Advanced English 9

Advanced English 9 Requirements: Students will need to bring the following items to class with them each day: 1. One large 3-ring binder with loose-leaf paper and at least 5 dividers Note: Bring binders EVERY DAY !!! Divider titles: 1. Handouts and Class Notes 2. Homework, Class Work, and OGT 3. Reading / Literature Studies 4. Writing 5. Miscellaneous 2. Pencils and pens (dark blue and/or black pens only please) 3. Textbook(s) – Please keep these covered! 4. A book of the student’s choice for sustained silent reading (SSR) 5. Note cards (either 3”x5” or 4”x6”) this year for a research project. Note: Grades may be taken at any time for class preparedness (having all of your class requirements with you, in good condition, and organized).

Rules and Expectations: 1. Be respectful of your teacher, other teachers and administrators, your classmates, your school, and anything that does not belong to you. Disrespect in any form will result in disciplinary action. 2. Participate willingly and cooperatively in all daily tasks. Stay on task and do not disturb others. 3. If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to get your assignments and make them and any tests/quizzes up within the allotted time. For scheduled absences and/or school- related field trips, get your assignments BEFORE you leave and have them completed upon your return. 4. Sleeping in class will not be tolerated. Show respect for your teacher and your classmates and stay awake and on task. 5. Late homework assignments will NOT be accepted. For large projects, presentations, and writing assignments, 10% will be deducted from the grade for each day it is late. 6. Be in your assigned seat when the bell rings and be ready to begin class immediately. Remain seated throughout the period until the teacher dismisses you. Three tardies will result in a discipline referral to the principal. If you need to sharpen your pencil or throw away trash, wait until an appropriate time. 7. Do not interrupt class to ask for a pass (unless it is an emergency). Ask at the beginning or the end of class when necessary (and don’t abuse the privilege) or go to the restroom or your locker at a more appropriate time. Passes will be issued sparingly. 8. Be prepared for class! Bring all necessities to class on a daily basis so you don’t lose points for not being prepared. 9. Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated. See the following Plagiarism Policy and the Student Handbook for further details. 10. Be familiar with the student handbook; school rules will be enforced as well as classroom rules. Spencerville High School Plagiarism/Cheating/Academic Dishonesty Policy

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s ideas or words as if they were the student’s own without acknowledging the source. Plagiarism if a form of theft and will not be tolerated. Students are responsible for knowing what constitutes academic dishonesty. If students are not sure what constitutes cheating or plagiarism, they should seek teacher advice.

Examples of plagiarism / cheating / academic dishonesty include but are not limited to: 1. Both accidental and purposeful use of quotes, paraphrases, and/or summaries from sources without using necessary quotation marks (within quotes), appropriate writing guidelines and formats, proper citations, and complete works cited entries or references, 2. Giving or receiving any information concerning the content prior to a test or quiz, 3. Communicating in any manner during a test or quiz without authorization, and 4. Copying homework.

Plagiarism is a serious offense that is unacceptable and that will be dealt with accordingly. See the following information from the Spencerville High School Student Handbook for details regarding possible actions to be taken in response to plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty.

In cases where a student is suspected of plagiarizing and/or cheating, the teacher and administrator will review the case with the student.

If the student is found to be in violation of this rule, the following procedure may be implemented: Step 1: Student will be warned and will receive a “zero” on the assignment and parents will be notified. Step 2: Student will be warned, will receive a “zero” on the assignment, his/her parents will be called in for a conference, and a Saturday School will be assigned. Step 3: Student may be withdrawn from the course with an “F” and/or progressive suspension may be implemented. (Spencerville High School Student Handbook)

Homework and Class Work Policy: Intervention and Intervention Detention

In an effort to assist those students who need help or who struggle in my classes, I will offer students the opportunity to stay after school for Intervention. Intervention will begin immediately after 8th period and will last approximately half an hour, ending at 3:15. During intervention, students will have the opportunity for one-on- one help for any assignments, projects, etc. that pertain to my classes. Intervention will be open for all students currently in one of my classes. I simply ask that students notify me of their intent to stay for intervention before the end of 8th period on any given day. Also, parents are welcome to schedule conferences with me during this time or schedule ahead of time for their children to stay after school for intervention.

Additionally, I will make use of something called Intervention Detention for those students who habitually fail to complete their homework and those students who, while in class, refuse to use their time wisely to work on their class assignments when instructed to do so. These detentions will not accumulate along with disciplinary detentions. Their purpose is simply to intervene in a student’s performance in my class and prevent them from earning poor or failing grades due to their failure to complete required assignments by their due dates. However, if a student refuses to or fails to show up for an assigned Intervention Detention, a Disciplinary Detention will be assigned.

