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English 9th Pre-IB

Instructor: Mr. Cook

Email:brad.cook@spps.org                   Phone: 651-293-8940 (ext.)1940

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare students for the upper level IB classes. It is a more rigorous class, and is based on district adoptions of literature, grammar and writing. There is a heavier work load, with more material covered expected to be read outside of class. Writing, group work and oral presentations will figure prominently, and students will be required to write several literary analyses of works discussed in class.

Course Expectations

• Respect EVERYONE, everything and all ideas at all times.
• Be ON TIME
• Complete and turn in ALL WORK ON TIME
• Participate in POSITIVE ways
• No headphones, cell phones other electronics or food allowed in class
• No Interruptions/Respect Others
• Do all work neatly and to the best of your ability or it will be returned to you to do over.
• You will bring your book, notebook, folder and pencil/pen to class every day
  

Late Work/Makeup Policy

1. If a student is absent with a valid excuse, they will have as many days to make up the assignment as they were absent, one week prior to the due date.
2. If you are not absent, late work is not accepted beyond 2 days after the due date.
• 1 day late = a 15% reduction in your grade
• 2days late = a 30% reduction in your grade
• 3days late = NO CREDIT

 Materials Required (by the end of the first week)

·        Planner

·        Five Subject notebook  (just for this class) or composition notebook (may need two)

·        2 Pocket folder

·        Pencil

·        Blue or black ink pen

·        Red pen

·        Loose leaf paper

·        Handouts

Notebooks

You are required to use a five subject notebook or composition notebook. This will help you organize your work. Each section of the notebook will be for a specific purpose. The divisions in your notebook will be for the following categories:

• Vocabulary
• Dialectic Responses
• Notes
• Drafts

2 Pocket Folder

• Left side = Handouts
• Right Side = Assignments Due

Grading

• Students are graded on assignments, papers, tests and quizzes, speeches and presentations, class discussions and small group discussions. Your dialectic journals will count heavily this year.
• Notebooks will count for 30% of the student’s grade, and will be collected at least four times during the year.
• All major papers will be graded on a rubric based on the NCTE standards which mimic the MN Standards, but are more specific and complete. I believe it is critical for success that students understand exactly what their expectations are.
• All grades will be entered in Campus and available to students and parents once they have been posted. You may check your grade anytime using either the student or parent portal.
• Grading for IB classes is more rigorous than regular classes. The IB grading scale is as follows:

Units

• Writing
• Grammar
• Short stories
• Novels

Texts

Texts will include, but not be limited to:

Prentice Hall Literature Text, Great Expectations , House on Mango Street, Bless Me Ultima, Romeo and Juliet, The Odyssey, The Most Dangerous Game, The Sniper, Lather and Nothing Else, Bean Trees, Fahrenheit 451, Catcher in the Rye We will also use a variety of poems, short stories and nonfiction articles in addition to the listed texts. Students will write an autobiographical letter the first week of school to assess writing needs for the year.

***Students are responsible for the texts given to them and will be charged a replacement fee for any texts that are lost, stolen or damaged. Please be VERY careful with your books, as we have limited copies available. You may want to buy your own copies of the books to write notes in and to keep at home to read.

HELP

I am always happy to help any student that needs additional support and or scaffolding. If you need extra help, please schedule a time and date to meet after school. If you need help it is your responsibility to ask for it. I am also available for parents if you have any questions or concerns. Please note, however, that the grade your student receives is the grade they earn and I will not accept any lobbying to change a grade.

• The student has been made aware of the schools’ policies on cheating and behavior and agrees to abide by them.

• By both student and parent signing and returning the form below, the student will receive 25 points extra credit if signed and returned by the first Friday of the school year.
• The student will receive another 25 extra credit points for bringing and labeling both their 5 subject notebook and a 2 pocket folder by the first Friday of the school year.
• Total points for each quarter will be between 400 and 700 points. This opportunity for extra credit will help your grade significantly.

I/we have read and understand the information above.

Student Name (please print)                  Parent Signature

                                                            Home Phone

Student Signature                                  Work Phone