College Tech Prep English 9
2015-2016 Syllabus
Ms. Travaglio
Room: #204
Email: tracy_travaglio@butler.k12.pa.us
Phone: 724-214-3400 ex. 5483
Fall Semester
I.
September: Short stories
This unit will focus on Keystone literary terms, vocabulary, and constructed response
skills using a selection of short stories (fictional and nonfictional) and poems from the
Elements of Literature textbook. Students will be responsible for keeping up with
reading, literary term definitions, and context clue sentences with vocabulary words.
Students should expect quizzes after each short story, and this unit will culminate in a
cumulative short story unit exam at the end of September.
Possible short stories to be covered:
 “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
Pages 16 – 37 of textbook
 “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury
Pages 76 – 89 of textbook
 “Being Prey” by Val Plumwood
Pages 90 – 96 of textbook
 “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst
Pages 330 – 345 of textbook
 “Initiation” by Sylvia Plath
Pages 244 – 255 of textbook
October: Novel – To Kill a Mockingbird
This unit will focus on using Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird as a vehicle
for further exploration of Keystone Literary terms and vocabulary. Students will be responsible for
keeping up with independent reading and vocabulary assignments and will be expected to participate
in class discussions. Students should expect regular quizzes, as a well as a final unit exam at the end
of October.
II.
November: Essay writing – Character Analysis essay of To Kill a Mockingbird
Students will focus on the process and product of writing a five-paragraph essay. Each
step of the writing process will be discussed in class, and students will be responsible for completing
the step independently. The final essay will be worth a total of 100 points.
III.
IV.
November: Author study – Edgar Allan Poe
Students will take notes while watching an A&E Biography of Edgar Allan Poe. They
will then be quizzed on their listening skills with an open-note quiz. Additional reading from the
textbook will be assigned, including several of Poe’s poems, two primary sources, and a biographical
essay found on pages 296 – 307 of the textbook.
V.
December: Speech
Students will choose a researchable topic. After studying the process of researching,
organizing, and delivering a speech in the Speech textbook (Chapters 8, 9, and 12 will be covered via
notes and open-book tests), students will be responsible for giving their speeches after we return
from winter break.
VI.
January: Delivery of Speeches and review for Midterm Exam
Spring Semester
I.
February: Short stories, Part II
This unit will mirror the Fall Semester short story unit, using different selections.
Possible short stories to be covered:
 “The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind” by Ray Bradbury
Pages 372 - 381 of textbook
 “The Wife’s Story” by Ursula K. Le Guin
Pages 268 – 275 of textbook
 “The Interlopers” by Saki
Pages 232 – 241 of textbook
 “from Boy” by Roald Dahl
Pages 374 – 485 of textbook
 “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut
Pages 66 – 75 of textbook
March: Novel – The Hunger Games
This unit will mirror the Fall Semester To Kill a Mockingbird unit, in which students will be
responsible for a study guide, vocabulary words, regular quizzes, and a unit exam. This unit will also
include a discussion of Bias and Propaganda.
II.
III.
April: Complaint Letter
Students will choose a company to whom they will write a valid complaint letter.
Students are encouraged to keep this letter in mind throughout the year so that they will be able to
make a valid complaint in April. This unit will include a study of formal letter organization,
grammar, spelling, and computer skills. Students will write several drafts of their letter, and the unit
will culminate in students sending their letters to the company of their choice. Bonus opportunities
will be available during this unit.
May: Romeo and Juliet
Students will read several excerpts from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet after a
study of drama and Shakespeare’s life in Elizabethan England. We will watch a performance of the
play via the movie, Romeo and Juliet, and students will be responsible for knowing characters and plot
points on their final exam.
IV.
V.
June: Review and Final Exam
Students will take a cumulative final exam that will account for 10% of their final grade.
*The months listed on this syllabus are an approximation of when these units will be studied.
Changes might occur throughout the year based on testing schedules, snow days, etc.
Classroom Expectations and Procedures
Exams:
Students should expect exams, quizzes, major tests, and unit exams upon completion of assignments
or as check tests for daily assignments.
Grading Scale:
100%-90% - A
89%-80% B
79%-70% - C
69%-60% - D
Midterm/Final and Grades:
Students will be given a final examination at the end of each semester. The midterm and final will
each be worth 10% of the student’s final grade. Each nine weeks is worth 20% of the student’s final
grade.
Tutoring:
Students who are having difficulty in class should see me to arrange for tutoring. This will be done
by appointment at a mutually agreeable time.
Makeup Procedure:
Students have five school days to make up work from an absence; however, students are encouraged
to make up the work as soon as possible. Students can find their makeup work at the back of my
classroom. Absent students are also required to check my Schoolwires page for daily assignments.
Students will no access to a computer at home should use the library’s computers to check
assignments, grades, etc.
Schoolwires, Edline, and Remind
My Schoolwires page will include daily assignments, announcements, deadlines, and useful links. My
Edline page will be used for grades only. An optional but highly encouraged option for both parents
and students is the Remind app. Remind allows teachers to communicate directly with parents and
students for nightly reminders of homework assignments, deadlines, etc. Instructions for how to
sign up are included on the last page of this syllabus.
Class Conduct:
Students are expected to be on time, participate, take notes, and be responsible for their actions.
Goals:
1) Improved Study Habits
2) Better Reading Comprehension
3) Vocabulary Enrichment
4) Sophistication of Writing Ability
5) Increased Personal and Academic Responsibility
6) Enhanced Ability to Discuss
College Tech Prep English 9 Student/Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement Form
Please detach this portion of the syllabus and turn it in to Ms. Travaglio by Wednesday, September
16th, 2015, for 5 points.
In addition, please see the attached form on the Remind application I will be using in class this year.
Signing up for Remind by September 16 will earn you 5 bonus points!
By signing, we acknowledge that we have read the Introduction to Communication syllabus
completely, and clearly understand the rules, regulations, and expectations for the course.
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Student signature
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Date
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Student name (Printed)
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Date
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Parent/Guardian signature
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Parent/Guardian name (Printed)
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Date