English 9 syllabus -- Ms Hamilton – Room 301

 

It is wonderful to have all of you at Grafton High School.  You are no longer waiting to go to high school  -- you are finally here!! I know that all of you had wonderful English teachers in eighth grade, and we will be continuing to put all of your hard work to practice.

 

Course Objectives:  The student will be able to…

                             read critically and analyze literature

                             explore different literary terms

                             deliver information through oral presentations

                             participate in small group activities and work cooperatively

                             achieve 9th grade English SOL’s

                             organize information

                             enhance writing skills

 

Primary Texts:

                             Prentice Hall Literature – Gold

                             Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition

 

Quarter one

                             Short stories                  The Miracle Worker

                             Character Sketch           Night

Quarter two

                             Nonfiction study            The Odyssey/mythology

                             Documented research paper (you can do it!!)               

Quarter three

                             Romeo and Juliet           letter writing

                             Great Expectations

Quarter four

                             Analyzing print materials        Poetry

Poetry project/oral presentation  The Outsiders

 

Ongoing assignments:

                             Grammar work               writing

Literary analysis            projects

SOL work

Vocabulary                     editing work

“Surfing the Net” technology projects

 

Grading procedures: Grades will be averaged on the numerical grading scale.  Your grade will be determined by:

          25% writing/oral presentations        20% daily homework      5% daily participation

          25% quizzes                                      25% tests

 

** This syllabus is subject to change in order to accommodate the needs of the students.         

                  

 

 

Ms Hamilton’s “Rules of Respect”

 

1.      If you mess it up, clean it up.

2.      You will miss valuable information if you are tardy to class.  Please be in your seat when the bell rings.

3.      Respect your peers, yourself, and me.  “Put-downs” are not acceptable – treat people as you wish to be treated.

4.      Listening is an important skill.  Listen first, then raise your hand to ask questions.

5.      Each of us needs to respect each other’s property.  Do not touch without asking first.

6.      Groups must work as a team.  One person is not responsible for all of the work.  Remember, a quarterback cannot win the game if he doesn’t have a team to ”back him up”.

 

Ms Hamilton’s Classroom Procedures

 

1.     All materials, with literature book, must be brought to class with you.  This includes:

·        Three-holed notebook paper in a three-ringed notebook

·        Three-holed pocket in notebook

·        1 box of Kleenex (to be turned in to Ms Hamilton the first two weeks of school)

·        pens

·        spiral notebook for a journal

·        agenda (to be given out at the beginning of school year)

2.  All writing assignments must have a rough draft and a final copy.  There must be visible editing on the rough copy, and the final draft must be in ink or typed and have the editing corrections in it.  If a paper is turned in without a rough draft, there will be a ten points deductions from the final draft (this is different on the research paper).

3. I do not have a problem with food or drinks in class.  However, if it becomes distracting, or I have to clean up the trash, then I shall change this policy.

4. You are responsible for turning in make-up work when absent.  Please see my lesson notebook (on my desk) for make up assignments. Missed work due to being absent needs to be turned in on the next class day.  See me if you are absent more than one day.  After eight absences in English class, an administrator must approve a student’s receiving make up work.

5.  All homework must be completed on time. You will have two class periods to turn in the late assignments..  Late homework will count as a 75%.  After two class periods, late homework will count as zeroes.

6. Submit all projects and papers on the due date.  A paper/project may be submitted late, but it will be lowered a letter grade for every school day (not class day) that it is late. If you are absent the day a paper or project is due, it needs to be brought to me the day you return to school with an excused absence pass.  No exceptions!

 

***I shall make phone calls to parents/guardians concerning behavior and grades.  This could be positive – so work hard and do your best!  Parents are also invited to e-mail me at:

 

                   thamilton@ycsd.york.va.us

and I shall respond as soon as possible.