Ms. Butler, Instructor

cbutler@learningcommunity202.org

Course Description: This is a year-long course designed to provide freshmen with an overview of various literary genres. Students will read selected short stories, poems, plays, a novel, and an epic. They will learn to appreciate the distinctive qualities which each possess. Grammar study will emphasize elimination of usage and mechanical errors in their writing. To develop their skills in composition, students will write a variety of compositions including a self-assessment project, paragraphs, multi-paragraph essays, and a research project. Vocabulary development will be based on the literary selections.

Required Materials:

Text:

Literature: The Reader’s Choice – Glencoe

*To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

*Of Mice or Men by Steinbeck

*Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

*Each student is required to purchase these novels, which are available in the school’s bookstore.

1^st Semester

Summer Reading 1 ½ - 2 weeks

Short Stories &

Poetry 6 weeks

Julius Caesar 7 weeks

Of Mice or Men 2 weeks

2^nd Semester

To Kill a Mockingbird 5 weeks

Romeo & Juliet (integrated)

Tale of Two Cities 7 weeks

Research Project 4 weeks

Mythology &

The Odyssey 4 ½ weeks

*time spent on each unit above is approximate

Yearly Skills/Projects:

Grammar Mondays

D.E.A.R Book Projects

Daily Supplies: 3 Ring Binder & Separators with labels

Writing Utensils (Preferably pens, highlighters)

Loose-leaf Paper

Notebook (college rule, 70 pages)

Grading: The grades in this course will be calculated on a weighted grading scale. Each category will be worth certain percentage points that will total 100% throughout each semester. Whatever the percentage the student earns will be their total grade. The percentages are broken up below.

Category %

Quizzes 15%

Hmwk 10%

Writing 25%

Tests 20%

Midterm 5%

Sem. Exam 20%

Class Prep 5%

Scale: 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D 59 or below F

Late Work: All assignments are due on the date given. Assignments due the day a student is absent will be due the day he/she returns. Assignments are due at the beginning of the hour. Late work will only be accepted one day after the initial due date for half credit. Students are expected to schedule make-up tests before or after school. Major assignments and projects will lose one letter grade for each day late up to five days. After the 5^th day, the grade becomes zero. If a student is absent for an extended period, he/she will need to meet with me to arrange a make-up schedule.

*Refer to the P.S.H.S. Standard English Department Policies for further and more detailed information about homework and late work policies.

Tardiness: Students will be considered on time only if they are in their seats and are quiet when the bell rings. Discipline action for excessive tardiness is in the student handbook.

Classroom Rules:

1.) Students will remain quietly within their seats unless otherwise told to do so.

2.) There will be no eating, drinking, I-pods, or cell phones in the classroom.

3.) There will be no tolerance for objects being thrown around or at others within the room. The result will be a direct referral to the Dean.

4.) Students will show respect to one another and the instructor.

The student and his/her parent or guardian must thoroughly read this syllabus and sign the designated lines below. This Policy Agreement will be turned into Ms. Butler along with the P.S.H.S. Standard English Department Policies and Academic Honesty forms.

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I verify that I have read Ms. Butler’s English 9 Honors syllabus and understand the stated information and responsibilities of the student.

Student Name (Print): ____________________________________________

Student Signature: ____________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Name (Print): ___________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________________________