Western Mennonite School
Course Syllabus
Course Title: Advanced English III Instructor: Mrs. S. Stinson
2012-2013 Grade Level: 11
Course Description: This is an upper-level English course which examines literature and composition, with units built around a study of American Literature. Themes and trends in the literature of the United States’ different time periods and people groups will be examined, and a variety of genres will be explored. Systematic vocabulary study, continued review, and exercise of English writing conventions will be incorporated throughout the year. A research paper will also be completed. Although students are in the same classroom as regular English III, they are required to read additional literature; demonstrate mastery and deeper understanding in their written assignments, discussion and literary analyses; lead discussions; and demonstrate higher level critical thinking skills. Goals and Objectives: Students will be given the opportunity to: 1. recognize, pronounce, and know the meaning of words in text by using phonics, language structure, and contextual clues. 2. locate information and clarify meaning by skimming, scanning, close reading, and other reading strategies. 3. demonstrate literal, inferential, and evaluative comprehension of a variety of printed materials. 4. draw connections and explain relationships between reading selections and other texts, experiences, issues, and events. 5. read a variety of selections and recognize distinguishing characteristics of various literary forms (novels, short stories, poetry, drama, essays, and nonfiction). 6. analyze the author’s ideas, techniques, and methods and make supported interpretations of the selection. 7. analyze how literary works are influenced by history, society, culture, and the author’s life experiences. 8. use writing as a tool to learn, reflect, and communicate for a variety of audiences and purposes using narrative, expository and persuasive modes. 9. use correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, paragraph structure, sentence construction, and other writing conventions. 10. speak effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes, and listen effectively to gather information and respond appropriately. These goals are included in Oregon Department of Education curriculum guidelines. Course Content: Advanced English III is a study of American Literature beginning with the 1600s, and ending with modern and postmodern literature. Students have the opportunity to think about, write, learn vocabulary, present, debate and discuss their ideas about the literature they read.
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Tentative Plan: 1st Grading Period
Review and practice skills for PSAT The Crucible, Arthur Miller 2nd Grading Period The Research Process 3rd Grading Period To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee 4th Grading Period Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass 5th Grading Period Poetry, Trifles, Susan Glasgow 6th Grading Period Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jaimie Ford This plan may change with notice to the students.
Materials: Provided by school: Adventures in American Literature Seventh Edition The Crucible, Arthur Miller Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jaimie Ford MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Seventh Edition Daily Planner Provided by student: One (1-1 ½�) binder and college-ruled paper for notes and handouts, to be used for English only. Coil-bound college-ruled notebook to be used as a journal. Pen, black or blue only. All assignments that are handed in for grading will be completed in pen or computer printed. Strongly recommend purchasing your own copy of MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers E-mail address for participation in the English blog. Grading: Grades are calculated on a total points basis. Please remember to review your grade frequently using PowerSchool online. The letter grade scale used as outlined in the Parent/Student Handbook is as follows: A+ = 98-100 A = 93-97 A- = 90-92 B+ = 88-89 B = 83-87 B- = 80-82 C+ = 78-79
C = 73-77 C- = 70-72 D+ = 68-69 D = 63-67 D- = 60-62 F = 59 and below
Grades are not rounded up and extra credit will not be offered. The best way to get a good grade is to do your best work on assignments, meet deadlines, and participate in class. My goal is to grade with integrity, and report honestly about what you have earned. At least an 80% average is required in order to remain in Advanced English.
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Academic Integrity Policies: We will review the policies outlined in the Student/Parent Handbook (2012-13) and consequences will be upheld. Plagiarism will be dealt with according to the Handbook. Assessment: Grades will be assigned for the following categories on a”total points” basis: Assignments Participation Journals Projects Quizzes and Tests Final Exam Attendance: When students are absent from class for any reason, it is their responsibility to find out what was missed before the next class. Due to a recent trend of students missing 1st and 2nd period, and then showing up for the rest of the day, if you are on campus that day, you will hand in your homework even if you miss the actual class period. If you are here and do not hand in your work, you will still lose 50% per day. For pre-arranged absences including athletic games and field trips, students must find out what they will miss, and complete it by beginning of the next class. On the other hand, if students are sick or unavoidably absent, they will have limited time after the absence to complete their assigned work if they speak to me to make arrangements after the absence. Otherwise, 50% per day will be deducted for late assignments and tests. Exception: students must make arrangements to take a missed test the day they return to school. English III Blog: http://wmsenglishIII.blogspot.com/ Specific Class Rules / Behavior Expectations: 1. Your behavior is expected to be condusive to learning for you and those around you. This includes, but is not limited to, respect for property, ideas, and the feelings of others. Therefore, the use of electronics is strictly prohibited. Items must be turned OFF and placed in your backpack before entering the room or I will take them. 2. Daily, prompt attendance is essential. Come to class prepared with all materials, and with personal necessities taken care of. A ‘tardy’ will be given if you must leave the classroom after the bell has rung, due to lack of preparation (bathroom, books, etc.). No bathroom breaks will be given during 1st and 5th period. 3. Homework (including reading) is a necessary part of this class. Generally, time will not be given in class for reading and writing homework assignments. Fifty per cent (50%) per day will be deducted for late work. Additional reading and research on various topics are also expected. 4. Copying another person’s work is cheating. If this occurs, both the student who “shares” her/his work and the student who copies the work will receive a grade of zero. When students work together on assignments that are to be done independently, the total grade will be shared between those who collaborated. A zero will be given for serious plagiarism and a 31-Aug-12
copy is given to the assistant principal to be placed in the student’s file. 5. Water bottles are allowed in Room 22. Other food and drinks may not be brought into the Chapel building. 6. Leave the room neat and tidy. This includes, but is not limited to, recycling unwanted paper, sliding in chairs when leaving, taking your items with you, and generally cleaning up after yourself. Writing on, or otherwise defacing tables, chairs, etc. is not allowed. 7. If at any time you are experiencing difficulty in this class, please come to see me outside of class time so that we may work together to solve the problem. I want you to be successful in English III and, as in life, direct communication is important to help avoid problems.
