Course Syllabus

English Literature: Grade 9
Ms. Walsh
Room 568
ewalsh.english@gmail.com
(212) 501-1234

Course Description: One primary goal for this yearlong course will be to develop students’ ability to think critically. To help students accomplish this goal, we will attempt to answer five essential questions:

 What patterns of interaction do we see that have affected the development of the world?
 What stories are told, why and by whom?
 How can learning about another culture help us better understand our world?
 How do literature and the arts represent culture and society over time?
 How can I be an agent of change in society?

Another goal for this course will be to improve students’ ability to write analytically. As a result, students will be assigned to write at least six essays and compile a comprehensive writing portfolio to submit for review at the end of the course. Students will be required to submit at least two drafts with each of their essays (see additional guidelines for submitting essays below).

Course Outline:- To answer our essential questions, we will analyze literature from several civilizations and historical periods. Civilizations include Africa, the Middle East, India, China, and Latin America.
- We will read several genres of literature, including historical fiction, personal narrative, poetry, traditional literature, historical non-fiction, biography, poetry, and diary.
- We will learn to write in several of genres of writing, including, essay writing (expository, persuasive, analytical, interpretive), feature articles, editorials, literary criticism, personal analysis, poetry, personal narrative, journal writing, self-reflection writing, and free writing.

Forms of Assessment:
Group Work - Being able to work well with others in a group is a crucial skill for today’s citizens. The cliché - no person is an island - is a good illustration of this fact in that it can be quite difficult to survive without the help of others. In this same vein, much of students’ work will be done in groups. Students will quickly realize that individually they will not have all of the answers, but as they work with their fellow classmates, they will be better able to find all of the answers. After all major group assignments, students will be assessed on an individual basis (i.e. a reflection, journal response, short answer essay)

Homework – Homework is posted on the board each day, and students are responsible for writing it down in their agendas. Homework assignments will be checked for credit daily. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to complete the homework that you have missed. Homework will be accepted late only if you have a note from your parents, citing a valid excuse. Work handed in any time after the class is over is considered late. One day of absence affords one day of makeup opportunity (for homework, tests, quizzes, classwork, ect.). All homework must have full heading (see below for format).

Quizzes/Exams - All formal exams will be announced at least one week in advance. Quizzes will not always be announced beforehand. For this reason, you must review your notes on a daily basis to ensure success. Students should expect to receive no less than two quizzes during each unit and routine vocabulary and grammar quizzes. Students will also receive one exam at the end of each unit.

Essays - As mentioned above, all students will be required to submit at least two essay drafts for each essay written. The first draft will usually be reviewed by a fellow classmate. I will read and then return the second draft. All essays and drafts must follow the following format:
 Typed
 Heading: Your name, name of course, my name, class period, date- in upper-left hand corner
 Title (centered under the heading and italicized)
 Double-spaced
 Font- size- 12 and Times Roman, black ink
 One-inch margins

* Papers submitted out of format will be returned ungraded.
* All drafts should be proofread and edited before submission. Papers with two simple editing mistakes within the first two lines will be returned, ungraded.

Writing Portfolio
The final portfolio is a selection of a student’s work and the student’s own evaluation of that work, organized to show evidence of academic growth and progress. The portfolio is a culminating project, which is aimed at demonstrating the various genres of writing that students have learned throughout the year. Students will select various pieces of writing and they will have the opportunity to reflect on their growth as writers and thinkers. Due June 8.

Class Participation - One key element of class participation requires that students be in their seats and working before the late bell rings. Consequently, students who are frequently late and absent will be penalized. Students who are late without a valid excuse will be referred to the dean and will serve detention. Students will be expected to contribute to whole group discussions. Students will also be required to read their work (journal entries, homework, essays etc…) aloud in class. Failure to enter the classroom wearing full and proper uniform will result in your being sent to the office to borrow uniform items, which will make you late to class- and participation points will be deducted for that day. Students must carry their agendas with them at all times.

