9^th Grade – INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

QUEEN ANNE SCHOOL – SETON BELT – ROOM 5

Overview

This course will allow students to begin exploring themselves as readers, writers, and speakers through reading a wide range of classical and contemporary literature, writing formal essays and creative pieces, and speaking to articulate themselves on a day-to-day basis as well as during formal presentations. Grammar lessons as well as vocabulary will directly come from the texts utilized during the year and supplemented with minilessons that students will assemble into a resource notebook they will keep throughout their high school years. Over the course of the year, active participation in workshops will become a time for students to truly grasp the idea of writing as a process along with having the opportunity to select their own books to read both in and out of class to make further personal connections while increasing their vocabulary. Technology will enhance students’ learning of literature and how it touches everyone in unique ways.

Objectives

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

- demonstrate a growth in confidence as a reader, writer, and speaker

- develop an appreciation for different genres of literature and identify with different pieces on different levels

- discuss literature intelligently while bringing personal experiences to enhance conversation

- understand that writing is a process

- take ownership of writing and realize the importance of writing with integrity

- identify both strengths and weaknesses in writing in order to realize the ability to constantly grow

- improve grammatical skills established in previous years

- show improvement in and develop their vocabulary

- analyze the various components of literature including character, theme, conflict, etc…

- work effectively in different size groups to produce quality work while learning the value of teamwork

- make strides to maintain a level of pride and responsibility in themselves

- enter not only the next course but also life with a new perspective on literature and themselves

Guidelines

come to class prepared with the necessary supplies to work including an open mind

responsible for everything discussed in class as well as all work given (check website for clarifications)

hand in work on-time

ask questions when unsure of anything or when clarification is needed

type all homework assignments unless otherwise specified – follow MLA format

Times New Roman 1” margins on each side of the page

Size 12 font double-space the entire document

participate actively every day in class

think and complete every assignment independently unless otherwise specified

complete quizzes and tests in one sitting (no using the restroom or coming back to complete the quiz or test)

use the resources given in class to enhance reading, writing, and speaking on a daily basis

Late Work Policy

Daily Homework Assignments

Students will submit these assignments at the beginning of class to receive credit. If a student submits a daily homework assignment in late due to reasons that include forgetting homework at home or in a locker, I will not accept it for credit. I will provide feedback for the student in this case. This policy also applies to extra credit opportunities. Students need to be aware they will not receive credit under any circumstances. If a student has a doctor’s note to document being out of school for an entire day, he/she will have a day for each day being out to make up the work. PLEASE NOTE – If a student is at home and able to do work, submitting assignments electronically will allow he/she to keep up with the class work and in turn have less to make up upon returning to school. DO NOT – submit assignments electronically unless otherwise specified. You may use your adviser or The Proud Lion in the event you need something printed at school. Please remember to not wait until the last minute to get assignments printed. Technology is fallible, so remember an assignment isn’t submitted until I have it in my hand. Responsibility is vital at the high school level, and this policy helps students come to class prepared.

Significant Assignments (formal essays, projects, portfolios, etc…)

Students will submit these assignments at the beginning of class to have the ability to earn full credit. If a student hands in a significant assignment in late, he/she will lose 10 points per day. This point deduction includes submitting an assignment later that same day. Remember, if ample time is given to complete the assignment, leniency is unlikely. If a student is in school for any portion of the day in which a significant assignment is due, I expect to receive the assignment the same day as everyone else otherwise the student will still lose points. Please keep in mind – this includes but is not limited to being absent due to athletic commitments or scheduled field trips.

Tests

If a student is in school for any portion of the day in which a test is scheduled in this class, he/she will be expected to take the test the same day as everyone else. Please keep in mind – this includes but is not limited to being absent due to athletic commitments or field trips. If the circumstances involve a doctor’s appointment, which a student should know about prior to the absence, please meet with me prior to the test day to arrange a time to take the test. In the event a student forgets to schedule a time, the student will lose 10 points off of the test since this student will have extra time to prepare for the test that his/her peers did not have. If a student misses the entire day of school, he/she will have one day to make up the test. This policy allows for fairness, so every student has the best opportunity possible.

Cyber Days

Since Code C Cyber Days are counted as school days, submitting work is a priority in order to maintain the speed of the class. If there are any questions regarding the procedures, please ask Ms. Walker PRIOR to a Cyber Day. Don’t wait until the last minute or come back to school explaining that the assignment isn’t ready due to procedures being unclear. If inclement weather is in the forecast, take the appropriate precautions and bring home the material to complete work/assignments from home.

