2010-2011 Dundee-Crown High School

Advanced English 9 Course Syllabus

Push the Pride: be responsible, be respectful, be positive!
Course Title and Number: Advanced English 9 (1310 and 1311)
Textbook Title for Course: Elements of Literature: Third Course
Learning Materials Needed: Literature textbook or novel being studied (this will be supplied., notebook paper
for assignments, dark ink pens or standard pencils, spiral notebook for class
notes, note cards
Instructor: Ms. Michelle Marconi
Instructor Office Phone: 224-484-5209
Instructor Email: michelle.marconi@d300.org
Class Website: http://dchsenglishmarconi.wikispaces.com
Conference Block: Third

Course Description: Ninth grade English is a survey course that is designed to enhance student’s reading,
grammar, vocabulary, speaking, and writing abilities.
Major Works to be Covered:
Non-fiction, The Secret Life of Bees, To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet
Major Themes to be Explored:
Appearance vs. Reality, Hopes and Dreams, The Human Spirit, Ideals and Values,
Innocence and Experience, Identity, Journeys, War and Peace, Loyalty and
Betrayal,
Fate vs. Free Will
Essential Questions to be Explored:
How does family play a role in shaping our beliefs?
When should an individual take a stand in opposition to an individual or larger group?
How does an individual’s point of view affect the way they deal with conflict?
Do we have choices concerning fairness and justice?
What are the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice, and how does an
individual’s response to them reveal his/her true character?
How can a person’s decisions and actions change his/her life?
What is the meaning of life?
How can we ever be certain of our reality?
What is love?
How does literature reveal the values of a given culture or time period?
What does it mean to grow up?
Do you believe that things are fated no matter what, or do you believe that your actions
can change the course of your life?
The following is also a part of the course:
Paragraph construction, short essays, speeches, a research paper and project, reading quizzes
(both announced and unannounced), exams, journals, Word within the Word vocabulary,
grammar, literary and poetic terminology, a study of fiction and non-fiction
selections, small and large group discussions, daily preparation, daily participation, anything
additional from the Instructor.
These components will be taught in such a way as to align with both District and State goals.

Course Objectives: “Ninth grade students will practice and apply skills necessary to reading high school materials
and communicating complex ideas effectively in a variety of situations. They will apply analytic and critical reading
skills to make and justify inferences about meaning in fiction and persuasive and expository texts, write focused
multi paragraph compositions to persuade and explain, and compose and deliver effective speeches for a variety of
purposes and audiences.”
Classroom Expectations: Students are expected to adhere to all District 300 guidelines. Please refer to your
student handbook for these guidelines.
Behavior Expectations
Be Responsible Be Respectful Be Positive

Homework / Grade Expectations

Part of the learning process involved with freshman year is figuring out how to manage your time and how
to advocate for yourself. Both of these skills are important for your future. Therefore, it is up to you to see
me in a timely manner in regard to concerns about class work, absent work, what we are reading, your
grade, etc. Timely means that you see me with questions about homework before the assignment is due
(such as on a “history” day) or immediately after returning from an absence. Please be aware that I
generally will not discuss grades during class time. I do care very much about your success but am not able
to halt what we are doing in class to discuss grades, late assignments, etc.

Policy on Tardies
You are considered late to class if you are not in the room and ready to learn by the time the bell has rung.
If you arrive late to class without a pass from a teacher or administrator you will be marked tardy—
regardless of your reason for being late. If you arrive in class without your materials, you will be sent back
to your locker and will either lose a hallway pass or will receive a tardy.
If you are tardy (with or without a pass):
Enter class quietly! If you have a pass, hand it to me before taking your seat. Approach me before,
after, or outside of class if you foresee a problem with or see the need to explain a tardy or
attendance issue.

