310 395-3204 ext. 277 http://surragoteaches.blogspot.

com/
Room B207 Surrago.Teaches@gmail.com

Welcome all to

English 9P
taught by the venerable

Mr Surrago
I think it’s best I get to the point. You’re going to do three things in
class this year, and you’re going to do them well:

1. Read

2. Write

3. Communicate

That’s what you’re going to do. Expect to do them a lot. To do those

things, you’ll need some guidelines to follow. Some principles.
Principles aren’t things you do: they’re what you keep in mind while
you do. You are expected to memorize them. Here they are:

When you feel challenged, that means you’re learning.

You only get what you give.

How you work with others is how you work with yourself.

The meaning behind these principles will be the subject of ongoing

discussion this year. Over time, they will become increasingly clear. In
turn, they shall yield you their power.

Grading
In school, we give grades for the results of your work. Each week,
you’ll be graded on three things:

1. An Essay, a Project, or a Presentation

2. One or two Quizzes

310 395-3204 ext. 277 http://surragoteaches.blogspot.com/
Room B207 Surrago.Teaches@gmail.com

3. Teamwork - How well you work with me, others, and

yourself

In addition to these three items, you’ll also turn in your Journal every
three weeks. Your Journal will contain a record of your classwork and
homework. You are expected to bring it to class daily.

Here’s how much your work is worth, by category:

1. Essays = 20% of your grade

2. Teamwork = 20% of your grade

3. Essays / Papers = 20% of your grade

4. Quizzes = 20% of your grade

5. Projects / Presentations = 20% off your grade.

Books
The Novels we read and discuss this semester will come from the
following list.

1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark

Haddon
2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
3. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
4. Night by Elie Wiesel

Students are expected to read these works both in and out of class.
Those who don’t will face the risk of falling seriously behind, as well as
failing quizzes.

In addition to these titles, students will be required to read additional

texts as outside reading. A list of titles will be provided to you in the
first few weeks of the semester.

Materials
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Room B207 Surrago.Teaches@gmail.com

Students need to bring the following to class every day:

1. Their textbook (which we’ll start in Week 3)

2. A 3-ring binder with loose-leaf paper
3. A Composition notebook – for Journal assignments
4. A Pen and a Pencil

Class Rules
My rules are simple, and based on mutual respect. I give all of my
students freedom of choice—it is up to them to follow the rules, and
accept the consequences of their actions.

My rules are divided into two categories, Do’s and Don’ts:

Please Do Better Not

1. Your Classwork and 1. Talk when I am talking

Homework
2. Support your Teammates
(which includes me)
3. Discover your Strengths –
and Accept your
Weaknesses
4. Offer your Insights
5. Raise your Hand to Speak
2. Walk around when I am
talking
3. Create physical,
emotional, or mental
violence towards yourself
or others
4. Question my classroom
management while I am
teaching. No exceptions.
Ever.
5. Interfere with anyone’s
learning

Rewards 5. The Formation of Strong

Character and Positive Life
1. Good grades Habits
2. Enjoyment of class time
3. Skills in Writing and Consequences
Reading
4. Skills in Communication 1. A Verbal Warning
2. Seat Change + 1 min after
class detention
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Room B207 Surrago.Teaches@gmail.com

3. 5 minute detention
4. Call to Parents
5. Referral & Class Suspensio
 Papers / Essays
All of the work done in class prepares you for a final paper due before
winter break, as well as your final essay exam. This paper will
synthesize your analyses of

1. The books we’ve read

2. The discussions we’ve had
3. The results of our teamwork exercises

This means that you need to pay attention to all three. If you pay
attention and take notes in class, you’ll find the papers interesting. To
the degree that you don’t… well, see principle #2.

Teamwork
Each week, we will complete work in teams of 5 or 6 students. At the
end of the week, you will be asked to evaluate how well you worked
with your teammates, and how well your teammates worked with you.
This evaluation forms half of your teamwork grade. The other half
comes from my personal observations of you over the course of the
semester. As we go, we’ll discuss what is required of you to earn a
good teamwork grade.

Late Work Policy

I drop your lowest quiz grade: everyone has a bad day now and then.
All late work, due to illness or otherwise, can be made up by the end of
the week.
Papers lose a letter grade for each school-day late. So don’t turn in papers late.

To Parents
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or
concerns. You can also visit my blog,
http://surragoteaches.blogspot.com. The fastest way to contact me is
via email: surrago.teaches@gmail.com. I am much slower to return
calls.
I am available for extra help or conferencing at the following times:
7:30-8 AM Monday through Friday, or through an appointment time.
Please feel free to ask for my assistance at any time during the year. I
look forward to a great year together.