Putnam High School
English III – American Literature
Course Syllabus – Rae-Anne Laprade
860-963-6905 ext. 3114 – Room 14
Course Description/Objectives:
Welcome to English III, American Literature at Putnam High School. This college preparation course is designed to read, analyze, discuss, and write about American Literature. Students should expect to enhance their skills progression including recall, comprehension, application, analysis, evaluation and creativity with regard to essential writing and reading skills.
Textbook: Elements of Literature: Literature of the United States with Literature of the Americas. Ed.
Richard Sime. 5th Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2003.
Each student will be responsible for the care of the assigned textbook. Each textbook must have a cover.
Additional Texts:
· The Crucible by Arthur Miller
· The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
· The Help by Katherine Stockett
· Additionally, selected short fiction including: “The Revolt of Mother”, “Rope”, “A Rose for Emily”, “A Jury of Her Peers”, “The War Prayer,”, “Everyday Use"“The Story of an Hour” and “Silk Stockings”, “55 Miles to the Gas Pump”, essays, poetry, nonfiction, and literary criticism will be used as primary study and for supplemental purposes. Texts may be added or dropped at teacher’s discretion.
Texts may be added or dropped at the teacher’s discretion. MUCH OF THE READING THIS LITERATURE COURSE WIILL BE COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT OUTSIDE OF CLASS. KEEP CURRENT ON THE READINGS SO THAT YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN CLASS ACTIVITIES ON THE ASSIGNED READINGS AND TO BE PREPARED FOR ANY ASSESSMENT. IF YOU ARE COMPLETING YOUR READING, YOU WILL VERY LIKELY DO VERY WELL IN MY CLASS.
Course Goals:
1. To carefully read and study novels, short stories, poetry, and drama.
2. To carefully read and study non fiction texts(reading for information) and use analysis and interpretation skills
to respond to text.
To analyze works from various genres and periods.
3. To understand that literature provides a window by which one may view society, the world, and mankind.
4. To understand how style, structure, syntax, organization, tone, symbolism, connotation, figurative language, and imagery can affect theme and the piece of literature as a whole.
5. To develop and enrich vocabulary and learn to comprehend unfamiliar vocabulary through root words, context clues, and etymology.
6. To understand the complex nature of literature, poetry, drama, and analyze how meaning is embodied in all aspects of writing.
7. To consider the social, cultural, and historical impact of writing during reading and analysis.
8. To read, reflect, and prepare for class discussions with thoughtful responses or thought provoking comments about the readings.
9. Practice and improve writing so that written responses and/or papers are succinct, organized,
coherent, and unified.
10. To effectively analyze errors in standard written English (grammar) by means of prewriting, drafting,
writing, revision, and editing.
12. To employ various types of writing including journal writing, expository, narrative, essay writing,
summarization, paraphrase, character analysis, literary analysis, and research.
13. Use critical thinking skills and close reading to synthesize and analyze literature.
14. Read various types of literary criticism and understand their importance in analyzing literature
(all these skills will helpful in preparation for the SATs)
Assessments:
Assessments will include:
- Graded journal assignments
- Vocabulary assignments and quizzes.
- Short story quizzes or alternative written assignments
- Essays (reflective, personal, college, expository, analytical, persuasive)
- Character analysis papers
- Literary analysis papers
- 2 major and 2 minor research assignments and presentations
- SAT preparatory grammar exercises and conventions of standard grammar
- Unit tests and/or projects
- Midterm and Final Exams
- Daily participation points
- Daily Word usage and conventions of grammar assignments and tests
Course Policies:
· Modern Language Association (MLA) format will be used for formal writing and source documentation.
· Students must be aware of the guidelines from the Student Handbook. Pay close attention to policies regarding cheating, plagiarizing, cell phones, and iPods.
· Each student is expected to come to class on time or with a valid pass. Any student that is tardy will be disciplined according to the Student Handbook guidelines.
· Students must be prepared for class on a daily basis with necessary materials. Periodic notebook and supply checks will be issued. Students not able to obtain materials need to talk to the teacher.
Required Materials: While some materials, such as additional writing paper are provided in the classroom, students are expected to bring a pen or pencil and notebook, folder etc. for the notes they will take or receive every day.
Work Retention – your rubric graded formal work will be held in your folder in the classroom. You may request a copy of any assignment to bring home.
Homework will assignment per teacher discretion and will be checked for completeness and will be
graded.