Makeup or Late Work: Please be aware that all regular assignments must be completed in order to receive class
extra credit. I offer a variety of ways to help you achieve this requirement and have detailed them in this section.
MAKEUP WORK (absent work)
*If you are absent, you will be allowed to take up to 2 class periods (or four days) to makeup work that
was missed without penalty. After two class periods, homework that was missed while absent will follow
normal late work rules.
*If an assignment was due on the day that you were absent, it needs to be turned in at the beginning of the
next class session that you attend.
*MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS NEED TO BE TURNED IN ON TIME—EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT AT SCHOOL THAT
DAY! If something extenuating occurs, please let me know.

LATE WORK
MINOR ASSIGNMENTS
*Late work will be accepted the class period after it was due for HALF CREDIT. After that, assignments
will not count for credit, BUT WILL COUNT TOWARD YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE.
MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS
*Major assignments will lose 10% for EVERY DAY that they are late. Please note that I state day and not
class period. If an assignment is due on Monday and it is turned in on Tuesday the highest grade that may
be earned is a 90%. If that same assignment is not turned in until Wednesday the highest grade that may
be earned is an 80%. Taking advantage of an extra weekend will result in a 15% reduction to the grade.
You will have more than enough time to complete major assignments, please plan accordingly and use your
time wisely.

MISSED QUIZZES OR TESTS

*Must be made up within ONE WEEK’S TIME before school, during CUP, or after school. It is your
responsibility to make arrangements to make up this work.

TUTORING CENTER
 *You are encouraged to use the tutoring center to aid in your learning and to recoup some lost class credit
by making up missed assignments. Work MUST BE COMPLETED AT THE TUTORING CENTER with the help
of peer tutors during CUP or after school. That is, you may not bring in already completed work and
attempt to get a signature on it. You are responsible for having the work signed off by the tutor and then
for turning the work in to me. You may receive HALF CREDIT for LATE WORK completed at the tutoring
center. (For example: an assignment that was originally worth 20 points would be worth 10 points if
completed late at the tutoring center.) Any late work completed at the tutoring center for partial credit
needs to be turned in before the end of the term in which the work was assigned.

LATE WORK PASSES

*At the beginning of each eighteen week term, students will receive 2 late work passes that may be used
on any minor assignments throughout the term. (Two passes for terms 1 / 2 and two passes for terms 3
/4 will be issued.) The passes will enable a student to turn in an assignment anytime during the quarter for
the possibility of full credit. Lost passes WILL NOT be replaced.
**If a student does not use a pass, they may turn it in at the end of the term for 5 points of extra credit—
provided that all outstanding work has been completed.

Passes Out of Class

*As class time is valuable, students will be allowed only TWO passes out of class per eighteen week term.
These may be used either as locker or washroom passes. Once the passes are gone, students will not be
allowed to leave without consequences. Please plan accordingly for this policy.

Food and Drinks

*Students are allowed to have something to drink in my classroom as long as it does not disrupt the
learning environment. If a student abuses this privilege, it may be taken away.
*I do not allow food in my classroom unless it is for a project or in special circumstances.

Class WIKI
Our class WIKI is located at http://dchsenglishmarconi.wikispaces.com. Here you will find copies of
assignments, a class calendar, supplements for your learning, links to resources, and the like. I EXPECT you
to make use of this web site and to take advantage of the opportunities it will offer you.

Student Evaluation
*Everyone begins the semester with an “A”.
*Assignments are based on a point system; every assignment is worth a set number of points.
*Semester Work equals 80% of the grade. Semester Exam equals 20% of the grade.
GRADE WEIGHTING
Grades are weighted as follows:
Daily Work: 20%
Writing: 20%
Assessments: 40%
Final Exam: 20%
*Assignments that are not turned in on time will be entered as zeroes until the student resolves the grade.
*Students are to keep every assignment that is returned to them as it is their “proof” that the work was
done. (We use an internet based grade system and sometimes grades do not save as they should.)
*If a student is caught with “copied” work—whether they were the copier or the person who allowed the
copying—they will receive no credit for the assignment.
*Students may be asked to redo work in order to receive more credit. This is an opportunity, not a
punishment.

