Ninth Grade Honors Literature and Composition



Honors Freshman LiteratureFranklin County High SchoolSpring 2014Mrs. Linda Frederick Room 308Web: : 706-384-4525 Email: lfrederick@franklin.k12.ga.usRequired Materials: One 3-ring binder that is only for English classDividers for binderLoose-leaf PaperBlack or blue ink pensComposition Notebook (NOT a spiral)HighlightersSmall sticky notesSuggested Materials: flash drive, colored pencils/markersTeacher Wish List Items: hand sanitizer, kleenex, highlighters, expo pens, dry erase board cleaner Course Description: Throughout this semester-long course, students will have opportunities to develop and expand their knowledge of literature and language and demonstrate their mastery level of new learning through performance tasks and assessments. Writing is a major component of this course. Students should anticipate writing a minimum of one essay weekly. At the completion of this course, students will take the Ninth Grade Literature Georgia Milestones Test required by state law.Plagiarism Statement: Plagiarism is the use of another’s words or ideas and the presentation of them as though they are entirely one’s own. Acts of plagiarism might include, but are not limited to 1) using words or ideas from a published source without proper documentation 2) using the work of another student (e.g. copying another student’s homework, composition, or project) 3) using excessive editing suggestions of another student, parent, or paid author. Plagiarism on any project or paper will result in a zero for the assignment. Unless directly stipulated by the teacher, collaboration on written work is not acceptable. Students who willingly provide other students with access to their work are also guilty.Homework & Tests:You need to expect to have homework every night. Whether it is reading, writing, or studying, you cannot expect to have an A or B in this class without regular homework. You will have a weekly vocabulary quiz in addition to other major and minor assessments, including pop quizzes. The best way for you to stay prepared is to be attentive in class and include study-time in your daily homework.Cell Phones/Personal TechnologyAll cell phones, tablets, ipods, and other personal technology devices need to be turned off and stowed away out of sight (bookbags, purses) from bell to bell unless otherwise indicated by the teacher. Failure to comply with these instructions will enact the consequences of the school-wide cell phone policy.Lunch Lab:Lunch Lab is a working lunch assigned to students needing to make up work. Students will report to Lunch Lab until they have satisfied the requirements of the teacher who assigned them to the Lab. Students will be assigned lunch lab for the following reasons: Failing to complete assignments given as class work Failing to turn in homework on the day it is dueFailing a test/quizStudents assigned lunch lab will be given a card that will allow them to go to the front of the lunch line to get their food before reporting to the Lunch Lab classroom (a schedule of Lunch Lab classrooms is posted on the English Department bulletin board in the hallway). Students must be seated in Lunch Lab within ten minutes of the beginning of their lunch period. Failure to report to Lunch Lab on time will result in an office referral. Class Attendance Policy:Students are encouraged to be in class on time every day. Parents should make every effort to schedule appointments outside of the school day. Students and parents should refer to the Absentee policy found in the FCHS Student Handbook for a list of excused absences.Assignments due the day of an Unexcused Absence will automatically be deducted 10%. Assignments due the day of an Excused Absence may be turned in upon the student’s return to school for full credit.Students with absences will be given one week to make up missing work, including class readings and any other classwork done the day(s) of their absence. Students may voluntarily come to Lunch Lab or make arrangements to stay after school to do the make-up work. The teacher reserves the right on a case-by-case basis to allow some students to make up the missing work at home. Students must make arrangements for make up work within three days of their return to class after having been out. As per the FCHS Student Handbook, a student who does not make arrangements for make-up work or does not make up the work by the deadline assigned by the teacher will receive a zero in the grade book for the assignment.All major projects (Unit projects and writing assessments) are due immediately upon the student’s return to class, regardless of whether or not the absence was excused or unexcused.Students who are tardy or who leave class early will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis in a similar fashion. Unexcused tardiness will result in the student signing the class discipline book in addition to other possible consequences deemed necessary by the teacher based on the amount of class-time missed due to tardiness.Late Work:All assignments should be turned in on time. No late assignments will be accepted after major school holidays or progress reporting periods. Students must turn in all assignments prior to field trips, etc. in order to receive full credit for the assignment. There will be no late work accepted after the unit is complete. Major writing assignments and unit projects will not be accepted past the due date.Class Expectations: Be responsible. Be respectful. Be reflective. Follow all school rules. I expect all students to be respectful. I respect all of my students, and I expect them to adopt a respectful nature while in my classroom and during school. Being respectful includes not sleeping in class, not talking while others are talking, and speaking to the teacher and others in a courteous and polite manner. This includes the use of racial, sexual, or other slurs that could be considered offensive to any student. I also expect all of my students to be responsible. Being successful in all areas of life requires that one be responsible, as well as respectful. Therefore, I expect no less in my classroom. Success in this course will be a direct result of the responsibility taken by the student to study, complete assignments, and participate in class. Students are also expected to be reflective of all of their classroom practice. Students who stop to reflect upon their actions and learning will be successful both within and without the classroom.Students are expected to be in class on time, to bring materials needed for class, and to show respect for themselves and others. Food is no longer allowed in classrooms. Drinks will be allowed as long as they have a lid on them and they do not interfere with learning. Students are expected to maintain a clean and orderly learning space. I expect students to turn in their assignments at the beginning of class in the designated location. Students should be working on warm-up activities when class begins (when the bell rings). Students not working on the warm-up activities will be expected to sign the Discipline Book for being off-task. Any violation of class expectations and rules (including tardiness) will result in the student making an entry in the Class Discipline Record. 