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Course Syllabus for English III & IV Fall 2015/Spring 2016

Prerequisites
If you are taking AP or IB English III or IV you must successfully complete Pre-AP/IB English I and II with a grade of C or better.
Description and Objectives
English III will be centered on establishing close reading skills, expanding vocabulary, developing literary awareness, and acquiring the tools
and language necessary to talk about literature and other story-telling media with academic, universal, and personal perspectives. The literary
selections for this course were chosen with these goals in mind and transition into English IV, which is designed to explore the universality of the
human condition through historic and personal events both fictional and non-fictional.
Materials
We will be reading five novels and a selection of short stories and poetry. You are only required to purchase the novels listed below.
English III

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
A Light in August by William Faulkner
Running in the Family by Michael Oondatje
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
English IV

Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

For our poetry and short story units we will be readings selected authors including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Alice Munro, Maya Angelou, Isabel
Allende, Howard Nemerov, William Blake, E.E. Cummings, Dylan Thomas, Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, Elizabeth Bishop, Sylvia
Plath, Virgina Woolf, Anton Checkov, Walt Whitman and others. I will provide you with the necessary materials for these units.

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Our class website also has useful, free links to help you practice your close reading skills, expand your vocabulary, and assess the assigned
literature. I encourage you to always use outside resources to evaluate literature and to help you with writing essays and citing sources. For some
units I will include supplemental multimedia such as music, audio recordings, videos, and movies.
Evaluation and Grading Policies
Extra Credit: I do offer opportunities for extra credit once per unit. It will almost always be an essay reflecting on a film or play, a musical
event, a newspaper article, or a media artifact of the students choice. Extra Credit may be turned in for extra points calculated into the final semester
grade or they can replace an unsatisfactory grade if the Extra Credit earns higher marks than a previous assignment.
Late and Missing Work: Students will have a maximum of two school days to turn in late work for a maximum of two-thirds of the points the
assignment is worth. If an assignment is turned in after the allotted two days, I will reduce the amount of possible points to one third. Not turning an
assignment in will result in zero points.
Breakdown:
1 Essay per unit (100 pts ea.)..300 pts
Essays (100 pts ea.).....300 pts
Blog submissions (5 pts ea.)125 pts
Class Participation per semester25 pts
Writing Journal200 pts
Daily Assignments per unit..200 pts
Total...1,225 pts
Class Policies
Attendance and Participation: Everyone is required to participate in classroom activities and group discussions. The majority of class time
will be spent discussing the required readings, peer critiquing written work, and collaborating on group projects. I do not expect everyone to be
discussion leaders or to speak in front of the class on a daily basis, however, I encourage everyone to find a participation niche in which every
student feels comfortable contributing to discussion and collaboration.
Etiquette: I expect everyone to treat each other respectfully. This includes everything from arriving to class on time and having all the
necessary materials, to being aware of word choice and tone during class discussion and peer critiques.

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Students are expected to bring daily materials with them including pen/pencil, paper, assigned text(s), and writing journal. If students need to bring
anything extra to class I will remind them of it a class day ahead of time. Students may use the bathroom at any time by taking the pass hanging next
to the door as long as it is not disruptive and does not occur excessively, otherwise I will reinstate hand-raising and limited bathroom pass usage.
Our class discussion will be conducted in an open forum directed by myself and student group leaders. This means that students may share ideas
openly without raising his or her hand for recognition. However, students may not interrupt or overpower another students platform. If a discussion
gets out of hand I will divide up the class for a debate or I will enforce hand raising. Students are required to respond to their peers thoughtfully and
objectively. Overbearing, unfounded arguments formed to attack another student will result in silent busy work.
Cheating and Plagiarism: ISD has a zero tolerance policy for cheating and plagiarism. If a student is caught plagiarizing he or she will
receive zero points for that assignment. Additionally, I will require a conference with that students parent or guardian. If a student is caught
cheating, he or she will receive zero points for that assignment and will be required to write a three page essay on academic morality.
Emergency Procedures: In the event of an emergency all students will follow ISDs emergency procedures as stated in the student handbook,
including lockdown procedures. There is an evacuation map located next to the door at the front of the classroom. In the event of an emergency
drill, I expect all students to follow directions quickly and silently.
Rules
1. Im here for you, so please be here for me.
2. Be on time, be prepared to learn something.
3. Put away all electronic devices. If you take notes on your electronic device, then take notes. Dont chill on Facebook. Dont troll
Reddit.
4. Respect your peers with your words and your actions.
5. Throw your trash in the trashcan. #notyourmaid
6. Be polite.
7. If you break a rule, you will be required to write a one page essay about the rule you broke.
Expectations
There is only one expectation in my classroom: be respectful to one another. I dont expect everyone to make As and I dont expect everyone
to behave or learn in the same way. However, everyone will speak and act with respect towards their peers beliefs, bodies, and belongings.
Advice
I know that everyone wants to know how to get a good grade. There is no secret sauce to being academically successful; listen, ask
questions, and ask for help when you need it.
Calendar (the Spring calendar will be e-mailed to you before the end of Winter Break)

