English 9 Course Syllabus

Mr. Estoy

School Year 1999-2000

" The mission of Simon A. Sanchez High School is to bring our community together in a respectful environment where every participant strives to meet the highest outcomes and promotes excellence for all."

Welcome students! My name is Mr. Estoy. You may only call me "Mr. Estoy". Everyone in this class should know why they are attending this class. If not, this is ninth grade Language Arts. In this class you will learn to become better communicators. You will accomplish this by assignments in the form of journals, essays, portfolios and book reports. In this class, you may be done "individually" or "by group". You will also be given a chance to choose your own novel, on approval by Mr. Estoy, to do your book reports. You will be given more information regarding these different assignments as the year progresses.

This class promotes:

* A positive learning atmosphere.

* A safe learning environment.

* A student's chance to succeed.

Textbooks used in class:

Heath Grammar and Composition, Third Course by Bergman, Carol Ann & J.A. Senn.

Massachusetts: D.C. Heath and Company, 1988.

Wordskills. Orange Level by Coomber, James E. & Howard D. Peet. Illinois: McDougal,

Littel & Company, 1991.

Reading Literature, Orange Level. New York: McDougal, Littel & Company, 1985.

Prentice Hall Literature. Gold Level. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc., 1991.

** Other resources will also be used as deemed necessary.

Materials needed in class:

-Blue or Black ink pen.

-Your own supply of "College Ruled" loose leaf paper.

-A 1 or 1-1/2 in. "three ringed" binder.

** You will need other materials such as markers, crayons, colored pencils or any other supplies needed to complete your various projects.

What is expected from you in class:

You are expected to come to class on time and always ready to learn. You should be in your seats before the tardy bell rings with all the needed materials for class. If you are still standing after the tardy bell has rung, you will be marked tardy. If you remain standing then you will be marked absent. In class you must show respect to the teacher and your fellow classmates. Here are some of the classroom rules.

CLASS RULES

* Always be prepared for class.

* Use appropriate BEHAVIOR and LANGUAGE in class.

* No Corridor passes! Only for an emergency.

* No talking while the teacher is talking.

* Mr. Estoy dismisses the class, not the bell.

* Absolutely no eating in class.

* Raise your hands to be recognized or to answer.

** When a rule is broken, the 1st Offense is Verbal Warning, the 2nd Offense is a Verbal warning, lunch detention will be served, and your parents will be notified. On the 3rd Offense, you will serve lunch detention and a referral will be sent to the office. All school rules will be enforced.

What is expected from all your assignments:

All assignments should be turned in on time. Late assignments will be accepted but will be graded accordingly. Points will be deducted. The golden rule for an assignment is, " It is not necessarily the quantity, but more of the quality of the work that is turned in ". Take the time to polish your writing assignments, presentations, or projects. If you do all the assignments and turn them in on time, then you should have no problem in passing this class. Passing this class will be fairly simple but fairly challenging. You must simply follow this equation; Effort + Persistence= "A" Passing Grade. If you are "Lazy" and show no interest in any of the assigned. You are ultimately the one who is responsible for your grades.

** Progress Reports will be given at least twice in a quarter. You will be responsible to deliver these reports to you parents for them to sign. After they have signed the progress report, it will be brought back to Mr. Estoy.

What is expected from you when you are absent:

Work will be given on a daily basis. When you are absent, you are ultimately responsible to make up any assignments that were missed. You must see Mr. Estoy to know what must show that you have an excused absence for that day in order for you to turn in work for full credit. If the due date of an assignment, project, or presentation falls on the day you were absent, then the assignment will be due the day you return to class, pending if it is an excused absence.

Evaluation/ Grading

Grades are based upon a point system. You are given a total number of possible points per assignments. At the end of each week, the total number of points you have earned is divided by the total number of points possible to get a percentage grade. For example: You earn 750 points, out or a possible 900 points. The equation used would be, 750 divided by 900= .8333 which in turn will be an 83%. The grading scale goes as follows:

90% and Up= A

89% - 80%= B

79% - 70%= C

69% - 60%= D

59% and below= F

Tentative Course Schedule

This is an outline that offers a tentative schedule of what will be covered throughout the year. This outline is subject to change according to the allotment of time given for this year.

1st Quarter

I. Study skills

A. Note Taking

B. Time Management

C. Following Directions

D. Library skills

E. Test taking strategies; "PIRATES"

II. Vocabulary

A. Wordskills Workbook

1. Synonyms

2. Antonyms

3. Various terms and definitions

III. Writing/ Grammar

A. Journals

B. Current events

1. Self editing/ Peer editing

2. Publication (Newspaper Project)

C. Essays (Based on Monthly themes)

D. Daily Oral Language workbook

E. Creative Writing

IV. Public Speaking

A. Introductions

B. Oral Presentations

C. Group discussion

V. Literature

A. Short stories

B. Legends

1. Local

2. Cultural

2nd Quarter

I. Study skills

(Continue to reinforce all skills taught)

II. Vocabulary

A. Continue to reinforce skills taught.

III. Literature

A. Terms

1. Setting

2. Plot

3. Characters

4. Mood

5. Author's purpose

6. Point of View

7. Simile

8. Metaphor

9. Personification

B. Comprehension

1. Continue to reinforce skills taught

2. Draw conclusions

3. Make inferences

4. Read for enjoyment

5. Distinguish fact from fantasy by determining the level of reality in a selection

6. Summarize information

C. Novels

1. " The Outsiders " by S.E. Hinton

2. Free Reading

IV. Public speaking

A. Presentations

B. Tell a short story

C. Group presentations

V. Writing

A. Portfolios

B. Create a short story

3rd Quarter

I. Study skills

(continue to reinforce all skills taught)

II. Vocabulary

A. Continue to reinforce skills taught

B. Build Vocabulary

C. Wordskills workbook

III. Literature

A. Genre= Drama

B. Terms

1. Reinforce skills taught

2. Plot

3. Theme

4. Playwright

5. Solilquy

C. Comprehension

1. Reinforce skills taught

2. Predict outcomes

3. Summarize information

D. Reading

1. Play: "Romeo & Juliet" by William Shakespeare

2.Outside novel ( students choice )

IV. Public Speaking

A. Presentations

B. Group presentations

C. Speeches

1. Persuasive

2. Demonstrative

3. Informative

4. Impromptu

V. Writing

A. Continue to develop and reinforce skills

B. Grammar

C. Write a short report (summarizing information)

4th Quarter

I. Study skills

A. Continue with reinforcing skills taught

B. Continue to library skills

II. Vocabulary

A. Build Vocabulary

B. Wordskills workbook

III. Literature

A. Genre= Poetry

B. Terms

1. Continue to reinforce terms

2. Rhyme Scheme

3. Alliteration

4. Hyperbole

5. Onomatopoeia

C. Comprehension

1. Create own poetry

2. Publish poetry

a. Obtain constructive criticism from peers

b. Publish work (Poetry In Motion/ shirt project)

IV. Public speaking

A. Presentations

B. Group presentations

C. Recite poems

V. Writing

A. Journals

B. Poems

C. Creative writing