English III Course Essentials 2008

Mrs. Hiddleston

chiddleston@duchesneacademy.org

 

 

Course Description

 

English III provides the student with a comprehensive view of American literature spanning from Native American literature to contemporary American literature.  Various literary eras are studied, including Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Realism, Naturalism, Modernism, Post-Modernism, and Multi-Cultural literature.  Students will be aware of period characteristics, as well as authors and literary pieces from each era.  Students will produce numerous essays focusing on critical thinking and literary analysis, while continuing to build on basic composition skills.  Proper use and citation of primary and secondary sources for literary analysis will be emphasized using Diane Hacker’s Rules for Writers handbook, with specific emphasis on MLA format.

 

Required Texts

Prentice Hall’s The American Experience                      The Catcher in the Rye

The Scarlet Letter                                                         The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

A Lost Lady                                                                 The Great Gatsby

The Grapes of Wrath                                                    The Tortilla Curtain

Death of a Salesman                                                     Wordly Wise Book 11

 

Course Objectives

  1. Discussion skills.  The student will engage in active listening and constructive contributions to classroom proceedings.
  2. Grammar skills.  The student will demonstrate competency in written expression, with attention to spelling, grammar, punctuation, agreement, usage, and vocabulary.
  3. Vocabulary skills.  The student will build her vocabulary with the introduction of several hundred new words over the course of the year.
  4. Writing skills.  The student will demonstrate critical thought and analytical skills in every writing endeavor.  The student will attend to organization and prioritization of ideas, fully supporting and developing assigned topics and topics of one’s own design.  The student will pay particular attention to development of an effective thesis statement, employing appropriate persuasive elements throughout each piece of writing.  The student will demonstrate clear and concise voice throughout the composition process, with attention to audience and purpose.  The student will focus on these skills in developing impromptu timed essays, lengthier literary analyses, essay exam responses, and informal reader response papers.  The student will document any use of secondary sources as directed by Hacker.
  5. Analyzing Literature skills.  The student will read critically, asking pertinent questions about what she has read.  The student will demonstrate understanding of the emerging American identity from the colonial period through contemporary American literature.  The student will be able to recognize the relationship between American literature and American history, and engage with each text as an example of that relationship.  The student will have a sense of the varying traits of each literary period.  By the end of the year, the student will have an appreciation of the evolution of American literature over the centuries.  The student will identify prevalent themes that define a work as uniquely American.  The student will continue to develop a critical eye for literature in drawing conclusions, making judgments, and applying themes to her own life.

 

Classroom Policies:

  1. Attendance:   Every moment counts in this course.  Be prompt, be prepared, be polite.  You are allowed 5 excused absences per semester.  More than 5 absences is a serious situation and will result in a conversation with the principal.  Unexcused absences in English III will result in a weekly participation grade of zero and will also result in a zero for any work missed.  Please see the Student Handbook for more complete information regarding excused and unexcused absences.
  2. Evaluation: 80% of your final grade will be based on tests, quizzes, essays, projects, and oral presentations.  The remaining 20% of your grade will be based on my evaluation of your effort, oral participation, and willingness to be a cooperative learner.  Because English III is a heavy reading/writing course, I do not accept extra credit work.
  3. Essays and presentations are to be submitted on time.  Papers will be collected at the beginning of class.  If your paper is not ready to be submitted when your name is called, the paper is late.  Late work is downgraded by 25% each day it is late, unless you have been ill.  You must take tests and submit written work the day your return from your absence unless you have contacted me the day before your return.  Good attendance is crucial since notes will be taken during every class session.  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the day’s notes. 
  4. Class participation counts for 20% of your grade.  Be prepared for daily class.  There will be pop quizzes.  Absences, even excused ones, may jeopardize your standing and final grade in the class because discussion is an important part of your overall grade.
  5. Cheating and plagiarism hurt only you.  Please pay particular attention to appropriately citing your sources for written, computer, and oral presentations.  I strictly adhere to the guidelines found in your student handbook regarding honesty.  Borrowing from the internet without proper citation is cheating.  Any student who cheats will receive a grade of zero on that assignment, paper, or test.  Any grade of zero will certainly negatively impact the quarter and semester grade.  As a student of the Sacred Heart, do not cheat and do not help others cheat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Syllabus for English III (1st Semester)

 

August 14-15: Intro/Syllabus/Reader Response to The Catcher in the Rye

 

August 18-22: Discussion of plot, emerging themes of The Catcher in the Rye

                        Wordly Wise 1 on double-block day

 

August 25-29: Completion of The Catcher in the Rye, Essay & Exam over the novel

                        Wordly Wise 2 on double-block day

 

September 2-5: Precolonial literature, Native American creation myths

                         Introduction to American literature: Colonial literature

                         Wordly Wise 3 on double-block day

 

September 8-12: Continue colonial literature, practice poetic analysis

                           Discuss poetic analysis project

                           Begin revolutionary literature

                           Wordly Wise 4 on double-block day

 

September 15-19: Continue revolutionary literature, more poetic analysis

                             Vocab Test 1 on double-block day

 

September 22-26: Essay & Exam over precolonial, colonial, and revolutionary literature

                             Begin Romanticism, 6 traits, short stories in anthology

                             Wordly Wise 5 on double-block day

 

Sept. 28-Oct. 3: Continue short Romantic literature

                          Wordly Wise 6 on Wednesday

 

October 6-10: POETIC ANALYSIS PROJECT DUE ON MONDAY!!!

                       Begin reading The Scarlet Letter

                       Wordly Wise 7 on double-block day

 

October 13-17: Continue The Scarlet Letter

                         Wordly Wise 8 on Thursday

 

October 20-24: Continue The Scarlet Letter

                         Vocab Test 2 on double-block day

 

October 27-31: Complete The Scarlet Letter, Essay & Exam over TSL

                         Wordly Wise 9 on double-block day

 

November 3-7: Begin Realism, short pieces in anthology

                         Wordly Wise 10 on double-block day

 

 

November 10-14: Begin Huck Finn

                             WORDLY WISE EXAM

 

November 17-21: Continue Huck Finn

                             Wordly Wise 11 on double-block day

 

November 24-25: Continue Huck Finn

 

December 1-5: Complete Huck Finn

                         Wordly Wise 12 on double-block day

 

December 8-12: Huck Finn Essay & Exam

                          Wordly Wise Test 3

                          Summative Essay for Semester on Friday

 

December 15-19: Review and Final Exams

                            English exam is on Thursday at 10:30 A.M.