Course Outline: English III-
American Literature, College Preparatory
Ms. Lauder
Sutton Memorial High School
Mission Statement
At Sutton High School, we are committed to providing a
foundation on which all students have the opportunity to pursue academic excellence
and personal development in a safe, supportive, and challenging learning
environment.
The English Department
assumes responsibility for the following SHS Learning Expectations:
The Sutton High
School student is an effective communicator.
The Sutton High
School student is a critical thinker.
The Sutton High
School student works independently.
English
Department Course Description: The
American Literature curriculum is taught from a historical perspective and is
aligned with the state Curriculum Frameworks. Works from many eras of American
history are taught, including works from cultures that have contributed to the
fabric of American life, such as Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican
Americans, and others. The course contains a comprehensive writing program
including a variety of writing assignments. Students will also receive S.A.T.
review and instruction.
What
I Expect for This Year: This
course is generally arranged chronologically, and we will follow American
history as best as possible throughout this year. We may stray from chronological order when necessary. We will be
covering a variety of forms of literature including exploration of short story,
novel, poetry, drama, and nonfiction.
This course will also include practice in written communication and
analysis of literature. Other forms of
study will include grammar, vocabulary, research skills, presentation skills,
and working in a variety of group forms.
Objectives: The student will:
Ø Explore
American Literature through the study of prose and poetry dating from the
country’s beginnings through to the contemporary era.
Ø Recognize,
study, and effectively analyze the diversity of American literature, especially
in historical and social contexts, as well as the authors and any unifying
ideas or themes in the collective body of written works.
Ø Be
exposed to a variety of literature in order to sharpen analysis skills, enhance
vocabulary and composition skills, to gain awareness, to experience life, and
to learn of the development of American history.
Ø Develop
written fluency by writing regularly about personal feelings or experiences and
by responding frequently to literature in formal and informal essays; develop
original expository essays in standard edited English.
Ø Excel
in the public communication of ideas learned in class through active use of
reading and writing activities, journal writing, discussions, student
presentations, group work.
Ø Recognize
many sources of information available for research and become more proficient
in the research process, using library resources and documenting them properly.
Text: Literature- Timeless Voices, Timeless
Themes: The American Experience
Writers
under study:
Ø Native
American literature, Puritan literature, Early American literature
Ø Nathaniel
Hawthorne
Ø
Edgar Allan Poe
Ø
Arthur Miller
Ø
Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, William Wordsworth
Ø
Charlotte Gilman Perkins, Alice Walker
Ø
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ø
Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison
Ø
Robert Frost, ee Cummings, Carl Sandburg
Ø
J.D. Salinger, Ken Kesey
**Other areas of study and/or
pieces of literature may be introduced throughout the year.
Required Materials:
Ø
Pens (black or blue), pencils
Ø
Access to a typewriter or computer and printer
(computers in the library may be used after school)- Floppy disks for saving also
required.
Ø
Three ring binder, loose-leaf paper
Ø
Library access
Ø
Pocket folder (as needed for handouts, etc…)
Ø
Floppy disk is recommended to save work done in
computer labs
**If you have difficulty in
obtaining any of these materials, please see me after class by the end of the
first week of school.
**Other materials may be helpful
to you, but it is your responsibility to acquire those (highlighters, index
cards, etc…)
Reading: The
course will include a variety of reading materials. Most of the reading will be assigned as homework. It is essential to keep up with reading
assignments, so that you will be able to complete other assignments at home or
in class. WARNING! You may be quizzed
on assigned reading from time to time.
Class Work: As
we study various works, and work on writing skills, there will be a wide
variety of class work and activities. Our work during class time is meant to
increase your understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of everything
we do. As mentioned above, the first
and most important step in this process is for you to keep up with assigned
reading. In addition to the reading,
there are other elements that lead to successful use of class time.
Participation: You need to be a part of what’s happening
in class everyday, whether working alone or with other students. Your
best effort is expected at all times, both for your own benefit and for the
class as a whole.
Just a couple of classroom rules:
Ø
Be on time and be ready to do work (it can be fun, you
know!).
Ø
Be in your assigned seat when class begins and remain
until class ends or otherwise instructed.
Ø
Participate- that way class time will always be
productive!
Ø
Follow the rules of the school (Rules are Cool!)
Ø
Keep this learning environment clean (no food, drinks,
or gum).
Ø
Be respectful, friendly, and keep a positive attitude.
Ø
Pay attention- to the teacher and each other (it’s the
best way to learn).
Substitute Teacher: If
I am absent, I expect you to behave the way you do with me- on your best
behavior, that is. If work is due, you
must still turn it in. Work will always be left with the substitute, and I
expect that the work will be done in the same productive manner that it is done
in when I am there.
Disrespect: Whether you are disrespecting the teacher,
your peers, being disruptive during class work, sleeping, interrupting those
who are speaking, yelling, using intolerable language (cussing, derogative
terms, etc…), talking over announcements, negatively criticizing someone else,
or not working productively during group work you may receive detention through
me or if necessary, an office detention.
Papers, projects, long-term assignments: Throughout the year
there will be a variety of assignments that go along with what we are
studying. As much as possible, you will
be given a variety of options. Some
assignments will include multiple steps and drafts. Make sure to get your work completed on time. Late work will be penalized! Each day that an assignment is late, your
work will lose an entire grade. For
example, if you have a paper that is worth a 95, but is passed in a day late,
it will receive a grade of 85. This
policy is not in effect for daily homework assignments if you are
present when it is assigned. If you are absent the day an assignment is due it
is due the next day you return!
Test & Quizzes: Tests and quizzes will be a regular
part of this class. Tests give you an
opportunity to show me what you have learned.
