Name: ___________________________ English 9

Period: ____ Date: _____

English 9 | Curriculum
An explanation of what we will accomplish this year. You must bring a notebook to class. This notebook will be divided into sections. Literature: this section is where you will place class notes regarding all the literature we read this year. Vocabulary: for all stand-alone vocabulary words that do not relate to specific literature. Grammar, usage, and mechanics: for general rules of grammar, spelling, syntax, etc. Homework: self-explanatory. Do Now/Journal: for the daily do now exercise, which may include a journalstyle entry. Writing assignment section: for essays and writing assignments given in class. This must be maintained if you would like to revise any writing assignment. Literary elements: for all discussion and notes related to theme, conflict, dialogue, etc.

Major works to be studied this year: The Odyssey: epic poem by Homer Romeo and Juliet: full-length play by Shakespeare A Separate Peace: novel by John Knowles Of Mice and Men: novella by John Steinbeck At least one additional novel and one play Independent reading selection Short story unit including The Most Dangerous Game and The Cask of Amontillado

Miscellany: Other areas of study include: Literary terminology: elements, terms, techniques Vocabulary GUM (Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics) Writing techniques: voice, diction, structure Public speaking: you will give at least one speech this year. Regents preparation: listening passage, grammar editing, DBQ, critical lens

Research paper with work cited page

English 9 | Rules for Success

1. Date your notes every day in all sections. This makes for easy cross-reference. 2. Look attentive, alert, and ready to work. Appearances do count. You are more likely to be noticed in a positive way if you present yourself in an enthusiastic, open fashion. 3. Ask and answer questions. Twenty percent of your quarterly grade consists of participation. Do not be a piece of furniture. Take a risk and answer a difficult question. Respond to a classmate. Agree or disagree with an idea. If you do not understand a concept, ask for clarification. 4. Do not whine nor complain. Speak in an adult, mature manner. Phrases to avoid: This isnt fair! What if I cant finish the assignment? I cant do this. Its too hard! I dont know. We didnt do it this way last year! 5. Presentation is important. I will not accept essays and papers that are not formatted to my standards. Do not ask for a stapler the day your essay is due. Do not claim that your printer is broken or you ran out of ink. There are no acceptable excuses of this nature. A pleasant, profession presentation can increase your grade in some cases. Guidelines for typed writing assignments: 12 size Times New Roman font Double spaced Black ink One staple in upper left corner Cover page including name, period, date, subject or title of essay 6. Do not ask me if you missed any work when you were absent. You did! Check with a classmate for notes and assignments. Speak to me if you need clarification on an assignment or concept, or if you did not receive a handout. If you are LEGALLY absent, you may make up whatever work you missed. If the absence is ILLEGAL, you receive a zero for all work. Ensure that your parent/guardian verifies your legal absences. Furthermore:

If you are absent, call a classmate and ask what you need to read and complete for the following day. Ask if you missed a test or quiz, or if there is a test or quiz scheduled for the day of your return. You must make up all missed work on the day immediately following your absence. Failure to do so will result in a zero. You will do this 9th period (1:45) in room A _____.