1st & 2nd Offense: Warning / 3rd Offense: Detention / 4th & 5th Offense: Warning / 6th Offense: Parental Contact / 7th & 8th Offense: Warning /9th Offense: Office Referral / Every 3 Offenses Afterwards: Office ReferralLeaving Class:Class time is valuable, and any interruptions reduce what we are able to accomplish in class. Do not ask to leave class unless there is an emergency. Students may not use the restroom during the first five minutes or the last five minutes of class. Providing a bathroom break will not interfere with direct instruction, students may use the passes in class to use the restroom as necessary. Students must also sign in and out on the Bathroom Sign-Out sheet posted at the front of the room. I reserve the right to revoke bathroom privileges to any student who is taking advantage of them. If you have business to take care of in the office or with another teacher, do that between classes, before or after school, or during your lunch break. Units of StudyOngoing Throughout the Semester: Vocabulary & Grammar Studies, Journal Writing, Note-taking, Speaking and Listening Skills1. The OdysseyReading emphasis: The Odyssey, variety of poetry, short stories, informational and argumentative text to support themeResearch emphasis: MythologyWriting emphasis: Literary Analysis, Journal Writing, Notetaking, Extended Argumentative Essay2. To Kill a MockingbirdReading emphasis: To Kill a Mockingbird, variety of poetry, short stories, informational and argumentative text to support themeResearch emphasis: Do Something Now – Charitable Organization research and presentationWriting emphasis: Literary Analysis, Journal Writing, Notetaking, Extended Informational Essay3. Romeo and JulietReading emphasis: Romeo and Juliet, variety of poetry, short stories, informational and argumentative text to support themeResearch emphasis: Social Customs (or other topic)Writing emphasis: Journal Writing, Notetaking, Extended Literary Essay5. Literature CirclesReading emphasis: Class novel (The Little Prince, Sophie’s World, or other); Extended fiction texts read in groups (Fahrenheit 451, A Brave New World, 1984, Anthem, or other)Writing emphasis: Expository writingExtension Project & Presentation (group) **These units and/or the order in which they are presented are subject to change at teacher’s discretion. Assignment Descriptions Percent of Final GradeClasswork/Homework/Notebooks 40%Major Assessments 35%Language 25 %Grading Policy90-100 A80-89 B70-79C69 & belowFThe Course Grade is averaged together with the student's EOC/Final Exam grade to determine his/her final semester average. When these grades are weighed together, the course grade = 80% of the final semester average and the EOC/Final Exam grade = 20% of the final semester average. It is possible for the student to have a passing grade in the class and receive a failing grade on the EOC/Final Exam, resulting in a failing semester grade for the class. Likewise, it is possible for a strong performance on the EOC/Final Exam to pull a failing Course grade up to a passing final grade for the semester. It is important that students put forth their best effort throughout the semester on all assignments. FINAL EXAM POLICY: All students will take an EOC, an SLO or a Comprehensive Final Exam for each class. The final for this class will a comprehensive final exam given during regularly scheduled final exam days.Extra Help:Extra help is available to students. If a student has an average below an 80, he or she is strongly encouraged to stay for help after school. Students can sign the teacher’s calendar to schedule an after school appointment. I will not be responsible for being present if a student does not sign the calendar. Further, circumstances arise that may cause the teacher to have to go to the office or into the main building. If a student comes and cannot find me, he/she should report to the office and have me paged. Wait in the office until I come. Also, students can check the board for notes that I may have left for them. Dear Parent/Guardian, I wanted to take this opportunity to contact each of you personally as we begin the new semester. Your student was given a packet in class today that includes a description of the course, expectations, class procedures and other vital information for the course. Please look over all the information included in the packet. The class reviewed all the material today. The purpose of the expectations, requirements, etc., is to allow our class to run as smoothly as possible so that the students are able to derive the maximum benefit from the class time. Please understand that your child will need your help and support this semester as we embark on this journey together. Your child will be involved in a rigorous yet rewarding study of composition, grammar, vocabulary, and literature. Please remind and encourage your child to complete homework assignments and study the material discussed in class. Also, it is imperative that your child attends school each day. Extremely important material is discussed each day in class. Please encourage your child to take responsibility for attendance.I encourage you to sign up for Infinite Campus, so you can check your child’s grades regularly. Grades on minor assignments are entered within two days. Major assignments may take longer depending on the nature of the assignment. Check with the office if you do not know your Infinite Campus password. Our class uses to provide students and parents with updates about assignments, grade posting, and other important information. Students are required to sign up, and I strongly encourage all parents to do likewise. Your student was given directions for signing up via text and email. Please take a moment to sign up as well. I would also like to invite you to visit my class website: . It has information about upcoming assignments, important dates, links to assignments, etc. If you have questions or concerns that cannot be addressed through the informational support systems I have already mentioned, feel free to email me at lfrederick@franklin.k12.ga.us. I will get back to you by the end of the day. After you have read through your student’s syllabus packet, please sign below saying that you are aware of and understand the following: I understand the importance of my child’s attendance in this class. I understand the class expectations and the consequences of failing to meet them.I understand the purpose and procedures for Lunch Lab.I understand the grading procedures of this course. I am aware of the materials that my child needs for this course. I agree that I have read and discussed this syllabus with my child. _______________________________________________________________Student Signature Parent Signature ................
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