Course Syllabus


Ninth Grade English Course Syllabus
Ms. Whitham


Welcome to 9th grade English at Hollywood High School!  This school year will hopefully be both enjoyable and thought provoking. I look forward to working and learning with you. The class will focus on reading comprehension and the mechanics of grammar. Reading for pleasure is one of the great joys in life so to help you select books at the appropriate reading level we will participate in the Accelerated Reader program. You will also keep a journal in which you will write about various topics that I provide you or that you select. In addition, we will also be writing persuasive, expository and a literary analysis essays.

EXPECTATIONS
You are expected to keep a three ring notebook for my class. The notebook should have notebook paper in the front as well as dividers to separate the notebook into sections. EVERYTHING I GIVE YOU MUST BE PUT INTO YOUR NOTEBOOK! That means handouts, homework, notes, tests, essays – in short, everything you will do or have in my class could go into your notebook. The first section of the notebook is where you will write the Daily Agenda so that you and your parents may check these agendas for your assignments. Every couple of months I will check your notebook for organization and completeness. These notebooks checks will be part of your grade. Being organized is one of the most important skills you can learn in life, and keeping an organized notebook will help you to learn that skill.

Many of our projects will be collaborative group efforts and some will be individual. We will have three district assessments this year on the essays mentioned in the first paragraph. This will involve reading, answering questions covering comprehension, writing a short response involving a thesis statement and supporting evidence as well as writing a longer essay on the same topic.

HOMEWORK AND DAILY ASSIGNMENTS
Except for reading for the Accelerated Reader program and long term projects, I don’t give homework over the weekend. I will give you plenty of time to do your homework assignments but I do not accept late work unless you are absent. If you are absent, then you are allowed to turn in the work the next day after you return. So if you are absent Monday, you return Tuesday, then you will turn in the work on Wednesday. It is your responsibility when you are absent to get the Daily Agenda from someone in class. The handouts will be kept in a box by date so that you pick those up as well. I will also work on creating a blog to post all the assignments for the class. This will be linked off the school’s web site at hollywoodhighschool.net and you will be able to access it by selecting my name under Teacher’s blogs. I’ll let you know as soon as that is posted.

Saying you did not know about the work is not a valid excuse – it will be posted on the web site (very soon), written on the Daily Agenda and the handouts will be in the box.

CLASS PARTICIPATION
Class participation is a must. The class is only going to be as good as we all make it. If you help make the class fun and interesting, yet you have a borderline grade, then that extra class participation grade may make a difference between the lower and a higher grade. So don’t fall asleep! Pinch yourself, say something smart and interesting, or ask a good question and your grade might go up.

BEHAVIOR
To make this an enjoyable year for all, please be respectful by listening when others speak or when I am giving instruction. Raising your hand to ask a question or to get my attention is the best way to facilitate communication. Moreover, refrain from using your cell phone, other electronic devices or head phones in class. Let’s make this a safe environment where everyone feels secure and valued. Let’s respect our differences and realize that it is these differences that make the world an interesting and wonderful place.

GRADING
Your grade will be based on points. The more in-depth projects will be worth more points than the less lengthy assignments.

The grading schedule is as follows:
90 – 100 = A
80 - 89 = B
70 – 79 = C
60 – 69 = D
0   - 59 = F

CONCLUSION
I am here to help you expand your intellectual horizons, to think critically, to become more aware of the world around you, to grow an appreciation for literature. You can make this happen by working with me and being respectful of everyone in class, including yourself. My email address is listed at the top of the page if you need to contact me with questions related to this class.


Please sign below and have your parent or guardian sign below that you have both read and understood the above course requirements. Return this by Thursday, August 15 to receive your first 20 points toward your grade.


Student Name (Print): _____________________________________________


Student Signature: ________________________________________________


Parent or Guardian (Print): ________________________________________


Parent or Guardian Signature: ______________________________________


Mrs. Whitham’s Fall 2012 English 9 Class

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