Author: Cobb County School District

9th Literature & Composition Syllabus

Laura Smith
Laura.Smith@cobbk12.org

Lindsey Goran
Lindsey.Goran@cobbk12.org

Class Blog: www.mrssmithslitclass.weebly.com

What you will learn this semester (Common Core Georgia Performance Standards):
The following shows how you will be graded. It directly tests your mastery of the skills required of a Georgia 9th grade Literature & Composition student. You are required to pass this class in order to graduate.

How you will be graded (aligned with Common Core Georgia Performance
Standards):
Your grades will be divided among three
categories: Major, Minor, & EOC (End of Course test)
Major: (Essays, Tests, Projects) 50%
Minor: (Classwork, Homework, Quizzes) 30%
EOC: (End of Course test) 20%

Reading Informational & Literary Texts:
RL/RI.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis and inference.
RI/L.9-10.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development, including how it emerges and is
shaped by details; provide an objective summary.
RL.9-10.3 Analyze how complex characters develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
RI.9-10.3 Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events and the connections that are drawn between them.
RL/RI.9-10.4 Determine the figurative, connotative, and technical meanings of words and phrases; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.
RI/RL.9-10.5 Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text and manipulate time create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
RL.9-10.6 Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience.
RL.9-10.9 Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work
RL/RI.9-10.10 By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literary nonfiction and literature in the grades 9–10 text complexity band proficiently
RI.9-10.9 Analyze seminal U.S. documents of historical and literary significance including how they address related themes and concepts.

Writing:
W.9-10.1 Write arguments to support using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
W.9-10.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey information clearly.
W.9-10.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences.
W.9-10.4 Produce clear and coherent writing.
W.9-10.5 Develop and strengthen writing, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
W.9-10.6 Use technology to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products.
W.9-10.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problem.
W.9-10.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
W.9-10.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W.9-10.10 Write routinely over extended and shorter time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Language:
L.9-10.1 Demonstrate command of standard English grammar and usage.
L.9-10.2 Demonstrate command of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
L.9-10.3 Apply knowledge of language to understand context, to make meaning or style choices, and to comprehend.
L.9-10.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases.
L.9-10.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.9-10.6 Acquire and use words and phrases at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary.

Speaking & Listening :
Comprehension and Collaboration
SL.9-10.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
SL.9-10.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.
SL.9-10.3 Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.
Presentation of Knowledge and ideas
SL.9-10.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, logically, and appropriately (purpose, audience, task).
SL.9-10.5 Make strategic use of digital media to enhance presentations.
SL.9-10.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

End of Course test (EOC) :
This state-mandated exam gauges mastery of the Georgia Performance Standards. We will work toward mastery of these standards throughout the course of the semester.

What you will need every day (materials):

“It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”
- Whitney M. Young, Jr.

1 subject spiral notebook
Paper
Pen and/or pencil
Highlighters

Novel for book project
You are to bring reading to class every day. This can be any novel, comic book, magazine, etc, that is okayed by your
parent or guardian. We will visit the library often throughout the semester to check out novels.
On library days, students are required to choose a grade-level appropriate text. We will approve texts by gauging grade-level appropriateness only.
Gauging content appropriateness is the sole
responsibility of a parent or guardian.

What we will do (courses of study):

CONTENT OVERVIEW:
9th Literature & Composition is a theme-based course. The major themes we will explore this year include:
Heroes/Anti-Heroes
Survival
Identity/ Rebellion

MEDIA:
Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
1967 “Taming of the Shrew” (film)
1999 “10 Things I Hate About You” (film)
The Odyssey by Homer
“O, Brother, Where Art Thou?” (film)
Excerpts of “Odyssey” (film)
Various nonfiction works
Parallel readings
Various short stories
Others TBA

WRITINGS & PROJECTS:
Argumentative essays (short and long)
Informational/Explanatory essays (short and long)
Personal Narratives
Projects (using technology)
Journals
Web Quests
Book Talks / Novel Presentations
Other Individual and Group Presentations TBD
To avoid plagiarism, we will attend to the MLA guidelines in writings and projects throughout the
semester.

When you can get help (after-school tutoring info):

Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Goran are available for tutoring by
appointment. We will be glad to come in before school or stay after to help you with material, but please give us at least a day’s notice to plan to be there. Please do not wait until the end of the
semester to ask for help! If you do not understand something we did in class, come see us that day to prevent you from getting
behind on the material! We are here to help you!

