English III Course Syllabus

Educator: Ms. Shartrand

Email: Erika.Shartrand@browardschools.com

Welcome to English III! I am looking forward to a fun and exciting semester, and I hope you are, too. In this class, you should expect to work hard and work a lot, but if you remain focused, resisting the temptations of procrastination, you will not be overwhelmed. On the contrary, you will open new doors and discover a new way of thinking.

Textbook: Language of Literature 11th Grade Edition, published by McDougal-Litell

         Language of Literature Interactive reader

Literature: This semester, we will be studying the following works of literature:

Classroom Procedures:

Absences – Daily assignments will be listed on the class website at http://www.monarchknights.com/teachers/shartrand.html. Any handouts given in class will be located in a folder on the front table labeled “make-up work”. It is the student’s responsibility to make up any work missed due to an excused absence within two school day’s time.

Class Work – all individual class work will be kept in a folder in the class room. This class work is worth 30% of the final grade. Remember, this work should be done individually and any instances of copying or cheating will result in a zero for that assignment.

Group Work - Throughout this class, we will complete many group activities that will reinforce class material. Your participation in these activities will be recorded for a grade.

Notebooks – Most days, four guiding questions pertaining to what we will cover that day will be on the board. Students are to copy down the guiding questions in their notebooks at the beginning of class. During the last ten minutes of class, students will have a chance to answer the four guiding questions in their notebooks.

Participation – Aside from participation in group work, students will also have an opportunity to share their answers to the vocabulary warm-up and guiding questions. Students are also expected to be engaged in all class activities.  A weekly participation grade will be given based on each student’s participation in class, worth a total of 10% of the final grade.

Silent Reading – Every Tuesday and Thursday students will spend at least twenty minutes of class time reading a book of their choice. During silent reading time, the student must be reading silently, and will receive a grade based on whether or not he or she is doing so (see attached rubric). The student is responsible for bringing a book of his or her choice to class to read. After silent reading time is over, students will then write a reflection in their reading notebooks.

Tests– Frequent tests will be given on the material covered.  If a student is absent for a test or quiz, a separate make-up test will be taken after school on an appointed date.

Vocabulary Quizzes – Every day students have the first ten minutes of class to complete the vocabulary warm – up. Each Friday, we will have a quiz on these vocabulary words. These quizzes are worth 5% of the final grade

Writing – Every week or so, students will write a rough draft of an essay. Once a month, the student will choose his or her best rough draft to edit, revise, and re-write for a writing grade.

Grading Policy:                                         

Category

Class Work

Group Work

Participation

Silent Reading

Tests

Vocabulary

Quizzes

Writing

% of total grade

25

5

10

5

30

5

20

Required Materials:

Composition Notebook or Spiral Notebook for notes and guiding questions

Composition Notebook or Spiral Notebook for silent reading reflections                                                                                  Pens or Pencils                                                                                                                  

Looseleaf Notebook Paper

Pocket Dictionary                                   

Agenda/Planner                                                                                                    

Academic Dishonesty:

Under NO circumstances are you to copy someone else’s work and use it as your own! This includes and is not limited to copying from the Internet, your neighbor, a book, etc. This rule also applies to plagiarizing. If you are caught plagiarizing, copying, or cheating in any way, you will automatically receive a zero and a detention. Please properly cite sources.

Remember if you have any questions please feel free to contact me!