September 9, 2013
Dear Student and Families,
Welcome to UASEM Grade 9 English!
We are looking forward to a collaborative year of working together to build a community of
readers and writers. Included in this packet are the goals and expectations of our English
class that will begin preparing students to be R.E.A.D.Y. for college and the world of work.
To help students prosper academically effective communication must take place between
the students, teacher, and families. Please review this letter, the expectations, and the
course syllabus. We are asking both the student and parent/guardian to sign the form at
the bottom of this letter and return it to school by Friday, September 13th.
We know this will be a successful year for the first class of students at UASEM with your
continued support and open communication. Parents and students are both welcome to
call us at school (347) 618-8736 with questions and/or concerns or e-mail us at
moore@uasem.org or torres@uasem.org.
Sincerely,
Ms. Moore and Ms. Torres
* Please sign the declaration below and return by Friday, September 13th.
I have read and/or discussed the attached goals and expectations of English class this year
and will strive to uphold these goals.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature
Date
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
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Ms. Moore and Ms. Torres: English 9
Course Requirements and Expectations
2013-2014
Course Description
UASEM’s 9th Grade ELA course centers on the themes that surround identity as they connect
to values, challenges and choices, society and ultimately what the responsibility of
individual identities have to the larger community. We engage in a process of inquiry
through critical reading and writing within a broad range of genres, cultures and periods in
order to answer essential questions about identity. In this course students become readers
and writers with purpose. We read to write and write to be read making the process
meaningful and authentic. The course begins with a focus on closely and actively reading
texts in order to identify, analyze, evaluate and synthesize what we read based on evidence.
As we move through the year our arguments become stronger through our focus on the
writing and researching process. Students leave the course READY to critically read, write
and discuss using evidence from both literary and informational sources and to articulate
who they are and what they believe in as individuals as well as their ability to make change
within their larger society.
Grading Criteria
Final Essays, Projects, Exams, and Unit
Reading Log
60%
Quizzes and Class Work (e.g.
participation, warm-up entries, daily inclass work, wrap-up reflection)
30%
Homework
10%
Course Texts
In this course we will be reading the texts below in addition to several short stories and
famous speeches throughout history. These texts are subject to change based on the
learning needs of students and pacing of the course. Students will also be expected to read
15-20 books independently outside of class and maintain a reading log.
Novels
 The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
 Night by Elie Wiesel
 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
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Memoirs/Non-Fiction
 Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Patillo Beals (excerpts)
 Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X (excerpts)
 Gandhi: An Autobiography by Mahatma Gandhi (excerpts)
Speeches
 “The Drum Major Instinct” by Martin Luther King, Jr.
 “Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself: The First Inaugural Address” by Franklin
D. Roosevelt
 “This is Water” by David Foster Wallace
Plays

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Poetry
 "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost
 “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou
 “The Odyssey” by Homer
 You are the Result of Yourself by Pablo Neruda
 "Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes
 “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare
 “The Facebook Sonnet” by Sherman Alexie
 “Cast of Amatiallo” Edgar Allen Poe
 “Much Madness is divinest Sense” by Emily Dickinson
 "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman
 "I, too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes
Class Supplies
Reading Response Journal (1 composition notebook)
Writer’s Notebook (1 composition notebook)
Folder (for English materials ONLY)
Writing utensils (Blue/Black pens AND pencils) *No gel pens
Post-its for taking notes
Optional (but recommended): USB/flash drive for saving work
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Course Expectations and Policies
English 9 Standards
What do we expect of you?
1. We will respect ourselves and each other.
2. We will arrive each day on time prepared and ready to learn.
3. We will use appropriate and positive language.
4. We will actively participate in class by taking learning risks and ALWAYS giving
110%.
Assignments
The assignments for the English 9 course fall into the following categories: 1) in-class
reading, discussion, and writing activities 2) routine homework (includes at home daily
reading and corresponding responses), 3) unit writing assignments, 4) projects, and 5)
independent reading and book logs.
Homework
Homework will be assigned daily. It will vary depending on the subject, but students can
expect to have nightly reading and writing assignments. It is every student’s responsibility
to take out their homework and place it in the correct folder at the beginning of class. The
homework will either be marked as completed by the teacher or collected for a grade. If
you miss an assignment you may turn it in for reduced credit.
Book Talks
The Board of Regents suggests that all students should read 25 books each year. You will be
expected to read four books of their choice in addition to the books we read in class.
Students will be expected to speak to the class about the book they have chosen for each
marking period. Each class will keep a “Recommended Reading List” for enjoyment
reading. An outline of the information students need to tell the class and a schedule will be
given to students each marking period. Presentations will be informal and last about five
minutes each. This is good public speaking practice in a casual atmosphere and should not
be viewed as a difficult task.
