English 9HD Hannah-Hansen
http://www.south.mccsc.edu/~mhansen/Classes.htm mhansen@mccsc.edu
Purpose: This course explores the power of ideas as seen through the genres of literature.
Method: Students will focus on the close reading of a text, reading strategies, Cornell note-taking skills, analytical thinking and writing, oral communication, and vocabulary development. Students will development and improve critical thinking and writing skills.
Grading: Points are cumulative throughout the semester. Your notebook, tests, and major papers will count approximately 70% of your grade whereas daily assignments, vocabulary, and quizzes will count approximately 30% of your grade. Tests will occur at the completion of the unit, chapter, or grading period and will include all vocabulary, academic and context-related.
Texts: Literature: McDougal Littell, 2008
E-edition of Literature: (See last page for instructions on how to access.)
Grammar for Writing, McDougal Littell 2008
To Kill a Mockingbird: Harper Lee
Reader’s Notebook – You will need a 3 ring binder that you use solely for this class. If you are in AVID, a section of your AVID notebook will be for this class. Be prepared to leave your notebook with me at anytime for grading.
Books and Notebooks:
You must bring your notebook to class every day along with the particular text we are using. The notebook will be checked at periodic intervals that may not always coincide with the grading periods. Divide the notebook into five sections:
Class notes: This section will contain the notes that you take in class every day as well as the
notes that you take from the reading. You should have a dated entry for every
day. Students will use the Cornell system in their note-taking.
Vocabulary: This section will include your vocabulary words and definitions.
Grammar: This section will be for grammar study.
Portfolio: This section will include the papers that I have returned to you.
Handouts: This section will contain handouts.
Assignments:
· Assignments will range from projects to daily homework.
· Each unit will include a number of assignments and will include a test.
· Students must complete assignments on time.
· Failure of technology, i.e., printer, computer, does not constitute an excuse for not having an assignment completed. You may want to consider an online storage site such as google.docs to prevent any loss of your work if a computer crashes at home.
· Homework is due at the beginning of class. Place assignments in the bin before the bell rings; I expect you to be in your seat when the bell rings.
· Assignments are to be turned in with a "reader friendly" appearance. Place your first and last name in upper right hand corner along with class period
Late Assignments: Assignments are due on the due date. If you miss the due date with an excused absence (specifically for an illness or emergency), then you have one school day for every day absent to make up the work. It is your responsibility to talk to me immediately on your return to set up times for make-up. If the absence was unexcused or pre-arranged parental consent, the assignment is due the day you return to class. I do not accept late work. Twice per grading period you may give yourself a two-day extension on normal homework only (not projects, tests, etc.). Just write “extension” at the top of the assignment when you hand it in. You do not need to tell me beforehand. I will keep track of these, so use them wisely! Please note, however, if you use an extension for an assignment due on Friday, then that assignment must be due on Monday.
An excused absence does not mean that you are excused from class work that day. All missed work must be made up. You have 24 hours after your absence to set up a make-up time for your missed work. Tests and quizzes must be made up before or after school or during SRT. I am in my room during SRT, but you will need a pass from me that will allow you to leave your SRT to come here.
Contact: You can contact me at mhansen@mccsc.edu . You can also leave messages on school voicemail (51069), but I prefer to use email, which I check nearly every day. If you need to see me before or after school, please let me know in advance so that I can be in my room.
Grades: Homework assignments should be complete and written in complete sentences, in paragraph form. Term grades are based on your percentage of the combined points for all assignments and tests. Most of the points come from assignments. Our scale is:
A+ 97% B+ 87%+ C+ 77%+ D+ 67%+
A 93%+ B 83%+ C 73%+ D 63%+
A- 90%+ B- 80%+ C- 70%+ D- 60%+
Term Grades: Grades are cumulative throughout the trimester.
Extended Absences and Emergencies: Sometimes things happen beyond our control. I will make special arrangements for extended absences with respect to due dates. Please contact me if such a situation arises and you know you will be gone a long time.
Extra Credit/Enrichment: Generally I do not give any extra credit, so don’t ask because your grade is lower than you wanted. I want you to focus on improving your work. Please take advantage of rewriting formal essays if you receive a grade of B or below. I do not accept rewrites on A papers.
Basic Expectations (class rules, and pet peeves): I enforce school rules. These are particular concerns as regards student behavior.
· Please be on time and in your seat when the bell rings. Be prepared. Bring the materials you need to the classroom. Do not expect me to let you out of the room to get materials once class starts. Bring your textbook unless I tell you otherwise.
· Respect other members of the class
· Please do not bring food, drink, or gum into the classroom except for water.
· Please do not apply perfume, deodorant, hand lotion, make-up or comb your hair in the classroom.
