9th grade English Pierre Edwards
Booker T. Washington High School – Early College
45 Whitehouse Drive
Atlanta, GA. 30314
“Work Hard. Long Hours.
Ready to Compete!” cgilman@osd.wednet.edu
Vision/ Goals:
The vision and goals of Booker T. Washington High School – Early College (BTW EC) is to equip students with fundamental skills necessary to meet the minimum entrance qualifications into the nation’s top 25 universities. BTW EC is uniquely designed to provide students with the advantages necessary to meet these rigorous criteria by preparing students for early admissions to Georgia State University by their junior year of high school. As a result, students will have had the opportunity to graduate from BTW EC with as many as sixty college credit hours. Additionally, BTWEC will work deliberately to ensure students earn high grades on their SAT test and End of Course Tests (EOCT). Our goals are ambitious, but by “work(ing) hard (for) long hours…” we are confident that the students graduating from BTW EC will be “…ready to compete” with the nation’s premiere intellectual thinkers entering the nation’s top 25 universities.
Course Content:
Ninth grade English with technology will focus on literary elements and devices throughout many pieces of literature, including novels, short stories, drama and poetry. The use of technology will be emphasized and incorporated into each unit. Writing is a major focus of the class with an emphasis of ninth grade literature. Students will write essays and papers analyzing and relating to reading materials. Each student will have a folder in class in which to keep all writing materials as we will revise and edit pieces throughout the school year and create a final portfolio of writing. Vocabulary and grammar will be taught throughout the year. (Also, please see attached a Scope and Sequence).
Technology Focus:
Throughout the year we will be incorporating the use of technology into our curriculum. Types of technology used in projects include blogging, video editing, power point, publisher, message boards and digital photography.
Class Expectations: (B.A.R.N)
Be in seat when bell rings
Ask permission to leave seat
Remove hats/ hair nets/scarves before entering class
No throwing regardless of the distance
Necessary Materials:
• Loose-leaf notebook paper and at least two pens, high lighters, and 8 dividers
• All novels and textbooks that are checked out to you must be with you in class every day and returned at the end of the school year, or upon request.
• A spiral notebook (at least 70 pages) to use as a journal for in-class writing and notes, as well as other various assignments. This notebook will be required to be turned in on occasion and must be used exclusively for this class.
Grading:
Students will be graded on the following scale: Note: Booker T. Washington High School – Early College does not have the letter grade of “D.”
90- 100% A
80- 89% B
70-79% C
69% or lower F
Students grades are weighted by category and designed to mimic as close as feasibly possible the weight distribution of the ninth grade Georgia End of Course Test (EOCT). The following is an itemization of weighted grade distributions:
15% 4.5/Mid Term/ Final Exams
15% U.S.A Test Prep
10% Writing/ Research
21% Reading and Comprehension
13% Conventions/ Vocabulary
26% Reading, Listening, Speaking Across the Curriculum
Students will be given assigned approximately 36 assignments in each domain throughout the academic school year; however, because instruction is often differentiated to address individual students particular deficiencies, your student may be required to complete additional assignments in any particular domain which they are experiencing particular difficulties.
Late Work:
Students will lose ten points each day an assignment is late. After the third day, assignments can earn a grade no higher than a 50.
NO ZERO ZONES!
Students are not permitted to have a zero on any assignment. Students will absolutely be required to complete all assignments. Students who earn below a 70% on an assignment (not due to late submissions) will be afforded the opportunity redo assignments. Students who neglect to submit assignments/homework will be given “Opportunity Passes” to attend Homework Camp / mandatory tutorials. Students who neglect to attend Homework Camp/Academic tutorials will be assigned “working lunch” passes, followed by Saturday School, In School Suspension; or Out of School detention. In summation, students will not be permitted to fail!
Essays and Papers:
• Papers are due at the beginning of class on the due date assigned.
• All final drafts of essays and papers are to be typed, double-spaced 12 point font and written in New Times Roman, and in MLA format. If you do not have access to a computer, please hand write neatly in blue or black ink (no pencil), double spaced, and use only one side of the paper.
• Always keep the original assignment rubric for each major writing assignment. It will be due with your final draft. Grade points may be deducted for lost assignment rubrics.
• Keep all drafts, including any notes, editing and revision materials. These may be required to be turned in with your final draft.
Cheating
Cheating defeats the purpose of education. In my classroom I want to prepare students for a future in which their achievements are honestly earned and their leadership reputations are not diminished by shortcuts. Any and all forms of cheating will result in disciplinary action.
Cheating is taking another’s work and calling it your own so that you derive the benefit.
Cheating includes but is not limited to:
• Exchanging answers or assignments with others. This includes exchanging answers by electronic or recorded means and then submitting them as “original” work.
• Using hidden reference sheets during a test.
• Using programmed material in electronic devices when prohibited (as in on tests.)
• Submitting someone else’s assignment as your own, in whole or part.
• Submitting material (written or designed by someone else) without giving credit to the source (plagiarizing information from the Internet or other source or submitting work done by family, friends or tutors.)
• Taking credit for group work when little contribution was made.
• Stealing tests, answers, or materials, or having unauthorized possession of such materials.
• Sabotaging or destroying the work of others.
• Submitting the same work in more than one course without the knowledge and approval of the teachers involved.
• Not following the guidelines specified by the teacher during a test (i.e. talking), or for a “take-home” test or exam.
