ENGLISH 9 SYLLABUS 2011-2012
Instructor: Mr. Dorflinger
Heritage College-Ready Academy
English 9/Room 117
E-mail: jdorflinger@laalliance.org
School Phone: (323) 481-1961
Office Hours: Tues./Thurs. 3:45-4:45
Course Objective
The objective for English 9 is for students to develop into proficient, analytical readers, creative, thoughtprovoking writers, and curious, critical thinkers through their mastery of the content standards.
Course Description
This school year, students will begin to develop a mastery of the California State Content Standards for
English 9. There will be five main focuses of the course: oral language, research, reading, writing, and technological literacy. Students will develop their interpersonal communication skills during class discussions, oral presentations, dramatic readings, and group activities. Students will develop an understanding for responsible use of multimedia through their use of technology and Internet research.
This year students will analyze several readings on a variety texts including, but not limited to short stories, essays, poems, novels, and plays. Students will engage in a variety of writing assignments to learn about the writing process and further develop their writing skills. They will learn to express their creativity through narrative and poetry writing, improve their research and organization skills through expository writing, develop an understanding on how to effectively convey arguments objectively through persuasive writing, and through all forms of writing the students will learn to develop their unique voice.
Standards
Students in English 9 are being instructed based on the California State Standards for English/Language
Arts. To view these Standards view this website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/enggrades9-10.asp
Course Outline
1 st Semester
Unit 1 – Reading, Writing, and Presenting Narratives
Unit 2 – Exploring Poetry
Unit 3 – Short Stories
Unit 4 – Writing and Presenting Description
Unit 5 – Understanding the Foundations of Functional Documents
Unit 6 – The Function and Power of Persuasion
2 nd Semester
Unit 7 – Writing and Presenting a Short Research Report
Unit 8 – In the News
Unit 9 – Drama
Unit 10 – Writing a Business Letter
Unit 11 – Mythology and Its Influence on Language and Literature
Unit 12 – Research
Readings
Unit 1 - Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Unit 4 -
Unit 9 -
Hunger Games by Susan Collins
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Unit 11 – The Odyssey by Homer (concluding)
Required Materials
Students are responsible for bringing the following materials to class everyday.
1.
1 Composition Book
2.
1 Spiral Notebook
3.
Writing Utensils (pencils, black/blue pens, highlighters)
4.
1 Folder or Notebook with dividers for handouts
5.
Earphones/Headphones
6.
Novel – Hunger Games by Susan Collins (optional)
1

ENGLISH 9 SYLLABUS 2011-2012
Academic Expectations
Students are expected to show up to class everyday on time, with a positive attitude, prepared, and eager to learn.
Homework:
Homework will be assigned at the teacher’s discretion everyday to provide students with the opportunity to practice, demonstrate, and enrich the skills they have acquired in class. Students are expected to put forth their best effort on all assignments using proper grammar and completing the entire assignment as instructed. Homework is due upon the due dates at the beginning of the class period and will be checked for completion. All homework assignments that are handwritten must be completed in black or blue ink ONLY!
Class Work:
Class work is to be completed during the allotted class time unless instructed to complete for homework. Students are expected to stay focused and engaged in class assignments. Failure to complete class assignments during the allotted class time will result in mandatory tutoring sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:45-4:45pm until work is completed or upon teacher’s discretion. All handwritten class work must be completed in black or blue ink ONLY!
Late Work:
Late assignments will be accepted for partial credit on the next block period class meeting.
Assignments that are more than two block periods late will require a call home to the student’s parents, mandatory tutoring to complete assignments on Wednesdays and Thursdays 3:45-4:45pm and an additional five paragraph essay on the importance of making deadlines. Late work will only be accepted with an excuse letter signed by the student’s parent at the discretion of the teacher!!
Class Participation:
Class Participation is mandatory and will count towards your Life Skills grade. In my class you will be an active participant instead of a passive observer, experiencing English through literature, multimedia, writing, and group discussions. Therefore, it is imperative that students attend class, participate, take-notes, and complete class work, homework, projects and writing assignments.
Absences:
When a student is absent from class, it is the student’s responsibility to follow up with Mr.
Dorflinger about missed assignments and due dates. Mr. Dorflinger can always be emailed to receive assignments at home or assignments will be posted on-line at the school website.
Tardies:
Any student late to class will be responsible for beautifying Mr. Dorflinger’s classroom after school.
Make-Up Exams/Retakes:
Any student who has not demonstrated proficiency on an exam or an assignment will have the opportunity to make-up the assignment or retake the exam to receive a higher grade. Students wanting to prove their mastery of the content must arrange to do so within one week after the exam has been returned.
If absent on the day of an exam, students will have one week to schedule a time to make up the exam that was missed. After one week has passed, students will suffer an automatic 1 on the exam. Students must prove they prepared for the retake by attending after-school tutoring or seeing me before or after school.
Plagiarism/Cheating:
Plagiarism and Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in an automatic 1 on an exam or assignment, and a call home to parents.
2

ENGLISH 9 SYLLABUS 2011-2012
Computer Behavior:
Students who are off task on the computers or are not using the computers appropriately will lose class time computer privileges without warning , will complete pen and paper vocabulary exercises instead, teacher will call home to parents, and student will be responsible for completing all class work during after school tutoring. The third offence will result in a teacher/parent conference.
Grading:
Any assignments completed in fragmented sentences, several spelling mistakes, and numerous grammar errors will not be accepted for a grade. Likewise, any assignment that displays a lack of effort such as vague, minimalist, generalized answers will also not be accepted. Work completed in this manner will be returned to the student to do over in an acceptable manner. Failure to complete the assignment appropriately could result in no credit for the assignment and/or mandatory tutoring and/or a call home to parents.
All grading will be on the Standards-Based Grading system, which links assignments to standards taught in subject area. Students, who demonstrate proficiency in all standards taught, will pass the course.
Class Rules
1) Follow all school rules and standards in Heritage Student Handbook
2) Be in your assigned seat when the bell rings and begin ‘Do Now’ Activity
3) Do not speak while the teacher is speaking
4) Be polite, respectful, and helpful to classmates and teacher
5) Only English will be done in English class
6) Be open minded to all literature and new styles of writing and expression
7) Electronic Devices will be confiscated
8) 3 Bathroom passes a semester
CONSEQUENCES:
Consequences align with the Heritage Discipline Matrix in the Student Handbook.
Students who do not follow the appropriate guidelines for behavior and do not meet classroom expectations will incur the following consequences in sequential order:
1.
Warning (Verbal/ Name on the board)
2.
Intervention (“Think Sheet” or additional assignment)
3.
Before or after-class detention and a phone call home
4.
Parent-teacher-student conference
5.
Referral
I have read and understood Mr. Dorflinger’s course requirements and procedures. Should I be unclear of his expectations, it is my responsibility to clarify any and all concerns with Mr. Dorflinger so that I may continue to excel in his class.
Student’s Name (Please print legibly)
Student’s Signature Date
Parent/Guardian’s Name (Please print legibly)
Parent/Guardian’s Signature Date
3