Alpharetta High School
2010-11 (2nd Semester)
Instructor: Dr.Gingrich
PH: 770-521-7640 ext176
E-mail: gingrich@fulton.k12.ga.us
RISE Times:
Tuesday and Thursday: 8am to 830 am in room 3314
Course Description:
In 2004 the Georgia Department of Education adopted new Georgia Performance Standards for grades 9-12. Consistent with state curriculum, the Fulton County Schools English language arts curriculum implementation aligns with state standards. The content standards for this course are clustered by strands: Reading and Literature, Reading Across the Curriculum, Conventions, Writing, and Listening/Speaking/Viewing.
Ninth Grade Literature and Composition will focus on developing reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Throughout this course, students will have opportunities to develop and expand their knowledge of world literature and demonstrate their mastery level of new learning through performance tasks and assessments. At the completion of this course, students will take the Ninth Grade End-of-Course Test required by state law.
Reading and Literature
Focusing on a thematic and genre study of world literature, students will develop an understanding of the importance of various genres and themes of literature that characterize and reflect the human experience. They will read, interpret, analyze, and apply knowledge of the structures, themes, and elements of world fiction and nonfiction. Examining letters, journals, diaries, and speeches, students will explore the development of particular genres and the relevance of pertinent themes to the human condition. They will also consider the influence of mythical and classical texts on world literature. Through extensive reading, students will acquire new vocabulary specific to the study of genres and the development of particular themes and apply that knowledge in their writing.
Reading Across the Curriculum
To encourage students to become life-long readers, the curriculum includes standards that address both academic and personal habits of reading. Students will read approximately one million words per year from a variety of subject disciplines including language arts. In the English language arts classroom, students will learn the vocabulary of literature, writing, and listening, speaking, and viewing.
Writing
Expository writing is the focus for ninth grade; however, students will continue to produce a wide range of writings including polished narratives, memoir, imaginative writings and technical documents. Students will practice both timed and process writing to develop compositions that demonstrate an understanding of tone, point of view, style, organization, author’s purpose, and audience. Students will continue to use research and technology to support reading and writing.
Conventions
Students will increase their knowledge of the conventions of language in reading, writing, and speaking. They will demonstrate their control of the rules of English, focusing on the correct use of clauses, phrases, and the mechanics of punctuation. Sentence construction and usage will continue to be a focus for eleventh grade. Students will apply their knowledge of the conventions of format when producing expository text including research based papers.
Listening/Speaking/Viewing
Students will continue to develop their critical listening skills. Through presentations and interactions with the teacher and other students, they will apply effective speaking techniques in small and large group settings. The viewing standards will enable students to develop media literacy skills through the careful examination of contemporary texts including television, radio, film productions, and electronic media.
Course Objectives:
1. students will have broad knowledge of the genres and themes of world literature and students will be able to read and respond critically to a variety of readings
2. following this course, students will be writing and speaking at a level expected in advanced high school composition courses and other specific academic area courses
3. students will study mechanics, grammar, usage, and syntax styles and be incorporate those fluently within their writing.
Texts:
Two texts will be assigned to you through the school book checkout, a Literature Textbook and a Writing Handbook. You are expected to have these in class at the appropriate times.
Costs of Textbooks
Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes (Green Level) $60.97.
Writing/Grammar Communication in Action (Platinum) $25.97.
Supplies
Topics to be studied:
I. Genres (Drama, Poetry, Nonfiction, Fiction)
II. Modes of Discourse (Memoir, Technical Writing, Exposition, Imaginative, Literary Analysis, Persuasion)
III. Mechanics, usage, grammar, and syntax
IV. Public Speaking
V. Thematic Analysis
VI. Literary Terminology
VII. Rhetorical Terminology
VIII. Writing Processes
IX. Timed Writing and Test Preparation
X.
Classroom Rules:
1. Always come to class prepared. This includes bringing a textbook or assigned readings, pen, paper, notebook, homework, and other materials as needed.
2. Be respectful of others and their property. This includes classmates as well as the teacher. Please also be very respectful of the school environment and property.
