Big Valley Christian School

Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing Gods will. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

9th Grade CP English

English I 2013-2014

Mrs. Padgett
mrs.a.padgett@gmail.com 209.568.4113 Rm 115 bvcspadgett.weebly.com

My Beliefs
My faith in Jesus Christ is the most important thing about me. I believe that we are all sinners, but Jesus lived the blameless life we could never live and died the death we deserved to die in order to forgive every single one of us. It is our duty as Christians to spread the good news to everyone and for our actions to show a commitment to Christ. It is our job to be beacons of Gods love.

Unit Breakdown Unit 1

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare I Corinthians 13 Biblical love and the worldly mess confused as love The Odyssey by Homer The Heros Journey Greek mythology and its lasting legacy Poetry Unit Will include a variety of poets from Shakespeare and Pope to Eliot and McCay

Unit 2

Communication
One of the ways in which I will communicate with parents and families is through my class website located at: bvcspadgett.weebly.com This site will include current assignments, information about texts, as well as volunteer opportunities. I am also readily available by email or phone (call or text.) Note: I will not respond to calls or texts after 9:00 pm.

Unit 3

Note: Copies of the poems will be provided

Curriculum Description
We will be covering a wide range of texts from poetry and drama to novels and essays. We will cover many classic works as well as some more contemporary pieces. This class is rigorously aligned to CCSS (California Common Core State Standards) and will include a vocabulary component as well as a strong emphasis on writing and speaking skills. To the right of this syllabus you will find a breakdown of each unit of study.

Unit 4

The Metamorphosis and Other Stories by Franz Kafka The human experience of isolation and Gods solution of fellowship Animal Farm by George Orwell Art as social criticism In whom do we put our trust? Research Unit Formal research culminating in argumentative paper

Unit 5 Unit 6

Book List
Vocabulary Workshop Level D- Shostak Romeo and Juliet- Shakespeare The Odyssey (Fagles Translation)- Homer Research Paper Procedure HIgh School- Kleppner Animal Farm- Orwell The Metamorphosis and Other Stories- Kafka

Extra Notes: This unit will focus on the research, drafting, and revision process

Class Goals
exams, All students projects, will and show writing mastery assignments. of CCSS measured In addition, using

all students will be expected to work hard at all times, speak their minds in a respectful manner, and grow spiritually as well as academically.

Late and Makeup Work Assessments

Each unit will end with an exam, which will be based on the reading as well as the classwork. In addition, each unit will have a culminating task (usually in the form of a writing assignment or project) The purpose of these assessments is to provide an opportunity to show what you have learned. Not to trick you! Late work will be accepted, but will only receive half credit. Regular homework assignments will lose 50% credit for unexcused late work. Projects and formal writing assignments will vary in terms of late credit but will be clearly stated on the assignment page. Students will never fully be able to make up work that has been missed in terms of lectures, conversations, and group work. For this reason, it is strongly discouraged for students to miss any days of school. However, should a student miss a day of school due to an excused absence, (s)he will have 2 days for each day of absence to make up missing work. If a student has an unexcused absence (especially for disciplinary reasons) makeup credit will not be given, and the student will receive a zero for the days of absence.

Materials Needed
Blue or Black Pen or Pencil (no colored pen unless explicitly stated for a specific assignment) Organized Binder with Sections for Notes (you may also use a notebook), Handouts, Projects, and Returned Work All required reading materials

Behavior Expectations and Consequences

I expect students to 1. Respect the school, teachers, classmates, and selves 2. Exercise patience and compassion 3. Work hard, even when its not fun 4. Assume good intentions 5. Be here on time, prepared, and without excuses or distractions (no food, gum, visible cell phones, or other personal items) Consequences for not meeting expectations: 1. Reminder of Expectation 2. Detention 3. Phone Call Home 4. Office Referral

Grading Scale
93-100 A 90-92 A87-89 B+ 83-86 B 80-82 B77-79 C+ 73-76 C 70-72 C67-69 D+ 63-66 D 60-62 DBelow 60 F

Academic Honesty
Plagiarism is the use of someone elses intellectual property (intentional or unintentional) without the express consent of the owner. It is a form of stealing, and I take it very seriously. Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating on any assignment will receive a zero on that assignment and will receive a phone call home. If it happens more than once, more serious consequences will follow.

And Remember...
Intelligence plus character- that is the true goal of an education. -Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I know that this is going to be an amazing year! Please reach out if you have any comments, questions, or concerns. Yours in Christ, Mrs. Padgett