Course Description

English 3 

Objectives:  English 3 stresses the themes of American meritocracy, physical/spiritual conflict, historical context, the role of the individual in society, and the author’s sense of place as we explore a variety of American literature.  Students will become aware of regional voice and experience as we read short stories, poems, essays, articles, and novels from different time periods and different regions of the United States. 

English 3 also aims to improve student writing in the specific areas of clarity of ideas, transitions between paragraphs, incorporating quotations into text, and writing clear, limited thesis statements.   We will also work on the development of voice, audience awareness, and structure for College Applications Essays.

Vocabulary improvement and choosing the most descriptive, specific word possible is another goal of English 3.

Methods:  Students will read the bulk of assigned material outside of class in order to be prepared for teacher-led discussion and questions.  Students will often present (individually or in groups) some aspect of the assigned reading or explain the historical component of the selection.  Lectures, discussions, papers (including in-class essays), projects, and tests make up the bulk of class activities.  During lecture and discussion, students must take notes!

Materials:   We will use the HRW text Elements of Literature, Fifth Course and the following novels:  The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren, and Ironweed by William Kennedy.  Vocabulary lists will be distributed weekly.

Format:  English 3 meets every day for 40 minutes, except for block days when it meets for 80 minutes or not at all.  Students will have 20-30 pages of assigned reading per night.  Vocabulary quizzes will be given almost every Friday.  Students will write two or three long papers (500-1000 words) each quarter along with some shorter writing assignments. 
Students will also make at least one presentation each quarter, and we will have a vocabulary quiz almost every Friday.  From time to time, we will have comprehension tests and reading check quizzes. 

Grades:  The essay grades comprise 50% of the grade for each quarter with the other 50% coming from the vocabulary quizzes, comprehension tests, presentations, and homework.  Students will have homework (sometimes only reading) almost every night. 

A comprehensive exam will be given at the end of each semester.  The exam is 20% of the semester grade and each quarter grade is 40% of the semester grade. 

Letter grades appear on report cards and progress reports.  The letters are based on the following percentages:

98-100A+            73-77   C
91-97     A            70-72   C-
90   A-                  68-69   D+
88-89    B+            63-67   D
83-87    B              60-62   D-
80-82    B-            Below 60 % is an F
78-79    C+


Other things you need to know.

All essays should be typed in a 12 pt font and double-spaced.  Please use a straightforward font such as Times New Roman.    Put your name, English 3, and the date in the upper right-hand corner of the first page.

No food or drink other than water is allowed in the classroom.  Coffee is not water.

You must take notes and you must keep your old assignments.

If you fail to turn in one or more of the essays, you will fail the class. 

When people are pleasant and polite to one another, Katherine is happier and life is nicer for everyone.

You are expected to bring materials everyday. 

Don’t ignore the vocabulary quizzes because those points add up. 

Do your best, and you’ll get even better.