MRS. CORN’S ENGLISH PROCEDURES
Materials for Honors English 9
-Dobson Handbook/Planner
-1 single subject 8 ½ x 11 college-ruled spiral notebook (*it’s possible you
may need to replace it at semester depending on wear*)
-favorite writing utensils for everyday use
-2 glue sticks or a roll of scotch tape (you’ll need to replenish these as they
run out)
-1 box of Kleenex (donate for classroom use)
-a 5 pocket accordion file folder
-Animal Farm by George Orwell by Nov. 1st
-To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee by March 15th
(*When we read novels, it’s imperative that students have a way to
access the text at home on their own. The best way to do that is to
purchase your own copy, thereby allowing for students to
underline and write notes in their own books. If that’s not
possible, please make note of that on the Parent Acknowledgement
portion of the syllabus and a copy of the book can be provided).
Grading Scale & Grade Breakdown
-1st semester final exams are December 17 and 18 and early final exams
are not permitted. 2nd semester final exams are May 25 and 26.
-Semester grades are cumulative. Every assignment given in 1st and 2nd
quarter will be part of the 1st semester grade. Then, every assignment
given in 3rd and 4th quarter will be part of the 2nd semester grade.
-Assignments are weighted by category:
-Writing = 40% - includes draft work as well as final drafts
-Assignments = 25% - NB checks, DGP exercises, vocab
homework, on-time writing points, and any smaller assignments
-Quizzes & Tests = 25% - vocab quizzes, DGP quizzes, reading
check quizzes
-Participation = 10% - signed syllabus forms or grade reports,
Socratic seminars, daily planner writing and verbal class responses
Behavior Guidelines
-Respect everyone and everything around you (people’s feelings, opinions,
possessions)
-Be on time with stuff (see Materials list)
-Be on task from bell to bell (teacher dismisses)
-Do your best work
-Technology is AWAY and SILENT unless teacher allows its use.
-All Dobson rules enforced (see handbook)
MRS. CORN’S ENGLISH PROCEDURES
Consequences
-Warning
-Cell phone goes to “cell phone cage”
-Lunch Detention or seat change
-Time out from class room and parent contact
-Administrative referral
*I reserve the right to call home at any time.
Info on Upcoming Assignments
-Homework deadlines will be written in the Dobson planner daily and
updated on my classroom website. The link is
http://www.mpsaz.org/dobson/staff/mbcornelius/class6/calendar/
Check this calendar when you’re absent. Links to handouts will be posted.
-In addition, a NB tab has been created that will contain an ongoing list of
assignments/handouts and page numbers so students can catch up.
http://www.mpsaz.org/dobson/staff/mbcornelius/class6/notebook/
-Grades can be accessed through the MPS Portal, and I expect to update
the portal weekly depending upon the number and type of assignments to
be graded. Small homework assignments will mostly be compiled and
graded at notebook checks.
-Larger essays or tests may take up to 1 week or longer to grade and input.
I promise to be as fast as we can.
-Upon returning from an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to
consult the class website and make-up folders near the doorway for any
handouts. I only provide enough copies for the number of my students.
Extra help
-I am available for tutoring during lunchtime on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday.
-Students should ask for passes from me before the lunch period in
question and then use them as passes into the building.
-Students should eat lunch first and then come in to work.
-I can make myself available before school if lunch doesn’t work. Please
make an appointment with me so I am sure to be in the classroom.
Before Bell Rings & First Few Minutes of Class
Be in seat before bell rings
Electronics Away
Get out materials – pen/pencil, planner, English notebook
Identify homework assignments and deadlines from power point slide and
record them in the planner.
Noise stops – start DGP (Daily Grammar Practice) and attach any NB
handouts.
MRS. CORN’S ENGLISH PROCEDURES
Closure to Lesson
Stay in seat (I dismiss you, not bell)
Corn closure – Daily reminders and close to lesson
Objective check – may be a ticket out of class or a question that I ask to
see if we achieved our objective
Pick up around you
Planner
-Write HW assignments and due dates in their corresponding due date
boxes and highlight.
-Will be checked every Friday for participation points
Notebook
-You will need ONE single-subject 8 ½ x 11 college-ruled single subject
spiral notebook. Invest in a sturdy one (Five Star are best). It comes to
class EVERY day! Just keep it in your backpack at all times. If yours
falls apart by the semester, you might need to replace it, but hopefully it
lasts the whole year and will be chock full of great English stuff by the
end 
-All notes, reference handouts, and assignments will be in this notebook
and pages will be numbered.
-Handouts will be trimmed and glued in on specific page numbers.
-Notebooks will be checked periodically (about every 2 weeks) throughout
each quarter for correct content and thoughtful reflection as well as
neatness and organization. NB checks will always be 50 points. (See NB
rubric & requirements handout – this will be in assembled NB).
