Course Syllabus

English 9
Mr. Tooley
Email: avery.tooley@pgcps.org / website:
mratooley.weebly.com
Phone: 301.780.2100 x3021

Course Overview: Students will have the opportunity to learn, develop, and
practice the basic skills for success in high school and beyond. This course will
focus on developing the student's abilities in five core areas: reading, writing,
speaking/listening, vocabulary, and grammar. Within each skill set, we will be
focused on helping the students to become more skillful at completing certain
tasks. Specifically:

□ Reading Skills:
• Annotate texts using careful observation and reading strategies
• Effectively draw on textual details to evaluate literary works
• Identify structure, style, and theme in any piece of literature
• Analyze works of literature from several genres
• Effectively use terms such as imagery, tone, and characterization when
discussing a piece of literature
□ Writing Skills:
• Write literary analysis essays in a 5-paragraph format, including
• Introduction containing a thesis statement
• Body paragraphs developed using MEALS strategy
• Conclusion
• Compose autobiographical narrative of 600-750 words
• Compose original poetry
□ Speaking/listening skills:
• Verbally articulate the key points of a printed text
• Use textual evidence to explain the significance of literary selections
• Expand on statements from other speakers in expressing viewpoints
• Use appropriate vocabulary for an academic setting
□ Vocabulary:
• Determine the meaning of above-grade-level words as they appear in
context
• Apply knowledge of roots and affixes to draw inferences about word
meanings
□ Grammar
• Subject-verb agreement
• Proper capitalization
• Proper use of periods, commas, and quotation marks in standard
 scholastic writing.

Course Schedule (tentative)

1st Quarter – My Own Journey - Narrative

Readings: Selected short stories and autobiographical narratives
Topics: Elements of a Story, Elements of Plot, Subject-verb agreement,
punctuation, capitalization, Characterization
Strategies: Reciprocal Reading, Fishbowl, MEAL, Frayer Models, Rainbow Writing,
QAR
Assessments: Autobiographical Narrative (500-600 words), vocabulary tests (5-6),
unit tests on literary terms and reading selections

2nd Quarter – Novel

Readings: To Kill A Mockingbird, Novel (TBA)
Topics: Elements of a story, Characterization, Theme, Mood, Tone, Foreshadowing,
Flashback, subject-verb agreement, punctuation, capitalization,vocabulary
Strategies: Reciprocal Reading, Fishbowl, MEAL, Rainbow Writing, Frayer Models,
word analysis, QAR
Assessments: Characterization essay (~1000 words), vocabulary tests (5-6), tests
and quizzes on reading selections and application of literary terms, map of setting

3rd Quarter – Poetry

Readings: Poems of various genres
Topics: Figurative language, theme, rhythm, rhyme scheme, mood, tone, diction,
vocabulary
Strategies: Frayer Models, MEAL
Assessments: Poetry book, 100-word Autobiography

4th Quarter – Persuasive Writing, Drama

Readings: “Letter to the Board of Education,” “I have A Dream,” Romeo & Juliet
Topics: Figurative language, elements of drama, rhetorical devices, vocabulary
Strategies: Frayer Models, MEAL
Assessments: Persuasive letter, debate, Romeo & Juliet storyboards &
soundtrack,

Materials
• Black/blue ink pens ( like pink, orange, green, purple? Cool. For full credit,
use blue or black ink.)
• #2 pencils. (For scantron tests. For other work, see above.)
• Library card (we won’t be going to the library, but in the event that you
have internet difficulties, you will need a library card to access the internet
at the library. Then there’s that issue of the outside reading…)
• Post-it notes Don’t get a composition notebook. Do
• Looseleaf paper not. Just don’t. Get looseleaf.
 • 3-ring binder with dividers: Vocabulary/Literature Notes/ Writing-Grammar
Notes
• 3x5 index cards
• Markers / creative supplies
• Professional email address, e.g. firstname.lastnamemmdd@gmail.com (I do
not and will not respond to an email from choclategurl15@yahoo.com)

Grading Policy

50% Assessment – Quizzes, Tests, Papers, Projects

25% Classwork – Warm-ups, quick-writes, in-class excercises
25% Homework - Rough drafts, revisions, specified homework

A = 90-100
B = 80-89 You will get the grade you EARN. Your
C = 70-79 grades are YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Plan
D = 60-69 to succeed and then follow through on the
E = 59 and below necessary steps to do so.

Homework
• Homework will be assigned on an as-needed basis. There will be homework
every week, but probably not every class period.
• Homework is due on or before the designated date. Late homework holds
the same value as an expired airline boarding pass: none.
Assessments
• Exams and Projects will be announced in advance
Operating Code of Conduct Interventions
Principles
Prepared I arrive to class on time with Positive Reinforcement
required materials ready to learn.

Respectful I show respect for myself, my Redirect

teachers, my peers and school
property.
Involved I am an active learner in the Student/Teacher Conference
classroom.
Dependable I am the owner of my actions in all Parent Contact
settings. (phone call, email, conference)
Excel I do my best to achieve academic Administrative Intervention
excellence in the classroom.

• Quizzes will NOT be announced in advance

• Make-up tests will be available at student request on first day in class
following the missed test.
Class Behavioral Expectations