COURSE SYLLABUS 2022-2023

G9 HONORS ENGLISH LITERATURE AND

COMPOSITION

Basis Guangzhou
Instructor: Simon Russell Ainsley
Email: simon.ainsley-bigz@basischina.com
Student Hours: 4.30pm – 5.30pm (Wednesday – 1509)
Parent Appointments: 2.00pm – 2.30pm (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)
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COURSE DESCRIPTION

In 9th grade, BASIS Curriculum School students take both Honors Language
and Composition and Honors Literature and Composition to prepare for both
AP English Literature and Composition and AP English Language and
Composition. This class is specifically designed to provide students with the
content knowledge and skills to succeed in AP English Literature and
Composition. Students will gain a general overview of world literature and
intellectual movements throughout world history. Students will read, discuss,
analyze, and write about many of the great works dealing with the human
experience, the growth of individual and global cultures, and significant
changes and events in world history. Students will write several essays
analyzing individual texts and will become comfortable with the language of
literary analysis.
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GRADING POLICY
Course work for Honors Literature will consist of reading, tests, essays, quizzes, writing assignments,
classwork, and participation. The grading scale is as follows:

A 90-100%

B 80-89%

C 70-79%

D 60-69%

F ≤59%

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 COURSE SYLLABUS 2022-2023
G9 HONORS ENGLISH LITERATURE AND
COMPOSITION

GRADING SCALE

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 COURSE SYLLABUS 2022-2023
G9 HONORS ENGLISH LITERATURE AND
COMPOSITION

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INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Required Instructional Material

Author William Shakespeare

Title Macbeth

Date Published 1606

Author Ray Bradbury

Title Farenheit 451

Date Published 1953

CLASSROOM POLICIES
Attendance: Attendance is essential to success. All students are expected to come to class prepared and
to make up work accumulated during absences. If a quiz/test is missed, the student must meet with the
teacher to set a date for a make-up time. If an assignment was given, the student has an additional day to
complete the assignment; students will not have an indefinite amount of time to turn in make-up work and
should plan accordingly if absent. If an assignment was collected during the absence, the student should
turn in the assignment immediately before the first class upon his/her return to school. It is the student’s
responsibility to remember to turn in missed assignments and make up missed quizzes/tests.
Please refer to the Parent-Student Handbook for attendance policies.

Chronic Absenteeism
Excessive excused or unexcused absences will result in meetings with the Head of Division and, if necessary,
the Head of School. Consequences for chronic absenteeism may include but are not limited to denial of
credit, probation, and denial of re-enrollment. Students must be present for 90 percent of the school year to
receive credit for a class, and BIS · C reserves the right to deny credit and re-enrollment to any student who
accrues more than eighteen (18) absences for a year-long course, regardless of whether they are excused or unexcused.
These absences do not include school-related absences for athletic participation or field trips. Please be aware that
chronic absenteeism regardless of whether it is excused or unexcused is grounds for denial of credit, and potential
further consequences

Academic Integrity 
Rationale/statement of purpose for the policy 
BASIS International Schools China believes that academic integrity is respect for self, respect for others
and respect for learning. BIS’s academic integrity policy applies to all subjects in grades 6-12. 
Procedures if academic integrity of any work is in doubt: 
Lack of academic integrity can be deliberate or unintentional. This will be determined through a meeting
3 between teacher and student.  
Unintentional: 
 The teacher will reteach the skills required to complete the assignment correctly. 
 The student will amend and resubmit the assignment. 
 A second incident would be considered to be deliberate. 
 COURSE SYLLABUS 2022-2023
G9 HONORS ENGLISH LITERATURE AND
COMPOSITION

Class Rules: I have two simple rules. We will learn together and have fun as long as you adhere to the following
rules.

1. Respect others – This includes not talking when you shouldn’t be, respecting authority, not swearing or
putting others down, participating during group activities, and respecting school and other people’s property.
2. Be prepared – this includes completing all homework before class begins and coming to class with all
materials you need for the day.

Language Policy:

In order to maintain a rigorous level of instruction and adhere to a common language of communication, students
are required to speak and communicate in the English language while in the classroom. For this reason,
electronic translators are not allowed in the classroom. There are specific consequences for not adhering to the
language policy.

Code of Conduct: Promotes respect for fellow students and staff members: All students are expected and
required to behave in a respectful manner toward other students, staff members, and property. In particular, the
School adheres to a zero tolerance policy toward any language or behavior that intimidates, belittles, or causes
physical or emotional injury to others.

Promotes respect for all individuals: The School is fortunate to have a very diverse student population from a
variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds and strives to provide an environment where all students can
feel comfortable and thrive. For this reason, certain behaviors are strictly prohibited on School premises. These
include, but are not limited to, the use of derogatory statements in reference to one’s race, sexuality, ethnicity,
culture, or religious background.

• Promotes individual and community responsibility: Each student is responsible and will be held
accountable for his/ her own language and actions. This responsibility extends to any knowledge of
misconduct by other students. If a student is aware of misconduct by another student, it is his/her
responsibility to inform a staff member. Withholding such information may be considered a Discipline
Violation.
•
• Staff members make every effort to ensure the confidentiality of a student who reports misconduct by a
classmate and will invoke appropriate sanctions against any student who responds to another in a retaliatory
manner. Staff members will not tolerate bullying or cheating and neither should students. Please note that
plagiarism is considered cheating.

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G9 HONORS ENGLISH LITERATURE AND
COMPOSITION

• Provides a safe environment for students: It is the responsibility of all students to immediately inform a
staff member about any possible threat to student or staff member safety, health, or property that they have
observed or have knowledge of. Withholding such information may be considered a Discipline Violation.
• Provides a disruption-free, educational environment: No student may disrupt another student’s learning.
Classroom disruptions of any kind may be considered a Discipline Violation

Please refer to the Parent Student Handbook for General and Classroom rules.

School Supplies
Students MUST have the follow supplies with them every day for class:

• Blue or black ink pens

• 2 whiteboard markers (blue or black)
• Highlighters (of varying colors-at least 3 colors)
• An A4 sized notebook dedicated to English Literature for journaling/notes
• A large file folder

Contact Information

Email: simon.ainsley-bigz@basischina.com

Student Hours: Wednesday 4.30-5.30pm

Parent Appointments: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – 2.00-2.30pm

Please email student services to arrange.

---------------------------------------Cut here and return portion below to teacher-----------------------------------------

Student name (Please print):_______________________________________

Student signature: x_________________________________________ Date: ________________

Parent/guardian name (Please print): _______________________________________

Parent/guardian signature: x_________________________________________ Date: _______________

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 COURSE SYLLABUS 2022-2023
G9 HONORS ENGLISH LITERATURE AND
COMPOSITION