Union 9 th Grade Center 2012-2013 Syllabus

1. Union 9th Grade Center2012-2013 Syllabus Ms. Dodson Freshmen English Welcome To Your First Day of High School Matriculation! But words are things, and a small drop of ink,Falling, like dew, upon a thought, producesThat which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.- Lord Byron

2. I. Class Information: Instructor: Kate Dodson Room: # 2424 Telephone: # 357-7716 Email: dodson.kate@unionsps.org Class Website: http://www.freshmenenglishunion.com Note: I will check my e-mail during office hours only. I will not accept any assignments e-mailed to me, no exceptions.

3. II. Course Description & Goal Objectives: The course will consist of three major areas of equal importance. • 1.) writing skills with proper grammar usage • 2.) a study of important works of literature • 3.) extensive vocabulary/literary term survey.

4. III. 3 Class Rules: • 1. Integrity- This rules emphasizes the importance of being honest to yourself and to others- Simply put, NO CHEATING/PLAGARISM! • 2. Respect- Do not get out of your seat or talk while I am talking. It is rude and will not be tolerated. • 3. Responsibility -You must come to class prepared and with all proper materials (paper, pen, & assignments) every day. Be in your assigned seat and prepared for class when the bell rings. A sagacious student uses class time to their advantage.

5. IV. Assignment Requirements: *All written assignments must be neat and legible or it will not be graded. *Please list a title for each assignment on the top center area of the paper. *ALL assignments must contain a MLA (Modern Language Association) heading. On the left side of the paper: • First & last name • Ms. Dodson • English 9 & Class Hour • Day Month year (20 August 2012)

6. William Shakespeare Ms. Dodson English 8th hour 14 April 2012 Once Endangered On April 23, 1994, as Barbara Schoener was jogging in the Sierra foothills of California, she was tragically pounced on from behind by a mountain lion. After an apparent struggle with her attacker, Schoener was viciously killed by “bites to her neck and head” (Roberts 39). In 1996, because of the victim’s death and other high publicized attacks, California’s just politicians presented voters with a Proposition 197, which contained provisions repealing much of the 1990 law enacted to protect the lions (43). The 1990 law fairly outlawed sport hunting of mountain lions and even prevented the Department of Fish and Game from thinning the lion population (Jones 23).

7. V. Grading Policy & Makeup Work: • * Grades are based on a total points system. • *You will be given some class time to complete assignments- anything not completed will be homework. • *If an assignment is late, I will only offer half credit for the assignment, but it must be turned into me the following day or it will be a “0” in the gradebook. • Grading Scale • A = 89.5% - 100% D = 69.4% - 59.5% • B = 79.5% - 89.4% F = 59.4% and below • C = 79.4% - 69.5%

8. VI. Attendance/Tardy/ Policies: Classroom attendance is important to succeed in this class. Students are allowed one excused tardy before facing the following possible consequences: 1.) warning given 2.) 4 lunch detentions 3.) PM detention (2 hours—Parents will be contacted) 4.) Referral **Students who miss more than 10 unexcused days per semester may fail this class for that semester. **3 passes are given to each student per semester. If any passes are not used by the end of each term, then the student will be awarded bonus points. *Dress code will be strictly enforced in the classroom. Cover it up or pull it up!!! *No electronic devices nor food will be tolerated in class. Only water is allowed!!

9. Make-Up Work: As stated in the student handbook, you may only make up work for excused absences. • Students missing school for school activities must make arrangements for make-up work before they miss school. • Students are responsible for retrieving notes or assignments by using the class website. If you lose anything, you will have to make the copy yourself. The library has free printers with ink! www.freshmenenglishunion.com

10. VII. Don’t Come to Class Without: Bring to class each day: A (3-ring) binder to keep all of your notes, handouts, and returned assignments for easy reference. 2. Pen and pencil 3. Paper

11. VIII. Binder Organization: Please divide your binder into the following sections, using labeled dividers: First item: Syllabus (The 5 sections that follow are: ) 1- Grammar/Writing-- keep all writings/essays/grammar bellwork assignments in this section 2- Literature-- includes short stories, novels, drama (Romeo & Juliet), nonfiction 3- Poetry-- includes The Odyssey and other poetry assignments 4- Literary Terms – notes and assignments 5- Vocabulary Units-- vocabulary and Greek and Latin roots Last item: YELLOW PAGES REFERENCE GUIDE

12. IX. Class Supplies: Each student is responsible for the • following supplies: • The following supplies need to be purchased and left in the classroom for creative projects and assignments. • Please bring any of the following: • 1st hour- Kleenex / Hand Sanitizer • 3rd hour- Sharpies (black- fine point) • 5th hour- Multicolor markers • 6th hour- Construction Paper (Multi-colored) • 7th hour.) Ruler/ Scissors 1.)

13. Additional Class Info.(write notes in syllabus) • 9th Grade Testing –8 Common Writing Assessments, 3 District Timed Writings, 4 CRT’s • 9th Grade Writing Focus- Personal Narrative, Expository, Persuasive • Grammar Bellringers- We will do 2-3 or so per week. It is your responsibility to copy and keep the information in the grammar/writing section of binder. After the 10thentry, you will turn in your bellringers for a 100 pt. grade. • If you miss a day of grammar bellringer, go to the class website to retrieve what was missed .

14. Curriculum Schedule Vocabulary, Grammar Bellwork/Journal, Literary Terms, Literary Analysis

15. A Note from Me to You… I still have a copy of the first poem I wrote. My teacher assigned us to write about our future. I was eight years old and I poetically described my hopes of becoming a teacher. I still have the books that I read as a child, wrinkled, worn out books that belonged to my mother and grandmother. I remember reading them while hiding a flashlight under my bed after lights out… just a few more pages!! I remember playing “teacher” in my bedroom, diligently grading papers with a red pen and a shiny apple on my desk. I remember my ninth grade English teacher who inspired and challenged me to think outside the box. She will never know how much she encouraged me to fight for my dreams. Because of all these actions in my life, I sit before you today. Simply put, I knew I was meant to be a teacher. My best advice to each of you is to remember that so many things can be taken away from you, people can break you down, and life can be full of difficult struggles. But the one thing that can never be stolen or broken is your knowledge. You mind is a special gift that is yours forever.