Huntsville Freshman Academy
Kathleen W. Dotts
kathleen.dotts@hsv-k12.org/ website: dottsenglish.com
English 9 Regular Course Description
Objectives:
The student will develop the skills of writing paragraphs. Capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and usage will
be reviewed and mastered in accordance with the Huntsville High School English Department schedule.
Vocabulary will be expanded using the study of Greek and Latin stems and context clues. The student will be
expected to learn the characteristics of the four major genres of literature and the primary literary techniques
used to convey “sound and sense.”
Essential Functions:
Each student must be able to do the following:
*independently complete the work assigned
*follow the teacher’s verbal and written directions
*behave in a way that is compatible with the learning environment
*work with others in cooperative learning groups
*know and use correctly the rules of capitalization and punctuation and grammar and usage.
*improve writing skills by writing every week
*improve critical thinking skills
*expand vocabulary by studying Greek and Latin stems and mastering critical reading skills
*know and use a literary vocabulary
*enhance the ability to respond openly and creatively to poetry
*improve the ability to read closely and actively
*recognize common allusions used in western literature and culture
*learn to take organized notes on literature
English 12 Syllabus
Grading
Each assignment will be weighted according to difficulty and complexity. Extra credit will not be given to
individual students; however, opportunities for extra credit will be given during the course of each quarter.
Approved books that are read during the school year will be worth one point on the quarter’s average. A
maximum of three points may be so earned every nine weeks.
According to the Modern Language Association, ”plagiarism refers to a taking of the product of another
person’s mind and presenting it as one’s own.” Plagiarism is unacceptable and any student who plagiarizes will
receive a zero for that assignment.
Late work and make up work
All work is due on the assigned day at the beginning of the class period. Work that is turned in late during the
class period will have twenty-five points taken off. Work that is turned in a day late will have twenty-five
points taken off. Tests missed due to an excused absence must be made up within ten school days or less.
Assigned work is due the day of the student’s return. Character passes are given out at the beginning of each
semester. These passes may be used to forgive late work or, if it is not used, for extra credit.
Behavior
Each student is expected to come to class with the required tools and an open and inquiring mind. Each student
is expected to be respectful and courteous to the teacher, any substitute teachers, the staff, and other students.
Supplies
One one and a half inch three ring binder
Loose leaf paper
A set of pockets and a set of dividers for the binders
A pocket folder to be used to turn in paragraphs; decorate this pocket folder to reflect your character
Black pens
A charged thinkpad
At home or on a computer there should be a dictionary (to be used instead of mommy or daddy) and a
thesaurus.
In order to teach the skill of critical reading and thinking and note taking, I will routinely pass out charts and
questions will be assigned that require the student to pay attention to certain concepts AS he reads and to take
specific notes and commentary on literary techniques and concepts lectured on and discussed in class. I
promise, I will assign NO busy work. The filling out of the charts and questions is training to listen, to read
critically with focus, to organize, and to think. These charts are a first and essential step to the writing of the
paragraphs.
Time Management, Required Reading, and Parental Oversight
The focus of this course is to provide the student with training in close reading, critical thinking, using an adept
literary vocabulary, and writing organized and clear paragraphs. In addition, time management becomes a
significant focus of this course. As a ninth grader, your student will require close supervision at the beginning
of the year. As the year continues, your supervision should become looser in order to grant the responsibility to
the student. This proto-syllabus is designed to aid you and your student in planning. Do note, however, the
dates may shift as time demands because there will be classes shortened as well as blocked due to all kinds of
exams. If you and your child determine there is an impossibility of meeting the class schedule, do not despair!
Simply advise me of the conflict, whether it deals with a family event or a soccer tournament or a dance
competition. As long as I am advised ahead of time, I will work with any student to reschedule.
Please help me train your child in academic responsibility and time management. If my students do not turn in
written work, I can not help them improve those critical thinking, reading and writing skills so very important to
the successes of their lives. Please acknowledge your receipt and understanding of this policy where indicated
on the next page and return to me tomorrow. As always, I encourage your comments and questions.
I have read and I understand all of the parameters and expectations outlined on the preceeding two pages.
I am looking forward to another year of most masrvelous literature and ideas with ninth graders who are poised
at the brink of adult intellectual curiosity and passion. I do hope both you and your student share my sense of
anticipation,
Kathleen W. Dotts
Student Acknowledgement ______________________________________________________
Parent Acknowledgement ______________________________________________
August 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
9
16
3
10
17
4
Introduction to the
course including
handouts and
verbal instructions
5
11
12
18
Diagnostic test
19
Miss Lane and
Tupac share the
birthday of 6/16
23
30
6
7
Vocabulary test
and sentences
#31
In class assertion
on the hero:
identify the hero
using description
13
14
Vocabulary test
and work on
context clues
In class assertion
on “The Devil Went
Down to Georgia”
20
21
#31-32 voc. Test
and sentences #32
In class assertion
on Tupac’s “A Rose
in Concrete”
24
25
26
27
28
Introduction to
STAR WARS
Purpose is to teach
the archetype and
the archetypal
hero
Mrs. Dotts and
George Lucas
share the birthday
of 5/14
Voc. Test and work
on context clues
In class assertion
31
Turn in summer
reading projects
Mrs. McBeth and the
CIA share the same
birthday of 6/20
8
15
22
29
September 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
Friday
3
4
#31-33voc.test
&sentences
In class writing
Saturday
5
Prep for in class
writing
6
7
8
9
Labor Day
13
14
15
16
10
11
Voc. Test and work
on context clues
In class writing
17
18
#31-34 voc.test
and sentences
In class writing
12
19
Prep for writing
20
27
21
28
22
29
23
30
24
25
Voc test and work
on context clues
In class writing
26
October 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Friday
2
Saturday
3
Test on STAR WARS
4
5
FALL BREAK
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
The short story
unit is designed to
ensure the
student is
competent to
aanlyze
Columbus Day
Character, setting,
language, conflict
and making
inferences.
