1. Welcome to College Prep
English 9
Nick Bacigalupi nbacigalupi@cpsd.us
Diane Elinskas delinskas@cpsd.us
Emma Hensler ehensler@cpsd.us
Fall 2012

2. Course Throughlines
COURSE THROUGHLINES
• How do characters/people make choices when faced with conflicting loyalties?
• How can different reading, writing, speaking, and listening experiences help me to
understand more about my identity – both who I am and who I want to become?
• How can asking more and better questions and developing close-reading skills help
me understand and connect to the works I read?
• How do I develop my writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, and rewriting?
• How can revising help me write pieces that communicate what I really think, feel,
and mean?
• How can I contribute to the learning of the group, and how can the group contribute
to my individual learning?
• How can constructing and maintaining a portfolio help me document my evolving
skills and identity as a reader, writer, learner, and person?

3. Honors Option
• As a part of the course, students have the
opportunity to earn Honors credit by the end of
the year. Students who elect to complete Honors
Option requirements will complete Honors-level
work embedded into the course throughout the
year. The choice to take on the Honors Option
work does not need to be made until the end of
the first quarter.

4. Units of Study
UNIT I: DEFINING STYLE: GENRE & IDENTITY
Discovering Who We Are
UNIT 2: AUTHORS VOICE: DEFINING AN AUTHOR’S STYLE
Discovering Why We Write
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
UNIT 3: EXPLORING POETIC VOICE
Using Our Writing Reach Others

5. Units of Study
UNIT 4: CONFLICTING VOICES: INTERPRETING DRAMA
Making Choices in the Face of Challenge
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
UNIT 5: VOICING YOUR OPINION: RESEARCH AND NONFICTION
Informing Our Choices Through Research
UNIT 6: VOICE AND CHOICE IN THE FACE OF CONFLICT
Examining the Effect of Our Choices
Lord of the Flies, William Golding
UNIT 7: PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENTS
Synthesizing a Semester of Study

6. Grading Policy
• In general, homework assignments are worth 10. If students earn a
check minus (6), they may redo the assignment for more credit.
• Late Homework can only be turned in with a Late Homework Pass.
However, students should discuss extenuating circumstances with
the teacher regarding extensions & late work
• Rubrics are given for essays and projects.
• Rewrite: This grade is given if the assignment is not of the quality
where it can be graded, or was misunderstood. An “R” means the
student has ONE WEEK to rewrite the assignment, and receive a
grade for it. After one week, the “R” is changed to a 50%.

7. Semester Grade Breakdown
• 20% Unit Assignments
• 30% Essays, Projects
• 15% Participation & Class conduct
• 15% Writing Folder/PBA
• 20% Tests & Quizzes

8. Mr. B’s Class Webpage
www.mrbacigalupienglish.com
• The English Class Website is a go to site for the
class that contains all needed information on
upcoming assignments and projects, as well as
provides a recap of each day’s work. Students
will find links to handouts and the assignments
distributed in class.

9. Jupiter Grades
https://jupitergrades.com
• Jupiter Grades is a secure grading website where
Mr. B can post grades and assignment scores so
that you can know how you are doing in class on
a regular basis. In order to access your class
grade on this site you will need to set up a login
account which will be completed in the first
week of class.

10. Edline
www.edline.net
• Edline is an online course supplement used by
many teachers for students (and parents) to get
course documents, check assignments and
deadlines, and communicate with the teacher.

11. Class Homework Twitter Feed
• To help ensure that students are reminded of homework
assignments and any class updates. The class runs a
twitter that posts regular homework and quiz reminders,
as well as any important updates that you might need.
The feeds for each class are as follows:
College Prep English 9: @CPEnglish9
Honors English 9: @HNEnglish9

12. What can I do to support my student?
• Allow them time and a quiet space to work
• Check in periodically about assignments
• Keep an eye out for anxiety or frustration with
workload
• Provide tips or help in organization

13. I look forward to working with you and your
children this semester.
Please feel free to contact me at any time.
Email: nbacigalupi@cpsd.us