9(1) Language Arts
Mrs. Kirk
Room: B201
Phone: 610 627-6250 Homework Hotline: x8050
Email: mkirk@rtmsd.org
Website: Go to Rtmsd.org to Penncrest to eFaculty to Kirk
Class materials
•Three-ringed binder divided into the following sections: literature, vocabulary,
writing, grammar, and miscellaneous. This will serve as a folder and a notebook.
•Highlighters and post-it notes (the 1x2 or 2x2 size would be best)
Core readings:
 To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
 Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
 Night, Elie Wiesel
 The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
 Poetry unit
 Students will also read various articles and one self-selected novel per quarter.
Assessments (with approximate frequency and point values):
 Reading and literature notes, quizzes, responses (almost daily-10+ points)
 Vocabulary and grammar quizzes (weekly-30 points)
 Essay tests on core readings (100 points)
 Compositions (100 points)
 Self-selected book reports and or journals (one per quarter-100 points)
 Periodical criticisms / précis assignments (monthly-50 points)
 Spot-checked homework (2 points: 2=complete; 1= at least 50% complete)
 Class discussions, presentations, informal writing, blog postings, etc. …
Policies and Expectations:
 This class is intended to be challenging to the most able and serious
students. You can and should seek after-school help when needed. I am
available each day until at least 2:55.
 Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the announced
due date. Late assignments will be penalized or not accepted at all.
o Some homework will be collected and graded; some homework will
be spot checked for two points; some homework will not be reviews
in class but not cheeked for points. All work is valuable to your
learning regardless of its point value.
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o Computer and/or printer problems do not legitimize lateness. Be
resourceful: email the assignment to me, bring it in on disk, or write
by hand if necessary. If you have printer problems, email me the
work before school, and I will gladly print for you.
Absent students will be held responsible for checking the class website,
making arrangements to make up missed work, and taking announced tests
and submitting work due during the absence upon their return to school. If
the absence is planned, notify me and get the work you will miss. Students
present for any part of the school day are required to submit any assignments
due that day to my classroom or faculty mailbox.
Work that violates the school or class guidelines for academic integrity will
receive a zero and may not be made up.
Mobile devices should not be seen, heard, or used unless I directly give you
permission. Please ask for permission!
Students should abide by the following rules:
be punctual: be seated and ready to work when the bell rings; look for
directions or warm-up activities on the board
be prepared: have all materials with you (books, notes, pen…)
be polite: be respectful to all; act in a way that does not disturb the teaching
and learning
Academic Integrity: English Class Honor Code
Our objective this year is to reinforce or build the skills you’ll need for the rest of
your lives as critical thinkers and as readers and writers of the English language.
Learning comes from hard work. Cheating may help you earn a few points here
and there, but your grade will be hollow. At the end of the school year, you will
have gained nothing. Even worse, your personal integrity and reputation may be
tarnished.
I recognize that in many instances students cheat not because they are lazy or
indifferent, but because they are overwhelmed or struggling. If this is ever the case
for you, rather than violate the honor code, email me or see me so I can help you.
In June, I want you to feel a genuine sense of pride in the improvements you have
made and the integrity that you have preserved.
You can read our school’s academic integrity policy in your planner; in
addition to that policy, our class has two specific guidelines that will act as the
cornerstone of our work this year.
I. Read the work assigned—the actual books and articles.
The web has made it is easy, and tempting, to take short cuts when it comes to
assigned reading. However, reading or hearing a summary of a piece of literature
does not utilize the same mental muscles as actually reading the text and using
your brain to interpret and process the information. Furthermore, reading the
carefully crafted sentences of an author helps us build our vocabulary, vary our
sentence style, grasp grammar and usage, and appreciate the art that is writing.
Although sustaining focus or comprehending the text can be difficult, reading more
and often will build up these skills. If you are having difficulty understanding a
book or if your reading is taking a long time, please see me so I can offer help!
Some advice for completing assigned readings:
 Read when you feel alert. Don’t save reading as your last assignment of the
night.
 If you are given several days to complete a reading, set small goals and read
a bit each day. Take a minute to briefly summarize chunks of your reading.
 Use the note-taking techniques that will be taught in class (or others that you
may know).
 Keep in mind that even the best readers sometimes struggle. Reread tricky
passages and note questions on post-its.
 If you find that you are not interested in what you are reading, make the
book more interesting: Picture characters as people you already know, ask
yourself how the book applies to your experiences, critique the author’s
writing style as you read….
II. Your work should be your own.
A. Unless specifically directed, do not consult or use outside sources for class
assignments.
I am interested in your insights, questions, and interpretations; therefore, you do
not need to consult other sources. Unless it is noted otherwise, all assignments are
to be completed independently.
B. When outside sources are permitted or required, cite the information from
the source.
Any time you use an outside source you MUST include the source in a
bibliography and cite the source each time you use its ideas (even if you put those
ideas in your words). Furthermore, you must quote and cite the source each time
you use its exact words.
Examples:
Author’s exact words:
“Freshman year sets the tone for your high school career” (Graham 6).
Student’s summary of author’s idea:
The importance of freshman year cannot be underestimated (Graham 2).
*Under no circumstance should you copy and paste from a web source.
C. Do not allow others to copy your work and do not give others test
information. Do not put others into an uncomfortable position by asking
them to share answers or test information with you. Both the giver and
recipient of answers, homework, test information, etc. will receive a zero and their
parents will be notified. Keep the course fair for all students.
“Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many
people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing
that's wrong is to get caught.”
J.C. Watts
“Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.”
Sophocles
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”
Thomas Jefferson