Classroom Information & Expectations
English 8
1516
Mrs. Ross, Room 308
I.
Notebook
A.
You need an English notebook (3-ring binder). Label it English and bring it to class DAILY.
1. Pockets within the notebook help.
2. A larger binder is easier to organize than a smaller one.
B.
It should be organized in a way that enables you to find materials quickly. There are 5 different
types of materials you will deal with:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
C.
II.
Name:
Period:
Date:
General Information
Literature
Composition
Grammar
Vocabulary
Expect a notebook quiz every marking period.
Homework
A sad but true fact of life.
A.
There will be some homework every day. Your assignments will be written under Homework in
the row for your class period on the board.
B.
Write down assignments in your assignment book!
C.
I have a web page on the district site; please use it! I summarize the day’s activities, list any
handouts or graded items due that day, and note the homework assignment. Look it up and
write it down!
There is a notebook on the counter that will contain the same information as the web page.
I will keep most worksheets and handouts on the counter or on the back table. Check the web
page/notebook and find the appropriate handouts. See me if you can’t find something that was
handed out.
D.
E.
You are responsible for making up everything you miss, graded or not.
You are responsible to pick up anything that was handed out on a day you were absent.
The number of days absent = the number of days to receive credit for completed assignments. Assignments
not made up within that time frame become zeroes.
Classroom Expectations, p. 2
III.
Name:
Grading
A.
B.
C.
D.
IV.
1415
All points you earn on tests, quizzes, and other assignments will be totaled at the end of each
marking period. The points you earned divided by the total points possible in the marking
period = your percentage.
How will homework be graded?
Some assignments will be worth points while other assignments, vocabulary in particular, may
be checked rather than graded individually. These homework “checks” will be worth 3 points
for each day’s completed assignment. The points will show that you made a serious effort,
completed the homework, and are prepared for class. Building guidelines require that points
allotted for homework not exceed 15% of the marking period grade.
What about late assignments?
1. Graded assignments: 10% will be deducted for each day late. Some assignments, however,
will have non-negotiable deadlines, which means I won’t accept them at all after the deadline
given. This usually applies to things due near the end of a marking period.
2. Non-graded assignments (some vocabulary homework, worksheets, etc.): These
assignments only earn points if they are complete on the day they are due. If you don’t bring
a completed assignment to class, you will receive a zero for that day’s assignment.
What about tests and quizzes?
1. Notice for upcoming tests and projects will be written on the board under Homework as well
as on my web page at least 3 days ahead of time. ‘B’, ‘D’, AND ‘F’ days are the testing days for
English. Tests covering new material that will take more than half of the class period to
complete can only be given on ‘B’, ‘D’, and ‘F’ days.
2. Except for an occasional pop quiz, notice for quizzes will be written on the board at least 1
day before the quiz.
Making up work
A.
B.
If you are absent for a test, quiz or graded assignment, it will be listed on my web page and in
the assignment notebook on the counter. YOU must schedule a time to make up missed work.
If you have an excused absence or lateness for only one day, be prepared to take a test or quiz
or to hand in any assignment due on your first day back to school. Generally, the number of
days allowed for making up work will equal the number of school days missed. Any graded
item not made up within this time will become a zero. See me if you need me to make an
exception.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ARRANGE TO MAKE UP WORK.
Classroom Expectations, p. 3 1415
V.
Name:
Miscellaneous
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
I do give pop quizzes occasionally, especially for assignments that are usually checked but not
graded. Sometimes simply bringing your English notebook, your Reader’s/Writer’s notebook
and your vocabulary book will be worth a pop quiz grade for preparation.
I do give some opportunities for extra credit. Finding current or past “target” vocabulary terms,
used in appropriate sentence context, in published, printed, non-English class material will earn
1 point each, up to 5 points per marking period. You will need to make a copy of the page,
highlight the vocabulary word, and write your name, class period, and date on it in order for it
to be considered for extra credit. I don’t accept duplicate items, but you may find the same
word in different contexts. Keep your eyes open! I also give extra credit for finding printed
errors in any grammatical concept we have covered during the year (2 points each, up to 10
points per marking period). Read critically and use your editing skills! The deadline for
submitting extra credit is 1 academic cycle before the last day of the marking period. In the
fourth marking period, the deadline for submitting extra credit is 1 academic cycle before the
English final exam.
If you are unable to print out an assignment in time, attach it in an email so I can print it out for
you. Contact me at: rossje@npenn.org and attach your paper as a Word document if possible.
Please check my web page if you need to find out what an assignment was. I include links for as
many documents as I can so you can print them out if needed.
If there is anything you don’t understand throughout the year, please see me.
I’m looking forward to getting to know you as we work together for a great year.
Cordially,
Mrs. Ross
Notes:
Eighth Grade English Syllabus 1516
Mrs. Ross
Literature
Textbook:
Name:
The Language of Literature, McDougal Littell
Fiction, non-fiction, and poetry selections
Individual texts for English Grade 8, all levels:
The Outsiders, S. E. Hinton
Our Town, Thornton Wilder Pulitzer Prize (1938)
English 8 5.0
“Flowers for Algernon,” Daniel Keyes (short story)
Chains
English 8 6.0 H
Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury
Chains, Laurie Halse Anderson
English 8 6.0 HP
Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson
or
The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara
Pulitzer Prize (1975)
The Merchant of Venice or A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare
Chains, Laurie Halse Anderson (as independent read)
Writing:
Keystone-based argumentative, informational, and narrative prompts
Grammar:
Common Core Concepts
Agreement: Subject/ Verb; Pronoun/ Antecedent
Pronoun Case
Dependent Clauses & Sentence Structure
Verbals and Verbal Phrases: participles, gerunds, infinitives
Verb Usage: appropriate tense and tense consistency, irregular verbs, active and passive voice
Vocabulary:
Vocabulary Workshop
English 8 5.0
Level C
Public Speaking:
English 8 6.0 H and English 8 6.0 HP
Level D
Poetry recitations
Period: