Course Syllabus

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UCPS High School Course Grade Choice Form
Please read the information below regarding grade choice and then complete the Grade Choice Form linked here. 
This form is to be used by students and parents to select their preference for a numeric grade, a passing credit (PC19), or a WC19 for every course the student is enrolled in at their high school. This form can only be completed through the student's UCPS email address to verify identity of the student.
The parent will be asked to provide their Parent Portal login ID to confirm the identity of the parent. If Parents do not have a Parent Portal login they will have the option to provide a personal email or phone number that matches information in Parent Portal and the school will use for verification.
It is recommended that students and parents see the image below "Weighted Credit" that shows the weighted credit students can earn for the course level and earned grade.
Recommendations for choosing grading options:
  • If the Weighted Credit earned for the course based on the final grade is greater than the student’s Cumulative GPA, a numeric average would improve the student’s overall GPA. Therefore, it would benefit the student to choose a numeric average. Students would select the choice "Numeric Grade" - this will let the teacher know to enter the higher of the numeric grades earned (whichever is higher: T4 grade or the average of T4 and T5) as the year-end grade.
  • If the Weighted Credit earned for the course based on the final grade is less than the student’s Cumulative GPA, a numeric average would not improve the student’s overall GPA. Therefore, it would benefit the student to choose the PC19 option. The PC19 option is a grade of "Pass" and it counts toward graduation credits, but it does not affect the GPA.
  • If a student was failing at the end of T4 and his/her average of T4 and T5 is also failing, the student must choose WC19. This is not a failing grade but a withdrawal from the course due to Covid-19 situation and it will not affect the student's gpa. However, this does not earn a credit toward graduation and if the course is required for graduation the student will have to re-take the course in some format.

Please note that the guidance above is general guidance. If a student has an atypical circumstance, such as potential to play college athletics, or a specific requirement from a college/university, the student and parent should contact their school counselor to discuss.

Please remember that returning students will have the option to discuss their choice with their school counselor at the start of the school year as well if something changes during the summer. No changes will be allowed after 45 days have passed from the start of the school year.

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About Our Class

Everything we do in class and as homework will align with our literacy standards and goals for 9th grade. At the end of this course, you should be able to:

  • Cite text evidence to analyze what a text says as well as make inferences.
  • Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze how the theme develops over the course of the text.
  • Provide objective summaries of texts.
  • Analyze how characters or ideas develop over the course of a text and advance the plot or develop the theme.
  • Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text; analyze the ways specific word choices impact meaning and tone.
  • Analyze how an author structures a text.
  • Determine an author’s point of view and analyze how an author uses rhetoric.
  • Analyze perspectives of and world literature and historical texts.
  • Write narratives to develop experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
  • Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately.
  • Write arguments to support claims using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
  • Use digital tools and resources to produce and publish writing products.
  • Conduct projects to answer a question or solve a problem and demonstrate an understanding of the subject being researched.
  • Participate appropriately in collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led).
  • Evaluate the credibility and accuracy of sources discussed.
  • Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
  • Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
  • Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
  • Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts.

Your academic growth and performance will be determined by:

  • Your effort
  • Your attitude
  • Your willingness to be present & open to learning
  • Your timely, quality completion of assignments
  • Your assessment scores (quizzes and tests)
  • Your final exam score

Supplies & Materials Needed

As we are sure you know, being prepared for class is of utmost importance. You are expected to bring the following to class on a daily basis:

  • Your notebook
  • Your Chromebook → fully charged
  • Notebook paper
  • Chromebook-compatible earbuds
  • A blue or black ink pen
  • A paper copy of a novel of your choosing (no tablets/phones/e-readers)

Classroom Expectations and the Parkwood High School Code of Student Conduct (Links to an external site.)

In addition to adherence to the PWHS Code of Conduct, there are three overarching expectations for each person in our classroom.

  1. Take care of you.

2. Take care of us.

3. Take care of our space.

Grades

A proportional point system is used in this class (versus percentages). Each assignment will be worth a set amount of points. The more involved and complex the assignment or project, the more it will be weighted. The grading and GPA Scale is below.

Grade

Numerical Value

CP

Honors

AP

A

90-100

4.0

4.5

5

B

80-89

3.0

3.5

4

C

70-79

2.0

2.5

3

D

60-69

1.0

1.5

2

F

0-59

0

0

0

Academic Integrity

All work that you submit must be your own work. You may not do any of the following: 

  1. Turn in or copy someone else’s work.
  2. Copy someone’s work and change a few of the words.
  3. Copy words from a source without citing it and giving credit to the source.
  4. Attempt to use any notes on a closed-note assignment.
  5. Look at someone else’s work during a quiz, test, or otherwise individual assessment. 

If you are doing any of the above or anything else that constitutes cheating, you will receive a zero on the assignment, your parents/guardians will be called, and you will be referred to administration for disciplinary action.

Additional Classroom Information

Cell phones are to be completely out of view and silent unless we are working on an instructional activity that permits cell phone usage. I will let you know when cell phones can be in use during class. If cell phones are not needed for what we are doing in class but I see them or hear them, I will confiscate them.

Offense #1: We will have a conversation and I will remind you to put the phone away.

Offense #2: I will confiscate the phone and return it to you at the end of class.

Offense #3: I will confiscate the phone, turn it in to the Main Office, and your parent/guardian will have to pick it up from school.

Offense #4: Parent phone call and discipline referral.

Please refrain from leaving class during the first and/or last 10 minutes of class.

You may bring a clear water bottle to class.

Contact Information

ashley.hurley@ucps.k12.nc.us

704-764-2600

Course Summary:

Date Details Due