Grading Policy: Projects/Test 35%
Quizzes / 20%
Writing 20%
Participation 15%
Homework 10%
· Late Work - All work must be turned in on time in order to receive full credit. Late work will be accepted until the current unit closes, however points will be taken off of the final grade. If there are special circumstances, it is the student’s responsibility to make me aware of that there is a problem so that we can make a plan to help the student complete their task. Please see the top of this syllabus for contact information.
Absences:
In accordance with school policy, students have a 3-day grace period to make-up missed assignments due to absences for full credit. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to complete missed assignments/quizzes/tests. In other words, if you are absent, COME AND SEE ME to find out what you missed (there is also a work wall in my classroom which you can check for due dates and missed assignment titles)
Tardy
You may not enter after the bell rings without a pass. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get to class on time, or, without a pass, you will be marked tardy.
Cheating/Plagiarizing
I take this issue very seriously. Students who are caught cheating will receive a zero on the offending assignment and parents and administration will be notified. No exceptions. (Please see the school policy on cheating in the Student Handbook )
Classroom Rules:
In addition to expectations outlined above and in the student handbook, I expect you to:
§ Show respect for your own intellect and ability to succeed.
§ Show respect for your classmates and your teachers/para professionals/support staff. This includes listening while others speak and using people’s proper or chosen names when addressing them.
§ COME TO CLASS PREPARED with all materials, you will not be allowed to go to your locker.
§ PUT AWAY ALL ELECTORNIC DEVICES BEFORE COMING TO CLASS. IF I SEE IT- IT IS MINE FOR THE DAY.
Extra Help:
I am available for conferences or extra help for at least one hour everyday after school. Please stop by with questions, comments, problems or just to say hello J
21st Century Skills AddressedCollaboration:
· Literacy Circles and Group/Whole Class discussions
· Decipher meaning through discussions and consulting research
· Group and class discussionsSocratic Seminar
· Peer revision on speech/ discussion on texts
Critical Thinking:
· Close reading and analysis of text
· Examine resources and validity
· Solving a problem through an argumentative speech
· Examining similar themes in various genres
· Explore various ideas through questioning
· Examination of culture and written reflections
Creativity:
· Develop presentation of i-research through appropriate medium
· Develop own perspective on a problem
· Linking past to present time period
· Developing ideas on how the old ideas can help the future
Communication:
· Discussion /Writing
· Discussions through Cornell Notes
· Formal oral presentation and written speeches
· Various modalities of presenting information
Please RETURN TO Mrs. Laprade by Monday 9/3/14
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
To ensure the success of your student, please read the information on this syllabus carefully. Please fill out the information below as an acknowledgement that you have read the syllabus with your student. As we become a more technological world, your student will likely have more than one login/password to keep track of this year, so please speak with your child and keep a master card of login(s)/password(s) at home so that your student has a back up ready should they forget/lose their login(s)/password(s) If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at any time. Please include a way that I may contact you so that we may have open communication, further assuring the success of all students.
Student Name (please print) Student Signature
______
Parent or Guardian Name Signature
______
Parent or Guardian Phone Number E-mail Address (please list the best address to contact you)
______
______
I have my access to Edline and am familiar with how to view my student’s grades: Yes ______No _____*
*Please see Mrs. Lee in the guidance office as soon as possible so that you and I can partner in keeping your
student’s work up-to-date
I will be using the Edline web site to post homework and major assignments. You can access my postings by using the link choosing your student’s class that I teach and then click the assignments tab. If you do not have your own password and login, again, please see Mrs. Lee in the guidance office. You may use your student’s access information until you procure your own.
My child has reasonable access to a computer with Web access and printer and will be able to submit papers on-line to Turnitin.com, work on Google Docs and Google Presentation, when necessary. Yes ______No _____**
**If no, please note that the PHS Media Center is open both before and after school for student access. Also, the Putnam Public Library is an excellent resource for students to access technology and the World Wide Web. The library is located at: 225 Kennedy Drive,Putnam, CT 06260 (860) 963-6826 www.putnamct.us/new/library.htm
Work Retention – Please note that your student’s rubric graded formal work will be held in a folder in my classroom for possible use in their graduation portfolio. Your student or you may request a copy of any assignment to bring home at any time.
I look forward to a year full of learning and new experiences.
Sincerely,
Rae-Anne Laprade
Rae-Anne Laprade
Putnam High School
English Language Arts