9th+English+I

**D Dilworth** **2015-2016**   “There are significant moments in everyone’s day that can make literature.” -Raymond Carver
 * English I Syllabus**


 * Theme:** The Individual and Society.We will read pieces of literature of varying types that address this theme. All of these works have been selected to help you develop your ideas on this matter.


 * Essential Questions:**


 * Who am I?
 * Who are we as a society?
 * What makes one a member of a given society?
 * What makes a society work or not work?
 * What makes one an outsider?


 * Skills/Activities:**


 * Reading and examining complex ideas
 * Close reading and discussing a work of literature
 * Note-taking
 * Reading for depth
 * Understanding archetypes in literature
 * How to read a short story
 * Appreciating form and structure in poetry
 * Understanding enduring literary themes/conflicts: the individual and society
 * Relating literature to contemporary life
 * Writing a critical argument
 * Independent Reading
 * Inner Circle, Outer Circle
 * Carousels (of Poetry and Fiction)
 * How to read a graph, interpret a picture


 * Novels/Units:**


 * 1) //Lord of the Flies// (Golding) – summer reading
 * 2) Short Stories - TBA
 * 3) //The Perks of Being a Wallflower// (Chbosky)
 * 4) //A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier// – Beah
 * 5) //1984// (Orwell)
 * 6) Poems – TBA
 * 7) //The Catcher in the Rye// (Salinger)
 * 8) Greek Mythology


 * Grading.** I work on a points system, but basically you should expect the following breakup:

Homework – 15% Participation – 15% Quizzes – 20% Essays, Projects, Writing – 50%


 * Homework**: Your homework assignments are due at the **beginning of class** each day it is assigned. Do not turn in homework at the end of class! Late homework will be counted 50% off for one day late, 0% after one day.
 * Projects**: All projects are due **at the beginning of the class** of the date assigned. 15% of your grade will be deducted for the first day it is late (which starts 1 minute after the beginning of class), 25% the second day, and a “0” will be given after two days. If there are problems with turning in an assignment, talk to me. I am known to be reasonable from time to time.
 * Tests, Quizzes**: If you are absent, you will need to see me about taking the quiz/test the day you return to classes (if you anticipate being out longer, see me beforehand and we will work out a reasonable time for you to take the quiz/exam). If you do not seek me out because you were sick and we had a quiz/exam in your absence, you will receive a “0”. Expect “pop” quizzes from me (thus it is essential you ask a reliable student if we had a quiz the day you were absent). Any talking, eye movement, or cheating of any kind during a quiz or a test will constitute a “0”.
 * Papers, compositions**: If you cannot print an essay because you didn’t have access to a printer, you need to send it to my Chinquapin email as an attachment **before** the assigned due date. **You will still need to print it**, but it will not count as a late assignment if sent to me prior to the due date. The same reduction of grade applies to late papers as projects (15% for the first day, 25% for the second day, “0” after two days). Be sure to double space all written assignments.
 * Participation**: Now that you are in high school, you will be expected to participate more. It is now worth 15% of your grade. Basically, if you don’t contribute to the class discussions, expect an F or a D; occasional comments, a C; regular comments, insights, a B; consistent comments, questions, insights, an A; I will need to be “blown away” for you to earn an A. Talking out of turn will bring your grade down; consistent distractions in class will be cause for a student-teacher conference, and likely a call to a parent. (Please see the Student Handbook for other behavior issues; my class will be consistent with it). Not knowing what we’re doing or discussing will also earn point reductions.


 * Writing:**

You will be expected to do a lot of writing in this class. You will have formal papers, but also timed writing prompts in class and a formal research paper this year. Be ready not only to write, but more importantly to revise. This is crucial if you’re writing is ever going to improve. If you haven’t heard this from last year’s 9th grade class, I will be surprised.


 * Notes:**

You will need to take notes for just about everything. Trust me – you cannot learn without them. You will also need them for college. It’s also how one becomes involved in class discussions, how one becomes engaged in learning. So get used to taking notes – in class (and I will check these) and while reading novels. Notebooks will, from time to time, be collected to be graded. I will go over what you should expect to be graded on later. I won’t be worried about content as much as variety and thoroughness. But we will go over what you should have in your notes before I ask you to turn them in.


 * Reading:**

When you read, you need to read without distractions. If the last thing you do at the end of the day is read, discontinue this habit. You will digest and remember little to nothing. You need to be alert when you read. So pick a time when you are not distracted or drowsy. Your quizzes will reflect this.


 * Side Note:**

I live in Residence L (the other half of Dave and Sandy Bartholome’s duplex on the east end of campus) if you have any questions. However, I also live there with my wife, two children and a very noisy Dakota (she doesn’t bite when you visit, but she is very hyper for the first 30 seconds and will bark very loudly). Please respect the fact that my children have to be in bed by 9:00 p.m. Still, I can see you in the evenings if you have questions. Just call me at 281-515-5673 and I will arrange to meet with you, either at my residence or in study hall (please don’t come to my residence at night and knock on the door, though, as my dog will go wild). You can also email me at ddilworth@chinquapin.org. Don’t be shy. Your grade depends on it.

I don’t know what you have heard about me, or what your preconceptions of me are. But since we don’t know each other well to begin with, we should begin without any preconceptions (you wouldn’t want me to pre-judge you without really knowing who you are, now would you?)