English 1 CP1

9th Grade English Instruction Mr. Justin Claypool JClaypool@Moeller.org

Mr. Michael Hayes MHayes@Moeller.org

ABOUT THE COURSE Freshman students are in the last stage of an important transition occurring between grade school and high school. No longer are they learning to read—they are reading to learn. Neither are they learning to write, but writing to exhibit an understanding of concepts. These are important skills (if not the most important) for the latter days of high school, college, and beyond.

MY APPROACH Although educators vary in their approach to teaching an English Literature class, many follow (and studies agree) that a foundation of reading, discussing, and writing works best. In this class, students will read part or whole works of fiction and non-fiction in class and independently— forming questions and comments as they read. Students will discuss the reading with their peers—in partners, groups, or as a class—with the goal in mind that the teacher (eventually) will facilitate only a guide in these dialogues. Also, either before or after discussion takes place, students will write using the text as a well from which to draw ideas.

In addition to the more traditional quizzes, tests, essays and other assessments that work well with this foundation—reading, discussing, and writing—other more modern assignments and ways of measuring students’ mastery of skills and concepts will also make up the daily classroom grind. Students should be prepared to take part in group/partner work, presentations, artistic representations, debates, speeches, videos, and other projects. All of these tasks put more of the class-time workload squarely on students, and the planning and feedback responsibility on the teacher. I believe the less time I spend lecturing to students sitting still, the more they learn and think critically.

Whatever the learning venue or assignment, tablets will be used almost exclusively. Texts will be read as PDF files—highlighted and annotated with a stylus. Essays and homework will be electronically submitted to Dropbox. Students will use several programs: Powerpoint, Microsoft Word, Outlook, and others. Many struggle with this aspect of class, but I believe it to be vital in a student’s preparation for tomorrow’s career.

MAJOR COURSE OBJECTIVES The student will be able to… 

read and experience different and more challenging types of literature(and other media) while developing the ability to identify and analyze the various elements of literature, figurative language, and the author’s craft—adding a deeper level of understanding to all texts

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discuss varying ideas, literary elements, and writer’s craft—found in the texts, peer essays, and modern life—subjectively and objectively with respect, using the appropriate terminology write clear, concise, well-organized and grammatically correct while displaying both the development and comparison of ideas from text and life as well as a mastery of content

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SECONDARY COURSE OBJECTIVES The student will be able to…             

Think Critically Work Creatively with Others Implement Innovations Reason Effectively Use Systems Thinking Make Judgments and Decisions Solve Problems Communicate Clearly Collaborate with Others Access and Evaluate Information Use and Manage Information Analyze Media Create Media Products

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Apply Technology Effectively Adapt to Change Be Flexible Manage Goals and Time Work Independently Be Self-Directed Learners Interact Effectively with Others Work Effectively in Diverse Teams Manage Projects Produce Results Guide and Lead Others Be Responsible to Others

EXPECTATIONS I believe in four simple rules for my classroom: BE ON TIME BE PREPARED BE PRODUCTIVE BE RESPECTFUL BE ON TIME: When the bell rings for class to start, I expect students to be in appropriate uniform, in their seats, computers running, with all necessary materials out, and ready to begin.

BE PREPARED: Come to class ready to work, with a positive attitude and all materials.

SUPPLIES Students are required to bring the following to every class: o o o o

Tablet PC Charger Stylus with tether # 2 Pencil (a mechanical pencil that is labeled as #2 will work)

BE PRODUCTIVE: Students will complete all necessary assignments before the class begins. Also, students will remain on task through-out the entire period. Working hard and applying learned skills like you are on the job is the way to thrive in this class.

BE RESPECTFUL: Other students, the teacher, ideas, and school property must be respected at all times. Discussion is a necessary element in any English class—students will agree or disagree politely and refrain from deliberately offending others. Students will raise hands to answer questions when necessary and patiently wait for the teacher to finish talking before they begin. They will wait for the teacher (not the bell) to dismiss them. Students will also take care of their own materials, the materials of others, and school equipment (desks, walls, chalkboards, etc.). As the instructor, I promise that I will be respectful as well.

CONSEQUENCES In case any of these class rules (or other school guidelines) are disregarded, I will issue one or more of following consequences*:    

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VERBAL WARNING EMAIL HOME DISCIPLINARY DETENTION o After school in room 228 on Wednesdays until 3:30 o Students will sit silently until the time is done ACADEMIC DETENTION o Disregarding rule # 4: Be Productive o When a student earns 0’s for three or more assignments and/or has a 70% average (or below), he must attend Academic Detention o After school in room 228 on Wednesdays until 3:30 o Student will work on missed assignments or re-take tests MOELLER DETENTION o Assigned when students are:  Not in dress code  Being disrespectful or dangerous in the hall  Not responding to Disciplinary Detentions o Front office is given notification o Served for the school within 24 hours REPORT OF MISCONDUCT *Keep in mind that some discipline infractions call for immediate measures, and no verbal warning will be issued (ex. fighting, disrespecting teacher, etc.).

