VerdugoHillsHigh School
10625 Plainview Avenue
Tujunga, CA91042
818-951-5400
Mrs. Heerman
Room 139
Spring 2016 English 9A/9B
Conference Period:
*Parents may call anytime to leave a message or make an appointment or contact me via email at .
Course Description
The major purpose of this course is to provide a balanced language arts program that explores literary themes and genres. A series of language activities will enable students to listen, speak, think, and write about literature and connect literature to their own experiences. Through literature-based units, students focus on central issues, discuss meaning, and argue interpretations. English 10AB meets the basic English requirement.
CCR Anchor Standards
- Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical interferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from text.
- Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
- Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
- Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
- Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
- Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
- Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
- Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
- Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
- Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
Books must be read by these dates since test on assigned books will be administered on that day.
Book Talk #1 A Night to Remember-January 26,2016
Book Talk#2 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn– February 16, 2016
Book Talk#3 Night–March 1, 2016
Book Talk#4 Of Mice and Men– March 15, 2016
Book Talk#5 Fahrenheit 451- March 29, 2016
Book Talk#6 The Pearl – April 12, 2016
Book Talk #7 1984 – April 26, 2016
Book Talk#8 Waiting for Godot- May 10, 2016
Book Talk# 9 The House on Mango Street- May 24, 2016
Book Talk #10 The Giver- June 7, 2016 (Final- so may be due earlier)
Materials :3 ring folder with notebook paper, blue or black pen, red pen, and highlighter
Accounts Information:
Period 1: - 4DUX8X: PASSWORD: ILOVEENGLISH
Period 1: – AGMQH
Period 3: 8EWYTD: PASSWORD:ILOVEENGLISH
Period 3: – GT5C9
Grading System/Homework Policy
Every quarter (5 weeks) students will be issued a progress report card. Homework will be given every night. Students have 1 day for every day missed to complete and turn in make-up work. All TESTS and QUIZZES must be completed within 1 week of assignment date. Late work WILL NOT be accepted. The grading scale is as follows:
83-100 = A
82-70 = B
49-69 = C
48-10 = D
9- 0 = Fail
Each 5th week percentage is worth 50%. All 2 percentages acquired throughout the grading periods will be averaged out, resulting in the final grade.
To pass this class, students must provide clear, consistent, and convincing evidence of having accomplished all of the standards. Assignments will consist of the following: weekly vocabulary tests, essays, literature assignments, literature tests, book talks and other written assignments.
CHEATING is a serious problem amongst students. If anyone is caught cheating during a test, quiz, or on a homework, he/she will receive a zero, parents will be notified, and a referral will be written to the Dean.
Classroom Management Policy/Consequences
Students will demonstrate they are respectful, responsible citizens.
- Be here on time!
- Be prepared and stay on task.
- Respect everyone and their opinion.
- No food or drink in the classroom.
- All school and district rules/policies are enforced.
If inappropriate behavior occurs, the following course of action will be employed:
- Teacher/Student conference
- Teacher/Student conference with parent contact.
- Referral to counselor/dean
Please sign and return indicating that you have read and understood the information on the class orientation sheet. (DO NOT TEAR OFF)
Student Printed Name: ______Period: ______
Parent Signature: ______Date:______