English 3 Policies and Procedures
Ms. Mason, AHS, 2010 – 2011
vmason@ausd.k12.org; vanessamason@gmail.com
Blog:
Ms. Mason, AHS, 2010 – 2011
vmason@ausd.k12.org; vanessamason@gmail.com
Blog:
Overview: Welcome to English 3! This is a college-preparatory American literature course designed to develop your ability to read, write, and think critically about American culture and society. While this is a literature class and we will be reading our fair share of fiction, one of the major goals of this class is to develop your skills as readers and writers of non-fiction. This means that you will be reading and dissecting texts like newspaper and magazine articles – texts in which authors develop arguments – with the goal of developing your own argumentation skills. These skills will be especially important when it comes time to take the EAP writing examination, a written assessment that we will spend a considerable amount of time preparing for. This semester, we will read about and discuss issues such as war, racial segregation, and the gap between the rich and the poor in America. One of my biggest goals is to connect the literature we read in class to YOUR LIVES. Many of you will be happy to learn that the analysis of film and visual images will be a big part of this class. English 3 should be a fun and engaging class, but it requires serious reflection and deep thought.
Texts
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Fences by August Wilson
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A wide variety of non-fiction, poetry, and short stories
A wide variety of fiction and non-fiction film
Texts
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Fences by August Wilson
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A wide variety of non-fiction, poetry, and short stories
A wide variety of fiction and non-fiction film
Grading
Essays and final assessments: 30%
Journals and class work: 30% (see below)
Homework: 20%
Participation: 20%
Essays and final assessments: 30%
Journals and class work: 30% (see below)
Homework: 20%
Participation: 20%
Journals
I ask that you purchase a spiral notebook and composition book for use exclusively in this class. This is where you will do a lot of your thinking and writing. I will check the notebook periodically and with advanced warning. One benefit of the journal is that you have a place to keep everything together; another is that you have time to catch up on certain assignments if you fall behind. In my experience, journals have been successful tools for students who tend to struggle keeping massive amounts of papers together or students who get bogged down by too much nightly homework. While there will be homework in this class, I am leaning toward a deeper evaluation of how spend your time in class. Speaking of which…
I ask that you purchase a spiral notebook and composition book for use exclusively in this class. This is where you will do a lot of your thinking and writing. I will check the notebook periodically and with advanced warning. One benefit of the journal is that you have a place to keep everything together; another is that you have time to catch up on certain assignments if you fall behind. In my experience, journals have been successful tools for students who tend to struggle keeping massive amounts of papers together or students who get bogged down by too much nightly homework. While there will be homework in this class, I am leaning toward a deeper evaluation of how spend your time in class. Speaking of which…
Assignment Postings and Teacher Accessibility
All assignments will be posted on aeries, the blog, and the board in the classroom. Please feel free to contact me if you are confused about an assignment. I can usually get back to you quickly. Furthermore, if you would like to schedule a meeting with me, my free periods are 1st and 3rd or lunch.
All assignments will be posted on aeries, the blog, and the board in the classroom. Please feel free to contact me if you are confused about an assignment. I can usually get back to you quickly. Furthermore, if you would like to schedule a meeting with me, my free periods are 1st and 3rd or lunch.
Policies:
Late Work: Late work will not be accepted without an excused absence or a valid note from a parent or doctor. If you know ahead of time that you are going to be absent, please see me to arrange to get your work. The same holds for missed quizzes, in-class essays and group projects.
Late Work: Late work will not be accepted without an excused absence or a valid note from a parent or doctor. If you know ahead of time that you are going to be absent, please see me to arrange to get your work. The same holds for missed quizzes, in-class essays and group projects.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism will not be tolerated. On most college campuses plagiarism is grounds for expulsion, and it is imperative that you familiarize yourself with what it means to plagiarize and how to avoid it. The following link is a good source of information on this topic: http://www.plagiarism.org/plag_article_what_is_plagiarism.html
Please remember that I would ALWAYS rather you express yourself in your own words (or correctly cite those of others) than steal someone else’s words or ideas. If you are struggling with a writing assignment, please talk to me as soon as possible.
Electronic Devices: I ask that you not text, listen to music, or play video games on your phone in the classroom. There may be rare exceptions to this rule. For example, I may permit you to google something on your phone or listen to music during certain creative assignments.
Tips for Success in this Class
· Check aeries regularly to make sure you are on top of your grade and assignments.
· I understand that balancing school, social life, and extra-curricular activities can be hard. If you are struggling with this balance, come see me. I won’t give you a free ride, but I can help you be strategic about setting priorities. In other words, missing one minor assignment won’t kill your grade, but missing ten minor assignments will, as will missing one major assignment.
· Engage with ideas: think, discuss, connect, and criticize thoughtfully. This class is very much about the modern world and your place in it. The more you engage with the texts and ideas in this class, the better your writing and thinking will be.
· Respect your peers, your teacher, and your classroom and expect respect in return. This is an academic environment and, as such, it is an environment in which adult standards of mutual respect prevail. One of the things I enjoy least about teaching is disciplining students. That said, if you contribute to creating an environment in which your classmates can’t learn, you will receive a warning followed by a referral.