Quizzes may be announced or unannounced (‘pop’ quizzes), so be prepared
everyday!
Absences & Grading:
Ø
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed, and to do any
make-up work that is required of you.
You must also remember to turn in any work that was due on the
day of your absence. If you do not turn in work that was due the day of your
absence (on the day you return) it will not count.
Ø
You must make up a test and/or quiz as soon as
possible. You must set a
date and time with me the day you return to school.
Ø
You must makeup homework within 1 day of your absence. This
means that the day after your return, missed homework needs to be passed in.
Ø
If you are in school or on school property the day an
assignment is due, no assignment will be accepted late (i.e.,
later on that day, at the end of class, etc…)
Ø
Homework, group work, tests, quizzes, projects, papers
all count as grades. You will be told
before each assignment how much that grade will be counted as.
Ø
Unless otherwise specified, small homework assignments
will be graded as follows:
o
+ = 100 in grade book
o
√+ = 95 in grade book
o
√ = 85 in grade book
o
√- = 75 in grade book
o
- = 65 in grade book
§
A 65 for a homework assignment is better than a 0.
Continued on next page.
Ø
Other
homework will count as done ( )
or not done (/). This means that if I check homework before class
begins, I will mark a star or a backslash in my grade book. At the end of each
quarter, I will count those for a total “checked” homework grade. For example,
if there are 12 total “checked” homework assignments, 12 stars would equal a 100
“checked” homework grade. If you have 10 stars and 2 backslashes you will
receive an 83. The formula is the amount of stars divided by the total amount
of “checked” homework assignments. (10/12 = 0.833333333)
Ø
Quizzes (vocabulary, ‘pop’, etc…) will be counted once
in the grade book as a number grade.
Ø
Tests (usually at the end of units of study) will be
counted in the grade book twice as a number grade.
Ø
Papers, projects, and/or group work will be counted
three times in the grade book (unless otherwise specified) as a number grade.
Ø
If you are on school premises the day an assignment is
due, there is no excuse for not passing in that assignment. If you fail to do so, your work will receive
a zero!
Ø
No extra credit work will be accepted. Extra means in addition to. Without completing all assigned work
throughout the year, how could anything less than that be considered ‘extra’???
Ø
Everyday you can check schoolnotes.com (under ‘Lauder’
this course’s daily work and assignments will be updated at the end of everyday).
Keep up even when you’re out!!
Make sure to pass in all work
when it is due. You’ll always receive
the grade your work deserves, you’ll never fall behind, you’ll feel good about
yourself, and it will give us more time to make learning fun! Complete your make-up work as soon as
possible because you don’t want to fall too far behind, and any grade is better
than a zero.
An important note about honesty:
Grades are important, but how
much can that grade mean when you didn’t really earn it? Make sure to do your own work. Even if you cheat or plagiarize and your
work goes undetected, you will know that you cheated, and that only means that
you’re cheating yourself. If anyone is
caught cheating or plagiarizing, they will receive a zero on that assignment,
the office will be notified, and parents/guardians will also be notified. Those are only the first steps with such an
offense. Take your learning seriously. Doing it yourself will make you feel that
much better at the end of the year! You will be required to sign a form during
class after I inform you of what plagiarism includes.
Contact Information: This information is for school purposes ONLY
Ms. Kylie Lauder
Email:
bookworm002@hotmail.com
School Phone: 508-581-1640 *4168
Leave a message and I will return your
call.
You and your parent must sign the letter you receive on
the first day of school. This signed and returned letter will indicate to me
that you and your parent/guardian have read and understood this syllabus. It
will also indicate to me that your parent/guardian approves of the literature
that will be assigned this year as well as give me their contact information.
Other Things to Note:
·
An agenda will be written on the board each day
outlining the plan for that day’s class period as well as homework.
o Each
student is responsible for copying down this calendar in a section of their
notebooks designated for these daily agendas. This helps students who were absent
find out what they missed by easily asking their neighbors, helps students stay
organized, and it also organizes the class period because each student will
know what to expect daily.
o At
the end of each quarter these agendas will be collected and five random dates
will be checked for a quiz grade for that particular quarter (All 5 = 100, 1
missing = 80, 2 missing = 60, and so on).
o Students
are responsible for copying down agendas even if they were absent. That’s how
they keep track of their missed work.
·
Vocabulary quizzes are scheduled on Fridays, unless
otherwise specified by the teacher. New words will be given on Mondays or
Tuesday, at the latest. If the student can show me flashcards for all words on
that particular vocabulary quiz, they will receive a sticker for an extra five
points on that quiz. The highest quiz grade equaling 105 for vocabulary
quizzes.
·
Students need to bring their notebooks and the book
under study each and every day. Students must also cover their textbooks.
·
Extra Help and Make-ups are set for Wednesday and
Thursday (2-2:30 p.m.) and by appointment for the first half of the year.
Students will be informed in January of 2007 if these days change. This means
that on Wednesday and Thursday I will be here without question until 2:30
(students should still inform me if they intend to come on these days). On
other days, the students must set up a time to meet with me.
o If
students set up a day and time to stay after school with me to make-up a
test/quiz and they do not show, it is an automatic zero.
·
Summer Reading Tests will be given at the beginning of
the first quarter and will count as tests grades for that particular quarter.
·
No student is allowed to take 2 English classes (unless
an elective) simultaneously, in one year. This means that if a student fails a
required English course, they must attend summer or night school in order to
graduate on time.
·
Participation counts. Make sure to take part in each in
every class period because it can help or hinder your quarter grade.
·
Keep all work throughout the year. Cumulative finals
are very likely in this course.
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By signing below, you are stating that you have read
through and understand Ms. Lauder’s English III College Preparatory syllabus.
Signature:__________________________________________
Date:_____________________