Honors English 9
Mrs. Mlakar
Room C 211
Language shapes as well as reflects our reality, exploring it allows us to see and to explore our world anew, much as experiencing the world with a young child causes us to pause, savor.
from “The Border: A Glare of Truth” by Pat Mora
Class Objectives
- To read, to write, to speak and to listen
in order to gain a better understanding of
the English language, ourselves and others.
- To strengthen our ability to imagine, create,
analyze and think critically.
* Beyond meeting the above objectives, the Honors English 9 course is designed to start preparing students for the Advanced Placement Language and Composition Exam at the end of 11th grade as well as the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Exam at the end of 12th grade. Students who score well on the exams can receive college credit.
Keys to success in Honors English 9
- staying organized, determined and open-minded
- your school agenda
- a copy of the Odyssey translated by W.H.D. Rouse
(Have this book for September)
- a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and A Separate Peace by John Knowles
(These novels will be read during Quarters 3 and 4)
- a pen or pencil
- notebook paper
- either a three-ring binder or an accordion folder
How to organize your three-ring binder or accordion folder:
1. Literature units
Quarter 1 / Quarter 2 / Quarter 3 / Quarter 4Of Mice and Men
the Odyssey / Julius Caesar / Poetry and nonfiction
To Kill a Mockingbird / A Separate Peace
2. Writing
3. Vocabulary
4. Grammar units
Quarter 1 / Quarter 2 / Quarter 3 / Quarter 45 simple sentence structures / Independent vs. dependent clauses / 4 sentence structures:
· Simple
· Compound
· Complex
· Compound-complex / Verbals:
· Gerunds
· Participles
· Infinitives
Grading Categories:
Summative Assessments (80%) This category includes all essays, presentations and tests.
Formative Assessments (20%) This category includes all homework and class work assignments that are meant to help you prepare for the summative assessments. A participation grade will be included in this category. That grade depends on how attentive you are in class and how prepared you are for class. Everyone begins with 20 participation points each quarter. Two points will be deducted from this score for the following reasons: falling asleep during class; coming to class without your English binder, a textbook/novel or a pen/pencil; not sharing writing or ideas when participation is required (I will let you know when such participation is required).
Make-up Work Policy
The Blue/White schedule is going to require that you stay extra organized and that you get your work completed in a timely manner. If you are absent, refer to the class Google site at the end of that day for the lessons/assignments that you missed. Any documents that are not posted to the Google site will be placed in the make-up bin by the front door for you to pick up when you return to school.
You will be given one class day to make up work. Deadlines will be negotiated after an extended absence (3 or more school days).
You cannot make up work that you missed due to an unexcused absence. This includes both summative and formative assessments.
Late Work Policy
Late work will be accepted, but 10% of the total points possible will be deducted when an assignment is late. You cannot turn in a formative assessment more than one class day late. For each day an essay is late, 10% of the total points possible will be deducted.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any form. Anything that is plagiarized will result in a zero. Cheating of any kind falls under this category. Refer to your student handbook for more details on Twinsburg High School’s plagiarism policy. You will submit all of your typed essays to www.turnitin.com. Essays must be submitted to www.turnitin.com by the assigned deadline. Each school day the paper is submitted late, 5% will be deducted from your essay grade. Typed essays that are not turned into www.turnitin.com will automatically receive a zero.
When you see your grade on your report card at the end of each quarter, you will know that you have earned it. Make it a grade that will make all of us proud!
Class Guidelines and Rules
1. Come to class on time, and sit in your assigned seat daily. If you are tardy to class two or more times, you will receive a 30 minute detention to be served within one week of the offense.
2. Bring all materials to class including your textbook, a writing utensil, and your binder with class handouts and notebook paper. (You will lose 2 participation points if you do not come to class prepared.)
3. Stay attentive during class. This means no sleeping! (Remember, you will also lose participation points if you’re caught sleeping).
4. Help create a safe environment by showing respect for yourself and others.
5. Do not bring the following to class: food, drink, and electronic devices which include cell phones. (These items will be confiscated immediately, and you will need to get them back at the end of the day. Phones that are confiscated more than twice will be given to the office for a parent/guardian to pick up 24 hours later).
* These rules are not all inclusive, but I consider them the most important in order for us to have a successful and productive semester. All other rules in the student handbook also apply to this classroom.
Classroom Procedures
Upon Entering the Room:
1. If you were absent, get any absent work not posted to the class website out of the make-up bins. If you have a question about assignments that you missed, please see me before or after class.
2. Turn in late assignments to the silver tray on my desk.
3. Consult the front board to see the day’s schedule and homework assignments.
When turning in an assignment:
1. Staple the assignment (if needed) and make sure your name is written at the top.
2. Place the assignment in the silver tray on the front desk or pass papers forward if instructed to do so.
When taking a test or writing an in-class essay:
1. Clear your desk by placing all materials on the floor except for a pen or pencil and paper if necessary.
2. Once the tests or essay prompts start to be passed out, remain silent.
3. Stay seated and raise your hand if you have a question.
4. Place all tests in the silver tray on my desk.
5. Start working on the next assignment, and remain silent until all students are finished with the test.
Teacher information:
Mrs. Mlakar
Prep periods: Blue Block 3 and White Block 2
Email:
Phone number: (330) 486-2452
“Education, in the broadest and truest sense, will make an individual seek to help all people, regardless of race, regardless of color, regardless of condition.”
–George Washington Carver (1865-1943)