English III -
Fall 2007
(American Literature)
Chris
Sutterfield, M.F.A. P-Block,
2:40-2:35
chriss@shilohsaints.org
F-Block, 10:45-12:15
English Department
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course
focuses on the improvement of understanding and analyzing literature, while
building upon the grammar and writing skills developed in Sophomore
Writing. Foremost, however, this course serves
as a survey of American Literature. Therefore, students will read a sampling of
every form of American literary genre (poetry, short stories, and non-fiction
essay), and will also include such American novels as: The Great Gatsby, The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and
A Farewell to Arm. In
addition, students will move through the major eras of American Literature in a
chronological and systematic order focusing on the various themes and ideas
presented in each era.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND
COURSE FORMAT
English III offers students
the opportunity to extend and refine the skills and concepts learned in English
II at a challenge level commensurate with their ability. Students will read a variety of literature,
comparing themes from various literary periods in American Literature. Furthermore, students will complete varied
assignments, helping to develop and refine their skills in writing. As a student involved in this course of
learning, you should be able to:
- Develop and support a thesis using logical
organization, concrete statements and supporting details.
2.
Apply
correct syntax, diction, usage, and mechanics when writing.
3.
Communicate
information through interpersonal, group, and public speaking activities.
4.
Accurately
evaluate and synthesize various themes in American Literature.
5.
Understand
various themes and ideas from the major American Literature eras.
The course involves a series of lectures and video presentations
in order to communicate the high volume of content. The student is encouraged to engage the
instructor via questions and comments.
Because of the nature of the content of this course and the volume of
the material to be covered, it is necessary for students to participate in all
class sessions.
REQUIRED
The following
text and resources are required reading for class discussions and are to be
read in their entirety unless otherwise indicated. Since none of *novels will be supplied, you
will be responsible for their purchase.
NOTE: Most of the novels selected
here should cost less than $10.00.
Tentative
*Huckleberry Finn Poetry
Selected Non-Fiction Essays
*A Farewell To Arms Selected Short Stories
*The
Great Gatsby
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
AND ASSESSMENTS
The following assignments and assessments are to be
completed as described below by the dates outlined in the course schedule or as
indicated by the instructor.
Grading Percentages:
5% Paper 1 (Responding)
5% Paper 2
10% Paper 3
10% Paper 4 (Research Paper)
10% “Morrie” Project (Paper 5)
5% Group Presentations
5% In-Class Exam 1
5% In-Class Exam 2
5% In-Class Exam 3
3% Summer Reading Assignment
10% Reading Quizzes
7% Workshops
20 % Final Exam
All Papers will be typed and
formatted according to the following guidelines:
1.
Format according to English
Department Guidelines
2.
Use correct spelling and grammar
3.
Use Times New Roman 12 point font
4.
Do not use report covers of any kind
5.
Staple paper together in the upper left corner
Late Assignments*****************
Personal time
management is as much a requisite skill for life as is the mastery of course
content. Therefore, assignments are due in class on the date indicated in the
Course Schedule. Assignments not
submitted in class are considered
late and earn an automatic extension
penalty of 20% for the first day and
an additional 20% for each day that follows. Thus, a student is allowed one week to submit
a late paper to receive any possible credit, no exceptions.
Make-Up Test
and Quiz Policy
The following guidelines will
be used by all secondary faculty regarding the giving of and the make-up of
exams.
·
Exams will be
announced on the syllabus at the beginning of the semester. Any adjustments to the exam schedule will be
communicated to the students at least one week in advance.
·
All students will
take a scheduled exam on the day it is given.
An absence the class(es) prior to the exam will NOT exempt the student
from the exam on the scheduled day the exam is given.
·
The only scenario
where a student will not take an exam on the day it is scheduled is if the
student is physically absent from class.
In such a case, the student will be expected to take the exam the first
day back in class during the class
time.
·
Failure to abide
by the above guidelines will result in a non-negotiable “0” for the exam
without the possibility of another make-up exam.
·
As for missed
reading quizzes, all students MUST make-up any missed reading quiz the
following class period. Failure to do so
will earn a “0” for the missed quiz. No
Exceptions.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Any time a student is absent,
he/she will be expected to make-up all missed work. Whenever a student is absent from class, that
absence will fall under one of three categories:
Excused Absences:
An excused absence as outlined by
the Student Handbook will result in 100% credit for all make-up work completed
within the allotted time frame.
Unexcused Absences:
Unexcused absences as outlined by
the Student Handbook will result in 50% credit for all make-up work completed
within the allotted time frame.
Unexcused Absence with Parental Permission:
An unexcused absence with parental
permission as outlined by the Student Handbook will result in 100% credit for
all make-up work completed within the allotted time frame.
Excessive Absences:
Seven absences per semester will be considered
excessive. See the Student Handbook for
penalties related to excessive absences.
Tardies:
Four tardies per semester
in the same class will be considered excessive.
The fourth tardy will constitute one unexcused absence.
COURSE VALUES AND
ETIQUETTE
The following values and etiquette
are to be observed in this course.
Respect for Divergent Viewpoints
Students and faculty are to show
appropriate respect for each other even when divergent viewpoints are expressed
in the classroom. Such respect does not
require agreement with or acceptance of divergent viewpoints.
Plagiarism and Cheating
Students who pass off ideas or
words of another person as their own without crediting the source are guilty of
intellectual theft or literary theft better known as plagiarism. Students who conduct any part of their
participation in the course in a fraudulent or deceptive manner are guilty of
cheating. Students caught in either of
these acts of academic misconduct will be reported to the Dean of Students,
resulting in disciplinary action up to and including failing the course and
academic dismissal.
Special Needs
In order to ensure full class
participation, any student with a disabling condition requiring special
accommodations (e.g., tape recorders, special adaptive equipment, special
note-taking or test taking needs) is strongly encouraged to contact the instructor
at the beginning of the course.
GRADING SCALE
The final grade will be based on
the total accumulations of points as indicated under Learning Activities and Assessments converted into a
percentage. The following grading scale
will be used to assign the final letter grade:
PERCENTAGE GRADE LETTER GRADE
90-100
A
80-89
B
70-79 C
60-69
D
F Less than 60 points earned - student may need to retake the course for degree