Intervention detentions will not be announced ahead of time with letters home. If a student habitually fails to complete required assignments, I will require the student to stay after school that same day to complete the assignment that was due that day for either partial of possibly no credit. This will hopefully guarantee that students complete their required assignments on time since they will have to do them anyway. I will have the student call home before the end of 8th period to inform parents or guardians of the situation whenever this happens so that arrangements can be made for pick-up if necessary. Students serving intervention detentions may also ride the second bus (the elementary bus) home as long as they behave appropriately. Advanced English 9: Partial Course Syllabus

Books Several novels and plays, in addition to our regular classroom textbooks, short story supplements, and OGT workbooks, may be used throughout the year in Advanced English 9. These include but are not limited to: Animal Farm by George Orwell The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Short Stories and Poems Many short stories and poems may be read in Advanced English 9. These may include but are not limited to: Non-Fiction: Excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou On Being Seventeen, Bright, and Unable to Read by David Raymond The First Appendectomy by William A. Nolen A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote Fiction: The Utterly Perfect Murder by Ray Bradbury Marigolds by Eugenia Collier Grover Dill and the Tasmanian Devil by Jean Shepherd The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe The Story Behind the Cask of Amontillado by Edward Rowe Snow The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry Drama: Stephen Vincent Benet's The Devil and Daniel Webster Stephen King’s Sorry, Right Number Poetry: E.E. Cummings: since feeling is first Eve Meriam: Metaphor Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken May Swenson: Fable for When There's No Way Out Emily Dickinson: Surgeons must be very careful William Blake: A Poison Tree Amy Lowell: Fireworks Bob Kaufman: Battle Report Margaret Walker: Lineage Edna St. Vincent Millay: The Courage That My Mother Had Langston Hughes: Theme for English B Richard Wilber: The Writer Margaret Atwood: Siren Song W.H. Auden: O What is That Sound Edgar Allen Poe: Annabel Lee John Updike: Ex-Basketball Player Karl Shapiro: Auto Wreck

Movies, Documentaries, and Films / Videos

Movies, documentaries, and films / videos are sometimes utilized in part or whole for educational purposes throughout the year. None of the films (unless otherwise noted) have a rating higher than PG-13. All films accompany a required class assignment. Attendance is necessary during these films since an assignment is required for each. If a student is absent during the videos, the student will be given an alternative assignment to do. Movies are not shown for just entertainment purposes. Films that may be used include but are not limited to: Romeo and Juliet (both the old and the new versions) West Side Story Animal Farm Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl (rated TV-14 and requires a permission slip to view) Documentaries and Films/Videos based on or about the following: Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, World War II, and the life of Anne Frank A Christmas Story A Christmas Memory Writing Assignments, Research, SSR Books, and OGT Preparation

Various writing assignments are given throughout the year. Many of these are journal entry style writing assignments given in conjunction with short stories, poems, plays, novels, and videos or films used in class. Much writing will also incorporate thorough study and practice of grammar and mechanics.

A research project is also assigned during the year, and it involves using both electronic and print sources and MLA citation guidelines and format. The final products of the research project are a persuasive research paper and a PowerPoint presentation. Students will need plenty of note cards for this project.

Also, students are required to choose books of their own choice to read throughout the year. These are referred to as SSR books for sustained silent reading when we have the time to do so in class. Occasional participation grades will be taken for reading a book of the students’ own choice when SSR time is offered.

Finally, throughout the year students practice using their reading and writing skills via OGT preparation materials, possibly including a practice test.

Permission to Read and View Print and Non-Print Materials

Parents who have any concerns about any of the above listed books, short stories, poems, movies, documentaries, or films / videos may contact me for further discussion. In accordance with the Spencerville Local School District School Board Policy, if a parent feels that his/her child should not read one of the books, shorts stories, or poems and/or should not view one of the movies, documentaries, or films /videos listed because he/she finds it objectionable, that student may opt out of the assignment and be given an alternative assignment. Please notify me as soon as possible if an opt-out assignment is necessary for any of the above listed items. Otherwise, the signing of the attached letter will be taken as permission to read and view all planned materials. Spencerville High School 2500 Wisher Drive Spencerville, OH 45887 Phone: (419) 647-4111

August/September 2010

Dear Parents / Guardians:

I am requesting that your child ask you to read and sign this note agreeing to support the rules and requirements of this class after you have discussed it together. Your child should have shared the handout concerning the class rules and requirements; the plagiarism/academic dishonesty policy; the homework, class work, and intervention policy; and the list of reading materials, films / videos, and writing assignments that may be used in class. Please note that the signing of this letter does the following: 1) grants your child permission to read and view the print and non-print materials provided in the handout and 2) demonstrates knowledge and understanding of classroom policies and procedures. If you have concerns or questions, please contact me or include your concerns with this letter; I will address any concerns or questions as soon as possible.

If you have any concerns or questions throughout the year or would like to schedule a conference, please feel free to contact me at the school at extension 3248 or via e-mail at [email protected]. I would like to take this time to remind you that you can check your child’s grades online as often as necessary throughout the year. Also, students and parents can access information about important class updates and resources, homework, class assignments and projects, printable documents, and useful links via my classroom web page at http://klosterklass.pbworks.com. Please feel free to write any questions or concerns on the bottom of this letter (or attach a note), which needs to be returned to me by the first school day of next week for a completion grade. A copy will be returned to the student for your reference purposes.

Additionally, if you would like to be on an e-mail recipient list for classroom updates about projects, due dates, weekly assignments, reminders to check online grades, etc., please e-mail me from the account at which you wish to receive my e-mails. Please put your child’s first and last name in the subject line of the e-mail.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Emily K. Klosterman English and Speech Teacher

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