English 9 Honors
Mrs. Seuell
English 9 Honors is a survey of world literature. It uses the textbooks Understanding Literature and Appreciating Literature which are anthologies of short stories, poetry, drama, nonfiction and novels. Literature study will evaluate selected works from each text for content, literary technique, and world view. Trade books will include Animal Farm, The Call of the Wild, The Pearl, Fahrenheit 451, The Old Man and the Sea, and Mythology by Edith Hamilton . English 9 involves an on-going study of vocabulary, Greek and Latin root words, and development of writing skills. Basic grammar skills will be reviewed and incorporated in with vocabulary study. Composition writing includes descriptive, narrative, and expository writing with analysis of poetry and prose.
Honors English class requires more work than a regular English class; the reading selections and papers due will be almost twice the amount as Section II. This class is a preparation for AP English which is a college level class. Honor students will come to class prepared and ready to discuss each piece of literature assigned orally and/or in writing. Any student falling below a grade of B+ by the end of first quarter will be moved to regular English. If it is determined that a student has been mistakenly placed in English 9 Honors at the beginning of the school year, the student will be transferred as soon as possible to regular English.
REQUIREMENTS and EXPECTATIONS:
Each class period students must bring the current textbook, a 3-ring binder with ample paper and a functioning pen with blue or black ink. It would be wise to always bring an extra pen to class. Spiral notebooks are not to be brought to class. Three dividers will be needed for the notebook. The first divider is to be labeled HOMEWORK. The current homework assignment should be found directly behind this divider with name and date already on the paper. When homework is asked to be checked or to be turned in, it will be a simple matter to find the work. The second divider is to be labeled NOTES. This is where class notes and reading notes will be kept. The third divider is to be labeled VOCABULARY. All vocabulary lists with definitions and parts of speech will be placed in this section as given. Notebook checks will be unannounced. Coming to class late or without text, notebook, paper, or pen will result in a tardy.
Vocabulary lists taken from literature read will be passed out about every four class periods. Students will usually have 20 minutes each class period to work with vocabulary. Some of the grammar lessons will be incorporated into vocabulary work. Every other week, a 25 pt. spelling and vocabulary quiz will be given .
Each student will need a file folder to be kept at home. All graded written work is to be kept in the file folder; this will include test essays as well as papers written. Prior to writing a paper, students should review the writing folder in order not to repeat errors. Two to three weeks before the end of each semester the folders will be brought to school; the student and the teacher will evaluate progress made in writing skills. Semester grades will be influenced by progress made.
All homework assignments and all work written during class which is to be turned in must be written legibly in cursive in blue or black ink. Assigned papers other than those written during class are to be e-mailed to me by 8 a.m. on the date due. Late papers will not be accepted without prior consultation with a parent. Papers will be scanned for plagiarism, graded electronically, and returned to the student by e-mail. Plagiarism will result in a grade of ZERO. Once the graded paper is returned, the student will need to print the graded paper and place it in the writing folder.
Plagiarism is the unethical "borrowing" of someone else's ideas without giving him credit.
Students are expected to be honest; homework, quizzes, tests, and papers are to be completed by the student himself or herself. When the teacher or another student is speaking to the class, no one else is to be talking.
GRADING:
All points earned will be added together and divided by the total number of points possible. Grades will be updated weekly on the internet grade book and will be available for the student and parents to see.
Grades will be given for classroom discussion, written and oral assignments, tests and quizzes on reading selections, vocabulary and spelling. Graded notebook checks of class notes, reading notes and homework assignments will be randomly made. Details of notebook requirements and guidelines for written work will be given in class.
Grading Rubric
**Excellent Essays -grade: A
Excellent essays go beyond the requirements for essays. They are well-thought, usually original in ideas and expression of these ideas. These essays provoke new thought about the particular subject and cause the reader to look a subject in a new light. The introduction is original and states the thesis statement clearly. The body of the essay supports the thesis statement using interesting, relevant ideas from the original work. The language of the essay is original and creative, without boredom of repetition. There are not grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. The writer follows all guidelines given for the specific assignment.
** Very Good/ Good Essays- grade A- to B-
Very good and good essays present a clear and interesting thesis statement in a well-worded introduction. The central idea is supported with concrete, relevant examples from the original work. Transitions from one idea to the next do not use irrelevant words. The essay is fluent and original in its language and shows variety in sentence structure. It follows guidelines given for the specific assignment and has no more than 6 errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
**Fair or Average Essays- grade C+ to C-
The thesis statement may be stated clearly but is unoriginal, general or trivial. There is no original thought expressed in the essay. Support for the thesis is irrelevant or sketchy. The organization is not consistent, even though the paragraphs may give a unified thought. Transitions are award. Language is essentially correct but is lacking in variety and originality. The language of the essay may be appropriate for the subject but is not distinctive and may include some word usage errors. Some trouble with grammar, punctuation, and spelling is evident with 10-15 errors in these areas.
**Weak or Poor Essays- grade D+ to D-
These essays have no clear thesis statement and no unified introduction. Paragraphs do not support the thesis statement or lack dramatically in relevance and detail. Transitions from one idea to another are missing. The conclusion is poorly attempted. There are more than 16 grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.
ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments will be given orally, written on the board, and posted on my web page. My web page will be updated weekly giving the work covered during class, assignments, quizzes and tests due. Work to be made up due to absence will follow the guidelines given in the WCA Student Handbook and is the responsibility of the student. It is expected that assignments, tests, and quizzes announced in advance taken care of the first day back in class unless I am notified of extenuating circumstances. Please call me (430-0819) or e-mail me with questions about assignments or should special circumstances arise.
SCHEDULE-- 2006-2007 subject to change
**Quarter 1
vocabulary, grammar review, and writing skills--complete definition of plagiarism given and discussed--MLA format explained
Short Stories: plot development, characterization, themes and world view, point of view, setting, language, conflicts, symbolism, literary devises
"The Monkey's Paw", "Sixteen", "A Mother in Mannville", "The Split Cherry Tree", "The Most Dangerous Game", "The Interlopers,", "The Necklace", "The Gift of the Magi", "About Two Nice People", "The Lady, or the Tiger", "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", "A Slander", "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Enchanted Garden", "The Red-Headed League", "Abalone, Abalone, Abalone"
Non-fiction- biography, autobiography, selected essays: narrative, descriptive, persuasive, expository
Drama- The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Novel- Animal Farm, The Pearl
**Quarter 2
continued vocabulary, grammar, and improvement of writing skills
Poetry- selected poems: speaker, tone, word choice, rhythm and rhyme, figurative language, poetic devices, imagery, symbolism, worldview, types of poetry--oral presentation
Novels: The Old Man and the Sea, The Call of the Wild, Fahrenheit 451
The Epic: The Odyssey
Drama: Romeo and Juliet
**Quarter 3
continued vocabulary, grammar, and improvement in writing skills, memorization of a poem, creative writing
Drama: Julius Caesar
Novel: Great Expectations
**Quarter 4
continued vocabulary, grammar, and improvement in writing skills
Arthurian Legends: Le Morte d'Arthur, "The Lady of Shalott", "Eldorado"
Novel: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Mythology--research, oral presentation, and creative writing
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13