Ninth Grade Language Arts Syllabus 2012
Instructor: April Noke
Email: anoke@rocklinacademy.org
Ninth grade language arts will prepare you for the rigorous course work that awaits you as an
upperclassman in AP courses. The class content is designed to aide you in mastering the
California State/Common Core Standards. We will accomplish this through literary analysis,
academic writing, public speaking, and critical thinking and by studying the conventions and
roots of the English language.
Materials







1 three ring binder with tab dividers (1-2 inch will do)
Loose-leaf paper for binder
1 pencil case (this can be one that goes in your binder or a separate pouch)
Pencils
Blue or black pens
Pack of multiple colored highlighters
Flash drive
Texts
These texts have been chosen because of their importance in the literary cannon and due to their
recommendation by the College Board. As a college preparatory course you are expected to
work with your texts. We will learn how to annotate and read critically. For this reason it is
necessary that you have your own copy of the novels. If you are unable to purchase your own
copies please see me individually. Both of the plays by Shakespeare are available as Dover
Thrift Editions on Amazon.com.. The other three novels are available at Discountbooksale.com
for reduced prices as well. Amazon.com sells all of the novels and some are available as “mass
market paperbacks” for reduced prices on their website. The texts are listed in the order that we
will be studying them. By the time you arrive in class you should have already finished
Huckleberry Finn.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Writing
In this class we will write narrative, expository, persuasive, critical analysis and descriptive
papers. We will also complete a large research unit. During the research unit students will learn
to effectively search the internet for reliable sources, how to summarize and paraphrase
correctly, and proper documentation styles as used in both APA and MLA formats.
Language and Vocabulary
We will study grammar and mechanics as part of ninth grade language arts. This will include the
study of phrases, clauses, and punctuation. Students will also study vocabulary throughout the
course. Along with vocabulary, students will learn Latin and Greek roots.
Grading Policy
The only recorded grades in this class will be summative assessments for standards mastery.
Summative assessments include essays, projects, presentations, vocabulary and
grammar/mechanics tests, and final exams. In the event that a student fails to show mastery on a
summative assessment he or she will only be allowed to take a new test or complete a new
project if ALL homework, class work, and reviews leading up to that assessment have been
completed. Please note that the re-takes will be a different test. They will still assess the same
skills, but will have different questions and most likely a different format.
Assessments
The following are summative assessments that will be used to determine if you have achieved
mastery of numerous standards.They are listed in the order they will be completed. When we
begin a new unit of study you will receive a rubric for the specific assessments to be completed.
Each unit of study will include many formative assessments to help me determine if I am
teaching you the way you need to be taught, and if I am communicating effectively. The
formative assessments are not listed and will change as I learn more about the needs of my
students. If there is a major change to a summative assessment, I will send it out to parents via
email.
Huck Finn:

One formal written assessment - A critique of various published literary analysis of the
novel - This is both a supported opinion piece and a guided research piece.
Bless Me Ultima:


One formal written assessment – character analysis,
One creative project with oral presentation – The Destiny Project
Things Fall Apart:


One formal written assessment – analysis of theme,
One opinion project – Hero or Villain
Unit test over conventions and vocabulary
Research Unit: Contemporary issues research paper. This will incorporate opinion and
supporting evidence from scholarly journals and newspapers. Along with the paper will be a
second assessment, a formal speech persuading the audience to believe the opinion of the
speaker.
Romeo and Juliet:

One creative written assessment – script re-write
A Midsummer Night’s Dream:


One creative assessment – a photo essay,
One formal written assessment – a comparison Shakespeare’s treatment of a similar
theme in both plays
To Kill A Mockingbird:

One creative written assessment – character diary project
Second unit test over conventions and vocabulary
Behavior
As a class we will create a student behavior contract. This is school, and class is an academic
setting. As such, there are certain norms that we must follow in order for all students to learn and
interact in a safe and friendly environment. All rules set forth in the Western Sierra handbook
will apply in class.
Other Notes
Food is allowed in class as long as it is light snacking on healthy foods. Please do not bring an
entire sack of fast food to eat in class. There is no sharing of food as this leads to distraction.
Beverages are allowed in class as long as they are in a container with a resealable lid or cap. No
cans. No sodas or “energy” drinks such as Red Bull or Monster.
Smiles welcomed and encouraged
The study of literature and writing is the study of self. In literature we see who we strive to
become and who we hope never to become. Writing encourages us to express ourselves in a
variety of ways for a variety of purposes. This class should be enjoyable. It will be rigorous and
require you to be on top of your game, but should also allow you to be yourself and to grow as an
individual.
We have read the syllabus for ninth grade language arts and we understand the class
expectations and procedures.
__________________________________
___________________________________
Student’s printed name
Student’s signature
__________________________________
____________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s printed name
Parent/Guardian’s signature
______________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s best contact number and email