English 3
Mrs. Gibson
Basic English
Course Description
The English Language Arts and Reading Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are organized into the following strands: Reading, where students read and understand a wide variety of literary and informational texts; Writing, where students compose a variety of written texts with a clear controlling idea, coherent organization, and sufficient detail; Research, where students are expected to know how to locate a range of relevant sources and evaluate, synthesize, and present ideas and information; Listening and Speaking, where students listen and respond to the ideas of others while contributing their own ideas in conversations and in groups; and Oral and Written Conventions, where students learn how to use the oral and written conventions of the English language in speaking and writing. The standards are cumulative--students will continue to address earlier standards as needed while they attend to standards for their grade. In English III, students will engage in activities that build on their prior knowledge and skills in order to strengthen their reading, writing, and oral language skills. Students should read and write on a daily basis.
(Taken from the Texas Essentials of Knowledge and Skills)
In English III, students will focus their attention on American Literature. Students will read from the various genres while interpreting the possible historical context of the selections.
Year at a Glance (subject to change)
First Six Weeks - Early American Writing focusing on Native Americans, the Explorers, and the Puritans
Second Six Weeks – Revolutionary Writing through Romantic Age
Third Six Weeks – Romanticism and Realism
Fourth Six Weeks – Regionalism and Nationalism as well as The Harlem Renaissance and Modernism
Fifth Six Weeks – The Harlem Renaissance and Modernism
Sixth Six Weeks –Contemporary along with Preparation for Post-secondary Education
Textbooks
Literature: American Literature
Texas Write Source
(A set of each will be kept in the classroom for student use during instructional and tutorial times. Students will be given the Interactive Reader workbook to use in class and at home.)
Tutorials
Before school (8:00 – 8:25) unless otherwise noted by teacher or arranged between teacher and student
Classroom Expectations
Be in class ON TIME.
Complete ALL assignments to meet your deadlines.
Bring ALL your materials to class every day.
Keep track of your assignments and due dates.
Be courteous to all and participate in a respectful and responsible manner.
Try, Try, TRY.
SUCCEED.
Grading Policy
Grades will be assigned in accordance with district directives. A minimum of ten daily grades (quizzes, journal entries, homework, etc.) will be given each six weeks. A minimum of three major grades (essays, projects, tests, etc) will be given each six weeks. At the end of every six week period there will be a six weeks test. The district grading policy for calculating grades every six weeks is 40% for daily grades,
40% for major grades, and 20% for the six week exam.
To determine the semester average, the following percentages will be used: 80% six weeks averages and 20% semester exam.
Late work will be handled per the district policy located in the Flour Bluff High School Campus Handbook. “Except in the case of excused absences, or due to specific IEP modification, daily work is accepted one day late with no grade higher than 70. Teachers may limit acceptance of daily late papers to no more than three (3) per six-week grading period. Long range assignments including major projects and term or research papers are accepted up to two (2) days late with a penalty of up to 15 points per day. Major assignments, which carry heavier weight, will have a deduction of 20 grade points for the first day late and a deduction of 30 points if two (2) days late.”
Students are also allowed “re-dos” on failing assignments as stated in the Campus Handbook. “On the day a student receives a failing grade on an assignment or test he/she may make a request to the teacher to redo the assignment or retake the test or complete a comparable assignment within two days for a maximum grade of 70. The student must redo any tests or exams in the presence of the teacher before or
after school. The terms of re-doing assignments other than tests and exams will be at the teachers’ discretion."
Make-up work is allowed as per the policy in the Campus Handbook. “Students shall be permitted to make up assignments and tests when absent. Students need to meet with their teachers to get the assignments they missed when absent. A student will be allowed the same number of days he/she was absent to
make-up the assigned work. Students shall receive a zero for any assignment or test not made up within the allotted time for make-up or late work. Requests for make-up assignments for students missing more than 3 days of school in a row may be made through the counselor’s office. Parents may pick up make-up work 24 hours after a request is made through the counselor’s office. If a student is present when a long-term assignment is made, but absent when it becomes due, the work is due the day the student returns to class. It is the student’s responsibility to secure work from his/her teacher. If a student knows in advance that he/she will miss class, arrangements may be made in advance for assignments. Teacher(s) may assign additional work to ensure students who have been absent have sufficient opportunity to master the essential knowledge and skills or to meet subject or course requirements. The assignments shall be based on the instructional objectives for the subject or course and may provide greater depth of subject matter than routine make-up work.”
PLEASE NOTE: It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to get make-up work following an absence. This may be done during morning tutorials.
Communication
My contact information is as follows.
Voicemail – (361) 694-9062
Email - lgibson@flourbluffschools.net
You may schedule a conference before school, during my conference, or after school. I will not be available for telephone conferences during my class time. Feel free to email me with questions or concerns; I will respond at the first available opportunity.