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September
Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

1A
Intro to Shakespeare
Overview of LDs
Intro to Unit Project
Preview of Hamlet

2B
Intro to Shakespeare
Overview of LDs
Intro to Unit Project
Preview of Hamlet

3A
Read Act I aloud
Closing Discussion
Review of LDs

4B
Read Act I aloud
Closing Discussion
Review of LDs

5A
Finish Act I
Closing Discussion
of Act I; close
reading activity

6
*writing journals

7
*writing journals

8B
Finish Act I
Closing Discussion
of Act I; close
reading activity

9A
Unit 1 Project
Proposal Due
Close reading
activity
*Act II at home

10 B
Unit 1 Project
Proposal Due
Close Reading
Activity
*Act II at home

11 A
(Secondary
Proposal Due)
Review Act II in
class; begin Act III

12 B
(Secondary
Proposal Due)
Review Act II in
class; begin Act III

13
*finish Act III;
writing journals;
work on unit
projects

14
*finish Act III;
writing journals;
work on unit
projects

15 A
Read Act IV aloud
Overview
Discussion

16 B
Read Act IV aloud
Overview
Discussion

17 A
Read Act IV aloud
Overview
Discussion

18 B
Read Act IV aloud
Overview
Discussion

20
*Act V; writing
journals; work on
unit projects

21
*Act V; writing
journals; work on
unit projects

22 B
Lecture:
Shakespeare and his
influence on
literature and
language

23 A
Discussion: Act V,
Shakespeare and
His Influence
Unit 1 Essay
Handout
Writing activity

24 B
Discussion: Act V,
Shakespeare and
His Influence
Unit 1 Essay
Handout
Writing activity

25 A
Finish Discussions
Critique
Unit project work
day

19 A
Lecture:
Shakespeare and his
influence on
literature and
language
26 B
Finish Discussions
Critique
Unit project work
day

27
*finish unit projects

28
*finish unit projects

29 A
Projects Due

30 B
Projects Due

31 A
Projects Due

October

Saturday

Sunday

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Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

1B
Projects Due

2A
How to Talk About
Film
Begin movie
adaption of Hamlet

5B
How to Talk About
Film
Begin movie
adaption of Hamlet

6A
Watch Hamlet

7B
Watch Hamlet

8A
Finish watching
Hamlet
Discussion

9B
Finish Watching
Hamlet
Discussion

10
*writing activitywhat is a poem?;
develop thesis

11
*writing activitywhat is a poem?;
develop thesis

12 A
Unit 2- Poetry
Lecture- How to
Read Poetry; What
is Poetry?
Submit Unit 1 Essay
Thesis
19 B
Rough Drafts Due
for Peer Editing
Selected Readings
Discussion

13 B
Unit 2- Poetry
Lecture- How to
Read Poetry; What
is Poetry?
Submit Unit 1 Essay
Thesis
20 A
Unit 1 Essay Due
Lecture: Reading vs.
Listening; Genre;
Word Choice
Close Reading
Activity
27 B
Lecture: How to
Critique Poetry
Project rough draft
due; 1st Critique

14 A
Lecture: History of
Poetry and Poets
Class Reading
Selected Poetry
Unit 2 Project
Handout
21 B
Unit 1 Essay Due
Lecture: Reading vs.
Listening; Genre;
Word Choice
Close Reading
Activity
28 A
Project Final Due;
2nd Critique
Overview of Unit 3

15 B
Lecture: History of
Poetry and Poets
Class Reading
Selected Poetry
Unit 2 Project
Handout
22 A
Lecture: Word
Choice and LDs
Writing Activity
with critique
Begin Unit 2 Project