Grammar and Vocabulary- Students will receive one grammar packet and one vocabulary packet each month. Packets must be completed by the prescribed due date. We will review these packets as a class. Students will be tested regularly on grammar and vocabulary. I strongly encourage you to buy a grammar workbook and practice your grammar skills outside of class, as well. Dictionaries are available to students at all times during class, and students should always look up unfamiliar words. A thesaurus must be consulted for every written assignment.

Blogging- Our classroom blog account is located at http://ewalshenglish9.blogspot.com
Here, you will find a wealth of information that will support our units of study. Sometimes you will be required to post a response to a blog I have started, and this will count as an assignment for class. You are responsible for demonstrating knowledge of the information supplied on this blog and in its links, so make sure to log in daily.

Grading Information and Policies
Grading Policy, as per the MHSHS grading scale:
A: 90 – 100
B: 80 – 89
C: 70 – 79
D: 65-69
F: 64 and below

Your grade will be determined by a point system. Grades for each marking period will be based on the points you earn out of the total possible value of the graded assignments. The weight of the assignment is determined by its point value. For example, homework may be worth five points, quizzes worth ten points and tests worth one hundred points.

• Extra credit means extra work. If you are missing many assignments, therefore not keeping up with the work, then you will not be given additional work to compensate for your grade.

My Gradebook- I will be recording grades in a hardcopy gradebook and online at www.mygradebook.com

Each student and his/her parent(s) will receive a classword and a password. Simply log onto the gradebook link and enter the login information to access your/your child’s grades, any time.

Outbox / Classroom Folder System: Work handed in to me will be graded and placed in the Outbox in a timely fashion. All formal writing assignments are kept in the classroom, to be used for the writing portfolio in May. Students may take their work from the outbox for review, but must then place the work in his/her classroom folder.

Required Materials:- English Notebook (not to be shared with any other subject, as I periodically collect notebooks for review)
- Two English Folders (not to be shared with any other subject). One folder will be kept in the classroom and the other will be kept with the student.
- Blue or black pens (work done in another color will not be accepted)
- 1 highlighter (yellow, or light in color)
- Post-its (2 x 4)
- Loose-leaf (can be placed in English Folder). Work handed in with the spirals at the edges of the paper will not be accepted.
- White-Out is strongly encouraged, as we will not throw out paper just because we made a simple error.
- Pocket thesaurus
* Over the course of the year, students will be required to bring in index cards for novel projects. It would be a good idea to stock up on these and rubber bands at the beginning of the year, but students do not have to bring these items to class every day.

* In May, students will be required to have a three ring binder with five dividers. Plastic wraps for papers is not required, but recommended. The binder will be used for the final Writing Portfolio.
* Much of the work handed in for this course will be typed. There is a computer lab available for students to use during lunch and during S.O.S.

Classroom Expectations:- Always put forth your best effort. Be prepared with your notebook and a writing utensil. Come to class with questions about readings and assignments. Ask for help and you shall receive it.
- As William Shakespeare said, “thought is free.” You are free to express your opinions in this class, so long as you support these opinions with evidence, and respect others’ rights to their own, different opinions.
- Academic integrity is required for this course. It is expected that all work you do is your own, original work. See the MHSHS Student Handbook for more information regarding cheating / plagiarism.
- Be a self-starter. Find the inspiration within yourself to learn. Never sit around and wait for me to tell you to get started.


Academic Support:- Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I am available at S.O.S. On these days of the week, you can come to my classroom for 45-90 minutes after school to get help for or work on assignments, work on English skills, or do your homework.
- Open communication is a major key to your personal success. I strongly encourage you to stop by the classroom to speak to me personally, drop a note in my mailbox, or email me regarding any concerns or confusion you may have. Often times, if you are confused, others are confused as well. Your asking questions could benefit the whole group!
- This classroom is yours as well as mine. All of the decisions each of us makes has a direct affect on everyone else in the room. Always be aware and conscious of yourself.