Mrs. Burnett

Course Description

This accelerated English course integrates writing, grammar and usage, speaking, and listening. It covers the writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing, and proofing. It enhances the study of form in personal narrative, descriptive, and expository papers, and grammar for writing. It includes reading a variety of multicultural literature: short stories, novels, tales, poetry, mythology, drama, and nonfiction. It emphasizes oral and written response to literature, distinguishing characteristics of various genres, and vocabulary study. A research project is required. Since the purpose of the class is to broaden and deepen knowledge and performance, additional and more in-depth work is required.

Textbooks

Issued to student:

Literature- The Language of Literature – McDougal, Littell

McDougal, Littell’s Interactive Reader

Grammar- Grammar and Composition, Heath, third course

Mythology- World Mythology, Donna Rosenburg

Other books will be used in class and may be issued to students.

Holt, Rinehart, Winston – English Workshop, third course

Language Network – McDougal, Littell

Instructional Objectives – The student will be able to and will show the ability to:

Grammar:

Locate and/or correct Type 1 errors (run-on sentence, comma splice, fragment, subject/verb agreement, independent/dependent clauses).
Recognize and write different types of sentences (simple, compound, complex, and compound/complex).
Differentiate between common word usage groups (there, too, your, its).

Composition :

Compose paragraphs of different structure and types (narrative, descriptive, persuasive, expository- with a focus on process/how to/information, comparison/contrast, definition, cause-effect, examples).
Formulate five paragraph essays toward the end of the semester

Research

Conduct research, focusing on library skills, outlining, making note cards, and documenting works cited. A final three page paper will be written using MLA form.
*Library Research – September 10-14, 17
*This paper will be typed at home.

Reading Comprehension

Prepare for the PSAT (affixes, synonyms, antonyms)
Distinguish fact from opinion
Identify inferential/literal main ideas
Draw conclusions and generalizations and make predictions.

Literature

Read and evaluate various forms of literature (multicultural literature, mythology, and a play by Shakespeare).
Examine poetry focusing on figurative language
Read and discuss one novel as a class and one novel outside of class (excludes the summer novel)
Recognize short story elements (plot, theme, setting, conflict types, point of view, mood, tone).

Evaluation

Quarter: 9 weeks
Semester: 18 weeks

LaFayette High School will operate on a nine weeks grading system with students earning credits on a semester basis. There will be four (4) grading periods, 2 per semester. Deficiency reports will be issued at each three (3) week point for those students who are failing. Mid-Quarter reports will be issued to all students at the 4.5 week point. Mid-Quarter reports and Report Cards will be sent home according to the schedule on the current school calendar.

- Grading Scale A=90-100 B=80-89 C=75-79 D=70-74 F=69 & below

Calculation Formula:

Daily Work – 25% (class work, notebooks, participation, compositions, quizzes)

Homework – 25% (assignments from the Grammar and Composition book are given on Monday and are due on Friday. NO Late assignments will be accepted.

Other homework assignments will also be given daily, which are due the following day)

Tests – 50% (grammar units, literature selections, compositions, research paper)

Class/Daily Average=100%

Quarter Report Card Grades

Class/Daily average =80%
Final/Nine weeks exam =20%
Report Card Grade =100%

Ninth Grade Literature and Composition students will be given an End-of-Course Test (EOCT) by the State which shall count for 15% of the student’s final numeric grade .

Semester Report Card Grades

First Nine Weeks = 42.5%
Second Nine Weeks = 42.5%
EOCT Final Exam = 15%
Semester Grade = 100%

*No semester exam

Notebooks: Each student will be required to keep a class notebook containing all of the work for the semester. This will be a graded component of the student’s class averages. A table of contents will be required as the first page of the notebook. A separate folder will be kept in the classroom containing all graded assignments from the semester.

Classroom Rules

Arrive to class on time.

If you choose to break this rule: A tardy will be issued AND you will remain one minute after class. (review the tardy policy in the student handbook)

Bring required materials daily.
Use appropriate language.
Refrain from chewing gum or sleeping.
Respect your teacher and peers, the equipment and furnishings.

School Policy regarding attendance, tardies, make up work, and specific school related issues will be followed as mandated in the school handbook.

If a student misses more than six days in a class during a semester, the student shall not receive credit for that class, even if he/she earned a passing grade, unless the LaFayette High School Attendance Board of Appeals grants the student an attendance waiver.

Students with excused absences will be allowed to make up work equal to the number of days missed plus one.

Students who have unexcused absences will NOT be allowed to make up missed work.

Five tardies to any one individual class counts as oneabsence from that class.

*First offense: Teacher Warning , 2 nd and 3 rd- 1 day detention, 4 th and 5 th 2 days detention, 6 th 2 days ISI

I am available from 8:00 to 9:15 each day and from 3:15-3:40 at 638-2342 if you need to get in touch with me or e-mail me at kimburnett@walkerschools.org. I will also be available after school for any student needing extra help or needing to make up a test or a difficult assignment. Please inform me of any special medical or academic needs. I hope to see you on open house/meet the teacher night (TBA).

Looking forward to a great semester!

Kimberly Burnett

Room 711