~ Expectations for Our Class ~
Always show respect for yourself, for others, and for our school.
Finish all food outside of the classroom and on your own time. Drinks with screw-tops are acceptable in class.
Never sleep or put your head down during class. If you are sick, let us know.
Cell phones are not permitted during class unless we give permission for a specific task.
Take pride in yourself and never cheat. Cheating results in an automatic zero. Don’t doubt your knowledge.
Follow all school rules as laid out in the student handbook.

~ Consequences for Not Meeting Expectations ~
1. Warning (verbal or otherwise)
2. Parent contact
3. Teacher detention
4. Office referral

~ Procedures ~

1. Upon entering the room:
Be in your seat when the bell rings
Have all necessary materials on your desk
Look at the whiteboard for the day’s journal prompt or EOC preparation assignment
Immediately label paper and begin writing
When done, begin reading and await further instruction
When turning in work:
You will keep all work given back in a file folder that you will keep in the classroom.
When asked to do so, you will turn in your work in the tray labeled with your class period on the front table.
If you miss the deadline to turn in an assignment, you will have one week to make up the assignment.
ZEROS ARE GRADE KILLERS!
Late Work Policy: Late work will have a 10 percent penalty after the due date. If work is turned in after seven days, the highest grade possible on the assignment will be a 70 percent. No work will be accepted after the first day of the EOC.
Rest room passes:
You cannot learn the material if you are not in class. pass, raise your hand and ask at an appropriate time (not during discussions).

4 When borrowing materials:
Visit materials center at appropriate times only. Return them promptly after use.
Keep materials area tidy.
6. Before exiting the room:
Wait to pack up until instructed to do so.
Clean up your area.
Return all materials.
Stay in your seat until dismissed.
7. Make up work: (Cobb County Policy)
Excused Absence: The number of days allotted to make up work is the total number of consecutive school days the student was absent. The student has a minimum of two (2) days to make up work that has been missed. For instance, a student who has been absent for three (3) consecutive days would have three (3) school days to make up her/ his work if these were excused absences. A teacher is authorized to extend the number of days if the teacher feels that the circumstances warrant the extension. Students who are absent due to a field trip or a school-sponsored activity will be allowed to make up all work missed. However, students must be prepared to continue with regular class activities upon their return.
Unexcused Absence: Students must meet individual teacher's dead-lines for make-up work due to unexcused absences. This must be a minimum of one (1) school day. If a student has missed a test due to an unexcused absence, the student will be expected to make up the test the day he/she returns to school or follow the guidelines of the individual teacher. Class work, quizzes, and tests missed due to skipping class or truancy may not be made up.

9th Literature and Composition

Dear Parents and Students,
We are so excited to have your son or daughter in our class this semester. English represents a critical academic area. This is a required class for graduation and all further English classes. We look forward to facilitating the development of your student’s reading, writing, and speaking skills for success. We sincerely hope that we can work together to make this class an opportunity for growth and learning.
Please take the time to review the syllabus and class rules with your student. Meeting the objectives of the curriculum requires hard work and dedication. In order to prove successful, this commitment must come from the teachers, students, and parents together. We will do our best as your child’s teacher to carry out our duties. Synergy, available through the Cobb County website, is a fabulous way to stay involved in your student’s education because it allows you to access up-to-date information on your student’s progress in class. We also encourage you to email me anytime you have a question or concern.
As your student’s teachers, we will seek to challenge your student through literature. We hope to enable him/her to make new connections to the world around him/her. We will incorporate various activities and learning styles in order to expose your student to many different learning methods and ideas.
To maximize student learning, it is essential to maintain an environment that is conducive to learning. To achieve this goal, we must work within the established rules and expectations. In the event that class rules are not adhered to and detention is deemed necessary, detention times are before or after school. Please be sure to review the late work policy as well.
If you have any questions or concerns during the semester, please feel free to email me. I look forward to a successful semester!
**Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Goran are available for tutoring by appointment.
Return bottom portion only. Please keep the top of this page for future reference.
Due MONDAY, AUG 8th. Students will keep previous four pages of the syllabus in their binder.
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I have read the classroom rules/expectations. I understand what is expected of me/my child this semester in 9th Literature and Composition and I agree to the outlines for this semester.
Student name (printed): Student signature:
_____________________ _________________________
Parent/Guardian name(s) (printed): Parent/Guardian signature:
_____________________ __________________________
Parent/Guardian phone or cell contact number: Parent/Guardian email:
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Preferred Contact by teacher: (Please check one):
Email: _____ Phone Call: ____ Either: ___