Course Outline ELA 9

The CourseWelcome to English Language Arts 9. This is a 10-month course. All students in grade 9 will write the Provincial Achievement Exam.

Students become confident and competent users of all six language arts through many opportunities to listen and speak, read and write and view and represent in a variety of combinations and relevant contexts. All language arts are interrelated and interdependent; facility in one strengthens and supports the other.

Alberta Learning Outcomes You Need to Meet Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to:

explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print & other

media texts manage ideas and information create oral, print, visual, and multimedia texts and enhance the clarity and

artistry of communication respect, support and collaborate with others

Units of Study and Texts (subject to change at teacher’s discretion):

A. Twisted Tales Multi-genre unit Sightlines 9, ResourceLines 9/10

B. Crime and Punishment Novel Study And Then There Were None

C. Good and Evil Modern Drama DraculaD. Social Justice Multi-genre Various resources including

the novel Warriors Don’t CryE. Film Analysis Film study Whale Rider, etcF. Basic Skills Writing skills Various sources, integrated in

all unitsG. Poetry Poetry reading/writing

skills Various sources

Evaluation:

Final grades will be calculated as follows:

1. COURSE WORK 70%Course work will be divided into the following four categories:

A. Informal Writing – 35% This may include reading comprehension quizzes, literary response

journals, film performance assessments, minor quizzes and other minor responses to texts

B. Formal Writing – 40% This mark may be a combination of major pieces of writing, including

Personal and Critical/Analytical response to text, literary response journals, unit exams, in-class essays, and other major responses to texts

C. Representing – 10% This may include oral, written, and multi-media presentations,

projects, collages, visual essays, etc.D. Mid-term exams – 15% of overall course work

The following assignments may be included during the course:Personal Response (journals, personal essays)Critical/Analytical Response (literature based essays)Narrative Writing (short stories, narrative poems, anecdotes)Functional Writing (business letters)PoetryOral/Visual/Multimedia presentationsUnit Tests (including multiple choice and written answer)Midterm Exams (reading and writing)

2. FINAL EXAM 30%Part A: 15% - writing skills and course knowledge Part B: 15% - reading skills

Expectations

1. Assignment completion:

Because assignment completion is critical to a student’s success in any given course, teachers at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School expect that each student completes every assignment in a course. Students who do not complete assignments will be assigned consequences, which may include lunch hour detentions, study hall, opportunity room suspensions or other consequences deemed necessary by the teacher. During these consequences, the student will be expected to complete the unfinished work. In conjunction with the student, teachers in the ELA department will make every reasonable attempt to ensure assignment completion for each student.

Doing the work assigned seems like an obvious point. However, many students underestimate the impact of doing each assignment. In almost every case, a student who fails ELA 9 is very capable, but he chooses to skip assignments and therefore does not succeed in the class. Each assignment that I give you is assigned for a specific reason. It will demonstrate your understanding and will challenge you to think of the topic in a new way – this means that it will help you to achieve well on the provincial exam.

2. Attendance and Punctuality:Your grade is directly linked to your attendance. The fewer classes you miss, the better you will do in this class. If you must miss a class due to illness, please be proactive in catching up with missed work. You will find materials that you have missed in the “Pick-Up” folder near the front of the room. Remember that even if you are sick for several days, classes go on without you. You must expect to read ahead and keep current with class work on your own. Contact me or a classmate to get work missed.

Your punctuality is very much expected and appreciated. Arriving to class late means that you miss important material. In addition, you disrupt the learning environment for other students. Please respect the other members of your class and arrive on time.

3. Participation:Learning theory tells us that the more students discuss new material, the more they learn. Please engage in the lessons. Talk about the literature and your understandings. While this seems like a small request, your classroom discussions will make a profound difference to what you learn in this course.

4. Respect:In all of your behaviours, please exhibit respect for your classmates, teacher, classroom environment and humanity. Behave in a way that demonstrates the kind and mature student you have become in the past 9 years!

Please note: All students must adhere to the Honour Code/Plagiarism Policy (see

Student Agenda). This is a CELL PHONE FREE ZONE! Any cell phone seen or heard in class

will be confiscated in accordance with administration’s strict policy.

Materials Needed-binder -looseleaf -pens and pencils -3 binder dividers -dictionary and thesaurus

Welcome to High School

Beginning high school is exciting. Make your mark at Lindsay Thurber by joining a variety of groups and clubs. Remember that there are many sports teams and other clubs that you can get involved in. The more activities that you participate in, the richer your high school experience will be.

Welcome to Lindsay Thurber. I wish you a very happy and successful grade nine year!