9th Grade ELA Course Syllabus
9th Grade English Language Arts
Mr. Contreras & Mrs. Hurtado
Mr. Contreras
Email: [email protected]
Mrs. Hurtado
In this class, you will be required to read and think about a variety of topics that apply to situations that many of us experience in our daily lives. We will be reading texts of different genres including fictional short stories, poems, famous speeches, memoirs, and informational texts and we will be making connections between what we are reading and our life experiences. In addition, you will be required to write extensively about the topics we discuss in class. Below, you will find the topics we will be exploring over the course of the school year.
UNIT 0: Ourselves and Others
Essential Questions:
- How do we define our identities and what aspects of our identities do we reveal to others?
- How does the media and our school, home, and surrounding community impact the way we view ourselves?
- Why do we strive for belonging or feelings of acceptance, and who or what stands in our way of reaching it?
- How can reading steps/thinking jobs be used to deconstruct a complex text?
- How does an author deliberately structure his or her text to convey the purpose and/or central idea?
- What are the necessary steps required to write an effective TEXAS paragraph?
Class Texts: “Why Not Me” by Mindy Kaling, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, “Monkey Man” by Walter Dean Myers, “The Ingredients” by Jason Reynolds, “A Haircut” by IS Nakata, “From Feeling Safe to Feeling Like a Stereotype” by Christina Li
Final Task: Write a text-based TEXAS/TEXAXAS paragraph; Identity Project
UNIT 1: Finding Common Ground
Essential Questions:
- Why do individuals and countries often struggle to discover a “common ground?”
- How do works of literature reflect important perspectives about the problems that we face every day, such as “finding common ground” with others in our society?
- How are we able to get past our differences to obtain a sense of belonging?
- How is an effective literary analysis essay constructed?
Class Texts: “Once Upon a Time” by Nadine Gordimer
Final Task: Write a text-based literary analysis response
UNIT 2: The Struggle for Freedom
Essential Questions:
- How do people around the world experience difficulty in acquiring social, personal, and political freedom?
- How does an author use deliberate word choice (figurative language) in order to convey his/ her purpose and/or further his/her argument?
- How do authors skillfully use narrative techniques to convey their purpose?
- Why is it important to explore different perspectives when researching a topic like “the struggle for freedom?”
- What are the necessary steps required to write a convincing argument?
Class Texts: “Cairo: My City, Our Revolution” by Adhaf Soueif, “The Censors” by Luisa Valenzuela, “Politics of the Hoodie” by Troy Patterson, “16th Birthday Speech at the UN” by Malala Yousafzai, “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas
Final Task: Write a text-based argumentative essay
UNIT 3: The Bonds Between Us
Essential Questions:
- What links us to our surrounding family, friends, and community?
- How do authors use characterization to convey a message or central idea in text?
- What are the elements that make up an enticing personal narrative?
Class Texts: “With Friends Like These” by Dorothy Rowe, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, “Little Things Are Big” by Jesus Colon
Final Tasks: Write a personal narrative essay
UNIT 4: Sweet Sorrow
Essential Questions:
- What are the attributes and characteristics of love?
- What are the conflicts surrounding the nature of love?
- How does Shakespeare use narrative techniques to convey his purpose and/or central idea in Romeo and Juliet?
- How does Shakespeare use plot to create effects of mystery and tension in Romeo and Juliet?
- What are the elements of a thorough literary analysis essay?
Class Texts: The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, “Love’s Vocabluary” by Diane Ackerman, Romeo + Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann
Final Tasks: Write a text-based literary analysis essay; complete a creative project
UNIT 5: A Matter of Life or Death
Essential Questions:
- What does it mean to face adversity?
- How do people overcome adversity that they face in their daily lives?
- What is Wiesel’s purpose for telling his story of adversity in Night?
- How does Wiesel use narrative techniques to convey his purpose in Night?
Class Texts: Night by Ellie Wiesel
Final Tasks: End of year reflective learning portfolio
***PLEASE NOTE: Learning events and class texts are subject to change to suit the needs of students.
GRADE BREAKDOWN
SCHOLARSHIP: 80%
- Major Essays/ Quizzes/ Tests/ Projects
- Graded Homework/ Classwork
ACCOUNTABILITY: 20%
- Homework/ Classwork Assignment Completion
- Do Nows/ Exit Slips/ Discussion Board Posts
- Class Participation (In-person, virtual Zoom and Google Meets, Google Classroom presence)
- Timeliness
STUDENTS MAY EARN EXTRA CREDIT BY:
- Attending in-person and virtual extra help sessions via Google Meets and Zoom
- Completing additional writing/ reading/ blog post assignments
CLASSWORK AND HOMEWORK
You will be given daily and/or weekly classwork and homework assignments. All assignments must be handed fully COMPLETE and ON TIME in good condition (ex: no drawings/sketches, no torn paper). If you are absent, your homework will be due the day you return.
Lateness Policy
All homework assignments must be completed in a timely manner. Late homework will only be accepted until the Friday of the current week for half credit.
Opportunities for Further Learning/ Extra Help
Usually, if a student is having a problem with some material, the question(s) can be cleared in just a few minutes with extra help. Students are to consult with peers OR their teachers to address possible misconceptions or confusions with classwork and homework assignments. Teachers are also available via email and Remind.
ATTENDANCE
It is expected that you come to class every day; regular attendance is important for your academic success! If you miss a day of school, please contact one of your classmates or your teachers to catch up on missed work. Assignments must be turned in within a week of their original due date. Please be transparent with your teachers if you have fallen ill and need additional time and support to complete work.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Using another person’s words or ideas as if they were your own is considered plagiarism. Your grade will be affected if you use words or ideas from an internet source or another student without crediting them.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to your teachers before class, after class, through email, or via the Remind app.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
