Mr. Ireland

Google Classroom codes

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English III CP Syllabus

Mr. Ireland

Room 301

contact e-mail: jireland@tipton-county.com

School Mission Statement: Working as a team, we see our mission as ensuring that our students realize their full potential, so as lifelong learners they are prepared for the next level and can both contribute to and benefit from society.

Class Mission Statement:  I want my students to be thought-provoking writers; they will use writing effectively for communication. They will read and think proactively, critically analyzing the written and spoken word.  

Class Code of Conduct:

1. Be courteous and respectful to everyone.

2. Cooperate with others.

3. Keep your hands to yourself.

4. Be quiet and listen without interrupting. 

5. Stay alert and enthusiastic.

6. Clean up after yourself.

7. Be honest: This includes schoolwork.

8.     Put your cell phone away when class begins and keep it out of sight until the dismissal bell rings.

A typical 90-minute class: Students arrive before the late bell and begin bell work.  Mr. Ireland begins a lesson in writing, literature or grammar. Students then begin to complete independent work within a team or individually. Mr. Ireland will check for understanding.

Grading scale: 0-59F, 60-69 D, 70-79 C, 80-89 B, 90-100 A

Grades are entered in a number of different categories:

Major Assignments During the Year

Composition assignments on the following extended texts

The Crucible

Into The Wild   

The Catcher in the Rye

The Grapes of Wrath 

The Great Gatsby  

First Nine Weeks:

1.   During the first nine weeks the student will develop an understanding of literary elements, grammar, vocabulary, and writing, selected speeches as well as an autobiographical selection from Olaudah Equiano, several early origin myths, The Declaration of Independence. We will read The Crucible during class.

2.   Give a speech to the class: Speech will be completed by the end of August. It will consist of a speech between 2 and 3 minutes long on who you are. Three parts: a brief self-introduction of your first and last name, a little about your family and history; the body of your speech about what defines you (hobbies, interests, etc.); the last part will be about where you want to go from here (goals, career, education, etc.).

Second Nine Weeks:

1.   The student will read short stories, poems, and non-fiction including the following: “The Devil and Tom Walker,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,”  “The Raven,” “Where is Here?”  “From Self-Reliance,”  “from Nature” and  “From Walden.”

2.   Write a critical evaluation of “Self-Reliance” (more instruction will be given on this assignment).

Write an argumentative essay in which you make the point for or against the relevance of Thoreau’s ideas of simplicity in today’s world.

Write an essay in which you examine how the common themes are portrayed in Into The Wild and other pieces in this unit.

Third Nine Weeks:

1.   Read and analyze The Catcher in the Rye.

2. Read The Grapes of Wrath.

3.   Students will read selected pieces including “Go Down Moses,” “The Gettysburg Address,” “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” and “The Story of an Hour.”

Fourth Nine Weeks:

1.   Read The Great Gatsby.

2.   “A Worn Path”; “I, Too,” “Dream Variations,” and “Refugee in America.”

This syllabus is meant to guide our study this year and is subject to change. 

Visual Literacy

In this new elective class, students will analyze visual media - movies, TV shows, music videos, art, commercials, etc - in an effort to enhance ability to recognize and understand ideas conveyed through visible actions or images. Movies to be analyzed include the following: Life of Pi, Psycho, The Graduate, The Breakfast Club, The Sixth Sense and Signs. Some art will be part of this one semester class when students create story boards and movie posters. Other segments of the class will include instruction on social media, podcasts and SEO (search engine optimization).