Socratic Seminar: 9th
Grade
Student Disclosure Document
Teacher: Mrs. Richardson
Classroom Blog: www.9thgradesocratic@blogspot.com
How to reach me
The
best way to contact me is via e-mail. Please give me 24 hours to respond. I am
available after school by appointment. I am also available on Friday
afternoons from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Course Description:
In 9th grade
Socratic Seminar, students will be studying the literature and history of the
ancient world. This year, students will be interacting with the great minds of
the past and engaging in a dialogue with their ideas and themes. By the end of
the school year, my hope is that students will have a basic historical
framework for the major events and developments of the ancient world, and that
they will find an interest in the stories that have contributed so much to our
human experience. The following is an overview of what we will be studying:
|
Term
|
Areas of
Study
|
Literature
|
|
First Term
|
Mesopotamia
Egypt
Israel
Assyria
Babylon
Persia
|
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Anthony and Cleopatra by
Shakespeare
The Seed People by
Other
selected readings
|
|
Second
Term
|
Ancient
Greece
|
The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer
Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles
Other
selected readings
|
|
Third Term
|
Ancient
Rome
|
Metamorphoses by Ovid
The Early History of Rome by Livy
Selected Lives by
Plutarch
Julius Caesar by
Shakespeare
Other
selected readings
|
|
Fourth
Term
|
Ancient
China
The Rise
of Islam
Byzantine
Empire
Medieval
Europe
|
Analects by
Confucius
The Koran
Beowulf
Other
selected readings
|
Course Overview:
Attendance: Students
are expected to attend class and be on time for class.
Extra Credit: There
will be limited opportunities for extra credit. These opportunities will be
given to the entire class, not on an individual basis. I will not entertain
requests from individual students or parents
for extra credit.
Papers: All papers are required to be in the
correct format, which is 12 point font in a standard font like Times New Roman
or Arial. Fancy fonts are not acceptable. Papers must be double-spaced, with
standard one-inch margins. The student’s name and period number must be in the
upper right hand corner of the paper. There will be one major paper per term and
many additional shorter writing assignments also. Final drafts must be printed off and physically turned in, unless previous
arrangements have been made with the instructor.
Readings: The texts and
literature that we will be reading and discussing are complex, and difficult.
Like any skill, the only way to improve your reading is to practice. These
texts have been chosen for their beauty and value. If students persevere, they
will see an additional benefit: increased reading comprehension, reading speed
and vocabulary. Please keep up with your reading. Quizzes will be given to
ascertain student understanding of the readings, also.
Projects: There will be several opportunities
throughout the year for students to engage in productive and worthwhile
projects. Instructions for individual projects will be given periodically
throughout the year.
Tests: There will be two
or three tests during each term and a final comprehensive exam at the end of each
semester.
Vocabulary: There will be a vocabulary list given most
Mondays to be reviewed at the end of each week.
Daily Supplies: Every day,
students need to bring to class a 3-ring binder for lecture notes and handouts,
a supply of college-lined paper for note-taking, pen or pencil, and book we are
reading. Students will also need a composition
book to keep in class for writing journal responses.
Honesty: I
strongly believe in the motto of our school: Truth, Honor, and Virtue. I expect
students to develop and cherish these virtues. Cheating in any form will not be
tolerated. Plagiarism is cheating. Any and all cheating will result in a failed
grade on the particular assignment, and further action will be taken in
accordance with the school policy.
Expectations:
Classroom Participation/Behavior
·
Students
are expected to abide by the rules in the school handbook. This includes the
school uniform policy. I will enforce the uniform and attendance policy.
·
As
a “seminar” style class, much of the learning will be accomplished through
discussion between students with the teacher facilitating constructive
dialogue. Thus, respect for others is paramount. Teasing, taunting, hazing,
bullying or any other inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated, whether
they happen in class or outside of class.
Homework Assignments
·
There
will be a great deal of reading in this class, which will provide the basis for
our class discussions. Students should try and keep up with the reading
schedule, but if a problem arises, come and see me immediately.
·
Assignments
must be turned in at the beginning of class and will be considered late if
turned in any other time.
·
Students
are expected to meet all deadlines to turn in assignments and take tests and
quizzes. Without an excused absence,
work from units that have ended cannot be made up.
·
Assignments
can be turned in one day late, with a 25% penalty. Assignments will not be
accepted after one day late.
·
Assignments
cannot be emailed to the teacher, unless previous arrangements have been made.
Classroom Blog Site
I
have established a blog site for this class. I will update it each week with
homework, assignments, projects, papers, and vocabulary lists. It is THE
STUDENT’S responsibility to keep up with assignments. It is the student’s individual responsibility to know what the
assignments are and when the assignments are due. Each student is expected to
prepare accordingly. If you have a question, look at the blogsite first.
Grading
·
10% Behavioral (e. g., participation in class,
attitude in class, uniform compliance, etc.)
·
20% Homework
·
30% Projects
·
40% Tests and Quizzes
The
grading scale will be as outlined below:
|
Percent Range
|
Grade
|
Percent Range
|
Grade
|
|
93-100
|
A
|
74-77.99
|
C+
|
|
90-92.99
|
A-
|
70-74.99
|
C
|
|
86-89.99
|
B+
|
66-69.99
|
C-
|
|
82-85.99
|
B
|
<66
|
F
|
|
78-81.99
|
B-
|
D Grades are not awarded at Maeser Prep
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remediation
The remediation policy found in the Karl
G. Maeser Preparatory Academy Student Handbook will be the policy for the class.
**Please initial here to indicate that
you have read and understood the expectations, including the policy on late
work and grading. _________.
Disclosure
Please read, sign (both the student and
a parent), and return this page to your teacher.
I
understand that Socratic Seminar students will explore a variety of topics and
themes, including politics, religion, curriculum-appropriate sexuality (e.g.,
the infidelity of Gilgamesh or a picture of Michelangelo’s David
or other similar statues), mental health, social problems, and other moral and ethical values. The
teacher will be sensitive to the family’s role in shaping individual students’
values and will treat these subjects with a respectful, balanced, academic
approach. Individual students in the class may share their own beliefs,
insomuch as they are respectful of other students’ beliefs as well as those
held by other members of the community at large. I understand that teachers
have opinions too that occasionally may be voiced as such. If
at any time I am uncomfortable with something that has been discussed in class,
I will bring this to the attention of the teacher and respectfully seek mutual
understanding.
I have
read and understand the policies stated in this document.
______________________________ __________________
PRINT
Student Name Date
______________________________ __________________
Parent/Guardian
Signature Date
______________________________ __________________
Student
Signature Date
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