Good Hope Country Day School

English 9 2015-2016
Course Syllabus

COURSE OVERVIEW:
English 9 engages students in the careful reading and analysis of several genres of literature. This
year we will be reading several short stories, novels, speeches,and two or three plays. By reading
selected literary works, students will deepen their understanding and enhance their pleasure in
literature. We will analyze a variety of aspects of literature to derive meaning from their
experience of reading. Students will consider literary works in relation to their own lives and
experience as well. Much of the focus in the ninth grade will be on personal narrative. Students
will write short descriptive and narrative pieces and will gradually progress to more extensive
personal narratives. The narratives will use effective technique, details, and well-structured
event sequences. Students will also engage the texts through essays, in-class writing
assignments, blog posts, and journals. By focusing on subject matter that the students relate to
and are experts onthemselvesthey will learn how to write more effectively and
confidently and will also be able to discover and hone their individual voice. Students will learn
and demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage including
parallel structure, various types of phrases and clauses, and proper semicolon and colon usage.
Students will also strengthen their vocabulary through Vocabulary Power Plus for the New SAT
and will demonstrate an understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in
word meanings.
You are required to purchase a vocabulary workbook. The workbooks will be available in
the school store. Its going to be an interesting and full year, so be ready!
COURSE GUIDELINES:
Rules to Live by:
1. Be prepared with class readings, books, assignments and materials. You will not
be allowed to go to lockers once class has started.
2. Be ready to participate in class discussions in positive and constructive ways.
3. Be considerate of your peers and teacher.
Attendance/Tardy Policy:
If you must be absent, it is your responsibility to ask for make-up work or check the class
website ghcds9english.weebly.com. If you have any trouble, talk to me, but do not ask me at the
beginning of class, in the walkways, or while Im making copies in the library. Please make an
appointment with me or email me in advance. I am available before and after school. You will
not be allowed to make up an unannounced reading quiz, but this will not count against your
grade. Other test and quizzes to be made up can be discussed with me.

If you miss a quiz because you are tardy or absent, without having spoken to me prior, you will
not be able to make it up and will receive a zero.

Grades:
Your class grade will be based on written homework, essays on major literary works, quizzes,
tests, creative projects, research papers, panel discussions, group work, attitude and class
participation.
Class participation in all aspects of the program is required; therefore, attendance is a key to
success and does affect grades. Writing assessments include mechanics and grammar, powerful
use of vocabulary and syntax, analysis of literary texts with quotations from the work studied,
and the ability to address the prompt with evidence. Reading assessments include comprehension
of plot and authors intent, vocabulary development, making inferences and predictions, analysis
of characters, and analysis of literary techniques and style.
Grades are categorized as follows:
Major - Tests and Major Essays 20%
Minor - Quizzes, Presentations, Minor Projects & Minor Writing 40%
Daily - Classwork, Daily Grades and Reading Check 30%
HW - Homework and Group Participation 10%
General Grading Policies
A work is truly outstanding.
Insights are articulate, accurate, deep and thought provoking. The A student thinks critically
and generates superior inferences; work is accurate to a reading of the text. Quotations and
others ideas are smoothly integrated and proper citations are included... Essays demonstrate
sophisticated style, near-perfect grammar, and strong development. Needless to say, A work is
thoroughly complete and submitted by the date due.
B work is interesting and above average.
Insights may not be as far-reaching or deep as the top quality work, but critical thinking is
demonstrated and explored. Quotations and citations are included. Essays may not be quite as
sophisticated or as well developed as top-scoring essays. Again, all work is complete and
submitted on time.
C work is complete, but most ideas are obvious or barely insightful.
Critical thinking is minimal. Essays attempt to prove those ideas that most readers already
understand and present ideas in a simplistic manner. Citations to others work are included, but
work may lack supporting evidence and include grammatical and mechanical errors, be
incomplete, poorly presented, and late.
D work is incomplete; has major flaws in usage, grammar, and vocabulary; fails to address the
assignment except in a superficial manner; lacks analysis; and includes factual errors. Citations
are missing; lack of proof-reading is evident, and the paper may be poorly presented and late.

F is all work that is incomplete; fails to meet minimum standards; exhibits poor use of writing
and/or
speaking conventions; lacks accreditation and citations to the text and to others ideas; and fails
to address the assignment. There is a lack of effort as well as evidence of failure to read
assignments and listen in class and follow directions
Special Policies/Procedures:
1.
Laptops/Tablet/Smart Phones:
You may bring your ipad to class, but you may not have it on during class discussions,
quizzes/tests, etc. You MAY NOT play games, surf the net, check email, go on
Facebook, shop, etc. during class. If you do any of these things your privilege will be
suspended in my class. I do not want to restrict the use of devices, or appear to punish
you for using one, but Im sure you have seen students abuse the privilege during class,
and I just will not have it.
2.
Electronic Submissions: I will
ask that a majority of your assignments be submitted to me electronically (via google
drive or email). The deadline for the assignment is 8:00 AM on the day it is due. You
must include proper headings (shown on website ghcds9english.weebly.com) on your
paper if you want me to grade it. DO NOT put your paper in the body of an email. It
MUST be submitted as an attachment. Please send to slogan@ghcds.org.
3.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism of any
kind will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is defined as: the unauthorized use or close
imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of
them as one's own original work (dictionary.com). It is not okay to surf the net and cut
and paste material without giving credit as to where you got the material. It is not okay
to download an essay and change a few words to make it look like your own work. It is
not okay to take an idea you read about in a magazine or on a website and use it as your
own idea. It is not okay to work with a peer and borrow some of their work. All of
these things are considered cheatingAnd cheating is NOT okay. You will receive a
zero for any work that is found to be plagiarized.
Contact Information:
slogan@ghcds.org