Advanced English 9

Ms. Lacey, Room 203

tlacey@ycsd.york.va.us
http://mstlacey.weebly.com
2015-2016 Course Syllabus
Course Description:
This course is designed for students who have demonstrated ability and interest in English
and helps students prepare for an advanced study of English. The course focuses on oral and
written communication in the areas of research, literary analysis, and technical forms.
Knowledge of literary forms, oral presentation, and interdisciplinary approaches are
incorporated into literature instruction.
Changes will be made to the following genre study as needed to best meet the class learning
goals.
1st
Summer Reading
Short Story Unit: Various
Required Texts:
Quart Assignment
short stories
Literature, McDougal
er
Littell and related
2nd
Epic- Text: The Odyssey
Drama- Text: Romeo and
resource texts
Quart
Juliet
Replacement Cost:
er
$80.45
rd
3
Poetry: Various poems
Research Paper: Writing
Selected novels and
Quart
Process
supplementary texts as
er
assigned
th
4
Nonfiction: Various texts
Novel
Quart
There is a class set of
er
textbooks. Each student
will be assigned a text according to his/her desk number. Students may access the online
version from home. If a student would like a textbook for home, they may request one and
sign it out for the school year. Textbooks and paperbacks issued are the responsibility of the
student.
Online Textbook Info:
Go to activate.classzone.com and enter the activation code.
Activation Code: 4506879-30
Product Name: McDougal Littell Literature Grade 9
Materials:
1 -2 inch binder
Dividers
College-ruled loose-leaf paper
3x5 index cards
Folder with pockets
Pens (blue or black ink)
Recommended: flash drive, post-it notes, and highlighters
Supplemental materials may be needed during the school year (for projects, etc.), but you
will receive advance notice. Donations of tissue boxes and/or hand sanitizer would be greatly
appreciated.
Grading
YCSD Grading Scale
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 64-69
F 0-63

Weighted Breakdown for Advanced English 9

Tests, Major Writing Assignments,

Projects
Quizzes
Homework, Classwork

55
30
15

Homework/Classwork
Homework and most class work will be graded for completion versus accuracy. Please see
below:
Check Star=Assignment went above and beyond the expectations, that were
expected. (105%)

Check Plus= Assignment was completed thoroughly and on time, shows time and
effort, may have 1-2 errors. (100%)
Check= Assignment was completed on time, shows time and effort, may have 3-4
Errors. (89%)
Check Minus =Assignment was completed on time, is mostly complete, shows some
effort, appears rushed, and may have more than 5 errors. (79%)
Zero=Assignment not turned in. (0%) (If you are present in class and choose not
to complete an assignment, you will not be allowed to make up the
assignment later.)
Academic Dishonesty
In accordance with all YCSD policies, instances of academic dishonesty will be taken very
seriously. Any situation involving copied work or answers, discussing test or quiz questions,
or otherwise misrepresenting someone elses work as your own will result in a referral to an
administrator and/or a zero on the assignment in question.
Late Work and Absences
Turn in your assignments on time or your grade will be reduced. Assignments more than five
days late will not be accepted. Discretion will be used for extenuating circumstances. It is
the responsibility of each student to make up any work he or she misses whether an absence
is excused or unexcused. To help students keep up with make-up work, assignments will be
posted on the class website. Students should not display avoidance of test or any major due
dates for papers, projects, etc.; this will result in being given an alternate assignment. All
students should have equal time to complete and/or prepare for assignments.
Rewrite Policy
Students will be allowed to rewrite essays; however, a student may only improve his or her
grade by one letter from his or her original score. The teacher will accept rewrites after the
student requests a writing conference. The rewritten paper will be due within one week of
the writing conference. Rewrites will only be accepted if the original assignment was
submitted on time and met all basic requirements.
Contact and Extra Help
Email me with your questions, and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Please do not wait
until the last minute to ask for assistance or schedule an appointment. If you are dissatisfied
with a grade you receive on an assignment, it is important that we discuss your grievance
and my grading process. You may email me explaining your grievance or request an
appointment (grade grievances will not be discussed in class).
Classroom Guidelines
The guidelines are as follows:
1. You must be on time. That means you are in your seat and working on bell work
when the tardy bell rings. GHS tardy policy will be followed.
2. You must be prepared. That means you will bring all your books and materials to
class and take them with you when you leave. You are responsible for your personal
items.
3. You must be courteous. That means you will follow directions the first time given.
You will treat each person in the class with respect and dignity. In addition, you will
treat the room and the property of others with respect. You will throw away your
trash and leave the room neat and orderly.
4. You must follow all policies and procedures. That means you will follow all
procedures and policies outline in the GHS and York County Public Schools handbooks.
A word about BYOT: Cell phones and any other electronic devices can serve as a
valuable tool; however, they can also be a distraction. Misuse of your device will
result in confiscation and consequences. On assessment days devices will be placed
in the organizer.
Procedures
1. You will enter the classroom quietly and orderly. Have a seat, take out your
materials, review the board for the agenda of the day, and begin the bell work.
2. To get your attention, the teacher will stand and raise her hand. Wait for the class to
be quiet, and she will begin speaking. In return, she expects you to raise your hand to
get her attention.
3. You will properly head your papers (to include first and last name, teachers name,
subject/block, and date in the top left corner); not doing so will result in 5 points being
deducted from my assignment. Assignments with no names will not be graded. You
must use blue or black ink only on assignments being turned in. Five points will be

4.

5.
6.

7.

8.

deducted from all assignments completed in color ink. Assignments should be

submitted on loose-leaf paper; assignments turned in on ripped notebook paper will
have five points deducted.
If you finish your class work early, you understand that you should complete any
unfinished English assignments, read, review vocabulary, or start working on your
English homework.
If you are scheduled to leave early, you will let the teacher know as you enter the
classroom.
You are expected to participate in class discussion; however, your
comments/questions must be relevant to the discussion. You will save off topic
comments/questions for later.
You understand that you are not permitted to move around or leave the classroom
without the teachers permission. You understand that you will not be permitted to
leave the class during class discussion unless it is an emergency. In addition, you will
not be permitted to leave the classroom during the first and last 10 minutes of class.
No exceptions!
You understand that the bell does not dismiss you from class. The teacher dismisses
you with Have a nice day!

Parent/Guardian Contact Information

Thank you for taking time from your busy evening to review this information so that together
we can help your student be successful this year. Please sign below to acknowledge that you
have read and understand the policies and procedures outlined on the syllabus for Advanced
English 9. In addition, please fill out the following form and return it with your student, and
feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Students Name: ______________________________________________________________
1.

Parent/Guardians Name: _________________________________________________

Relationship to Student: ___________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Email Address: _____________________________________________________________
Most Convenient Phone Number: ________________________________________

2.

Parent/Guardians Name: _________________________________________________

Relationship to Student: ___________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Email Address: _____________________________________________________________
Most Convenient Phone Number: ________________________________________

3.

Technology Survey: Does your student have:

a. Computer/Internet access at home? ____________________________
b. A cell phone with text messaging capability_____________________
c. A smart phone _______________________________

4.

Is there anything specific that you think I should know about your student?

Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________________________________

Student Signature: ______________________________________________________________