16 A
Rough Drafts due
for peer editing
Selected Readings
Discussion

17
*finish essay;
selected readings;
writing journal

18
*finish essay;
selected readings;
writing journal

23 B
Lecture: Word
Choice and LDs
Writing Activity
with critique
Begin Unit 2 Project

24
*work on Unit 2
Project

25
*work on Unit 2
Project

29 B
Project Final Due;
2nd Critique
Overview of Unit 3

30 A
Begin Unit 3: The
Metamorphosis
About the Author &
Cultural Context

31
*writing journals

26 A
Lecture: How to
Critique Poetry
Project rough draft
due; 1st Critique

November

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Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday
1
*writing journals

2B
Begin Unit 3: The
Metamorphosis
About the Author &
Cultural Context

3A
M: Part I in class
Handout Unit
project rubric

4B
M: Part I in class
Handout Unit
project rubric

9A
Discussion of Part II
Lecture on Kafka
and related authors
Writing exercise

10B
Discussion of Part II
Lecture on Kafka
and related authors
Writing exercise

11A
M: Part III in class
Writing journal
check
Writing exercise

16B
M: Part III in class
Class Discussion
Work on projects

17A
Preview of Unit 4
Mid-term journal
check
Unit 3 Essay Rubric

23
Thanksgiving Break

24
Thanksgiving Break

30A
Unit 3 Essays Due
Unit 1-3 Review
Unit 4 Handouts
and begin lecture

December

5A
M: Part I in class
Discussion Forum
Review LDs and
explore authors
goals
12B
M: Part III in class
Writing journal
check
Writing exercise

6B
M: Part I in class
Discussion Forum
Review LDs and
explore authors
goals
13A
M: Part III in class
Class Discussion
Work on projects

7
Writing journals
Begin working on
project
Read M: Part II

8
Writing journals
Begin working on
unit project
Read M: Part II

14
*writing journals,
continue working on
project

15
*writing journals,
continue working on
project

18B
Preview of Unit 4
Mid-term journal
check
Unit 3 Essay Rubric

19A
Present Unit
Projects

20B
Present Unit
Projects

21
Have a wonderful
Thanksgiving
Break!

22

25
Thanksgiving Break

26

27
Thanksgiving Break

28

29
*Unit 3 Essay due
when you get back
from break!

Happy
Thanksgiving!

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Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

4A
Read short stories in
class
Close reading
Discussion
Lecture: Creating a
Story
11B
Lecture: Editing and
Revising
Present unit project
thesis

5
*begin working on
unit project, writing
journals

6
*begin working on
unit project, writing
journals

12
*continue working
on unit project

13
*continue working
on unit project

1B
Unit 3 Essays Due
Unit 1-3 Review
Unit 4 Handouts and
begin lecture

2A
Unit 4: Selected
Short Stories
Lecture: Authors,
LDs, themes

3B
Unit 4: Selected
Short Stories
Lecture: Authors,
LDs, themes

7B
Read short stories in
class
Close reading
Discussion
Lecture: Creating a
Story
14A
In class peer-critique
of unit project
Read short stories in
class
Close reading
activity
21
Winter Break

8A
Read short stories in
class
Close reading
Discussion

9B
Read short stories in
class
Close reading
Discussion

10A
Lecture: Editing and
Revising
Present unit project
thesis

15B
In class peer-critique
of unit project
Read short stories in
class
Close reading
activity
22
Winter Break

16A
Turn in Rough Draft
of Unit Project
Preview of Spring
Semester
Group Activity

17B
Turn in Rough Draft
of Unit Project
Preview of Spring
Semester
Group Activity

18A
Group writing
exercises

19
Have a wonderful
winter break! Keep
up with your writing
journals!

20

23
Winter Break

24

25
Christmas Day

26
Winter Break

27
Winter Break

28
Winter Break

29
Winter Break

30
Winter Break

31
Winter Break

Christmas Eve

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Parent or Guardian Acknowledgement Form

By signing this form I understand that my child is responsible for his/her own actions and grades for the duration of this
class and that I have read the syllabus in its entirety and fully acknowledge the rules and expectations of the classroom.

__________________________________________________
Student Name (Print)

__________________________________________________
Student Signature

__________________________________________________
Guardian Name (Print)

__________________________________________________
Guardian Signature

Date: _______________________

Truhitte 9

I have spread my dreams under

your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on
my dreams
W. B. Yeats