-Homework or classwork assignments will be stamped to indicate timely
completion. Assignments without stamps will not receive full credit.
Homework Procedures
-Homework is due at the beginning of the hour and will be stamped in the
notebook to indicate timely completion and eligibility for full credit.
-Homework assignments will vary in length. Some will be short review
activities based on concepts learned in class; some will be lengthier
writings or research activities or extended reading. All will be graded
either in the notebook checks throughout the unit or submitted
individually.
-Work that is part of the Assignments category (NB checks, vocab
homework, DGP worksheets) is expected to be turned in ON TIME. It
will not be accepted late! Activities that are attached in the NB will get
stamps on their due dates which make them eligible for full credit when a
NB check comes. No stamps? No full credit. You should still complete
the activities as some points can be earned for the content, you’ll just miss
out on the timeliness aspect.
MRS. CORN’S ENGLISH PROCEDURES
-Since writing effectively is such a huge part of English, larger
assignments (ones in the Writing category) will be accepted late. As an
incentive to submit assignments on time; however, there will be an On
Time Assignment grade whenever a final essay is due. If the final essay
comes in on time, the student receives an easy 50 points (or whatever total
teacher determines) in the Assignment category of his/her grade. If the
essay isn’t in On Time, that score will be a 0. Essays can still be
submitted – you will simply forfeit the On Time score. Plan Ahead! Pay
attention to due dates! Earn the On Time points!
-If you need to print assignments at school – be advised that the Media
Center is now charging $.05 per page.  Their printers go through toner
fast and there’s just not enough $$ to give everyone 3 pages free each time
they print. So print AT HOME or share your document with a friend to
print for you or if you’re panicking at the last minute, share the document
with me and that will at least let you earn the on-time points until you can
figure out a way to print. I CANNOT be expected to print essays for you
– that will interrupt valuable class time – sorry .
-When we visit the Media Center as a class, this requirement is waived
and you may print your assignment while in class.
Oral Assessments & Participation Points
-During class, there will be occasions where I will call on students to read
either answers from an assignment we’ve worked on or portions of their
writing. These oral assessments accomplish a few things (1) they ensure
that everyone is working diligently and capable of answering any question
at any time and (2) they allow me to give necessary feedback right at the
moment so students can fix errors AND oral answers may also give other
students ideas of how to improve their writing and (3) they allow students
to practice speaking skills. These assessments will be recorded as
participation points. Students who don’t have an answer will be revisited
during that class period after they’ve had a chance to formulate or correct
their answer. Students not prepared for the oral assessments may not
receive full credit.
-Planner points will also be factored into this category of the grade which
is 10% of their overall grade.
-Things like Socratic seminar participation, syllabus acknowledgement
forms or signed grade report forms will also fall into this category of the
gradebook.
-Students will also periodically complete Participation Evaluations to
assess their contributions and efforts in class. Those scores will appear in
the Participation category of their grade.
Leaving the Classroom Procedures
-See Hall pass procedures handout in NB for more specific information.
MRS. CORN’S ENGLISH PROCEDURES
Turnitin & Academic Honesty
-turnitin.com is a plagiarism checker website that all students will be
required to utilize. I will take you to the Media Center to set up your
account and we’ll make sure that you know how to do each step before
you submit an assignment.
-Students should complete their OWN work. This is especially true in the
Writing category, but extends to all work (DGP exercises, vocabulary
assignments, NB assignments, etc. Please be advised that both a copier
and a “copiee” could receive 0’s on assignments that show evidence of
cheating. Seriously, it’s not worth it! Do your own work, and when you
do, be proud of it and don’t “lend” it out to friends.
MRS. CORN’S ENGLISH PROCEDURES
Syllabus Acknowledgment Portion
Directions: Please place appropriate check marks next to the boxes that
describe your situation. Then print and sign your name and return just this
last page with your student by __________________________. The
remainder of this syllabus should be stored in the Accordion File.
1.
Internet Access
_____ I confirm that my student will have Internet access at home, and should be able to
complete small research assignments and access Google Docs.
OR
_____ Internet access is not possible at this time. Student will need to plan for computer
time in Media Center.
2.
Remind101 – I have signed up for Remind101 which is a free service that
enables teachers to send group text messages to students without phone number
disclosure. If you would also like to receive the same text messages your students
will be receiving, please follow the instructions attached to the syllabus and
register so you can receive the messages. Your student will be signing up for this
in class.
3.
Please print and sign your name and have your student do the same below
acknowledging that you have read the procedures and will abide by them.
________________________________
(print Parent name – 1st and last)
____________________________
(print Student name – 1st and last)
________________________________
(Parent Signature)
____________________________
(Student Signature)
*Parents, please provide the best email address at which to reach you
________________________________________________
MRS. CORN’S ENGLISH PROCEDURES
(print email address here – legibly )