Honors English 9- Course Information and Syllabus

BashaHigh School

Instructor:Mrs. Cassandra (Cassie) Skufca

Room:F114

Phone: 480-224-2227

E-mail:

Website: (find the link to my personal site on the faculty page)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Welcome to Honors English 9!This course is designed to offer students a broad literature and writing curriculum. Emphasis will be placed on reading and analyzing both literary and informational texts, developing research skills, and writing narratives, arguments, and expository compositions. Students will be further challenged to step outside the “familiar” and encouraged to diversify their perspectives and backgrounds through a variety of creative projects and activities.

Upon completion of this course you should possess:

  • A stronger use of college-level vocabulary used appropriately and effectively
  • The ability to use a variety of sentence structures (specifically driven by grammar knowledge)
  • The ability to use logical organization, enhanced by specific detail (included within essay writing)
  • The ability to understand various uses of literary analysis
  • The ability to create and sustain arguments based on readings, research, and/or personal experience
  • The ability to research an author’s body of work critically and report your findings in a formal structure according to the Modern Language Association (MLA)
  • The ability to analyze different genres of material ranging from poetry, short stories, drama, novels and non-fiction
  • The ability to move effectively through the stages of the writing process, with careful attention to inquiry and research, drafting, revising, editing, and review

REQUIRED SUPPLIES

5 tabs in your 3 ring binder

several blue or black pens

at least one colored pen for editing (red, pink, orange, green, etc.)

enough pencils and lead for the entire year

enough loose leaf, college ruled paper for the entire year (please no fringes on paper)

2 80-100 page spiral notebook to use ONLY FOR THIS CLASS (one for writing and one for literature)

Highlighters

A valid, school appropriateemail address (g-mail is required – it’s free and easy)

An agenda/planner

RESEARCH PROJECT

During the next four years you will be working on completing a research project. Each year builds on the previous year’s work and continues the process to the eventual completion of a significant project.

The schedule is as follows:

9th grade will choose an issue, begin compiling sources, and construct a proposal.

10th grade willrevisit the proposal,add to sources, and create an annotated bibliography.

11th grade will create the research paper using the bibliography and proposal.

12th grade will take action on their issue by implementing their research through individual projects.

Students should understand they should keeping the same issue for the full four years and will be expected to maintain their records and products electronically. They will need to be able to access and add to them each year throughout their high school career. Should students lose their work, be unable to access their work, or change their issue, they still must complete all portions of the research assignments from previous years.

Students should choose their issue carefully so that they can build each year on the previous year’s work. It is highly suggested that students choose an issue with personal significance or relevance. Although it is not impossible for students to change their research issue, it does involve considerable effort and commitment on their part. Please understand that this is a 4-year research project and should be taken seriously as it will affect the English grade each year.

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Grade Scale:Grades will be weighted as follows:

Practice / 30%
Writing Process / 30%
Formal Assessments / 40%

A= 90-100%

B= 80-89%

C=70-79%

D=60-69%

F= 59-0%

Opportunity for enrichment (extra credit) is available but minimally, typically once or twice a quarter. Completing this type of assignment will obviously impact your grade positively; however, do not rely on it to significantly increase. This type of assignment is merely a nudge not a jump.

Parents and students can access grades through Infinite Campus.

NOTE: There is a student portal and a parent portal; parents shouldn’t be using the students’ passwords and vice versa.

TARDIES

A tardy is defined as not being in your seat ready to go when the bell rings. The consequences for tardies are as follows:

  • 1-2 tardies = verbal reminder of tardy policy from the teacher.
  • 3 tardies = parent phone call and detention after school for 30 minutes
  • 4 or more tardies = referral to administration and further disciplinary action

HOMEWORK, LATE WORK, AND MAKE-UP WORK

  • Homework: Assignments will be due at the beginning of the class period. Excuses such as “my printer broke” are unacceptable. You can always go to the library before school to print your assignment. Students will not be able to use my computer for any reason. Disks or flash drives, in lieu of an assignment, will not be accepted.
  • Late Work: You will receive three homework passes per semester which will allow a completed homework assignment, worth 30 or fewer points, to be turned in late. Once you run out of passes, late work may be submitted for half credit.If you are unable to submit an assignment on time, especially those worth more than 30 points, please notify me immediately – before the due date is best!
  • Excused absences: You have as many days to make up work for an excused absence as days missed, except in the case of major assignments (due dates are given well in advance). All major projects and essays must be turned in on the given due date whether absent or not. Make-up work for each day will be available in the classroom as well as on the class website. Test make-up must be arranged with the teacher immediately after missing a test!!! The school policy for excessive absences also applies.
  • Unexcused absences: Unexcused work will receive no credit. Unresolved absences (ones not called in) are considered unexcused.
  • Final Exams: Finals will not be given early. Failure to take a final exam on the appropriate day will result in an extremely low semester grade!

