Ms. Thompson

TThompson@raleighcharterhs.org

www.oocities.org/englishthompson

Welcome to ninth-grade English! In this class, students will

• read, analyze, and respond to literature from around the world
• write a variety of analytical and creative compositions
• expand vocabulary
• improve grammar and proofreading skills
• give oral presentations and recitations

I have only a few rules, but they are important:

Be prepared. Doing the assigned homework is crucial. Students should be ready to work when class starts, with a pen or pencil, paper, homework, and book.

Be respectful. Please be respectful towards all members of our school community. This rule includes the obvious (for example, no verbal abuse) and the not-so-obvious (such as not interrupting your classmates during discussions). Doing things in class unrelated to English (such as math homework or personal grooming) indicates a lack of respect for the academic community of the classroom.

Be motivated. This is a challenging class. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it.

You will need either a three-ring binder devoted to English or a separate section of a larger binder. Make sure you devise a good system for keeping track of your class notes, your hand-outs, and your homework assignments. You will need to bring pencil and paper to class with you every day. In addition, you will need a smaller notebook to use as a journal.

Approximately 30 minutes of homework will be given every night. Each homework assignment is worth 10 points. Homework may be turned in one day late for half credit.

Tests (100 points) and quizzes (20-40 points) will be given periodically. Quizzes may or may not be announced.

Written work will range from essays to journal entries to short stories and poems. For longer assignments, you will be given a detailed assignment sheet. Major assignments are worth 100 points and will lose 5 points for every day late, up to a maximum penalty of 30 points. Journals will be collected periodically.

Class projects and performances will usually be worth 100 points. Examples include reciting poetry, performing plays, and giving presentations.

Quizzes, tests, and presentations must be done on the date due unless a student is absent.

If you are absent, please try to keep up with your work. If you know in advance that you will be absent, please see me so that you can get the work early. If you miss a quiz or test, it is your responsibility to sign up to take it. Quizzes and tests not taken by the end of the quarter will receive a grade of 0. If you have an excused absence, you will have a grace period equal to the number of days you were absent to make up your work.

Except during designated group work, you are expected to complete homework, classwork, and tests on your own. If you use someone else’s words—even a phrase—in an essay or assignment, you must cite your source with proper documentation. Cheating on an assignment or tests results in a 0 on that assignment and disciplinary action. If you are concerned about a test or assignment, I will be happy to help you with it. Cheating is morally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

If you have questions, need help, or want to discuss something in more depth, please talk to me after class or sign up to see me at lunch, before school, or after school. I look forward to working with you.

Please share this handout with a parent or guardian. When you have both read it, sign below:

I have read this handout and I understand the information presented about 9^th-grade English.

_______________________________ ______________________________

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