Absences

Upon being absent and able to work, please contact Ms. Walker by email, and she can keep the student up-to-date with assignments to ease the transition upon returning to school. A student who missed class should check the metal file boxes in the front of the room for any handouts or papers given back while he/she was absent. Please keep in mind that if a student knows he/she will be absent for an extended period of time he/she becomes is still responsible for all assignments, and the student MUST fill out a green sheet from the Front Desk or Dean’s Office AND meet with me prior to leaving to get a complete list of assignments. If there are any long-term assignments given prior to the extended absence, prior arrangements must be made regarding a due date. This is to ensure the student experiences a smooth transition back into school and doesn’t feel overwhelmed by needing to complete back work along with the current assignments.

Weekly Agendas

Every week Ms. Walker distributes a weekly agenda. This will serve as an outline for the week/weeks. It will contain things we will do in class as well as homework assignments, quizzes, tests, etc... Please keep this in the cover of the English binder because it is a working document. Circumstances often arise that can change the course of a week’s scheduled assignments. As dates for class may change due to inclement weather or special school events, please remember to change dates on your agenda OR ask me if there are questions. What is said in class regarding dates is what we will follow since the website is meant to support class – NOT be a substitute for class. When in doubt of an assignment ASK/EMAIL. (Available until 9pm)

Reading Workshop

Please refer to packet for a more detailed explanation. Reading Workshop provides students with the opportunity to read for pleasure. Often times a class cannot read every genre of literature. This allows for students to pick up what intrigues them and share their findings with the class. (Packet also available on class web page)

Required Texts – PLEASE PURCHASE ALL BOOKS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR – WE WILL GET TO ALL OF THEM

Monster by Walter Dean Myers	Shakespeare Made Easy - Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Night by Elie Wiesel	I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Animal Farm by George Orwell	Elements of Style – Use this for reference when writing
Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages by Harold Bloom	Rules of the Game – Grammar Through Discovery 3 – Mary Page,
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee	Peter Guthrie, Sloan Sable
Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

Grading Policy

Students will receive a grade chart to maintain averages throughout the quarter. This allows students to know at every moment during a quarter what his/her average is in this class. Parents and/or guardians should remain aware of this to help students achieve their goals for the quarter, semester, and year. If a student would like to verify his/her grade, please come see Ms. Walker to make an appointment rather than taking class time or rushing between classes to verify a grade. Student will need to bring a completed grade chart to the meeting. Participation is not factored into the quarter grade. English revolves around every student in the class coming prepared to discuss literature; however, if a student’s grade is very close to the next step (89.4), participation and constant positive involvement can make a difference and push the grade up the next mark.

Tests, Formal Essays, Portfolios, Reading Workshop, etc… weighted three times

Significant Group Work/Presentations, Quizzes, etc… weighted two times

Daily Homework, Collected Class Work, etc… weighted one time

Guidance for Determining Your Grade – There are two ways to calculate your grade, but each will give the same result.

Test Average + Test Average + Test Average + Quiz Average + Quiz Average + Homework Average = Total ---> Total/6= Your Grade

3(Test Average) + 2(Quiz Average) + Homework Average = Total ---> Total/6= Your Grade

Interims

Ms. Walker will post interims on the QAS Family Information Exchange when needed for various reasons. If the average slips below a C-, Ms. Walker will write and an interim. This simply serves as a motivating tool to push students to keep working hard or to realize what they can achieve by putting forth a little more effort. If a parent or guardian would like an update, please send Ms. Walker an email, and she will reply when she writes an interim. Please note that teachers do not directly post interims to the QASFIE page. Administrators read over each interim prior to posting in order to remain aware of each student’s academic progress.

Honor Code

Students are reminded of the Honor Code in every class. This is the same in English and especially important with writing essays. Students often seek the “easy” way out by utilizing various sites on the Internet for papers or their peers. Essays are a chance to find something interesting about a topic relating to the piece of literature read in class. If students do plagiarize or work together, Ms. Walker will find out and be obligated to bring the student(s) to the Honor Council. Each student should trust in his/her own abilities and write with integrity!

Materials

All of the texts listed above (available at the Online Bookstore)	Notebook Paper – College Ruled
100 Page Spiral Note Book – no smaller than 8.5” x 11”	Pens and pencils (ink must be blue/black for submitted work)
Composition Book – college ruled (doesn’t have to be black and white)	Working computer with email capabilities
2” Binder with clear window on the front to slide in papers	Working printer with ink
Dividers for the following:	Flashdrive, Pindrive, etc…
(Notes, Handouts, Vocabulary, Homework, Essays, Quizzes, Tests, Reading Workshop)	(this is to transport documents or files to and from school – students should NOT share – at least 1GB)