Contact Information: E-mail Address: sstinson@westernmennoniteschool.org Parent e-mails will be read by 3:30 p.m. every school day. Please also check PowerSchool for information about assignments and your child’s progress. Telephone Number: (503) 363-2000, ext. 222
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Honors English III Required Reading/Writing Deadlines September 13th Book Title #1 to Mrs. Stinson October 18th Book #1 is finished November 1st Essay #1 is due. MLA Style 3-4 pages. Include a rough draft. While reading your novel, be aware of how the author develops and engages the elements of fiction: setting characters plot point of view theme symbolism Is there one that stands out, or is of particular significance in the novel? Prepare a literary analysis of one of these elements as your reading response. As you read, it will be helpful to keep notes of significant quotes, events, or characters that will help support your analysis. Adventures in American Literature page 197 gives more information about how to write a literary analysis. Parenthetical citations documenting evidence from the novel are expected; therefore, a Work Cited page which includes the book you read is required.
November 5th – Book Title #2 to Mrs. Stinson December 7th – Book #2 is finished January 8th – Essay #2 is due. MLA Style 3-4 pages. Include a rough draft. Examine closely the setting of your literary work. What are the primary locations? How are these places made realistic — how does the author use extended description, background information, and specific detail to make the setting come alive for readers? How do the main characters fit in the settings — do they seem at home? out of place? How do their reactions and interactions with the setting affect the realism of the locations? In your paper, discuss the techniques that the novelist uses to make the setting vivid and real to readers, and the extent to which these techniques are effective. OR How does the title of the literary work that you've read relate to the novel itself? Is the title descriptive? somewhat of a moral for the novel? a statement of the theme? something else altogether? Why has the writer chosen this title over other possibilities? In your paper, analyze the relationship between title and book, paying attention to the reasons that the title highlights something that the author wants readers to know or come to understand about the novel.
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January 24th – Book Title #3 to Mrs. Stinson February 22nd – Book #3 is finished March 18th – Essay #3 is due. Prepare a well-written essay from one of the choices below. Show evidence of critical thinking in a welledited, thorough piece of work. This cannot be accomplished in less than three pages, and will likely take more. Support your ideas with textual evidence and other research where necessary. Choice #1 – Gender: Consider the gender of the characters in your novel. How are male and female characters portrayed? How does the work portray their roles in society? How does gender influence the choices that are available to the characters and the decisions that they make? Write a paper that explores how gender affects the plot and character development in the novel. (If the narrator is a male, would the story work if it were a female narrating?) Choice #2 – Historical Influence Writers can't help but be influenced by the events and people that they see around them. (We’ve referred to this as author bias this year.) The question is, to what extent does that influence become part of the works that they write and how they communicate their feelings and beliefs about the world around them? For your essay, think about how the characters, setting, and themes in your novel relate to the period in which it was written. How is the novel an analysis of the time period? How is it a reflection and how is it a criticism? And how does the writer make opinions about that world clear to the reader? Choice #3 – Character Examine the characters in the novel that you've read. Each of the main characters is introduced to you with certain dreams, plans, and expectations. In the course of the novel, these main characters must come to terms with the difference between their dreams and the reality of the world around them. Write a paper that examines how the main characters navigate the journey from dreams to reality. What kind of course do they follow, and how are they changed on their journey?
March 21st – Book title #4 to Mrs. Stinson April 25th – Book #4 is finished April 30th – Written project proposal is due. May 14th – Personal Response #4 is due. You may prepare a reading response of your own design for the final book. This might include an artistic, dramatic or written response, or a combination of more than one genre. Be creative. Your presentation will reflect thought, planning and preparation. Please do not use the internet unless you require research in order to write or complete your project. Remember to include the title and author of the book, reflect a theme or pivotal event in the story, or a description of how a main character changed during the book, or how you changed as a result of reading this book. Your grade is based on presentation, quality (clearly reflects that you’ve read the book), pride of workmanship and inclusion of required elements.
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