Quizzes
You can expect to be quizzed at any time during the week. Some quizzes will be announced
and some will not. We will quiz to check if you have read the material, as well as to check if
you have studied new topics. You can expect Friday weekly quizzes so be sure to complete
all reading and homework assignments in order to be prepared.
Tests/Projects/Papers
After each major unit or mini-unit you will be expected pass a written exam, write a
research paper and/or complete a project to demonstrate your mastery of the content
learned. This will typically occur every six to eight weeks and you will be given advance
notice of the task or test in order to properly prepare.
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Getting out of your seat
Unless the class is doing a special activity, you MUST request permission to get out of your
seat for any reason. Raise your hand and wait for Ms. Moore or Ms. Torres to call on you to
get up.
Exiting class
Ms. Moore and Ms. Torres dismiss the class, NOT THE BELL. Before students will be
permitted to leave each student must clean the area IN and surrounding his/her desk. This
means each student must pick up any trash on the desk or floor and must put any
textbooks or materials away neatly. Only when the room is clean, and the class is silent and
seated, will students be dismissed.
Classroom Policies
Absences
We expect that all students will attend every class. If you want to succeed you must show
up prepared and ready to work hard. If you are late or absent (including on quiz and test
days) a written excuse (or phone call) from home is necessary in order to receive an
extension for work or to makeup tests without losing partial credit.
 It is the student’s responsibility to get the class notes from a classmate and the
homework from Jupiter grades.

Students can collect missed homework and quizzes from the absent folder in the
front of the room. If you have questions about an assignment, the class policy is
“Three Before Me.” First, ask three students in the class to help you with the work
you missed. This encourages everyone to work together. If you are still unsure
about the work, please feel free to ask Ms. Moore or Ms. Torres any questions during
lunch or via email.
Lateness
If you are late, do not disturb the class. Come in, place your late pass on the front desk near
the door, sign the late book, and begin your work. Late work will be accepted, but for
partial credit if it is an unexcused absence.
Bathroom/Hall Pass
You may not use the bathroom the first or last 10 minutes of class or during the last period
of the day (as per the UASEM handbook). You are responsible for all work missed during
class. Using the bathroom is not an excuse for incomplete work.
Technology Policy
UASEM is fortunate to have class computers, a smart board, I-Pads, and access to a
classroom set of laptops. Students must use the available technology for classroom
purposes only and in a respectful manner. If the technology policy is not followed, students
will lose their technology privilege and complete the assignment in a different manner.
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Hats, Cellular Phones, MP3 Players, ETC.
As per the UASEM school policy, hats, cell phones, MP3 players, iPods, PSPs, etc. are
prohibited in class. They become distractions in class and will be confiscated immediately
and given to the UASEM Leadership staff.
Food and Grooming products
You may bring water bottles to class (no juice or soda is allowed). No food is permitted and
must be eaten before coming to class. During the extended day program students may
bring snacks. Grooming products are not permitted in the classroom. Ultimately, this is a
learning environment and these items become distractions and will be taken away and
given back at the teacher’s discretion.
Cheating
Cheating will not be tolerated. Talking of any kind during a test, copying homework from a
friend, allowing someone to copy from you, and copying parts of an internet article are all
forms of cheating. All cheating will result in an automatic zero for the assignment and a call
home.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of trying to pass off someone else’s ideas as your own. Any
assignments that are plagiarized (copied from the internet, a friend or a book) will receive an
automatic zero. Remember that when you get to college you will be expelled permanently
for plagiarizing a paper! Plagiarism is a form of cheating and a very serious issue that will
not be tolerated at UASEM. At UASEM want to help students become independent, creative,
and critical thinkers.
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Contact Information
Please feel free to contact us at the email addresses shown at the bottom of the page. In
order for students to be R.E.A.D.Y. for college and the world of work, we expect you to use a
professional email format as shown in the below sample letter.
Dear Ms. Moore and Ms. Torres,
I am writing about today’s assignment. Can
you please elaborate on what I should write
in the second column of my reading
response journal? I asked a classmate, but
I am still confused.
I appreciate your prompt response.
Begin with a greeting.
Remember your audience.
Use “Dear” or “Hello”
followed by the person’s
name.
State your purpose clearly in
the body of your email.
Provide any closing remarks
to thank the reader.
Thank you,
James Baldwin
End with a closing such as:
“Thank you,” “Sincerely, or
“Best Regards” and
remember to check for
spelling and grammar errors.
*If you do not follow the above format, we will ask you to revise your email and then provide a
response.
Teacher Information
Ms. Moore: moore@uasem.org
Ms. Torres: torres@uasem.org
Class Website: www.uasemenglish9.weebly.com
School Website: www.uasem.org
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