EVALUATION ELABORATION
In the world of academia, grades tend to be over-inflated. Let me just quickly remind you of what grades mean. Grades
are simply an evaluation of where you are in regard to a skill set. As such, it would be unrealistic to expect “A’s” with
everything—as none of us are perfect in everything! Grades are based on skill mastery and not effort! For me, the
letter grades represent the following:
A Work completed is above and beyond what was expected. Student demonstrates a mastery of the assessed skill.
B Work completed is of great quality. Student demonstrates a high proficiency of the assessed skill.
C Work completed is of good quality. Student demonstrates proficiency of the assessed skill.
D Work completed is of okay quality. Student is working toward meeting the requirements of the assessed skill.
F Work completed is of poor quality. Student needs to begin working toward meeting the requirements of the
assessed skill.
o I view grades as being fluid. They are never fixed and students always have the chance to improve upon them.
o Students who do not earn the grade they wished to have on assignments are encouraged to retry the work for
mastery of the skill.
o All redone work must be in by the end of a unit of instruction for additional credit.
o Any questions about a grade should be addressed to me so you can have a full understanding of where you are
in any given skill set.
√+ Work receiving this mark will exhibit higher levels of thinking, analysis, and synthesis. It will push an issue
further and will show meaningful connections to other work.

√ Work receiving this mark will exhibit attempts at higher level thinking, analysis, and synthesis. Issues will be
nudged forward and some connections will be obvious.

√- Work receiving this mark will not really display higher levels of thinking, analysis, and synthesis. The reply is very
literal and non-challenging.
This course will be challenging and will push you to become a more insightful reader and writer. While the expectations
are high, I am also very well aware that this is your first high school English course. I am here to help you and to push
you. I expect a lot but will help you find success. All I ask is that you have an open mind, stay positive, and seek help as
needed.

So….fasten your seatbelts! This course moves fast and you will develop of lot of skills which will help you throughout the
next four years and beyond! You are about to become sleuths discovering main ideas and supporting details, master
paragraph constructors, skilled drivers on the grammar highway, and knowledgeable root discerners (among other
things!)

I am very excited to work with you this year. Welcome to freshman English!

Ms. Marconi
 PLEASE SEPARATE THIS SHEET AND RETURN TO MS. MARCONI BY THE END OF THE WEEK

Advanced Freshman English Syllabus

Acknowledgement Form
Please complete this form with your contact information. Then sign where indicated to acknowledge that you
have read and understand the expectations for English class this year. This sheet is to be returned to Ms. Marconi within
the week for credit—THIS IS YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT! The contact information will enable me to contact you as
needed throughout the year as well as provide you with access to our Wiki and web pages.

PLEASE PRINT YOUR INFORMATION:

Student Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Student Email Address (if applicable): __________________________________________________________________

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Name(s): _______________________________________________________________________

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Email Address(es): _______________________________________________________________

Phone number where parents may be reached during the school day: _________________________________________

WIKI AGREEMENT (PARENTS PLEASE COMPLETE)

I ________________________________________________ hereby give my son / daughter permission to post on the

class WIKI website. I understand that they will create an account with Ms. Marconi for the WIKI and will need access to
an email address. He or she will be responsible for what they post on the WIKI. Anything that is not school appropriate
will be removed and my son or daughter will face disciplinary action from the school.

I give my son / daughter permission to join the WIKI for the purposes of class discussion and posting.

The email address to be used for his / her account is:

____________________________________

He or she may create a new GMAIL account

I DO NOT give my son / daughter permission to post on the class WIKI. I understand that he / she will
still be responsible and required to check out the website weekly in order to continue his / her
learning at home.

Student Signature:___________________________________________________________________________

Parent Signature:____________________________________________________________________________