This document is a syllabus for an English Communications class for 9th and 10th graders during the 2009-2010 school year. It outlines that students will focus on mass communications through various projects, reading, writing, and multimedia skills. Grades will be based on turning assignments in on time. The class will cover topics like grammar, literature, research skills, and media literacy through activities such as blogs, wikis, presentations and independent reading. Students can check their grades anytime online through the school's Powerschool system.

1. English Communications 9/10
Syllabus
2009 - 2010
Mrs. Jamie Smith, MA Mr. Jon Corippo
jsmith@minarets.us jcorippo@minarets.us

3. In America, most teens spend
OVER 30
hours a week
watching, listening and participating in media

4. We aren’t saying that’s
GOOD
or BAD
but we are saying...

5. ...people need to be
Info
Literate
so people like this...

6. ...who is Bernie Madoff?
...don’t take all your
money!

7. And you’ll need to know how to learn
ANYTHING to get
ANYWHERE
in your future

8. It’s a big world, with millions of
resources, we’ll show you how to
cope with the future using tools
like these and more.....

9. We’ll use stuff
parents and
teachers like......
(it is good stuff....)

10. Here’s what that stuff looks like for
young professionals...
(it is really good stuff....)
OVER 500,00 boo
ks for
Including Audio bo us!
oks!

11. The focus of this class will be:
MASS
Communications
Because English is a
language that is built to go
BIG

12. Want to go for honors?
(you should!)
Regular Class
Latin Roots One Extra Project per Quarter
Literary Terms
Research and Reports
Reading for Information Examples:
Creative Writing
Reading for Pleasure • A 3 minute video documentary on an
Just add author of your choice
Classic Literature this
Web Safety & Search Skills • A wiki covering the major elements of
Writing and Grammar Skills each chapter of a well-known book
Video Documentaries
Wikis and Blogs • A video dramatization of a well-known
book, play or song (even a music video)
Contests

13. The grading policy:
ALL
Assignments
Will be turned in. The end.
Turn them in early, get bonus points.
Turn them in late, the best you can get is a C.
You might as well be on time. :)

14. The basic rules:
Students are expected to report to class on time and
prepared.
A prepared student has pens, paper, headphones and a
laptop and is focused on working.
Students will present themselves professionally at all
times in dress and behavior.
Students may listen to music during independent work
time with earphones only, and only if they have grade of C
or better in class.
Language in class will be appropriate and professional and
students will demonstrate respect towards others and
their property.

15. Writing
•Presentations and Movies
•Criterion Writing Program
•Various Writing
Things Competitions
Covered •Wikis, Blogs and Websites
in •Interviewing and
English Investigative Journalism
•Song Lyrics and Poetry
Comm
Information Literacy
•Evaluation of informational texts,
sites and literature, media
•Research and relevance

16. Grammar
•Top Twenty Grammar Mistakes
•Sentence Types and Structure
Things
•Latin Roots
Covered •Academic Language
in Examine Literary
English Devices
Comm •Musical lyrics
•Poetry
•Literature
•Films
•You Tube

17. Pick books you want to read, then read a lot
Reading
•Independent Reading – 30+ Pages
Things per day, 200 pages per week Friday –
Covered Friday.
in •LitBlog – Response to literature,
English summaries, questions, reactions,
Comm connections
•At least one class book per quarter
•Media and Culture e-book, class set,
and online activities

18. Can I check my grades
ANYTIME?
Yes, you can go totally OCD* on your grades all day long
We have Powerschool 1.6
Assignments are web-linked, have .docs
and .ppts attached right to the assignment
That means no more “what’s my
homework?!?!” calls, you’ll know instantly
Mom and dad can do the same thing, FYI
*obsessive compulsive disorder

19. The End
Thanks for checking out the
English Communications 9/10
Syllabus
2009 - 2010
Questions? Need Info?
Mrs. Jamie Smith, MA Mr. Jon Corippo
jsmith@minarets.us jcorippo@minarets.us