You are required to keep a notebook for this course, and it is important that you bring it with you every day. 

The notebook:   Three ring binder: 1" minimum size

      Ten (10) subject dividers with tabs

      Lined, college ruled paper in each section

The notebook will be spot checked periodically, ten times (about once a week.)  These checks will be on a pass/fail basis.  If you have your notebook, you get ten points, if not, no points.  At the end of the grading period, the points will be totaled and a grade will be entered for the nine weeks, a quizzes/project (test) grade.  Also, there will be a notebook test at the end of 9 weeks.  If your notebook is organized and complete, you will easily pass with a high mark.  If not, your grade will reflect that too.

Helpful Hints: 

  1. Label each paper with the section (GRAM, COMP, etc.), the date, and your name in the upper right hand corner, in case it falls apart or gets run over by a car or some other unforseen disaster happens.  It will be much easier to put back together that way.  

  2.  Keep some hole punch reinforcements in case a paper gets torn out. (little round sticky things that look like donuts to repair torn holes in paper.

  3.  Make an agreement with a classmate or two to pick up extra handouts in case one of you is absent.

 

Please, please do NOT try to keep your notes and handouts in your textbook, then try to sort them out and organize them later.  It won't work that way.  I'm trying to get you to develop a habit that will be of EXTREME BENEFIT to you when you start college.

Below, you will find the names and information for each notebook section.  Please label them and secure the label so it doesn't fall out.  Also, write this information on the divider itself for each section.  

COMPOSITION SECTION:

PUT COMP ON TAB

In this section, you will keep notes, exercises, assignments and handouts dealing with writing, essays, paragraphs, etc.

FILM/TELEVISION/DRAMA SECTION:

PUT FTD ON TAB

In this section, you will keep notes, handouts, etc. on films, television programs, plays, and other multi-media presentations.

GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS SECTION:

PUT G/M ON TAB

In this section, you will keep notes, exercises, assignments and handouts dealing with grammar, sentence structure, parts of speech, usage, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

JOURNAL/LEARING LOG SECTION:

PUT JOUR/LL ON TAB

In this section, you will keep your own writing on topics given to you by the teacher, or your own choices.

NON-FICTION-TAKS SECTION:

PUT NF/TAKS ON TAB

In this section, you will keep notes, handouts, etc. on NON-FICTION PIECES AND TAKS PREPARATION.

POETRY SECTION:

PUT POETRY ON TAB

In this section, you will keep notes, exercises, assignments and handouts dealing with POETRY.

SHORT STORY SECTION:

PUT SS ON TAB

In this section, you will keep notes, exercises, assignments and handouts dealing with SHORT STORIES AND ELEMENTS OF FICTION.

LITERARY TERMS SECTION: 

PUT LT ON TAB

In this section, you will keep notes, exercises, definitions, examples, illustrations, etc . concerning literary terms and devices.

VOCABULARY SECTION: 

PUT VOCAB ON TAB

In this section, you will keep notes, exercises, definitions, examples, illustrations, etc . concerning VOCABULARY development for PSAT, SAT, ACT, Accuplacer, TAKS, and college preparation.