ENGLISH 9 HONORS

WELCOME !

I am so excited to welcome you to English 9 and to Dominion High School!

Please contact me via email with any questions.

Ms. Secrest: amy.secrest@lcps.org

ENGLISH 9: AGENDA

① Introduction② Our Class Webpage③ Why does English matter?④ Course Overview⑤ Honors Project⑥ Grading

ENGLISH 9: MS. SECREST’S BACKGROUND

ENGLISH 9: CLASS WEBPAGE

Our class syllabus (which includes our supplies list) will be posted on my LCPS webpage.

To find my page, go to Dominion’s page and select FACULTY from the tab list.

I will periodically post other class materials on this page.

ENGLISH 9: WHY DOES IT MATTER?

“Recruiters and companies are saying, 'Send us a writing sample, and if you don't meet our standards for communication, we are not hiring you,’…In a 2011

survey of corporate recruiters by the Graduate Management Admission Council, the organization that administers the standardized test for business school, 86 percent said strong communication skills were a

priority—well ahead of the next skill.”(Kelley Holland, CNBC, November 11, 2013)

We read to know we are not alone. (“Shadowlands” by William Nicholson)

ENGLISH 9: FIVE CORE STRANDS

Writing (Ex: In-class essay in response to a prompt)

Literature (Ex: Character map for The Odyssey)

Oral Language (Ex: “Book Talks”)

Research (Ex: Research “bursts” – or mini projects – on historical topics related to To Kill a Mockingbird)

Vocabulary (Ex: periodic quizzes)

ENGLISH 9: HONORS EXPECTATIONS Throughout the year, I will ask you to

reflect on your work and synthesize information across texts to prepare you for your culminating projects.

Part I: Portfolio Reflection

Part II: Big Question Project

You will turn in the final versions of these projects in the latter half of the year. However, you will work on them all year long!

ENGLISH 9: GRADING

By October, parents and students will have access to Clarity.

I grade using a points system.

Grades are sorted by strand in Clarity.

I begin deducting points immediately for late work.

ENGLISH 9: CONCLUSION

I am committed to your success and

am excited to begin a fantastic year.

Go Titans!