Mary Star of the Sea High School
English 9, 2015-2016
Instructor: Mr. Rivera
Course Overview:
Following the California Common Core State Standards and the California English Language Arts Framework, this course will examine history from the Renaissance to the modern era. Instruction in English 9 introduces students to reading and writing at the high school level. Students develop comprehension and critical thinking skills through analysis of all major literary genres. Students develop writing skills while mastering the basic principles of grammar, vocabulary building and construction of sentences, paragraphs and essays. English 9 instruction establishes appreciation for literature and grammatical competence while enhancing communication skills.
Required Text and Materials:
Prentice Hall, Literature Grade 9 Common Core
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee ISBN 0-446-31078-6
In the Time of Butterflies Julia Alvarez
The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd
Night Elie Wiesel ISBN 0-374-50001-0
Three-ring Binder to include the following sections:
Handouts
Quizzes and Exams
Projects
Essays
Course Requirements:
To successfully complete this course, students are expected to be motivated learners, participating fully in all activities and assignments. Students are required to take class notes and maintain a binder for the duration of the course. Students are expected to be prepared daily for class discussions and overall progress through the course material by completing all reading and writing assignments, whether in class or as homework, and to be well prepared for all tests and quizzes. Successful completion of essays and research assignments is also required for every student.
Expected School-wide Learning Results (ESLRs):
In this course, the school's ESLRs will be addressed through attention to the goals of Catholicism, Curriculum, Character and Community as stated in the Mary Star of the Sea High School Mission Statement. Some of the areas specific to this class are to:
· Participate in class prayer
· Discussion on how the Church Teachings can be applied to Literature
· Respect one another
· Work to one’s fullest abilities in all academic endeavors
· Demonstrate academic integrity
Attendance:
Per the Mary Star of the Sea High School Student-Parent Handbook, all school policies regarding excused/unexcused tardies and absences will be enforced. Students are expected to attend class daily, arriving on time for each period. Students not seated in their assigned seats when the final late bell rings are considered late and will be sent to the Attendance Office for an unexcused tardy admit.
Grading:
Students’ grades will be computed in compliance with the Mary Star of the Sea High School grading scale (see Student-Parent Handbook), based on the student’s percentage of total points received during the grading period. The semester grade will be inclusive of all points accumulated during the semester as well as the final semester exam, which will be comprehensive.
Students will receive points for the following types of assignments:
· Homework and/or written assignments
· Research assignments or essays
· Individual and/or group projects
· Presentations
· Quizzes
· Chapter or unit tests
· Long term projects
· Semester final exams
The approximate breakdown for the semester grade is as follows:
Participation 10%
Exams and Quizzes 20%
Essays 20%
Homework 15%
Projects 15%
Final Exam 20%
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Final Semester Grade: 100%
Tests/Assessment Assignments:
Assessment assignments and tests are announced at least one week in advance. Generally there will be weekly quizzes tests administered after an assigned section of reading. Tests will be comprised normally of both objective and subjective sections. True/false, multiple choice, matching, fill in, and essay questions/prompts.
Students who miss a test due to an excused absence are expected to arrange a make-up time for that test during the next class meeting. Only due to extended illnesses, special schedules with short periods or special class activities will other arrangements be made for the student to take the test as soon as appropriate. Any student who misses a test due to an unexcused absence will not be permitted to make up the test and will receive no credit.
Written and Homework Assignment Policies:
· All work must be in compliance with the instructor’s directions regarding typed or hand-written work, style, presentation format, etc.
· All written and homework assignments are due when they are collected in class.
· Academic detention may be assigned when work is not completed to the teacher’s satisfaction or is not turned in on the assigned due date. It is at the teacher’s discretion to assign an academic detention and work completed due to an academic detention will be graded as late work.
· Late work, defined as work turned in at any time after the assignment has been collected and including work turned in later in the class period, will be awarded a maximum 50% credit. No late work, including long-term assignments, will be accepted for full credit except in the case of a verified excused absence (as described in the Student-Parent Handbook). Late work will be accepted only during the quarter in which it was originally assigned and by the final acceptance date provided by the teacher near the end of each quarter. Extra Credit will be available on a quarter by quarter bases.
· No work, tests or quizzes may be turned in or made up when a student has an unexcused absence from class. A long-term assignment will be graded as late work if turned in after missing class with an unexcused absence.
· Inferior work or work which does not comply with appropriate standards will receive lesser credit, whether turned in on time or late.
· Assignments required for submission to www.turnitin.com will not be graded until the teacher accesses the turnitin.com originality report AND the student has submitted a “hard copy” of the assignment per directions. A grade of 0 will be given if the assignment is not confirmed as submitted on turnitin.com and/or the student does not provide a copy of the assignment to the teacher.
Long-Term Assignments:
· Long-term assignments are generally to be completed over a week or longer. They may include essays, research projects, etc. that require significant time to complete outside of class and may require several drafts, parts or sections, after school conferencing/tutoring or ongoing work.
· Long-term assignments are due on the specified date unless the student has a verified excused absence.
· Late credit policies will apply to any long-term assignments that are turned in after initially collected in class. These same policies will apply if a student has an unexcused absence on the due date of a long-term assignment.
Participation Points:
Each student is an active participant in the class when they are attentive to and participating in the classroom activities. Students lose their daily participation points if they are unprepared for class without supplies including textbook, straying from the assigned task, and/or are disruptive or disrespectful during the class period. It is in each student’s best interest to strive to receive full participation credit each quarter to assist in the successful completion of this course.
Tutoring:
Tutoring is available as needed and will be scheduled at a time agreeable to both the student and the teacher before or after school. Students in need of tutoring should speak with the teacher as soon as they detect a difficulty in grasping the course material or assignment. In addition, many of the most academically gifted students maintain their high level of achievement because they seek out tutoring opportunities regularly and I encourage students in this class to do the same. Peer study groups are often productive, especially in preparing for tests or semester exams.
Use of School Computers and the Internet:
Several times during the year the students will access the Internet on the school library computers for research and projects. The school’s guidelines for computer and Internet use will be strictly enforced.
When the students are investigating possible topics for their research essays, they are encouraged to do pre-research through the Internet as well as more traditional sources (journals, books, EBSCO, etc. )
Students who do not have permission to access the school’s computers or the Internet while at school will be given alternative assignments during the class periods designated for computer access. Those students are responsible for completing each of the computer/Internet projects outside of school time, including appropriate research for group projects.
Student Responsibilities:
1. Be on time
2. Be courteous to your instructor and to your fellow students
3. School dress code will be strictly enforced
4. Be prepared
5. Follow directions
6. Food is not permitted in class. (Water is the exception)