Name: ______________________________

Hour: _____

ENGLISH 9 Fall 2018 – Ms. Kelsey Engelke

Classroom: 116 Email: kelsey.engelke@jeffco.k12.co.us Office Hours: By appointment

Office: Room 127 Website: thisisthelitclass.weebly.com (Freshmen tab) Planning Periods: 1 & 3
A Google Classroom site is also available for students’ assignments.

GHS Mission: The staff of Golden High School is committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment through
effective communication and dynamic critical thinking. We are accountable to all members of our community.

GHS Vision: At Golden High School, we strive to create life-long learners who are compassionate critical thinkers, creative
problem solvers and responsible community members.

Units of Study and Objectives:

Unit 1: Examining Character

In this reading unit, readers develop skills to closely read story elements to then closely read across texts. Students
focus on how authors of nonfiction texts unfold ideas or events, tracking how ideas are sequenced or arranged. In
fiction texts, students focus on the ways in which character motivation is revealed through action, dialogue, and
interactions with other characters; tracking how that motivation shifts or changes across the text.

Unit 2: Elements of Narrative Writing

In this writing unit, writers study and craft a Personal Narrative essay that develop experiences or events using
effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. Throughout this study, writers generate
and build on ideas, employing a variety of inquiry strategies to self-regulate their individual drafting, revising, and
editing processes to deepen their practices for using the techniques and structures of narrative writing.

Unit 3: Points of View: The Analysis of Rhetoric

In this reading unit, readers develop skills to closely read points of view and perspective, to then closely read across
texts. Students focus on how authors of nonfiction texts use rhetoric to introduce a point of view or purpose,
analyzing how those rhetorical devices develop larger central ideas or points of view. In fiction texts, students focus
on an author’s use of scientific, historical, technical, literary and/or cultural references, noticing the placement and
sequence of allusions and what those allusions might reveal about themes or central ideas.

Unit 4: Elements of Argumentative Writing

In this writing unit, writers study and craft an argument, offer context, honor others’ points of view, and indicate the
conditions under which a position holds true. Throughout this study, writers generate and build on ideas employing
a variety of inquiry strategies to self-regulate their individual drafting, revising, and editing processes to deepen their
practices for using the techniques and structures of argumentative writing.

Homework:
I make every effort to limit homework to only that which is necessary. Students should have the time outside of school to pursue
their goals and interests beyond the academic. However, there will be times when class-time is simply not enough to accomplish
everything necessary for our students to be successful in the future. At these times, I fully expect students to complete the
required work by the assigned date. Regardless of homework, students will be expected to read outside of class in an effort to
reach their individual reading goal(s).

Materials:
Each student will need a spiral, college-ruled notebook to use as your Reader’s/Writer’s Notebook; a folder is also required. For
writing assignments, you will need to use your JEFFCO Google account in order to work at home and at school efficiently. For
the books we read, you may purchase your own copies, check them out from the public library, or read them on a tablet. For
improved comprehension, students might consider using an audio book along with reading the printed text for more
challenging novels especially.
JEFFCO Policy: Makeup work for excused absences
“Makeup work should reflect class assignments missed during the absence, and a reasonable amount of time should be allowed
for work completion. Time allowed to make up work is twice the number of classes or days missed (two days allowed for
makeup work for each day of absence). Students who complete makeup work within the required timeline will receive full
academic credit earned for the makeup work.”

Late work:
GHS students are expected to complete all coursework and submit on time. There will be a 25% reduction of the points earned
on any assignment submitted late. Late work will not be accepted after the end of each respective unit. Essays and projects that
are final unit assessments will be assigned with ample time and will not be accepted late.

Tardies and Absences:

Remember the GHS policy: You will be assigned in-school suspension after three unexcused absences or four tardies. Be
prompt!

Cheating & Plagiarism:

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class. Plagiarism simply means the attempt to pass off someone else's words
or ideas as your own. In this class, all borrowed words and ideas must be documented. Students who plagiarize or cheat will
receive a zero on the assignment, quiz, or exam.

Electronic gadgets:
Cell phones are not to be seen in this classroom. Make a habit of putting your phone away in your backpack or pocket rather
than placing it on your desk. Occasionally cellphones will be used for academic purposes. If you are seen using your phone
during class for nonacademic purposes, your phone may be turned over to the office to be picked up by a parent. iPods and
other portable music devices may not be used during instruction, discussion, or reading. Generally, individual devices used for
playing music will only be used during writing projects.

Food/drink policy:
Avoid having food and drink in the academic areas of the building, but water bottles are acceptable.

Course Grade:
Your overall grade will be comprised of the following two categories:
● Summative Assessments: 60% of your grade. This portion of your total grade will consists of assessments that will
demonstrate your mastery of grade level standards. Such assessments could be: essays, exams, and projects.
● Formative Assignments: 40% of your grade. This portion of your total grade will consists of assignments that will
demonstrate your development/progress towards grade level standards. Such assignments could be: homework and
reading assignments; drafts of essays; and assignments in your Reader’s/Writer’s Notebook.

Grade Percentages:
90 - 100% A 60 - 69% D
80 - 89% B 0 - 50% F
70 - 79% C

Having read the syllabus, we understand and agree to adhere to the expectations of this class.

Student:__________________________________________ Date:________________________

Parent/Guardian: ___________________________________ Date:________________________