Highlands High School
230104- Pre-AP English I Advanced
2014-2015 Course Syllabus
Instructor: Mr. Darrin J. Pollock
Phone: Planning period (12:50-1:45) - (859) 781-5900 EXT. XXXX; all other times - (859) 781-5900 EXT. 2626
E-mail: darrin.pollock@fortthomas.kyschools.us
Grade: 9
Credit: 1
Prerequisites: English 8, Teacher and Counselor recommendation
Description:
This course will be an in-depth study of literary and nonfiction genres, such as novels, short stories,
poetry, memoirs, informational articles, and essays. Writing assignments will emphasize the complete
writing process and will include brief and longer writing pieces, as well as unpolished and polished
drafts. Such writing assignments will include a personal narrative, text analysis essays, a cause/effect
essay, persuasive writing, informational writing, and research. Formal oral presentations will be
required. Active discussion skills and thinking beyond the literal are expected. Additionally, students
begin to refine grammar, usage, and vocabulary skills.
Comment:
The main goals of this course are to introduce literary and nonfiction genres to the student and to teach
them how to analyze the literary elements and rhetorical strategies authors use to make meaning in a
text. By accomplishing these goals, students have a strong foundation of reading and writing skills,
which will prepare them for study in subsequent AP English courses and any other academic discipline
that requires analytical reading and reading skills. Students will be expected to express their ideas
through class discussions and in writing. To pass the course, students must complete acceptable
portfolio pieces in the following categories: personal narrative, cause/effect essay, text analysis and
research.
Course Standards:
Students will:
● Develop an appreciation for different genres of literature and nonfiction through class readings,
discussions, and writing.
● Enhance their writing skills by crafting ideas, organization, sentences, voice, and word choice as
appropriate for the writing purpose and audience. Continue to grow and develop their
vocabulary.
● Cultivate critical thinking and text analysis skills through class discussions and responses to
open-ended questions.
● Improve and build on grammar skills and apply them to their own written works.
● Prepare and present class assignments orally.
● Create an appropriate voice based upon genre of writing and audience.
●
Read and analyze longer works (e.g. novels, plays)
Textbooks:
Holt McDougal Literature Grade 9. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing, 2012. Print
Required Materials:
● Assigned texts
● Assigned student planner
● Loose-leaf paper
● Flash drive
● Binder with Dividers
● Pens, Pencils, and Highlighters
● Google Drive Account for Google Docs
Grading:
Students will be evaluated based on two assessment categories: formative (assignments/activities that
foster and gauge learning throughout a unit) and summative (assignments/activities that inform what a
student has learned at the end of a unit or after studying a text). Formative assessments usually occur
several times within a unit of study, may be informal or formal, and may include such assignments as
reading checks, text annotations, guided questions, exit slips, graphic organizers, text analysis practice,
writing workshop, discussion participation, presentations, etc. Summative assessments usually occur at
the end of a unit of study or end of a text, are formal, and may include such assignments as reading
comprehension quizzes, projects, papers, exams, presentations, etc. Formative assessments are 30% of
the total grade, while summative assessments are 70% of the total grade. Students may re-do a
FORMATIVE assessment by arranging an appropriate time with the teacher; however, this work must be
completed BEFORE the unit’s summative assessment.
Technology:
Students will be permitted to use their personal device as long as it does not turn into a distraction.
Highlands High School Grading Scale:
A - 95-100
C-81-75
B+- 94-92
D- 74-70
B – 91-85
F – 69 and below
C+- 84-82
Participation and Attendance:
Students are expected to be prompt and prepared for class. Positive participation and proper behavior
are encouraged in order to demonstrate learning as well as to foster intellectual maturation. Only
students with excused absences will be allowed to make up work. Work will be made up after school
and must be arranged with the teacher upon return to school.
Absent/Late Work Policy:
Students have as many days as they are absent to complete missing work as long as their absence is
excused. It is the responsibility of the student to pick up any missing work; I will not seek students out
and tell them their missing work. Late work will not receive full credit. Students may turn in formative
assessment work for half credit following the day it is due. After that day, the assignment will be scored
as a 0. Late summative assessments will be reduced by 10% each day they are late until the score
reaches 60%. Instructions on turning in late work will be reviewed in class.
Course Content/Calendar:
Quarter One Foundational Literary Elements (i.e. character, conflict, plot, theme, point of view, etc.)
Reading- selected short stories, poems, and
Fahrenheit 451.
Writing- literary analysis
Presentation – Text analysis group presentation
Quarter Two Foundational Non-Fiction Elements (i.e. point of view, conflict, motivation, theme, style, etc.)
Reading- non-fiction Black Like Me and selected personal essays
Writing- personal narrative, text analysis, and annotated bibliography
Presentation – Individual Research findings
Quarter Three Argument, the Epic, and Drama
Reading- Selected speeches and opinion pieces, The Odyssey, and Romeo and Juliet
Writing- persuasive writing and cause/effect essay
Presentation – Argument based group presentation
Quarter FourThe Novel and Foundational Poetry Elements (i.e. form, rhyme scheme, figurative language, etc.)
Reading- To Kill a Mockingbird and selected poems
Writing- analysis of poem, text analysis, argument, cause and effect
Academic Integrity:
Students must demonstrate academic integrity in this course by: 1) completing all assignments to the
best of their ability, 2) completing assignments independently (unless otherwise noted), 3) avoiding
plagiarism in all its forms, and 4) avoiding cheating, such as copying from other students or by obtaining
answers for assignments in advance. All assignments must be turned in with a minimally acceptable
level, even if no credit is earned because of lateness, in order to receive a grade for the quarter. A grade
of “I” will be assigned until all work is submitted. The grade of “I” turns into an “F” one week after the
quarter ends.
Plagiarism/Cheating:
The penalty for plagiarism and cheating will be a zero for the assessment or assignment; furthermore,
disciplinary actions will follow according to school policy.
Plagiarism is defined as taking credit for another’s ideas or words without attribution. Plagiarism and
cheating for any assignment will result in a 0 grade for that assignment.
Cheating is defined as falsifying one’s academic work or assisting another student to falsify academic
work. The following are examples of cheating:
● using hidden notes, copying from another student, or helping another student during an
assessment or in-class essay.
● giving assessment questions or answers to a student from another class or obtaining assessment
questions or answers from students in another class
● stealing assessment questions or answers
● feigning ill to avoid assessments
● changing answers, comments, or grades on an assessment already graded
● copying from a student or allowing another student to copy homework (unless collaboration is
explicitly encouraged for the particular assessment or assignment)
● using technology in any way to share assessment questions or answers with other students, to
communicate with other students during an assessment, or to reference resources not
permitted for completing the assessment or assignment using study aids (e.g., Spark Notes,
Cliffs Notes, etc.) in lieu of assigned readings