GRADING Student assessment takes many forms: homework, classwork, quizzes, tests, and essays. I use points for my grading calculation.

 Grading Points Per Assignment: o Homework = 10 pts. o Classwork = 20 pts. o Quiz = 50 pts. o Test = 100 pts. o Formal Essays = 100 pts.

Homework/Classwork Students should be reading for homework EVERY SCHOOL NIGHT! Even if there is not an assigned text to read (which will be rare), each student should spend 20-30 minutes reading something (their own novel, comics, graphic novels, magazine, etc.).

Late Work: For every homework and classwork assignment the Dropbox will be open five days past the actual due date. Work will be accepted as “LATE” if submitted in the Dropbox past the due date. Late work will only have a minimum grade of 80%. Late work will NOT be accepted if the Dropbox has closed.

Quizzes Quizzes assessing student understanding of concepts, application of skills, and completion of reading assignments will be given frequently. Quizzes will usually consist of 5-10 questions and have a time limit of 10 to 20 minutes.

Tests English tests will contain the traditional mix of question types: matching, multiple choice, short answer, and essay. Tests will not be timed. Usually, no notes or texts will be allowed during a test. However, for many short response and essay questions, students may use the text (not notes) and any annotations.

Essays Writing instruction during Freshman English will come directly from the teacher (lecture, graded comments, grammar instruction/activities) as well as in the form of peer-to-peer learning, as students will edit and sometimes assess each other’s writing. Along with other minor essays and short responses, students will complete approximately 2 formal writing assignments per quarter. Formal essays should be 400-500 words in length (minimum) and composed in Microsoft Word—then submitted to me via Dropbox by the beginning of class on the assigned due date. Papers will be returned via email with comments and a rubric (to students and parents), and grades will be posted to NetMoeller as soon as possible. Ten extra credit points will be awarded to any student’s formal essay grade that has been reviewed by the Moeller Writing Lab. For any formal essay, please conform to all MLA standards:

(Adapted from PurdueOwl.edu) General Guidelines      

Print on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.

Double-space the text of your paper, and use Times New Roman as the font. The font size should be 12 pt.

Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides (which is the default).

Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. Please use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.

Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, onehalf inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, providing emphasis.

Formatting the First Page of Your Paper   

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Do not make a title page.

In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date (in that order). Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.

Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.

Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking" Double space between the title and the first line of the text. *Late papers will be penalized 20 pts.

ABSENCES It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to complete any missed assignments due to an absence.

Students who miss in-class activities of low point value due to an absence will generally be exempted from that assignment. Students are always responsible for completing homework and assigned readings. Check NetMoeller for assignments and communicate with me (preferably via e-mail) when you are absent. Students that are absent the day an analysis paper is due are still expected to submit their work to me via email THE DAY THAT IT IS DUE. Students are responsible for making up missed quizzes or tests within five days.

EXTRA HELP If students require extra help, they may email me with specific questions. Also, Wednesdays after school is set aside for any tutoring or studying assistance—room 228. Students need only to give me an email stating their intention to meet me after school.

COMMUNICATION Students and parents are free to email me with questions and concerns—and I prefer emails over phone calls (jclaypool@moeller.org). I will respond to emails as soon as possible (I will check email on weekends, as well). I do not consider last-minute, late-night questions about assignments that are due the following day an adequate form of communication. Any concerns regarding completion dates, content, or any related topic should be addressed as soon as possible. For this reason it is my advice to all students that they should do their A-Day homework A-Day night and B-Day homework B-day night. That way, if an assignment is confusing, then the student will have the next school day to catch me in the hall or email me questions. I am very willing to help students with any academic matters to the best of my ability; I only ask that students plan ahead and allow me some time to deliver thoughtful responses.

More serious issues or concerns may merit a conference and can involve students, parents, myself, and (if necessary) even Mr. Kremer (Dean of Students), Mr. Wilke (Dean of Academics), and Mr. Girard (Chair of English Department).

By signing you are agreeing to the standards of this class and acknowledge this syllabus is subject to reasonable change.

Student: ______________________________________________

Parent: _______________________________________________

Date: _________________________________________________

“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.”

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Henry David Thoreau

No! Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.

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Yoda, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back