English 9- 1

st
Semester
Harrison High School
Ms. Sara Loete
Room: 104
sara.loete@evsc.k12.in.us
(812) 476-1046 ext. 41688
Course Description
This year-long, integrated ninth-grade course focuses on developmentally appropriate skills for students
to become discerning readers, insightful writers, effective communicators, and perceptive
listeners. English 9 further develops students' use of language as a tool for learning and thinking and as a
course of pleasure. Students examine a variety of literary genres, including short story, poetry, drama,
nonfiction, and novel. They must develop strategies to make critical evaluations of literature, such as
identifying literary conventions and determining authors' purposes and perspectives. Students receive
instruction and practice in the writing process which emphasizes purpose, organization, and style as
students prewrite, draft, revise, edit, and publish. Composition requires students to write for various
audiences and purposes as they develop paragraph and multi-paragraph essays. Composition study
provides the tool with which students create expository essays of persuasion and literary analysis as well
as technical writing assignments in various forms. Formal study of grammar, usage, spelling, and
language mechanics is integrated into the study of writing. Oral communication emphasizes effective
listening and speaking techniques in both formal and informal situations as well as helping students to
become more critical consumers of mass media. Students refine skills identified in the ninth-grade
Indiana language arts standards, as well as test-taking strategies.

Required Materials
McDougal Littell: Literature
Vocabulary Book

Other required materials include:
- Netbook
- Flashdrive or Dropbox Account
- Notebook or Loose-leaf Paper
- Folder or Binder
- Pencils/Pen
- Box of Kleenex

Policies and Expectations
- Please bring all materials to every class, including your textbook and netbook. Passes will not be
written to go to your locker to retrieve materials that you were supposed to bring with you!
- Tardies: If you come to my room with a pass, please bring the pass to me without interrupting class. If
you do not have a pass, please come into class quietly and I will mark you accordingly.
- Absences: If you are absent, you will be required to check the calendar on the weebly site for your
assignments. If your absence is excused, you will be given the same amount of time that you were
absent to turn in your work. Any work not turned in at that time will be referred to as LATE.
- Late work will be accepted for half credit until the end of the unit. Please make sure to put your name,
the assignment title, the date it was due, and the date you turned the paper in at the top of the paper.
- All work that is turned in on paper will need to have your name, the date the assignment was due, and
the date that you turned it in on the top. Please also include the class name and period as it is easier for
me to keep track of.
Grading Policy
Grades in this course will be based on the following weighted breakdown.
- 30% Projects and Tests
- 30% Presentations and Writings
- 15% Quizzes
- 15% In-Class/Homework
- 10% Participation/Bellringers

The following scale will be used for this course.
- 100%-90%- A
- 89%- 80%- B
- 79%-70%- C
- 69%-60%- D
- 59% or below: F

Required Activities and Assignments
Journal of the Day
Students will be given a journal topic each day that they will be required to write on for their daily
bellringer. The prompts may include simple questions for analysis, poetry, images, etc. This will be the
primary grade for bellringers and participation. Each journal will be worth ten participation points and
will be assessed for thorough thought development, analysis, and writing ability.

Grammar Assignments
Students will have a daily grammar lesson and worksheet. These lessons will be graded for accuracy and
completion. These worksheets will be worth 10 points and will be considered in-class homework grades.

ECA Prep
Throughout the semester, students will be working on preparing for the Indiana End of Course
Assessment for English 10. This graduation requirement is tested at the end of tenth grade. As many
students in the class will be taking the assessment at the end of the year, preparatory assignments will
also be given in English 9.

Achieve Articles
Students will use the Achieve 3000 online portal weekly in order to improve their reading and
comprehension abilities. These assignments will count as homework and will be scored based on the
Achieve rubric used throughout the English Department.

Assessments
Assessments will consist of a combination of the following:
- Bellringers
- Class Participation
- Homework
- In class assignments
- Tests
- Quizzes
- Projects/Presentations
- Written essays of various lengths
- Research Paper
Cell Phones , Headphones, and MP3 Players
Cell phones, headphones, and MP3 players are not allowed in the classroom unless given permission by
the teacher. Please do your best to keep them in your pockets or lockers. The device will be taken to the
office if it becomes a distraction in the classroom.

Final Exam Policy
Each grading period will be worth 40% of your grade with the final consisting of the final 20%. Exams will
be cumulative (covering an entire semesters course material).

Exemption Policy- Students may exempt two final exams if the following requirements are fulfilled:
1. A or B in the course
2. No more than two tardies in the course
3. No more than five excused absences
4. Maintain citizenship
5. No missing assignments

Class Expectations: PRIDE
PreparednessBe in the classroom when the bell rings with necessary materials (pencil, paper,
textbook, netbook, and completed assignments).
RespectListen and follow directions. Help create a classroom environment that is conducive to
learning.
IntegrityTake responsibility to learn the material and show what you know.
DeterminationAlways be attentive and productive. Use time wisely.
EngagementParticipate by taking notes, asking and answering questions, joining activities, and
completing assignments.

Units of Study
Fall Semester
- 1
st
Nine Weeks
o Narrative writing
o Basic punctuation and grammar
o Vocabulary Lessons
o Vocabulary Terms
o Spelling
o Introduction to Blooms Taxonomy
o Homers Odyssey
- 2
nd
Nine Weeks
o Literary Analysis
o Parts of Speech
o Vocabulary Lessons
o Vocabulary Terms
o Spelling
o To Kill a Mockingbird