H.W. Reader’s
response on “The
Most Dangerous
Game”
Review of
vocabulary #31-34
Test on “The Most
Dangerous Game"
Prep for writing
In class writing
20
21
22
24
H.W. Reader’s
response on “The
Sniper”
#35 voc.test and
sentences
In class writing
Take home test on
“The Sniper”
23
Half day
28
29
30
31
H.W. Reader’s
response on the
article, “The Man in
the Water”
Voc. Test and work
on context clues
Test on “The Man in
the Water”
Halloween
18
25
19
26
27
Prep on in class
writing
November 2015
Sunday
1
Monday
2
Tuesday
3
Wednesday
4
Thursday
Friday
5
6
#36 voc.test and
sentences
Test on “The Secet
Life of Walter Mitty”
Saturday
7
In class writing
8
15
22
29
9
16
10
11
12
13
H.W.Reader’s
response on “The
Geeks Shall Inherit
the Earth”
Veterans Day
Voc. Test and work
on context clues
Analysis of “The
Ex-Basketball
Player”
17
18
19
20
H.W.Reader’s
response on
“Harrison
Bergeron”
#31-37 voc. Test
and sentences
Test on “Harrison
Bergeron”
25
BREAK
26
27
Thanksgiving Day
Black Friday
23
24
THANKSGIV IVING
30
Cyber Monday
14
21
In class writing
28
December 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
2
H.W. reader’s
response of “Every
day Use”
Thursday
on voc. 3
Test on voc. And
work on context
clues
Friday
Saturday
4
5
11
12
18
19
Test on “Everday
Use”
In class writing
6
7
Review
13
14
The quilts are hung
20
15
EXAMS: 1st and
2nd periods
21
WINTER
27
8
Work on the quilt
22
9
Representing the
qualities of the
hero
10
Review of #31-37
16
EXAMS: 3rd and 4th
periods
23
17
EXAMS: 5th and
sixth periods
EXAMS: 7th period
24
BREAK
28
25
Christmas Day
29
30
31
26
January 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
45
6
10 11
12
Friday
Saturday
7
Webquest for Homer Power point on THE
ODYSSEY
and THE ODYSSEY
TEACHER
WORKDAY
Thursday
Review #31-37
13 14
1
2
8
9
15
16
Voc.test and work on In class writing
context clues
17 18
19
Martin Luther King
20 21
22
23
#31-38 voc. Test and In class paragraph
sentences
Prep for paragraph
24
25
26
27 28
Vocabulary based on
context clues
31
29
30
February 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
34
#31-39 vocabulary
test and sentences
Friday
Saturday
5
6
In class paragraph
Prep for paragraph
78
9
10
Finishing touches on The board game based On THE ODYSSEY
14 15
Introduction: Dr.
Suess’s “Sneeches”
and the article on
microaggression
21
22
11
PLAY!!!
16
17
18
Intro to Harper Lee
Read in class chapter
one. Review plot,
characters, imagery
and plot.
Obama’s eulogy for
the nine
Review rhetorical
devices and appeals
The power of words
and names: “Once
Riding in . . “Read c1
and discuss in class
23
24 25
#31-40 voc. And
sentences
Phrase poem on a
character
28
29
12
13
Test on THE
ODYSSEY
19
20
26
27
March 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Thursday
Friday
23
Saturday
4
5
#31-41 voc. Test and Of two strong mensentences
Tom Robinson and
Kipling’s “East is
Atticus Finch
East” and discussion
67
8
9 10
“I Have a Dream”
Analysis of rhetorical
devices and appeals
13
11
12
voc. Test and context Paragraph on TKaM
clues
on the hero, the
mockingbird, or the
dream
14
15
16
17 18
19
Test on TO KILL A
MOCKINGBIRD
20 21SPRING
22
BREAK
27 28
29
The study of ROMEO Tragedy, the tragic
AND JULIET focuses hero, the conflict
on the study of the
between fate and
character
23
24
30
31
And the power of
figurative language
Review #31-41
25
26
April 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
3
4
5
67
8
2
9
Voc. Test and context in class paragraph
clues
10
11
12
13 14
15
16
#31-42 voc. Test and
sentences
17
18
19
20 21
#31-42 voc.test and
sentences
24
25
26
27 28
#31-43 voc.test and
sentences
22
23
In class paragraph
29
30
May 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
3
89
4
10
Friday
Saturday
56
Test on ROMEO AND
JULIET
11 12
The study of character
Start with Sojourner
Truth’s”Ain’t I
aWoman”
15
Thursday
13
7
14
Voc test and context
clues
16
17
18 19
20
21
Last paragraph on the Test on poetry and
hero!
the hero
22 23
EXAMS: 1st and 2nd
periods
29
30
24
25
26
EXAMS: 3rd and 4th
periods
EXAMS: 5th and 6th
periods
7th period EXAM
31
27
28