2. English 9
Teachers: Mr. Artist& Mrs. Connelly
RequiredMaterials:
Ø PocketfolderandSubjectnotebook
OR
Ø Binderandlinedpaper
Ø Blue or Black inkpenANDa pencil (everyday)
Ø Currenttext(s)
Classroom Policies:
3. 1. Be on time andpreparedforclass eachday. Beingtardyfor classmay resultinstudentstayingafter
school,referral tooffice,orparentcontact. Not havingrequiredmaterialswill resultinstudent
essentially“missingout”onlearning.
2. All homeworkassignmentsare expectedtobe completedbythe due date. Longer,more elaborate
projectsmaybe acceptedlate fora reducedgrade (20% off) until the nextgrade report. Tests/quizzes
that are missedMUST be made up before the specificassessmentisreturned to other students;once
the tests/quizzesare returned,no make-upswill be allowed(exception:EXCUSEDabsence due to
illness,where a doctor’s note is provided).
3. Eating or drinkinginthe classroom,withthe exceptionof water,isprohibited.
4. Copyinganywork (includinghomework) insideoroutside of the classroomisa seriousissue. Any
studentcaughtcopying(the copierorthe ownerof the original work) orplagiarizingwill receivea0% for
the assignmentandcouldface otherdisciplines. AbsolutelyNOTALKING duringa quiz or an exam –
any violationwill resultin studentreceivinga 0% on the givenquiz/exam.
5. No disruptive ordisrespectful behaviorwill be tolerated.
6. No cell phonesvisible duringclass! While itis a student’srighttohave a cell phone onhis/her
personor inhis/herbackpack,theyshall neverbe outduringclassunlessthe teacherinstructsstudent
to do so (forresearchpurposesonly).Failuretocomplywiththiscouldresultincontacthome and
detention.
GradingPolicy:
Gradeswill be reportedandsenthome twice quarterly. A studentorparentmayrequesta current
average or specificgrade atany time andwill receive ananswerassoonas possible. Additionally,
gradeswill be available viathe ParentPortal. Gradeswill be updatedonParentPortal weekly.
Lengthierassignmentssuchasessaysorunitexaminationswill be gradedandenteredwithintwoweeks
of the assessmentdate /due date.
Generally, lengthierassignments(essays,researchpapers,projects,etc.) will receivealettergrade (A+-
F);quizzesandtestsa numerical grade (100% - 0%) andin-classassignments,homework,and
participationwillbe givenaPass/ Fail grade.
4. Gradeswill be reportedtothe Guidance Department,whointurnsendsthemhome. All averageswill
be convertedtoa numerical score whenbeingreportedtostudentsandparents. Forinformationon
thisconversion,see the ChathamHigh SchoolStudentHandbook.
Absencesand MissedWork:
Studentsare expectedtobe inclassevery day. However,itisacceptedthatstudentswill rarelymiss
classdue to illness,familyemergency,ora fieldtrip/school function. Whenastudentmissesclass,itis
the responsibilityof the studenttoresearchmissedwork(preferablypriortoanabsence if possible).
Gradeswill notbe droppeddue to absence. AnINCOMPLETE will only be givenwith administrative
approval.
Anymissingassignmentwillbe convertedtoa0% if a studentfailstomake itup bythe deadline(see
Classroom Policies#2. formore detailedinformation).
9th
Grade Course Outline
The essential questionguidingourstudythroughoutEnglish9thisyear is:
Whatare the complicationsof doing whatis right foroneself vs.doing whatis easiest or expected by
society?
Topic 1 - Friendship—What are the challenges of doing what is “right” when it comes to friendship&
family?
5. Literaryand Informational Texts:
Of Mice and Men by JohnSteinbeck
Flight byJohn Steinbeck
Romeo and Juliet by WilliamShakespeare
Varioussupplementaltexts
§ including:poems,shortfiction,informational texts,andfilm
Major Unit Assessments:
§ Personal narrative
§ CommonCore-StyleQuarterlyExamination
§ Variouswrittenresponses
§ Readingquizzes
§ Classwork,discussion&participation
§ Vocabularyhomeworkandquizzes
Topic 2 - Ethics & Science—What are the challenges of doing what is “right” when it comes to one’s
cultural background?
Literaryand Informational Texts:
“When the LeveesBroke”- Documentary
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Varioussupplementaltexts
§ including:articles,shortfiction,poetry,film, biographical andothernon-fictiontexts
Major Unit Assessments:
§ Opposingviewpointsproject –
§ Unit examination
§ Variouswrittenresponses
§ Readingquizzes
§ Classwork,discussion&participation
§ Vocabularyhomeworkandquizzes
Topic 3 - Prejudice/ Racism—Howcan a personovercome difficultiesanddowhat is “right” inthe face
of severe prejudice / racism?
Literaryand Informational Texts:
To Kill a Mockingbird byHarperLee
Varioussupplementaltexts
§ including:articles,shortfiction,poetry,film, biographical andothernon-fictiontexts
6. Major Unit Assessments:
§ Opposingviewpointsproject
§ Unit examination
§ Variouswrittenresponses
§ Readingquizzes
§ Classwork,discussion&participation
§ Vocabularyhomeworkandquizzes
To: Parents/ Guardiansof English9 students
From: JeffreyArtist,MeghanConnelly
Date: September7,2016
Re: Course introduction/policies
7. As teachersof English9 thisyear,we are anticipatingarewardingandsuccessful school year. Firstoff,
we encourage youto maintainopencommunicationviaphone (HighSchool 392-1570), email,website,
or by appointmentif youeverhave aquestionaboutyourchild’sprogressinthiscourse. Email isby far
the most convenientmeanof communication. We see the educationof yourchildas a teameffort
betweenusand,of course,yourchild. You will be contactedif anissue arisesduringthe year.
The curriculumfor the yearis attachedinthe previouspages.If youwouldlike toperuse acopyof any
of the materialsassigned,simplystopbytopickup a copy of one. Additionally,we use filmoccasionally
throughoutthe school year;likewise,if you’dliketostudya filmbefore yourchildviewsitwe will either
give youa copy of the DVD(if available) oratleastthe title whichyoumayacquire on yourown.
To receive yourchild’scurrentaverage youhave twooptions: first,youcanvisitParentPortal (which
will be updatedapproximatelyweekly)or,simplyaskandyouwill be providedanumerical grade as
soonas possible. Additionally,if youwouldsimplylike todiscussthe progressof yourchildin the course
please donothesitate tocall,email,orsetup a time to meet.
There will be grade-level CommonCore-styleassessmentsgiventhroughoutthiscourse. These include
twoquarterlyassessments(Quarters1and 3), a midtermexaminationgivenin Januaryanda final exam
giveninJune. These examinationsare REQUIRED foreach studentinEnglish9. The dates,times,and
locationsof these examswillbe announcedonce theyare determined.
We anticipate agreatschool year andlookforwardto meetingyouatOpenHouse or anothertime
soon.
Sincerely,
Jeff Artist
Meghan Connelly
English 9 Regents Course Contract
2016-2017
ChathamHigh School
Mr. Artist
8. Mrs.Connelly
I ______________________________ have readthe English9 RegentsSyllabus.
Printstudentname
________________________________________
Studentsignature
________________________________________
Parent/Guardiansignature
Please keep the attached syllabus for your records and return the course contract
