English I
Course Overview
The English I course emphasizes higher-level thinking and fosters enthusiasm for reading and writing. Students will explore classic and contemporary literature, including short stories, poetry, novels, essays, and plays. During each unit, we will analyze literary techniques and text structures and examine how authorial strategies intersect with students’ individual view of texts. Students will use their growing understanding of authors’ craft and purpose to compose their own extended writing pieces throughout the year. English 1 students will practice increasing autonomy as they develop their identity as readers and writers.
Ninth grade students will take the STAAR English I test in the spring semester. This is an End-of-Course exam each student must take to graduate high school by Texas state law. All assignments in English 1 are geared towards teaching the standards that will be assessed on the STAAR.
Units of Study
Fall Semester
Q1- Summer reading book clubs, Short Narrative
Q2- Novel study
Spring Semester
Q3- Drama, Poetry
Q4- Nonfiction
Required Class Materials
Charged school-issued iPad
Extra charger for iPad
Independent Silent Reading (ISR) book
Texts (Students may be asked to independently purchase a copy of novels or other longer texts for study)
Grading Policy
Each Quarter is worth 40% of a student’s semester grade. Final exams count for 20% of a student’s semester grade. Final exams will be administered in December and May. A student’s semester grades will be averaged together to determine their final grade. English 1 is a graduation requirement for all students. If a student does not pass English 1, they will be required to make up that credit in summer school through credit recovery. A passing grade is 70%.
Daily Grades (35%)
Journals, reading checks, writing process assignments, etc
Previous assignments are due before the beginning of class, assignments turned in ON TIME are graded at 100% of mastery. Late assignments are graded at 50% of mastery until the end of the 9 weeks. No assignment will be graded after the end of the 9 week quarter in which it was assigned.
Major Grades (60%)
Unit tests, lengthy compositions, cumulative projects
These assignments are designed as assessments and are graded for mastery of TEKS.
Rewrites:
Major grade process writings can be revised and resubmitted for a maximum grade of 80 if the following conditions have been met:
Work was submitted by the deadline
Conference with teacher
Completed revision plan form
Original grade was 79 or lower
Resubmission is done in a timely manner
Students should be communicating with their teacher and must inform the instructor if they have submitted late work.
Timeliness (5%)
This category is intended to help students develop accountability for the timeliness of their work. It is attached to lengthy compositions and cumulative projects (major grades) only.
From time to time, emergencies happen - such as illness, hospitalization, injury, or a death in the family - that will interfere with a student’s ability to submit work in a timely manner. In these cases, the student is expected to contact the teacher in person or by email as soon as the crisis arises to request a reasonable extension. Your schedule, extra-curricular activities, and technological issues are not “emergencies.”
Otherwise, students are expected to turn in assignments by the assigned due date. To encourage the skill of meeting deadlines and to ensure skills are practiced when assigned, the following policy will be implemented:
Lengthy compositions and cumulative projects (major grades) will be accompanied by a 5% Timeliness Grade (100 for on time, 0 for not on time). Students will have up to 1 week to turn in late Major Grades for up to 100% on the assignment.
Late assignments are not eligible for rewrite.
Major assignments turned in between 7-14 days late may earn up to a 70. After 14 days, assignments may earn up to a 50 .
Additional Resources
Digitally Submitting Work
All work will be distributed through Google Classroom. Some assignments may be administered through other educational sites, such as albert.io, quizlet, padlet, quizziz, turnitin.com etc. Students should read the assignment description in Google Classroom and attend to class directions to ensure that they understand how to submit an assignment.
UIL Participation
Academics come first; it is a privilege to participate in extracurricular activities and the responsibility of the student to plan ahead. Please be aware of the UIL rules/regulations and the UIL eligibility calendar. If a student is failing (below 70%), or has an incomplete in a course, the student will not be eligible to participate in their UIL activity according to the UIL eligibility calendar.
Attendance
School policy states that students who have more than 3 tardies in a course will not be able to exempt the course’s final exam. Students who attend class for less than half of that day’s class period will be counted absent. No student may leave early without an official pass from attendance. If a student is absent, students are to refer to our class calendar and Google Classroom. If you have additional questions about the work missed please ask in person after class. Work previously assigned is due the day the student returns. Missed quizzes and/or tests are to be taken within two days of their absence unless other arrangements have been made.
Technology Policy
Inappropriate use of electronic devices will be dealt with based on the offense. Please familiarize yourself with the technology policy in the Westlake Handbook. Teaching students to use technology appropriately will be a point of emphasis over the course of the year, which includes and is not limited to recording or taking pictures of people without their consent. There will be no tolerance for misconduct and the offending student will be referred to his or her Assistant Principal.
Honor Code, Dress Code
As a student of WHS, you are expected to abide by the WHS Honor Code, Dress Code, and Electronic Appropriate Use Guidelines. All assigned work is to be completed on an individual basis unless otherwise noted. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a zero for the assignment and disciplinary action will be taken. Plagiarism is defined as taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. That work could be peer to peer, from internet resources, etc.
Extenuating Circumstances
Life happens. We get it. Please communicate with us. We will do everything we can to help you succeed.