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM

The teachers of BashaHigh School sincerely hope that you are not considering taking the easy way out when the going gets tough. This is where life as you know it will change dramatically, at least in this class. Students who cheat or plagiarize will receive serious consequences, which could result in a 0.

Most often, students will be required to submit final drafts to turnitin.com, a website which helps Basha teachers combat plagiarism. Instructions for use of the website will be given in class. Essays must be submitted online prior to the class in which the assignment is due. If a student does not have Internet access at home, he/she will need to make arrangements to use the library computers before school, during lunch, or after school.

CONFERENCE PERIOD

Conference period will be on Wednesday and Thursday from 9:19 - 9:44. During this time students are only allowed out of the classroom if they have a gold pass signed by a teacher or a properly designated color club pass. The library is not available during conference. Students not attending a club meeting should use this time to study or read.

Mrs. Skufca’s Class Expectations and Policies

BashaHigh School teachers are charged with providing the best education possible, not only to meet Arizona state standards, but also to provide students with an opportunity to make an educated decision on their future. In order to achieve that end, the classroom environment must be fair and equitable for all students. Thus, please observe the following general rules:

  1. RESPECT for each other’s IDEAS, PERSON, and PROPERTY will be encouraged and rewarded in our classroom at all times. “Vulgar statements” (negative comments, swearing, and name-calling) of any kind, or inappropriate words or language, will not be tolerated in our classroom at any time! Please see the diversity statement below.
  2. Please come to class PREPARED to learn and participate every day, which includes bringing all necessary materials and a willingness to learn.
  3. ACTIVE LISTENING will be encouraged in our classroom at all times, which means that students will be quiet and direct their attention to whomever “has the floor” until it is their turn to contribute to the discussion. No student shall keep another student from successfully learning in our classroom!
  4. Besides bottled water, there is NO FOOD or DRINK allowed in the classroom.
  5. Please allow ME to dismiss you, rather than the bell. I often wish to leave you with a reminder or take a moment to thank you for a great day. Don’t worry, I will make sure I don’t keep you after the bell (too often).
  6. You must sign out when leaving the classroom for any reason, including bathroom breaks.
  7. Don’t wait for me- get started! Your warm-up will always be posted and self-explanatory, so there is no reason for you not to get started RIGHT AWAY.
  8. Since every student in my class earns their own grade, every student is expected to do their own work.
  9. Cell phones and electronics. Should not be used unless told to do so or permitted by me.
  10. Be RESOURCEFUL. Make sure you use the resources available to you (the Internet, my website, e-mail, etc.).

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

All individuals have a right to an educational environment free from bias, prejudice and bigotry. As members of the Basha High School educational community, students are expected to refrain from participating in acts of harassment that are designed to demean another student’s race, gender, ethnicity, religious preference, disability or sexual orientation.

DISCIPLINE CHAIN OF EVENTS

The DISCIPLINE chain of events typically goes as follows:

1) verbal warning

2) conference with an unhappy teacher after class

3) parent notification

4) referral

I reserve the right to accelerate the discipline chain of events at any time based on the severity of the infraction.

Last, but not least, one very important reminder:

Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Despite this long list of rules and regulations, I expect this class to be an enjoyable experience for you. You will be held to high standards, and will end this year knowing that you have learned much about literature, writing, life, yourself, and the world around you. Feel free to come and talk to me if you have questions or concerns. Please have a parent or guardian sign the below contract indicating that they have reviewed these policies with you and return it to me by ______.

Honors English 9- Course Information and Syllabus Signature Page

Student

I have read and understand the course syllabus and the school/class expectations and policies.

______

Student’s Printed NameStudent’s ID #

______

Student’s SignatureDate

______

Student’s e-mail address

Parent/Guardian

I have read the course syllabus, expectations, and policies.

______

Printed NameSignatureDate

______

Parent Email Address (feel free to write more than one)Best phone # to reach you

Additional Comments/Concerns/Questions: