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (Translator Robert Fangles) Penguin Classics Edition

· ISBN: 9780140444254

· Animal Farm by George Orwell Signet Classics Edition ISBN: 9780451526342

· To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Mass Market Paperback ISBN: 9780446310789

· Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare Made Easy) by William Shakespeare Barron’s Edition ISBN: 9780812035728

II. Preparedness

As soon as you walk into this classroom, you need to sit in your assigned seat. At that point, you need to take out your binder and begin to respond to your daily bellringer question or handout. Also, make sure to constantly check my websites as certain assignments and notes must be printed from the website.

III. Notebook Upkeep

Since your binder will serve as a study reference, it is important that you keep it neat and up to date.

Your binder will be graded periodically each nine weeks. Keep your bellringers dated and in order. Your binder should be up to date with notes and assignments/drafts in the corresponding sections of the binder.

IV. Absenteeism

Whenever you are absent, you must present an admit indicating an EXCUSED absence upon returning to class in order to request make-up work. If I do not receive an excused absence, you will not be allowed to make up the work and will receive a zero for any missed assignments.

You are responsible for making up any missing assignments (including bellringers) so make sure to ask me or a fellow student what we covered the day you were missing. I will not go to you to remind you, so it is imperative that you seek out the missing assignments. You can also check my website for home learning assignments and handouts. You need to turn in those missing assignment the equal amount of time that you were absent from class. If you are absent during a test, be aware that you will make it up as soon as you come back to class, so study and prepare for that event.

V. Home Learning

Home learning is an extremely important part of this class, and of your overall grade. There will be a home learning assignment every time we meet in this class, unless otherwise noted, and I will collect and grade every homework assignment.

All students attending M-DCPS must read each night for 30 minutes. As part of my curriculum, students must read 2-3 AR books per nine weeks, pass an AR Test on the books, and complete an assignment on each book.

Plagiarism Policy: Plagiarism is a serious act of academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated. Students must cite all work that is not their own. This requires students to give credit for any and all information used as the basis for essays, projects, and any other assignment. A works cited must be used whether information from primary or secondary sources is summarized, paraphrased, or quoted. Any work submitted which is plagiarized will receive an automatic zero and a referral will be written out. You can also face suspension.

VI. Grading Policy
Grade / Value / % / Gr. Pt. Value
A / 3.5-4.0 / 90-100 / 4
B / 2.5-3.49 / 80-89 / 3
C / 1.5-2.49 / 70-79 / 2
D / 1.0-1.49 / 60-69 / 1
F / .99-Below / 59-1 / 0
Z / 0 / 0 / 0

· Essays [worth 2-3 Grades], Tests [Worth 2 Grades], & Quizzes [Worth 1 Grade] = 70%

· Projects [worth 3-4 Grades] Class Assignments/Home Learning [Worth 1 Grade]= 30%

VII. Late Work

LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Assignments must be handed in the day they are due (excused absence is the only exception). Failure to turn an assignment in on time, will result in a zero in my grade book [remember one zero is about the equivalent of two Fs and can do serious damage to your grade]. I will contact your parents whenever your grade drops below a C. Failure to turn in assignments will lead to failure in the nine weeks.

VIII. Classroom Expectations

1. Concentrate on the material being taught.

2. Listen to the questions and answers of others.

3. Take notes. Periodically review previous notes and assignments-in other words-STUDY!

4. Follow the class rules:

§ Be seated, quiet, and ready to work when the bell rings. Bring all necessary materials to class every day.

§ Follow directions the FIRST time they are given.

§ Raise hand and wait to be recognized before speaking.

§ Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself.

§ Do not drink, eat, or chew gum in class.

§ Stay in your seat unless permission is given to leave it.

§ Show consideration and respect for others.

§ As soon as teacher gives class signal, students will quiet down, focus attention to the front of the class, and repeat the signal.

English I

Please complete, sign and return to your teacher.

Contact information: Please Print

This information will be used to send communication to parents and students throughout the school year about their academic progress.

Student Name: ______

English I Period: ______

Email Address: ______

Parent Name: ______

Home phone: ______

Cell Phone: ______

Email Address: ______

By signing below I agree that I have read and understood the syllabus.

Student Signature : ______Date: ______

Student ID # : ______

Parent Signature: ______Date: ______

Critical Thinking & Study Skills

Grade 9

Classroom Syllabus

Instruction:

E-mail: Phone:

Website:

Dear Students:

Welcome to Critical Thinking and Study Skills Class! I look forward to meeting and working with all of you. The purpose of this course is to study the development of short and long-term educational goals, the nature of learning, the nature of study skills (specifically note-taking), time management, strategies for specific study skills improvement and improvement in content areas, the problems associated with critical thinking and their solutions, problem solving, group-discussion guidelines, the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge, and research skills.

For starters, let’s review the aims and expectations of this class:

AIMS:

· Use good study habits in all content areas.

· Demonstrate the use of organizational skills.

· Demonstrate time management skills.

· Differentiate among skills necessary to successfully complete various types of teacher-made and standardized tests.

· Apply knowledge of successful study/reading strategies.

· Apply critical thinking skills.

· Identify and define a research problem.

· Identify the basic research question.

· State basic research objectives.

· State basic assumptions and limitations about the research.

· Explain basic data-collection procedures.

· Conduct a research procedure based on a stated hypothesis.

· Analyze data and submit a written report of the research findings.

· Make an oral presentation and defense of the research project.

Component / 1st Nine Weeks / 2nd Nine Weeks / 3rd Nine Weeks / 4th Nine Weeks
Text / The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey ISBN-13: 9780684856094 / The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey ISBN-13: 9780684856094 / The Official SAT Guide by the College Board ISBN-13: 9780874478525 / The Official SAT Guide by the College Board ISBN-13: 9780874478525
Focus / Goal-setting
Note-taking
Study Skills
Time Management
Test-taking Skills
Career Skills / Research Skills
College Search
Community Service / PSAT Critical Reading
Sentence Completion
Passage-based Reading
Vocabulary in Context / PSAT Writing
Sentence Errors
Improving Sentences
Writing/
Assessment / Career Plan / Letter Writing
Resume Writing / Extended Reasoning Questions / PSAT Essay Writing
Cumulative
Project / Career Power Point / Interview Project
Community Service Project / PSAT Pamphlet / PSAT Tips Booklet
I. Materials

For this class, you will need:

1. A binder (this can be separate or part of your A Day/B Day notebook) with loose leaf paper

2. Dividers that separate your binder or folder into 5 sections: “Bellringers” “Vocabulary” “Study Skills,” & “Research,” “PSAT.”

3. Pencils and blue or black pens

4. Highlighters

Texts to be purchased: Only the Edition in Bold will be Accepted:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey ISBN-13: 9780684856094

The Official SAT Guide by the College Board ISBN-13: 9780874478525

II. Preparedness

As soon as you walk into this classroom, you need to sit in your assigned seat. At that point, you need to take out your binder and begin to respond to your daily bellringer question or handout. Also, make sure to constantly check my websites as certain assignments and notes must be printed from the website.

III. Notebook Upkeep

Since your binder will serve as a study reference, it is important that you keep it neat and up to date.

IV. Absenteeism

V. Home Learning

Home learning is an extremely important part of this class, and of your overall grade. There will be a home learning assignment at least once a week for this course and at least one long-term assignment per nine weeks.

Plagiarism Policy: Plagiarism is a serious act of academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated. Students must cite all work that is not their own. This requires students to give credit for any and all information used as the basis for essays, project, and any other assignment. A works cited must be used whether information from primary or secondary sources is summarized, paraphrased, or quoted. Any work submitted which is plagiarized will receive an automatic zero.

VI. Grading Policy
Grade / Value / % / Gr. Pt. Value
A / 3.5-4.0 / 90-100 / 4
B / 2.5-3.49 / 80-89 / 3
C / 1.5-2.49 / 70-79 / 2
D / 1.0-1.49 / 60-69 / 1
F / .99-Below / 59-1 / 0
Z / 0 / 0 / 0

· Essays [worth 2-3 Grades], Tests [Worth 2 Grades], & Quizzes [Worth 1 Grade] = 30%

· Projects [worth 3-4 Grades]= 35%

· Class Assignments/Home Learning [Worth 1 Grade] = 35%

VII. Late Work