English Language Arts - Freshmen
Greater New York Academy of Seventh-day Adventist
English I & II
English I & II
Instructor’s Name: Mrs. Celes Elliott
Room: 206 Email: [email protected]
Course Description
This course is required for all freshmen and its overall purpose is to help you develop your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. To accomplish this, the class will be divided into six units in which we will study fiction, nonfiction, short stories, drama poetry, and, essay writing. In each unit we will discuss a big question to enrich exploration of literary concepts and strategies. By the end of this course, students will master the essential skills in each learning strand, making them able to communicate with others and with God.
Course Objectives
The New York State Department of Education has outlined learning standards that define what students should understand and be able to do by the end of ninth grade. The standards for this course are divided into three areas: Writing, Reading, and Speaking/Listening.
Reading for Literature/Informational Text
Room: 206 Email: [email protected]
Course Description
This course is required for all freshmen and its overall purpose is to help you develop your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. To accomplish this, the class will be divided into six units in which we will study fiction, nonfiction, short stories, drama poetry, and, essay writing. In each unit we will discuss a big question to enrich exploration of literary concepts and strategies. By the end of this course, students will master the essential skills in each learning strand, making them able to communicate with others and with God.
Course Objectives
The New York State Department of Education has outlined learning standards that define what students should understand and be able to do by the end of ninth grade. The standards for this course are divided into three areas: Writing, Reading, and Speaking/Listening.
Reading for Literature/Informational Text
- Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
- Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. - Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
- Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
- Respond to literature by employing knowledge of literary language, textual features, and forms to read and comprehend, reflect upon, and interpret literary texts from a variety of genres and a wide spectrum of American and world cultures.
- Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).
Writing
1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
Speaking and Listening
1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric. Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
4. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
Course Materials
1. Prentice Hall Literature Common Core Edition Grade 9
2. Composition notebook or spiral notebook (Do Now exercises)
3. Composition notebook or spiral notebook (note taking)
4. Black or blue ink pen
Classroom Rules:
Try your best
Respect the teacher, your classmates, yourself and the classroom.
Use your time wisely.
Speak appropriately at all times.
Think before you make important decisions.
Do Now Activity
Each class period, a writing prompt will be placed on the board. Students are expected to arrive to class on time and respond to the writing prompt (5-7 minutes). Students who come prepared and remain on task for the entire time allotted for this activity will receive full credit (10 points). Students who are tardy will receive half credit (5 points). Students who arrive after the do now activity period and/or have an unexcused absence will not receive credit and will not be allowed to make up this assignment.
Assignments
Class work, homework, supplemental reading assignments, and regular weekly activities are very important to this course and are designed to reinforce lessons previously taught as well as help students prepare for ensuing ones. If you do not complete the work, it is impossible to learn and apply the necessary concepts. Therefore, ALL assignments need to be handed in ON TIME.
Note: Unless specified, assignments should NOT be emailed.
Homework
All homework assignments should handed in at the beginning of the class period. Upon entry, students are expected to place their assignments in the homework tray designated for their class. Assignments not handed in at the beginning of class will be considered late and points will be deducted (see late assignment policy listed above)
Late assignments
Assignments will be considered late if they are not placed in the tray at the beginning of class (this includes assignments left in a locker or at home). The assignment automatically loses points as outlined in Greater New York Academy’s late work policy listed below:
Submission Penalty
1 day late 5% penalty
2 days late 10% penalty
3 days late 15% penalty
4 days late 20% penalty
5 or more days 25% penalty
Note: After 3 days, no final score can exceed 75%
Book Review
A book review is a written work that summarizes the plot of a book, without revealing too much, and discusses other literary elements such as theme and character. In short, a book review is a mix of plot summarization and individual commentary on the writing. We will learn how to write a book review together in class, however, if you need additional help, please refer to the Write A Book Review with Rodman Philbrick posted in the My Homework App in Resources. Book reviews will be due approximately every month and a half throughout the school year. The exact dates are listed below.
1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
Speaking and Listening
1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric. Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
4. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
Course Materials
1. Prentice Hall Literature Common Core Edition Grade 9
2. Composition notebook or spiral notebook (Do Now exercises)
3. Composition notebook or spiral notebook (note taking)
4. Black or blue ink pen
Classroom Rules:
Try your best
Respect the teacher, your classmates, yourself and the classroom.
Use your time wisely.
Speak appropriately at all times.
Think before you make important decisions.
Do Now Activity
Each class period, a writing prompt will be placed on the board. Students are expected to arrive to class on time and respond to the writing prompt (5-7 minutes). Students who come prepared and remain on task for the entire time allotted for this activity will receive full credit (10 points). Students who are tardy will receive half credit (5 points). Students who arrive after the do now activity period and/or have an unexcused absence will not receive credit and will not be allowed to make up this assignment.
Assignments
Class work, homework, supplemental reading assignments, and regular weekly activities are very important to this course and are designed to reinforce lessons previously taught as well as help students prepare for ensuing ones. If you do not complete the work, it is impossible to learn and apply the necessary concepts. Therefore, ALL assignments need to be handed in ON TIME.
Note: Unless specified, assignments should NOT be emailed.
Homework
All homework assignments should handed in at the beginning of the class period. Upon entry, students are expected to place their assignments in the homework tray designated for their class. Assignments not handed in at the beginning of class will be considered late and points will be deducted (see late assignment policy listed above)
Late assignments
Assignments will be considered late if they are not placed in the tray at the beginning of class (this includes assignments left in a locker or at home). The assignment automatically loses points as outlined in Greater New York Academy’s late work policy listed below:
Submission Penalty
1 day late 5% penalty
2 days late 10% penalty
3 days late 15% penalty
4 days late 20% penalty
5 or more days 25% penalty
Note: After 3 days, no final score can exceed 75%
Book Review
A book review is a written work that summarizes the plot of a book, without revealing too much, and discusses other literary elements such as theme and character. In short, a book review is a mix of plot summarization and individual commentary on the writing. We will learn how to write a book review together in class, however, if you need additional help, please refer to the Write A Book Review with Rodman Philbrick posted in the My Homework App in Resources. Book reviews will be due approximately every month and a half throughout the school year. The exact dates are listed below.