Course Syllabus

Honors Freshman Language Arts

SY 2008-2009

 

                Honors Freshman Language Arts is an integrated language arts course for the college-bound ninth grade student.  This approach includes work in literature, language (grammar, usage, and mechanics), composition, vocabulary study, accessing information, listening and speaking.

 

Course Objectives:

                This course is designed to implement those objectives stated in Gwinnett County Schools Academic, Knowledge, and Skills (AKS) for Ninth Grade Language Arts.

 

Units To Be Studied:

 

First Semester

Second Semester

Literature:

Ø       Short Stories

Ø       Nonfiction

Ø       Mythology

Ø       The Epic: The Odyssey

Ø       Anthem and/or The Call of the Wild

 

Literature:

Ø       Poetry

Ø       Romeo and Juliet

Ø       To Kill a Mockingbird

Grammar and Editing Skills

Grammar and Editing Skills

 

Writing:

Ø       Personal Narrative

Ø       Comparison/Contrast

Ø       Creative Writing

Ø       Introduce Research (MLA Style)

Writing:

Ø       SAT/Persuasive

Ø       Literary Analysis

Ø       Gateway Practice/Persuasive

Ø       Research (MLA Style)

Vocabulary:

Ø       Greek Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Ø       Weekly Vocabulary Lists

Ø       Weekly Spelling Lists

Vocabulary:

Ø       Weekly Vocabulary Lists

Ø       Weekly Spelling Lists

 

Note:

Portions or all of the following films may be shown to enhance instruction:

Hallmark’s The Odyssey

To Kill a Mockingbird

Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet

The Miracle Worker

The Murder of Emmett Till

Four Little Girls

The Ernest Green Story

The Integration of Central High School

A & E Biography of Edgar Allan Poe

The Pit and the Pendulum

 

Texts:

Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes - $61.95 replacement cost

Prentice Hall Literature: Communication in Action – (Class set only-books available for check-out)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies:

                three-ring binder with notebook paper (no spiral notebooks or pocket folders with brads)

                dividers

                3” x 5” index cards

                pens, pencils, and a highlighter

                flash drive/memory stick

                white-out

                stretchable book cover suggested for literature book

                Parkview High School Planner (provided by school)

 

Grading Scale:

 

                A = 100-90

                B = 80-89

                C = 74-79

                D = 70-73

                F = below 70

 

Components of Final Grade:

 

                Tests, Essays, Projects = 50%

                Vocabulary/Spelling, Grammar = 20%

                Daily Grades = 10%

                Performance Test = 10%

                Final Exam = 10%

 

(Second Semester: The End of Course Test will count as 15% of the final grade and the performance test will count as 5% of the final grade.)

 

Class Rules:

 

  1. No food or drinks are allowed in class except for water in a clear container.
  2. Each student must bring the following to class every day: notebook, pen/pencil, highlighter, white-out and Parkview Planner.  Students will not be allowed to return to the locker for materials.
  3. Tardies to class will be handled by administrators per the STAMP policy (see student handbook for details). 
  4. All make-up work must be completed according to the guidelines in the handbook/planner.  The five-day rule does not apply to pre-announced due dates on assignments such as projects, essays, and tests.  In those cases, it is generally expected that the student would turn in the assignments or take the test on the first day back at school.  Students will not be allowed to make up work for unexcused absences.  It is each student’s responsibility to see the teacher about the make-up work.  If a student is absent, he or she can contact me at the email address below to get assignments.
  5. I will be available for tutoring/extra help from 2:15-2:45.  Please make an appointment with me for these tutoring sessions.
  6. Cheating and/or plagiarism on any assignment will result in a 0 for that assignment.

 

Note to Parents:

 

                My email address at Parkview is cathy_warr@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.  I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your child.  Please refer to the Parkview web site http://www.parkview.net for up-to-date information about Parkview events.  For Language Arts related information click on the Language Arts link.  My web is also included in the Parkview Language Arts link or at http://www.parkview.net/mainmenu/teachers/cwarr/index.html. Please bookmark my web page and refer to it for a weekly schedule of our activities and important deadlines and test dates so that you can keep up with all of the assignments.  I post a weekly schedule by Friday for each upcoming week.  You can also reach me at (770) 717-2155, the Parkview High School Building B workroom phone number.