Today we read the first scene and a half of Julius Caesar out loud in class. I was impressed by everyone's willingness to participate and was glad that none of you seem to suffer from Shakespearephobia, which often afflicts 9th graders.
As I mentioned in class, I was especially thrilled when, during one student's reading of a difficult passage, no one interrupted with corrections. Very often I have to start out the the year with a speech on respecting your peers, but it seems like you have an excellent sense of this already.
Of course, there were a lot of giggles and distractions, sometimes to the point of slowing down the work we were doing. But I'm pretty sure we can work out a way over the next few weeks, to work more efficiently without losing any of the terrific humor you all bring with you.
There is no homework over the weekend, as we are reading whole play in class. However, once we get good at doing the quotations worksheet (which we started today) you will continue working on it at home.
See you Tuesday!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
English 9 Syllabus
Essential Understandings for this course
Ninth grade English introduces students to new types of literature and new ways of thinking about it, then putting those new thoughts into words. Every one of us has struggled with writing in some way, and my class will be a supportive environment where you rely not just on me for guidance, but on each other.
This course will offer opportunities for you to see literature from new angles. It’s not so much the first reading, but rather the re-reading and specific focus on elements of literature where we will make our discoveries.
We will often discuss literature in groups, large and small. We will question the author’s purpose, examine things from varying points of view and learn how to connect our opinions to the support needed to make them credible.
Reading List
Points of View – an anthology of short stories
Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Goin
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
Grading Scale89.5-100% A |
|
Social Skills
Students in this class will work in pairs, small groups and as a whole class. Participation is essential, and we will work together to maintain a safe environment for learning and exchanging ideas. In the first week of class, we will do some work to establish our norms (a sort of code of behavior during class, but one we can all agree on up front). By adhering to these norms, and by knowing when to suggest they be changed, we will develop strong communication and social skills.
Study Skills
There are many pathways to understanding literature. Your job will be to find what pathways work for you. When you find that something is not working (“I did all the reading, but I can’t remember any of it!”) we will need to discover new methods, such as making brief notes after every three pages, reading out loud, or supplementing the reading with a video that helps you see what the story looks like.
We will also work on notebook organization – so that your backpack doesn’t look like mine did in high school (as if someone had dumped the contents of a paper shredder inside). For the essay assignments, there will be a number of graphic organizers available, and we will find which one works best for you.
Some of us develop study skills through trial and error. Errors we can deal with, but your key responsibility here is to always be willing to try a new method.
Late Work Policy
Meeting deadlines is an important aspect of this class and of classes you will take in the future. When you get to college, it will be much more difficult to get extensions on assignments, so it’s good idea to work on this now.
Multi day assignments that require some work at home will usually have two due dates.
- The earlier date marks the amount of time most students at your grade level should need to complete the project or essay.
- The second due date will be later (usually about a week) and if this is an accommodation you need, you may take the extra time. If you do not turn your project in on the first due date, I will speak with you, and probably your advisor, to let them know you are using this extra time to do your work.
There is no penalty for missing the first due date. However, if you fail to turn in an assignment by the second due date, your grade for that assignment will be lowered 10% for each class period that it is late, but the penalty will not go past -30% no matter when it is turned in.
In-class assignments
In-class assignments begin and end in a single class period. Generally this work cannot be taken home. The reason for this is to build your skills of adapting to various learning situations and working with your peers. I will create a safe, minimum-stress environment for this to occur, and your half of the bargain will be to produce work that shows effort.
Problems may arise with individual class work and group work. Please be patient with this and honest about what you think is needed to get past the problem and get on with the work.
Homework
Most homework assignments will simply be reading. We will usually be working on a novel or short stories, and for each class meeting you will be expected to have read 15-30 pages at home. These assignments are connected only to the quiz grade. But there will be some short worksheets or writing assignments that you take home, and these will apply to the 10% of your grade that covers homework.
Essays and Projects
You will write at least two long essays each semester, and several shorter writings. Because the essays are re-written two, sometimes three times, you will receive several grades for one essay. The shorter assignments will be paragraphs, which will be structured like mini-essays.
Projects will require about the same amount of work as essays. These assignments will be handed out with detailed criteria two or three weeks before the due date.
Class participation and Behavior
The surest way to get credit for class participation is to be an active contributor in all class discussions. A contribution can be an insight, idea, a question, or simply speaking up when you don’t understand something. However, if you are not ready to jump in, you can participate in other ways, such as helping or seeking out help from one other student, doing research on our topic that can benefit the whole class, or perhaps you will think up something I haven’t…
Behavior is connected to this grade as well. If you treat your teacher and fellow students with respect, you will get full marks in this area.
Quizzes
Quizzes are frequent but very low key and will pertain only to reading. Sometimes the quizzes will be multiple-choice, other times I will ask for short answers. We will have a short quiz almost every time reading is assigned, so they are not announced in advance; if you’ve done the assigned reading, you will pass the quiz.
Tests
To be honest, I don’t like to give tests. But the rest of the world does, including college classes, so we will need to do it for practice. Tests will always be announced at least a week in advance. The questions will be similar to the type you might find on a test for a college class, and you will answer in writing (not multiple choice or true/false).
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)