3. Do not bring food, drink, or candy to class. School rules also dictate that there be no gum in classrooms.
4. Be on time!
5. Refer to student handbook for guidelines for appropriate behavior in classes and corresponding disciplinary actions for infractions.
Late work policy:
Late work (except in circumstances of an excused absence) will be accepted one day following a due date but will receive only 50% of available credit. After one day, work will not be accepted.
Make-up work:
Make-up work should be completed one day after you return from an excused absence. Tests should be made up within one week of returning from an excused absence.
Provision for Improving Grades
1. Opportunities designed to allow students to recover from a low or failing cumulative grade will be allowed when all work required to date has been completed and the student has demonstrated a legitimate effort to meet all course requirements including attendance.
Students should contact the teacher concerning recovery opportunities. Teachers are expected to establish a reasonable time period for recovery work to be completed during the semester. All recovery work must be directly related to course objectives and must be completed ten school days prior to the end of the semester.
2. Teachers will determine when and how students with extenuating
circumstances may improve their grades.
Alpharetta High School
Academic Honesty Expectations
It is the sincere hope of the AHS administration and faculty that all students will demonstrate the highest level of academic honesty. The following information is designed to encourage this desire.
Violations of the AHS Academic Honesty Expectations include but are not limited to the following:
1.) using words or ideas from a published source without proper documentation;*
2.) using the work of another student (e.g. copying another student’s homework, composition, or project);
3.) using excessive editing suggestions of another student, teacher, parent, or paid editor;
4.) using any electronic device for sharing information prior to, during, or after a graded experience.
*plagiarism-the use of another’s words or ideas and the
presentation of them as though they are entirely one’s own.
Failure to meet these expectations on any graded experience, project, or paper will result in a zero on the assignment, an honor code violation, and two days of Saturday School. Parent/Student notification and administering of the consequences will be done by the teacher and grade-level administrator. Unless stipulated by the teacher, collaboration on graded experiences is not acceptable. Students who willingly provide other students with access to their work are in violation of the Alpharetta High School Honor Code.
From time to time, students will be required to register with and post assignments to the plagiarism detection site, turnitin.com. At the time the assignment is collected, the assignment must appear on turnitin.com or the assignment will be considered late.
Alpharetta High School
Reteaching Instructional Support Experience
RISE
RISE is an opportunity for students to relearn concepts from their teachers with individualized instruction. Sessions are held before or after school in the teacher’s classroom.
All teachers are available for extra help, should a student want or need it. However, once a student’s average drops below a 75 in a course RISE become mandatory at least one hour a week for that course until the next grading period.
Once a student’s average rises above a 75 at the conclusion of a grading period, RISE is no longer mandatory.
RISE lunch sessions are available for students unable to attend either morning or afternoon sessions. RISE lunch sessions are held during 4th period lunch in room 5104.
Grading Procedures:
A= 90-100
B= 80-89
C =70-79
F= 69 and below
The semester grade will be tabulated as follows:
End of Course Test 15%
Essays/Projects 25%
Portfolio 10%
Research Papers/Projects 25%
Tests 25%
Assignments are given a point total and the grade is tabulated as a percentage of the points earned out of the points possible.
Provision for Improving Grades
Drafting Policy:
Writing in this class emphasizes process and individual growth as a writer. A daily grade
will be given for rough drafts of essays; students receive full credit if they complete the word requirements. Second drafts will be graded by Dr. Gingrich. Once students receive their second drafts with Dr. Gingrich’s grade and comments they will have one week to revise the paper if they are not satisfied with their grade/score or wish to improve their writing. They may meet with Dr. Gingrich during the remediation period or another time before or after school or during lunch to work on writing papers and AP exams.
Class Rules:
Academic:
· All work submitted for grading must be in ink on paper not torn out of a notebook. All out of class papers must be typed and double spaced. (pencil: - 15 points; torn – 15 points; not double spaced – 20; not typed: – 25 points) Students may write on the back of paper during timed, in class writings or essays on tests as long as the pen does not bleed through making the work illegible.
