Welcome to English 1R!
Ms. Marlena Simmons
(914) 422-2154
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.
–Dr. Seuss
Course Description
The core curriculum of ninth-grade English is developed to provide a roadmap for attaining the knowledge and skills students need for success throughout high school and in college-level work. The curriculum is organized into units centered on the concept of coming of age. We will study challenging texts including the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, the novella Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck and the screenplay To Kill a Mockingbird, by Horton Foote. In addition, we will analyze short stories, poetry, speeches essays, and articles. Each unit contains a wide-range of reading and writing activities designed to prepare students for college and for the 21st century.
Essential Questions We Will Explore This Year
· What does it mean to “come of age”?
· How do writers use language to influence their audience?
· What are the essential features of drama?
· How does an author use literary elements to establish a theme?
· What impact does the historical, cultural, geographical, and social background have on a novel and its readers?
General Expectations
As a student, you are expected to:
· Attend class every day and be on time.
· Be prepared with all appropriate materials and assigned work.
· Respect the people, equipment, and furnishings of our classroom.
· Participate in all class activities.
· Always believe in yourself and in your abilities. Effort is rewarded and appreciated.
Student Responsibility
Part of being a high school student means you are becoming more responsible for your own education. This means you must advocate for yourself. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate or the teacher in order to get any missed assignments. You have three days to make up a test or quiz due to an excused absence. In addition, if you are having an academic or personal difficulty and need to meet with your teachers, you must contact them to make an appointment. You should own and use your planner/assignment book every day, turn in assignments on time, and take care of your class materials. You will be given at least a week’s lead time for out-of-class writing assignments and other major assignments, so plan accordingly.
Important: Always have an extra hard copy of your formal writing assignments. We try to be very careful about keeping track of things, but occasionally something gets misplaced. Your own hard copy is your insurance; we will not take responsibility for your failure to insure yourself.
Formal Writing Assignments
All formal writing assignments submitted in this class are to be typed (in twelve-point font), double-spaced, numbered, and stapled before they are handed in. You should always make copies for your records. These specifications pertain to rough drafts as well as final drafts.
· Use an easy-to-read font and standard one-inch margins.
· Correct spelling and punctuation are expected. Please proofread!
· Create a header with your last name and page number for each page.
· Late work is penalized. Five points will be deducted each day your paper is late. After five days, a formal writing assignment will not be accepted.
You will submit most formal writing assignments through an online collection site called TurnItIn.com.
Grading
Quizzes/Tests/Projects/Writing Assignments 60%
Classwork, Homework and Reading Quizzes 40%
Cell Phone Policy
In our classroom, you are allowed to use your cell phone for instructional purposes. I will let you know when it’s ok to use your phone as a resource. Under no circumstances are you allowed to take pictures or videos of your classmates or teachers in the classroom. You may, however, take pictures of class notes, the homework board, or any other charts/visuals that are generated during a lesson. Social media use of any kind in our classroom is prohibited. If you violate this policy, you will receive a warning and/or an administrator referral.
Supply List
For this class, you will need the following supplies:
1. A three-ring binder with loose-leaf paper and three sections for
· Classwork
· Writing
· Academic Vocabulary/Literary Terms
2. Blue or black pens
3. Highlighters
4. A flash drive
Plagiarism/Cheating
You begin the year with our complete trust. Please do not take that trust away by cheating or being dishonest in any way. We always encourage cooperative learning, and you’re always free to get together to brainstorm, discuss assignments, and study for exams. However, no form of plagiarism or cheating will be tolerated. We will review and abide by the school’s plagiarism and academic honesty policies.
We are excited to be your English teachers and to help you improve and grow as readers, writers, and thinkers. Our expectations for you are high, but we will support you as you reach towards those expectations. We value you each as an important member of this class, and we look forward to a productive and satisfying year.
We are going to have a great year! I look forward to working with you!
After reading and discussing the course syllabus with your parent/guardian, please complete the student contract and return it to us by Monday, September 12.
Student Contract
English 1R
I, ______, have read the syllabus for English 1R and understand the course requirements and expectations. I also understand the following:
· If I am absent from school, it is my responsibility to find out what work I have missed. I have three days from when I return to school to make up any missing tests or assignments.
· Late homework will be accepted for half credit. If an assignment is more than 3 days late it will not be accepted.
· I must be on time to class. If I am late on a regular basis, I will make up the time at lunch and an administrator will be notified.
· I will abide by the cell phone policy that is outlined in this syllabus.
· I will respect myself, my fellow classmates, and my teacher.
· If I plagiarize any assignment or any portion of an assignment, I will receive an automatic zero for the assignment grade.
Student Signature ______
Parent Signature ______
* Parents/Guardians: Please provide your preferred method of contact below:
Preferred Telephone Number 1:
Preferred Telephone Number 2:
Email Address:
Additional contact information and/or comments:
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