English 9 Honors Syllabus

Fall 2015 Spring 2016

Instructor: Phelps
(812) 435-8292 Ext. 41520
Shelby.phelps@evsc.k12.in.us
Website: chsenglish9honors.weebly.com
Course Description:
English 9 Honors is designed to introduce students to an array of classical and modern
literature through inquiry, research, and critical analysis. By the end of this course,
students will be able to make personal and intellectual connections to texts and
evaluate literature at a college-bound level. In addition, students will become efficient, analytical, and
evidentiary writers. This course is for advanced students that are ready to work diligently and grow
intellectually, and therefore requires a strict adherence to expectations and policies.

Required Supplies:

1 inch binder
Binder dividers
Fully-charged Netbook
Loose leaf paper
Writing utensilspen or pencil is preferred

Grading Scale:

100-90 A
89-80 B
79-70 C
69-60 D
59 and below F

Grading Policy:

70% assessment
30% practice

In short, your grade will, for the majority, be dependent on assessments. In this class, assessments will include
written papers, oral presentations, individual/group projects, and quizzes. Practice will include in-class
assignments such as bell-ringers, netbook research assignments, and reading guides.

Classroom Expectations:

Binders: Students are required to obtain one 1 inch binder to use for assignments in this course. The
outside of the binder can be any color, pattern, or design as long as the students name is clearly written
on it. Students will be given short writing assignments and class notes that will stay in this assigned
binder. In this way, students will be able to reflect on their writing throughout the entire year as well as
any notes taken. The binder will contain dividers that will separate each academic quarters work. At

the end of each quarter, a practice grade will be assessed to assure all writing assignments are present in
the binder.
ThinkPads: Students are required to bring their charged Thinkpad to class every day. It is only to be
used for class assignments. If a student is on his or her Thinkpad at an inappropriate time or on an
inappropriate website that is not part of the lesson, the student will be given one verbal warning. If the
student is still using his or her Thinkpad inappropriately after the first warning, his or her Thinkpad will
be taken for the class period and his or her guardian will be notified. Insubordination of this rule will be
handed over to the administration.
Other electronic devices: Cell phones, i-Pods, i-Pads, and any other electronic device are not allowed
to be out during class time unless noted. They will promptly be taken for the remainder of the class
period or taken to the administration if needed.
Absences: Consistent attendance and punctuality is crucial for success in this class. Students will have
as many days to make up work as they were absent as per CHS policy. If you miss class, make sure to
check the Weebly site for your assignments.
Passes: Students are expected to use the restrooms and go to their lockers during passing period.
Students will not be allowed to leave during lesson time. I will not write passes to their other classes.
Respect: Students at Central are universally expected to respect fellow classmates, teachers, as well as
belongings. Failure to be respectful will result in student/parent conferences, losing certain classroom
liberties, and, in extreme cases, administrative action.
Discussion: Honors students are expected to participate in daily classroom discussions, debates, and
constructive criticism, as it will be a major activity in our lessons. This will be a significant opportunity
for students to learn self-expression and cultivate their ideas.
Reading: In order to digest the literary concepts that students will learn in this class, each student must
read actively by taking notations in everything we read. Students will be required to read aloud during
class and to read as homework throughout the school year. Students will also read a personal novel and
complete an individual book project.

Assignment Policies:

Bell-ringers: Students will be required to promptly complete ninth grade level literature and grammar
review questions at the beginning of class each day. These will either be on the Promethean board.
MLA format: All typed papers will be required to be in MLA format, including in-text citations and a
works cited page when necessary. Students should use an online resource as a part of the Purdue Online
Writing Lab, or Purdue OWL. Here is a link for their website:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Late work: Overall, late work is not acceptable. If work is not turned in on time, it is an automatic
zero. Work is due at the beginning of class unless otherwise stated. Save your work as much as you
possibly canI know that Thinkpads can be a little testybut this is easily avoided with the use of a
flash drive. If a student consistently turns in late work, a parent/teacher conference will be scheduled.
Plagiarism/Cheating: Plagiarism and cheating will result in an automatic zero for the student and a call
home to the students guardian. Especially at the honors level, students are expected to behave ethically
and respectfully.
Turning in assignments: Students will submit the majority of their work online through Google Drive.
I will notify you if an assignment should be printed. This will rarely occur.
Writing revision: Students will sometimes be allowed to re-write all major writing assignments if they
are unhappy with their grade. Revision is encouraged. Original work with my comments must be
turned in with the revision.
Extra credit: In this class, extra credit is like a unicorn. It does not exist.
Sensitive material: Please be aware that, as in most Honors classes, there will be reading material that
might be violently, sexually, politically, or religiously offensive. These sensitive topics will be handled

in a mature and literary manner. Guardians are encouraged to go over the canonical texts chosen, many
of which are available online.
Student Support:

Academic support: Enrichment is an excellent time for students to come in receive extra help. If the
student is absent, he or she can stop by my room the next day during passing period to pick up their
work. Keep in mind that, as the yearbook and newspaper advisor, I often have journalism duties to tend
to during this time as well. However, for days that I am not available, other arrangements can be made
by email. I will always be in my room before and after school.
E-mail: This is the best way to contact me. My email address is at the top of this syllabus.
Phone: I encourage you to call my direct extension and leave a message. For the most part, I will be
unable to answer during class times, but I will return your call as soon as possible.
Before and after school: I will be available for students before or after school. This is best for students
that need personal tutoring or questions on an assignment. If I am not in my room, send me an email,
and we can set up a time that will suit both of our schedules.

Plagiarism Contract
This document serves as a written agreement among Ms. Phelps, the below mentioned student, and that
students parent(s) or guardian(s).
In accordance with the Central High School honor code, plagiarism is a violation of academic integrity, and any
student in the school system who is found guilty of plagiarism is subject to serious repercussions of the type
listed below.
If a student finds information and/or ideas from a source other than his/her own brain, he or she must attribute
that information/idea to a source. This rule applies not only to ideas taken word for word from a source, but
also to ideas the student paraphrases from a source. The differences in documentation between quoted and
paraphrased material will be discussed in class. If a student turns in an assignment containing outside source
material before documentation has been covered in class, he or she must come to speak to the teacher, Ms.
Phelps, before the due date of the assignment to ensure that he or she has incorporated and documented the
source correctly.
The repercussions for turning in a plagiarized assignment may include but are not limited to the following
repercussions for ALL violations of plagiarism, reproduced here from the syllabus:

A grade of zero.
A phone call to a parent and/or guardian

I, ____________________________________________, have read the above contract, understand its contents,

and agree to abide by all rules and be subject to all repercussions should I break those rules listed above.
Signature of Student: ______________________________________________________
I, ____________________________________________, parent/guardian of the above named student, have
read the above contract, understand its contents, and am witness to my students agreement with those contents.
Signature of Parent/Guardian: _______________________________________________