Franklin Towne Charter High School

FRANKLIN TOWNE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL Mrs. Holly Downey English 9 2017-2018 School Year

Course Description Welcome to English 9. Throughout the school year, all students will expand their literary and literacy skills through researching, reading, writing, and analyzing literature, and thinking critically with an open mind. This year will specifically concentrate on the following areas:  Reading, annotating, discussing, responding to, and writing about a variety of literature  Mastering new vocabulary words and applying them to real world usage  Improving writing skills by drafting, writing, and editing essays  Perfecting note-taking and organizational skills by keeping a class binder

Required Texts Students will be utilizing several different texts for class. Our primary textbook, Elements of Literature: 3rd Course will remain in class. Students will be able to access an online version of it through my teacher webpage. The novels we read will be purchased by students from the school. Students will be able to write in these texts to work on annotating skills. These novels include:

 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck  Lord of the Flies by William Golding  Ghosts of War by Ryan Smithson  House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Grading Grades will be calculated using a weight system:  Formative- 20%: classwork, homework, quizzes,  Summative- 60%: test and essays  Quarterly/Midterm/Final Exam- 20%: given at the end of each quarter to assess mastery of skills

Homework Homework will be assigned on a regular basis and checked at the beginning of class. Students who do not have their homework complete when it is checked will receive a zero and a detention, where the work is to be completed. Upon completion students may receive up to half credit. As reading will also be assigned as homework, you may have reading check quizzes. Failure to exhibit that the reading has been done may also result in a homework detention. Please note that I will not accept homework passes.

Independent Reading All students will be required to take part in the school’s Independent Reading Program. Students will be able to select their own books for this program and will read at their own pace. A list of approved titles can be found on the school’s web page. If a student would like to read something that is not on the list, he/she must get a written note of permission from a parent or guardian. That note MUST be submitted to your teacher prior to the use of the book on a class assignment. Students are required to have their books with them at all times. Failure to bring a book to class will result in detention for being unprepared.

Behavior and Participation All students are expected to be in their seats when the bell rings. Prior to the bell, students should read the Smartboard for directions. If there is a DO NOW activity, students should be working on the assignment. All students are expected to participate in all class activities including questioning, reading aloud, choral responses, etc. All participation should be done in a respectful manner. Rudeness will not be tolerated, particularly talking while someone else is speaking.

Materials At all times, students MUST have:  Pen/pencil  2” (or larger) binder  Five binder dividers  Filler paper  Franklin Towne Planner  Highlighter  Independent Reading Novel

All students should have these materials by Monday, September 11. Students who do not have these items will be given a detention for being unprepared. If there is any reason a student will not have these materials by that date, a parent or guardian must contact me BEFORE Tuesday.

I also recommend that a pocket dictionary and thesaurus. Join the local Free Library of Philadelphia and show me your membership card for merit points!

Late Work and Absence Policy Every student is responsible and held accountable for missed work. If you are absent it is your responsibility to check my teacher web page for anything you have missed. Missed worksheets may be printed from the web page OR get a copy from the MISSED WORK folders (where you swipe in). All missed work is due the following day.

Contact Information The best way for your parent/guardian to contact me is through the school email system. My address is [email protected]. Please notice that teacher emails end in .org while student emails end in .net! If you need to contact me through email you MUST use your school email address. I cannot respond to student emails sent from yahoo, aol, google, etc. I truly look forward to this school year. Let’s accomplish big things together!