Alliance Cindy & Bill Simon Technology Academy High School
English 9 / 2017-18
Course Syllabus
Mr. Mendoza / Room 211
(626) 927-6497 –
Course Description
Welcome to English 9. This course will expose you to a variety of texts, ranging from classical to contemporary. You will be tasked with exploring major genres of literature such as poetry, prose, non-fiction, and media. In these explorations you will be challenged to master their grade-level reading comprehension and analytical skills. You will respond to readings in multiple ways includingjournaling, memoir writing, creative writing, short response, and expository essays. Your listening and speaking skills will be developed through regular oral presentations and academic discussions. You will examine the structure of the English language. This will include a wide variety of grammatical and syntactical rules. Throughout, You will be asked to employ your learning creatively and in the service of contemporary social issues. Through these texts and writing assignments, you will be pushed to think critically about the world around you and the sources of information you "read" everyday.Get ready to think profoundly.
Course Expectations
This course will require one thing above all else: your very best EFFORT. You will be expected to improve your writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills. You will be expected to improve your vocabulary. You will be expected to read and write every day. You will be responsible for at least two 3-4 page formal essays, which will involve rough drafts and revision. I expect that you will give this course a real and true effort. If you do this, you can expect to do well.
Classroom Norms
Respect yourself, your peers, and your classroom. This means treating our classroom and everyone in it caringly. “Care” implies you are looking out for their best interests. In this class, we show respect by encouraging one another, helping one another, listening to one another, and contributing to one another’s learning.
Presence is critical to how well we all learn in this class. Presence means not simply being here every day, but also being engaged and a part of the learning process. It is impossible to show respect if you are not present. This class will involve a great deal of collaboration and collective learning. Therefore, your presence will make or break what we are able to accomplish this summer.
Accountability will determine how you are viewed throughout your life. If you can be accountable, you will be respected and your presence will most often be recognized. In this classroom you are expected to be accountable for your responsibilities as well as for your mistakes. We all make mistakes, how we deal with them is what characterizes us in the eyes of the rest of the world. Being accountable means doing what you have agreed to do, giving your best to those who depend on you, and fixing your mistakes whenever possible.
Major Texts
· The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian- Sherman Alexie
· Y No Se Lo Trago La Tierra / And The Earth Did Not Devour Him- Tomas Rivera
· The Distance Between Us - Reyna Grande
· Collections 9 – Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
· Alliance Cindy & Bill Simon Technology Academy High School
Grading
Grades will be based on the total points received out of total possible, weighted by category.
In accordance with Alliance Public Schools, grades are assigned as follows:
A/4 = 90-100%
B/3 = 70-89%
C/2 = 60-69%
NP/1 = 0-59%
Parents of 9th grade English,
Welcome to Simon Tech High School. We are looking forward to a productive year with your student. The 9th grade year is a time of growth and change for most students, and parental involvement is essential. My e-mail and phone number are listed at the top of this document. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this syllabus or the class in general.
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