9th Grade Literature and Composition
2013 - 2014
Instructor/Teacher: Mr. J. Denmark
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/denmarkspeaks/
Room Number: 512
E-mail: jldenmark.Northeast@bibb.k12.ga.us
Phone Number: 478-227-6174 (From 3 pm – 7 pm Daily)
School Phone: 478-779-4100 (During School Hours)
Mission Statement:
Each Student demonstrates strength of character and is college ready
School Motto:
Aim High, Achieve More
Course Description: Bibb County Public Schools’ English language arts curriculum aligns with state standards. The
content standards for this course are clustered by strands: Reading and Literature, Conventions, Writing, and
Listening/Speaking/Viewing. Throughout this year-long course, students will have opportunities to develop and
expand their knowledge of literature and language and demonstrate their mastery level of new learning through
performance tasks and assessments.
Textbooks: McDougal Littell The Language of Literature
The Interactive Reader
 Course Units:
Unit 1: Odyssey
Unit 2: The Education of Little Tree: The Autobiography of Forrest Carter
Unit 3: Romeo and Juliet
Unit 4: Ecology of a Cracker Childhood
Culminating Projects: Units 2 and 4 will end with a culminating project that must be produced on a word processor.
If the student does not have a computer, arrangements need to be made to use a school or library computer.
Required Materials:
 A 3-ring Binder
 Notebook Paper
 Writing Utensils
 Subject Dividers
Grading Policy:
 55% Assessments (Quizzes, Tests, & Presentations/Projects)
 45% Classwork/Daily Grades/Homework (Maintained in Reader’s/Writer’s Notebook)
 20% EOCT (of final grade)
Progress Reports: Progress Reports will be issued after each 9 weeks
Notebook Requirements: Students will be responsible for maintaining a well-organized notebook. The notebook
should consist of four sections:
 Lesson Notes
 Reader’s/Writer’s
 Reference Tools (The first page of which should be this syllabus)
 Misc. Works
Plagiarism Statement:
Plagiarism is the use of another’s words or ideas and the presentation of them as though they are entirely ones own.
Acts of plagiarism might include, but are not limited to 1.) using words or ideas from a published source without
proper documentation; 2.) using the work of another student (e.g. copying another student’s homework,
composition, or project); 3.) using excessive editing suggestions of another student, parent, or paid author.
Plagiarism on any project or paper will result in a zero for the assignment. Unless directly stipulated by the teacher,
collaboration on written work is not acceptable. Students who willingly provide other students with access to their
work are in violation and will also receive a zero. If I receive two assignments that are the same, they will be
considered to be copied. So DON’T COPY work. Trust me on this one.
Make-up Work:
If a student is absent from school, excused, it is always his or her responsibility to make up the work missed. It is
the student’s responsibility to inquire about work that was missed and make it up on his/her own time, not during
class. The student will have the number of days to make up the assignment that he or she missed (i.e. if the student
is out for two days, he or she should have completed all the work two days after returning). All work should be made
up to avoid receiving a zero for the assignment. An “excused absence” slip must be produced to make up work for
full credit.
Late Work:
For major assignments, ten percent will be deducted each day after the due date. After five days, the work will earn
a 50. No late assignments will be accepted after major school holidays. Students must turn in all assignments
prior to field trips, etc. in order to receive full credit for assignment. You are responsible for getting your work in
advance. There will be no late work accepted after the unit is complete.
Attendance:
In order to be marked present for each class meeting students must be in their assigned seat before the bell
sounds. Only students who have a legitimate written pass from personnel will receive entry and an excused tardy.
Students must do their best to be present and on time.
Cell Phone Policy: Cell phones should not be seen or heard in the classroom. If a cell phone is seen or heard, the
following consequences will occur.
 First Occasion: Warning
 Second Occasion: Confiscated until the end of class
 Third Occasion: Confiscated until picked up by Parent/Guardian & Phone Call Home
 Subsequent Occasions: Confiscated and turned over to Administrator who may elect to keep the phone until
the end of the year.
 Failure to immediately hand over a cell phone when requested will result in a referral to administration.
The Rule: “We will be active participants in a community of learners.” As a class, we will develop norms to help us
follow this rule. Students who are disruptive to the classroom will receive the following consequences:
 First Disruption: Warning
 Second Disruption: Behavior Conference Request
 Third Disruption: Phone Call Home
 Fourth Disruption: Removal from Classroom & Notification to Administrator
Hall & Bathroom Pass Policy: There are no passes during the first or last twenty minutes of class. There are no
passes during third period. Students may not receive a pass for any of the following:
 to look for lost items
 to retrieve homework or assignments from lockers
 to see a friend
 to report to an administrator or guidance counselor without an official request
In case of an emergency, students may receive passes to go the health suite. However, if this is abused,
parents/guardians will be contacted and, unless there is a medical reason, health suite passes will be limited.
Students must have a green hall pass in order to leave the classroom.