· All out of class papers must be submitted through turnitin.com before they will be graded.
· All work must be on time! Compositions, major projects, and presentations will be accepted late one day for half credit. (For example, if the assignment is due on Monday, the assignment will be accepted on Tuesday for half credit; on Wednesday and thereafter, it is a zero.) Homework is not accepted late for any reason.
· Students should bring all needed materials to class. Locker passes will not be issued.
· Assignments made prior to a full day absence and due on the day the absence occurs, will be due upon the student’s return. Students who are present for ANY portion of the school day are expected to turn in all assignments due on that day in order to receive credit for the assignment.
· In the case of printer problems, students should email the work to me prior to 8:30 AM to avoid the late penalty. I will send you a return message that reads, “Received” once I open the attachment and print it. If you do not get the message from me, you know that I have not received it. Students will not be allowed to print work during class time. Students may use the AHS library to print work before school.
· In the case of computer problems, use the AHS library computers before school, during lunch or after school or use the computers at your local public library. Computer problems are common and are not an excuse for not having work completed or typed.
· Class participation is graded holistically based on the following: actively engaging in class daily (listening, taking notes, being prepared), offering ideas, asking questions, attempting answers, discussing materials, using textual references, clarifying material, etc. Two class participation grades will be entered - one at midterm, one before finals. Students loose points for inhibiting class discussion or being excessively absent. One cannot participate if one is not in class.
Behavior:
· All school rules will be enforced (dress code, cell phone, ear phones, tardies, etc.).
· Respect yourself and all others.
· You are or almost are an adult, act like one.
Attendance, Make-up Work, and Extra Help: It is very important for students to be in class every day. Meaningful class discussions cannot be recreated and, consequently, that can affect learning and grades in this class. Each student is responsible for all work missed. It would be wise to pair off with another student in this class who would be willing to keep you informed of assignments and share class notes. All missed work should be made up according to the information in the student handbook.
Writing, Grammar, and Vocabulary: Both in class and out of class writing assignments, grammar, and vocabulary will enhance each unit of this course.
Georgia Performance Standards The course will also conform to all of the Georgia Performance Standards outlined for English Language Arts at the 11th grade level. In English Language Arts performance standards are concerned with
two major areas of focus: reading and writing conventions and listening, speaking, and viewing. The standards for viewing are new for Georgia, and they address the need for students to become discerning viewers of text. These standards are primarily concerned with media literacy.
The complete list of all the Performance Standards for the course are available online at http://www.georgiastandards.org/langart.asp under American Literature and Composition.
Lost/damaged book policy (copy and paste statement into syllabus)
Students are financially responsible for all books issued by AHS. Textbooks may not be left in classrooms and teachers are not responsible for the whereabouts of your book. The copy which was issued to the student must be turned in at the end of the course. Students will not receive credit for turning in another student’s book and may not turn in replacement books. The cost of replacement will be assessed to any student that fails to turn in the book they were issued or turns in a damaged book. If the student is issued a damaged book such as a broken binding, torn pages, water damage, writing, etc., then the book should be brought to Mr. Barnett in 1220 for a replacement or document the damage. There is a two week grace period for students to document damage before they will be held accountable. When a student turns in a book they may do so in person at any time to Mr. Barnett or on exam day at the end of the course to their teacher.
Reading and Major Grade Schedule:
Romeo and Juliet have by January 10th
Ender’s Game have by Monday February 7th
Gulliver’s Travels by Monday, February 28th
The Book Thief by Monday March 28th
Persuasive Paper Romeo and Juliet January 31st
Laws of Life (Extra Credit) January 25th
Romeo and Juliet Critique February 18th
Creative Paper March 11th
Multigenre Paper April 15th
Informative Paper May 13th
I reserve the right to make any chances to the syllabi if the course necessitates them.
I have received and read the syllabus for Dr. Gingrich’s AP Language and Composition Course
Students’ Signature:_____________________________________________
Parent or Guardians’ Signature:___________________________________