Course Outline
& Expectations: English 9/ English 9 Pre-AP
Teacher:
Lori Mizanin
Phone:
750-8750
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The content covered in this course is based on and derived from the
Arkansas Language Arts Frameworks for 9th grade.
There are three framework strands that we will be working from in class
this year: Writing,
Reading
, and Oral and Visual skills. Students
will cover a unit on short fiction, a unit on novels, a unit on poetry, and a
unit on drama. Each unit will
include the study of the basic elements of literature relating to that unit, as
well as the reading of selected works of literature.
We will work on writing that includes paragraph writing, essay writing,
conventions of writing, and craftsmanship in writing.
Grammar will be taught in conjunction with other class assignments.
The following list includes the main units of study your child will
encounter in 9th Grade English. It
is a general outline and does not include everything that will be covered in
this class.
1st
Quarter:
Elements
of Plot/Elements of a Story
Literary
Prose
Expository
Essay Writing
*Selected
Summer Reading
2nd
Quarter:
Elements
of a Novel
To
Kill a Mockingbird
Literary
Prose and Content
Reading
Descriptive
Essay Writing
*Novel
to be determined
3rd
Quarter:
Introduction
to Poetry
Introduction
to Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s
Romeo and Juliet
Content
and Practical
Reading
Persuasive
Essay Writing
*A
Separate Peace
4th
Quarter:
Epic
Poetry
Elements
of an Epic
Homer’s
The Odyssey
Literary
Prose
Expository
Writing
*Jacob
Have I Loved
*additional
texts for Pre-AP classes
More
Course Information:
- All
units are supplemented by extensive writing, grammar and open-response
practice.
- Students
in regular English will be
required to read 5 young adult
novels of their choice per quarter, in addition to our common reading to
develop reading comprehension skills, fluency, and knowledge of vocabulary.
- Students
in Pre-AP English will be
required to read 3 young adult novels of their choice per quarter and 1
classic novel of their choice per quarter, in addition to our common
reading to develop reading comprehension skills, fluency, and knowledge of
vocabulary. A list of suggested classics will be posted in the classroom,
and students will be encouraged to give “Booktalks” over classics they
have selected.
- Daily
assignments will count for 80% of the English grade and the nine weeks test
will count for 20% of the grade.
Supplies:
- 3-ring
binder with pockets
- Black
and white composition book
- Loose
leaf paper
- Blue,
black, and red ink pen for editing
- Highlighter
(any color)
- Post-it
Notes
Films:
During
the course of the school year we will have the opportunity to watch several
quality videos which will reinforce the learning in our classrooms.
I feel these activities are educationally significant in the
understanding of the material and are not “filler”.
If you do not want your child to participate in any of these film
activities and would like them to complete an alternate assignment, please let
me know in advance. I have included
the names of the films and some additional information on the following page to
allow you to make an informed decision about your child’s participation.
Romeo
and Juliet
(PG) 1968 Zeferelli/Paramount
Romeo
and Juliet
(PG-13) 1996 (Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes)
To
Kill a Mockingbird (NR) 1962 (Gregory Peck)
The
Odyssey (PG-13)
1997 (Armand Assante)
Please
fill out the following information:
_____
I give my permission for my child to watch all of the films listed above.
_____
I do not want my student to watch the following films; all others- not
listed on the line below are acceptable to me.
I understand my child
will be given an alternative assignment for film activities
he/she does not
participate in.
Disapproved
films: ___________________________________________________
Student’s
Name
________________________________________
Parent
Signature
________________________________________
Go to http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrack.do?number=348537