Syllabus: 2004-05
ENGLISH III
Yuma Catholic High School
Instructor: Mr. Don Gilbert (dgilbert@yumacatholic.org)
Textbooks: Elements of Literature: Fifth Course
(issued)
Elements of Writing: Fifth Course (used in class only)
Class
Website: http://dgilbertaz.tripod.com
Course
Description: Both semesters will focus on reading and discussion of the works
of major American writers and the study and practice of written exposition. The aim is to familiarize students with the universal
ideas expressed in our American heritage and to enable them to recognize the close connection of history and literature. Evaluation
will include quizzes, tests, and critical written responses. Students will write several types of essays such as comparison,
classification, and analysis.
Competencies: Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply reading strategies to comprehend works of literature.
- Recognize, analyze and evaluate an author’s use of literary elements.
- Analyze texts from American literature in several historical periods.
- Develop and support a thesis in writing compositions.
- Use proper grammar and usage to clarify the meaning of compositions.
- Write a variety of essays such as analysis of literary elements and persuasion.
- Write an argumentative research paper and cite sources using MLA Style.
- Deliver oral interpretations of literary or original works.
Student
Responsibilities:
- Attendance: Excessive
absence (more than eight absences) from this course is unacceptable and may result in the loss of academic credit for the
course (see YCHS handbook, pp. 37-40).
- Tardiness: All students
are expected to attend every class session on time. A student is considered tardy
if he/she in not in the assigned seat when the bell rings to begin the period. Tardiness
is subject to disciplinary action, such as after school or Saturday detention.
- Academic Integrity: Plagiarism,
presenting another person’s words or original ideas as your own, is cheating and subject to both academic and disciplinary
action. The student will receive an F for the plagiarized work on the first offense. A second offense will receive an F for the grading period in the class where the offense
occurred. A third offense will result in an F for the entire semester in the
class where it occurred (see YCHS handbook, p. 11).
- Be Prepared: Bring your
textbooks, standard 8.5 x 11 inch ruled paper, pens (blue or black ink only), and your laptop to class every day. Listen when the instructor is talking. Participate in class
discussion. Have read any reading assigned for a given day. Write all exercises and essays and submit them by the due date. Do
not chew gum ($1.00 fine paid to the office). Do not bring food or drink into
the classroom (only water is acceptable, but water bottles should be kept off the tables to avoid accidental spillage on computers
and ports).
Late
Work: A student with an excused absence will have one day to make up missed work for full credit.
If two absences in a row are excused, the student will have two days. If
a student has an unexcused absence, or if a student has been to class and misses a deadline, work will be accepted for a 25%
reduction on the first day it is late and a 50% reduction starting on the second day late.
If it is late more than one week, the work will not be accepted at all.
Essays: Students will write a variety of critical essays in at least two drafts. Students will keep all drafts of their essays along with assignment sheets in a portfolio (the instructor
will provide a manila folder).
Weekly
Journal: On Monday of each week, students will be given a topic or question
to respond to in a journal entry due by the end of the week.
Summer
Reading Assignment: The journal for summer reading is due the first day of
class and will count as two journal entries. Students will also write an essay
during the first week of class using their summer reading.
Assessment:
Essays:
30%
Journals:
15%
Tests:
30%
Exercises and Quizzes: 15%
Participation: 10%
