Course Outline

Grade 9: College English

Welcome Freshman!

This year, our curriculum focuses around a central theme of oppression, adversity and the struggles people face within themselves or from society, especially when they have to make important life decisions (isn’t this something we can all identify with).

This topic will not only reoccur in our literature, but is currently happening around us in the world and in your own lives. So, in addition to the novels, we will read supplementary pieces, listen to music, watch documentaries and movie clips, and most importantly discuss current events and how everything we do, read, see, and hear plays a critical component in defining our theme for the year.

Here is what we will be reading for the year:

Term 1: Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck 

Term 2: Black Boy, Richard Wright AND A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry

Term 3: Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

Term 4: Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare AND The Odyssey, Homer (independent reading)

Term 5: Animal Farm, George Orwell 

Materials:

• 3 ring binder (at least 2 inches. You will need to keep EVERYTHING for the year)
• Dividers
• Filler paper
• Pens/pencils/highlighters and other miscellaneous school supplies (stapler, 3-hole punch, etc.)
• An email address
• A Turn-it-in account
• Access to the internet and to MS Word and a printer (if one is not available at home, you can always use the school resources)
• Positive attitude and a willingness to share listen, listen, learn and improve!

Class Policies:

• In addition to school policies outlined in handbook please be mindful of the following
  • Prohibited use of cell phones and/or other electronic devices (ipod, etc) in class. If I see it, I send it away!
  • No food or drinks in the classroom
  • Respect School property
  • Please recycle materials that can be reused (paper, plastic, etc).
  • Please be mindful of the dress code
  • This is a judgment free zone. All students are welcome and they are encouraged to express themselves.

Attendance:

• You must be in your seat by the start of class (when the bell rings).
• If you are absent, please check the table of contents and the corresponding folder to get your work.
• If you are absent on the day of a test or quiz, you will take the test/quiz upon your return
• If you are tardy, you must have a pass in order to be excused. Otherwise, it will count against you.
• If you are going to be absent, see me for your work in advance

Work Policies:

• Come to class prepared (Your English binder, Literature book, writing book and current novel along with a pen/pencil must be brought to class at all times).ALL assignments are due at the beginning of class.
• I do not accept late work. This includes homework, essays, journals, etc. The assignment is due on or before the due date.
• Please follow the weekly schedule (syllabus). CLICK HERE.
• It is YOUR responsibility to check the syllabus. Assignments are posted at least one week in advance, so there is no excuse why your work is late.
• If you have questions/problems, come to be BEFORE the due date! Make time for help in advance. If you need help or have trouble with something, you need to see me BEFORE, not the day your project is due.
• Your assignments must be final copy ready: due at the beginning of class, stapled, rubric and drafts are attached
• In order to receive credit your name must be on your assignment. 
• Your homework is due at the beginning of the class and should be placed in the homework bin on Ms. Gentile’s desk.
• Class time is from bell to bell and you are expected to be attentive for the duration of class. Please leave your materials out and continue working until the bell.
• NO EXCUSES. Ever. End of story.

Binder (Notebook):

• You must organize your notebook into FIVEsections
  • Table of Contents (this will be explained later) and you must have ALL terms in your binder. The most recent term TOC should be on TOP.
  • Reference (this includes your syllabus and this course description! You will keep ALL MLA format information, and any/all reference materials here)
  • Grammar/MCAS: this will be useful for you to prepare and study
  • Do now’s/Class notes: This section will be for all of your “do now’s” and should be dated and kept in chronological order. As a class, we will review your “Do now” and it is your responsibility to take notes from the discussion.
  • Portfolio: This is the section where you will keep ALL of your graded writing assignments.
• Please leave room for filler paper so that you can complete your assignments
• YOU MUST KEEP ALL TERMS IN YOUR BINDER. Keep the most recent Table of Contents on Top (see student binders for examples)
• Your binders will be collected and graded at the end of each unit
• Keep it neat and organized!!

Cheating:

• Zero tolerance policy. Period. The End.
• We will be using turnitin.com AND your assignments will be focused on your OWN thoughts, opinions, rather than memorization. You will have to THINK
• Plagiarism is not tolerated. It is against the integrity code outlined in the student handbook. Please see your copy.

Behavior:

• I know that we will not have any major behavioral problems this year.
• I expect that you will follow guidelines for respecting one another.
• I will always deal with the problem with you first. However, if we cannot resolve the issue, I will contact parents, coaches, club advisors, etc.
• Name calling and bullying will not be tolerated.
• Respect:
  • A very important attribute for my class. It is vital for your success. We will be conducting many class discussions and including our opinions. We need to keep an open mind and use tactful rebuttal against something we oppose

  Do’s	Don’ts
  PARTICIPATE Be Honest Find passion with learning and look to be/do better Take ownership Give 100% Be willing to be challenged Bring Presents	Be a bonehead. Blame others for your mistakes or lack of success Give up Forget about the goals you have

   Grading Policy

5%	Class work/performance	Assignments done in class, group work, collected journals, etcAlso includes: class participation, online blogs, preparation, taking responsibility for make-up work, etc
15%	Homework	Assignments done outside of the classroom, study questions, grammar work, etc
30%	Quiz	Vocab/content, short projects, short essays, pop quizzes, in-class group projects, sub work , etc
50%	Test	Content tests, critical essays, reflective essays, projects, presentation, notebooks, etc.

Homework grading system:

Check Plus	“A”	Excellent content, material expresses complete thought, indicated understanding, and show solid effort
Check	“B”	Adequate content, response and thought, shows an understanding
Check Minus	“C”	Less than adequate responses, unanswered questions, and shows minimal effort

Additional Information:

• A student will earn  “half credit” for work that is partially completed and student attempted to complete the work
• A student will earn a grade of “no credit” for less than half completed, sloppy, inadequate, or illegible work
• Student will earn a ZERO for copied homework/assignments or any sort of plagiarism.
• No name = No credit
• Ms. Gentile reserves the right to change the weight of an assignment as she sees fit and/or necessary.
• This is also posted in class by the “graded Papers” bin.

FINAL THOUGHTS:Remember:

YOU are responsible for YOU

I will do whatever I can to HELP you be successful, but you have to be in charge of your own learning!

Take control and give this year your best effort:

You will get out what you put in!