Course: Literature/Composition 9
Instructor: Ms. Strawder-Bubala
Time: Semester One
Course Outline: (may
be altered if necessary)
Academic Integrity/Responsible Writing
Speech
Fiction – various short stories from the book
Literary Analysis
Science Fiction –from the book
Narrative Writing
Speech
Fiction – A Christmas Carol
Fiction – Great Expectations (movie)
Fiction – The Outsiders
*on-going – daily grammar, writing, or word problem assignments; weekly vocabulary; independent reading novel (from 9th grade list) – THERE WILL BE A QUIZ EVERY FRIDAY ON EVERYTHING WE COVER DURING THE WEEK.
Non-fiction – Night and from the book
Expository Writing
Speech
Drama – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Persuasive Writing
Speech
Epic - Odyssey
Poetry - from the book
Creative Writing
*on-going – daily grammar, writing, or word problem assignments; weekly vocabulary; independent reading novel (from 9th grade list) - THERE WILL BE A QUIZ EVERY FRIDAY ON EVERYTHING WE COVER DURING THE WEEK.
Specific Notes: Do not wear your hat in this classroom. Take your hat off BEFORE you come into class. This applies to males and females. PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR CLASS. Do not bring your food or drink into this classroom. The only exception is water, which must be in a container with a lid, spout, etc. Do not chew gum in this classroom. Treat the room with respect. Keep your feet off of the furniture. Do not write on the desks. Obviously, all school rules apply in this classroom. Failure to follow these rules will result in disciplinary action.
Required Material:
*There is a supply box with an eraser, stapler, etc. in the back of the room. You may use these supplies as needed. RETURN ALL THE ITEMS YOU BORROW. Please do not ask me to borrow supplies off of my desk.
Attendance Policy:
If you are absent it is your responsibility to get your assignments from the assignment board. If you have an extended absence please request homework through the guidance office and/or check the homework page on the school website at http://ths.sps.lane.edu. Please note: I will not remind you to do these things. You must be responsible for your make-up work. Students will not be allowed to make up work “after-the-fact.” It is sometimes impossible to make up certain in-class assignments, in which case I will work with you on an alternate assignment.
School Policy – Eight unexcused one-half day absences in any four-week period during which the school is in session shall be considered irregular attendance and will result in the student being referred to the Lane ESD truancy officer (ORS 339.065).
IMPORTANT -- If you are absent, you must bring an admit slip to class on the day you return to school. Students must obtain these slips from the attendance office. If you come to class without a slip, you will be asked to report to the attendance office. You will be marked tardy to class. REMEMBER YOUR ADMIT SLIPS.
SEE THE STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ON ABSENCES.
Tardy Policy:
If you are late to class, you are to enter quietly, hand me your pass, and take your seat. This is an excused tardy. If you do not have a pass, it is an unexcused tardy. On your third unexcused tardy, and on EVERY tardy after that, you will be assigned a detention. If the problem persists, you will be given a referral to the dean’s office.
School Policy – Students may be suspended or may be assigned a Saturday School for excessive tardies.
IMPORTANT – You will be marked tardy to
class if you are not sitting in your seat when I start talking. Being more than
10 minutes late to class (without a pass) counts as an unexcused absence.
SEE THE STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ON TARDIES.
Grading Policy:
All work has a point value. Points accrue throughout the semester. You will receive at least one progress report each nine weeks. You will have a CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM at the end of the semester. (Do not throw anything away.) Semester grades are the final grades that are posted to your transcript.
The grading scale is 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D, 0-59% F. On your grade reports, I will mark pluses and minuses for the high and low-end grades (if allowed). This is for your information only. The school grading policy does not allow for adjustment to GPA points for high or low-grades.
TAKE NOTE: NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. WORK MUST
BE TURNED IN DURING CLASS ON THE DAY IT IS DUE, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. ANY
WORK THAT WILL BE TURNED IN MUST BE WRITTEN NEATLY WITH A PEN, UNLESS OTHERWISE
SPECIFIED.
All students will start the semester with 100 participation points. You might make it through the semester with all of your points, or you may lose points for any of the following reasons:
· Being unprepared for class.
· Not participating in a classroom activity.
· Not answering a question when called on.
· THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE.
You may raise your hand to answer a question, but I will call on students most of the time so that every student gets to speak on a regular basis. You must be prepared EVERY DAY IN CLASS.
CIM Information:
You may request that your narrative, expository, persuasive, or creative writing papers be evaluated based on state CIM standards. If you meet or exceed the criteria the paper/s will be put in your CIM folder in the career center.
Outside Reading:
Should you be interested in outside reading assignments, (for pleasure, not for points) you might consider one or more of the following novels on the school’s 9th grade reading list: Great Expectations (challenging), The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (challenging), The Chosen, Bless the Beasts and the Children, The Light in the Forest, Red Sky at Morning, Beowulf (will be taught in 9th grade honors next semester), The Education of Little Tree, and The Crystal Cave. These books may be checked out in the library.
Interested in Honors?:
Qualified students will be invited to join next semester’s honors class.
Academic Integrity:
You may not “cheat” on any work for this class. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, copying work to be graded from another student and plagiarizing work. (You may copy class notes from another student if you are absent from class.) Both parties will receive 0 points for ANY work on which cheating was involved. Also, both students will receive referrals to the dean’s office.
The following definitions of plagiarism are taken from The Handbook of Current English. You commit plagiarism if you:
Tutoring:
If you feel you need individualized assistance with assignments, test preparation, etc., you may ask me for one-on-one outside class help.
General Comments:
As a young person, you are faced with many challenges and decisions. One of those decisions you must make is the value you put on your education. Is it a priority to you? I hope you will answer, “YES.” Please study hard this semester and make yourself proud. Your education, and all the possibility that comes with it, is one of the few things in this world that no one can take away from you. This is the beginning of your high school career. Make it a good one.
PARENT/GUARDIAN
SIGNATURE: return required
Parents, Please read
the course policies for your student’s class.
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STUDENT NAME:
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