Welcome toEnglish 9 with 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
The English 9 course helps us develop our read, writing, speaking and critical thinking skills through reading a wide range of literature and writing in a variety of genres. Class objectives align with the Common Core Standards for Language Arts for Grades 9 and 10.
Keys to success in Honors English 9:
- staying organized, staying determined, being open-minded
- your school agenda
- a copy of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
- your textbook—The Language of Literature (to be distributed Quarter 2)
- a copy ofTo Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee(to be read Quarter 3)
- a pen or pencil
- notebook paper
- a three-ring binder
- either a 2 ring index card binder or a RingDex
(This will be used to organize your literary terms.)
Grading Categories:
Summative Assessments (80%)This category includes all essays 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 supplies; not sharing writing or ideas when participation is compulsory.
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, please e-mail me for the lessons/assignments that you missed. I will send all electronic documents to you when I reply. Any assignments that I cannot send electronically 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 each school day an assignment is late. Remember that you will not see me every day. Therefore, you will have to seek me out the following day in order to avoid more than a 10% penalty. 20% will be deducted from assignments that are turned in 2 school days late.
Assignments that count as formative assessments will NOT be accepted after two school days beyond the deadline. 10% of the total points possible will continue to be deducted each day an essay is late.
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 Essays must be submitted to by the assigned deadline. Each school day the paper is submitted past the turnitin.com deadline, 5% will be deducted from your essay grade. Typed essays that are not turned into 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 books, 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 taken will be given to the office, and a parent/guardian will be requested to come pick up the phone 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. 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 e-mailed to you 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 2 and White Block 4
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)