· Do not expect passes.
· I dismiss class when the bell rings. Please stay in your seat until it does. No lining up at the door!
· No cell phones, PDAs, or games (including calculators) are allowed during class time. You may listen to music at times specified by the teacher.
· No large bags or backpacks are permitted in the classroom. If my teacher’s handbook fits in it, you may not bring it.
· The BHSS Dress Code must be followed at all times. If the dress code is violated, students will be referred to the Main Office.
Cheating:
· Cheating will result in a “0” for the assignment/project/quiz/test…no matter how detrimental it is to your overall grade.
· Cheating includes, but is not limited to: directly giving/receiving answers from another student, plagiarism, using notes and/or other assistance on assignment/test/quiz
*For any questions regarding BHSS disciplinary/attendance/tardy procedures, please consult the Student Handbook or the Language Arts webpage.
Finals & Attendance:
· In order to opt out of taking the final, you must meet the following criteria:
|
Overall Trimester Grade |
Total # of Trimester Absences |
|
A (93% minimum) |
3 or less |
|
B (83% minimum) |
2 or less |
|
C (73% minimum) |
1 or less |
· Attendance exceptions for finals opt-out:
o Bereavement
o Religious Holiday
Fire Exit: Your class exits towards the library. Exit your room; turn left and go down the steps in
front of the library. Line up with your teacher near the flag pole.
Course of Study
I.) Narrative Structure
Literature:
“The Sound of Thunder,” “The Most Dangerous Game,” “Daughter of Invention” and “Gift of the Magi”
Nonfiction/Informational Text:
“Seabiscuit,” “Four Good Legs between Us,” from Seabiscuit, “Races on Radio”
Writing:
Personal Narrative - Review “5-paragraph format”
II.) Characterization & Point of View
Literature:
“Pancakes,” “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” “The Necklace,” “Rosa Parks/Rosa”
Nonfiction & Informational Text:
“A Different Kind of Competition”
Writing:
Comparison-Contrast Essay – Focus: MLA Citation
III.) Setting, Mood, & Imagery
Literature:
“A Christmas Memory,” “Through the Tunnel,” “The Cask of Amontillado”
Nonfiction & Informational Text: “Wilderness Letter”
IV.) Theme & Symbol
Literature:
“The Scarlet Ibis,” “Poem on Returning to Dwell in the Country/My Heart Leaps UP,” “The Sun,”
“Two Kinds,” “Rice & Rose Bowl Blues”
Novel: To Kill a Mockingbird
Writing:
Literary Analysis – Focus: Developing independent research questions
Throughout each unit, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling will be stressed and practiced in accordance with the writing assignments students will complete throughout each unit theme/topic.
Grammar Outline - Grammar will be taught directly on an “as needed” basis while the remaining requirements will be completed individually.
1st 6-weeks: 2nd 6-weeks:
Unit 1: Parts of Speech Unit 5 Test: Subject-Verb Agreement
Section Test 1.1: Nouns and Pronouns
Section Test 1.2: Verbs, Adverbs, Adjectives
Section Test 1.3: Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Unit 6 Test: Capitalization
Interjections
Unit 2: Parts of the Sentence Unit 7: Punctuation, Abbreviations,
Section Test 2.1: Subjects and Predicates and Numbers
Section Test 2.2: Complements Section 7.1 Test: Colon and Semicolon
Section 7.2 Test: Comma
Unit 3 Test: Prepositional and Appositive Phrases Section 7.3 Test: Quotation Marks and
Italics/Underlining
Unit 4 Test: Main and Subordinate Clauses Section 7.4 Test: Dash and Hyphen
Accessing E-edition of Literature
· Go to www.classzone.com.
· Click on High School Language Arts and IN.
· Click on find your book.
· Click on online book.
· When prompted, enter the access code for your textbook, which is 2510354-20.
· You will then need to set up an account for yourself.
· Write your user name and password in your binder.
* Please fill out the following form and return it t by 8/21/2009
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By signing this form, I hereby state that I have read the policies listed above and understand the terms that they discuss regarding classroom procedures, disciplinary actions, and absences from school, grading scale, and the text book policy. In order to keep students accountable for textbook return at the end of the semester, each student will be held financially responsible for the books he/she is given. The cost for the Literature and Writing & Grammar books is $77.01 per book. The price of the novel is a replacement or $15 otherwise. If a book is lost or severely damaged due to improper use by a student, he/she must pay the appropriate dollar amount before the school will release that student’s final grades.
X____________________________________ Date___________________
Student’s Signature
__________________________________
Student’s Email (Please Print Neatly)
X____________________________________ Date___________________
Parent/Guardian’s Signature
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Parent/Guardian’s Email