English 9 | Class Rules

Hello and welcome to the 2009-10 school year. To prepare for a productive and pleasant academic experience, make note of the following rules: 1. Students will be responsible for keeping up to date with assignments. If you are absent, you will most likely miss notes, handouts, homework, etc. It is your responsibility to inquire as to what you missed. 2. Contact me in the event of an (excused) extended absence. I will be glad to provide you with materials if you will be out for more than two days. 3. Come to class on time. Standing outside the door and rushing in after the bell has begun to ring will constitute one lateness. You must be SEATED and actively working when the bell rings. 4. Begin the do now or start up activity immediately after the second bell. Directions will be on the board every day. If you are not working on the assignment when the bell rings, you forfeit participation points. 5. Attend to personal needs before coming to class. I will not give passes to lockers and will limit passes in general, so please do not ask for a pass unless you have an emergency. An emergency is not talking to your boyfriend or girlfriend or retrieving your cell phone from the gym. 6. Remain in your assigned seat unless you have permission to get up. Throw garbage away at the end of the period on your way out. 7. Do not ask for a five-minute lunch pass. Get it during another class. 8. Bring required materials every day. If you need to ask me for anything, you will be considered unprepared. This includes paper, pens, pencils, and whatever source material we are working with. This also includes asking for a second copy of a handout. 9. Raise your hand to ask and answer questions. Be aware of the situation since quiet talking is allowed in some situations and speaking to the entire group without raising your hand may be allowed in others. I will remind you once and expect compliance. 10. Use polite speech and body language. Hurtful teasing and impolite behavior are unacceptable. No bullying, no ethnic slurs, etc. Do not use words that refer to sexual orientation. 11. Do not cheat. Students who cheat will receive a zero and a phone call home. Both the student who shares his work for an independent assignment AND the person who copies it will suffer the same consequences. I expect you to do your own work and to be sure no one can copy it.

12. A note on plagiarism: there is no excuse for this. My policy for plagiarism is as follows: the first offense will result in a grade of zero. The second offense will result in an administrative referral and notification will be given to all the students extracurricular advisors, including sports and clubs. Thank you for your cooperation.
________________________________ ________________________________ ______ Signature Printed name Date

English 9 | Grading Policy

Quarter Grade: Participation (including attendance, preparation, and homework): 20% Tests and quizzes: 40% Writing assignments and special projects (research paper, speeches): 40% Final Grade: First Quarter: 20% Second Quarter: 20% Mid-term: 5% Third Quarter: 20% Fourth Quarter: 20% Final exam or portfolio: 15% As previously indicated, participation is 20% of your quarterly grade. Assignments (tests, quizzes, projects, and essays) make up 80% of the quarterly grade. Participation consists of: Attendance Promptness Class participation Homework

Mathematically speaking, it is logical to have the 20% consist of 200 points. For the third and fourth quarters, note that: Illegal absence: minus five points Illegal lateness: minus five points Cut: minus ten points Texting or otherwise using phone/ iPod, etc: minus 15 points and confiscation of item Excessive talking: minus 10 points for each occurrence Sleeping in class: minus 10 points plus zero credit for the days assignments ________________________________________________________________________

Example: you have a 65 average on tests, quizzes, and assignments. That means that you have earned 65% of the 80 possible assignment points. Assignment points: 65% of 80 = 52 In our example, you have been observed texting eight times. You forfeit 120 (8x15) of your 200 participation points. You have been illegally late three times. You forfeit 15 (3x5) of your participation points. Well pretend that you have had no other problems.

English 9 | Grading Policy (continued)

Participation points: 200 135 = 65 65 / 200 = 32.5 percent 32.5 x 20 = 6.5 out of 20 possible points Quarterly grade: 52 assignment points + 6.5 participation points = 58.5 YOU FAIL FOR THE QUARTER.
Note: You will receive no warning for any of these point losses. I will simply mark them down with the date and time of occurrence. ________________________________ ________________________________ ______ Signature Printed name

Date

What is Plagiarism?
Many people think of plagiarism as copying anothers work, or borrowing someone elses original ideas. But terms like copying and borrowing can disguise the seriousness of the offense: According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to plagiarize means 1) to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own 2) to use (another's production) without crediting the source 3) to commit literary theft 4) to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source. In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone elses work and lying about it afterward. But can words and ideas really be stolen? According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. In the United States and many other countries, the expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some media (such as a book or a computer file). All of the following are considered plagiarism: turning in someone elses work as your own copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit failing to put a quotation in quotation marks giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit

copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on fair use rules)

Attention! Changing the words of an original source is not sufficient to prevent plagiarism. If you have retained the essential idea of an original source, and have not cited it, then no matter how drastically you may have altered its context or presentation, you have still plagiarized Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism.