English III

Mrs. Brittney Maddox

brittney.maddox@cmcss.net

931.648.5670 ext. 1107

English III 2019-2020

Course Description

This course will include the study of major literary works and themes from American Literature from the past to present-day. The goals of the course are to create college and career-ready students, as well as inspire an appreciation for literature. Using these expectations, students will focus on writing, problem-solving, communication, and higher-level thinking. The class will also refine and strengthen grammar, spelling, and vocabulary skills. Completion of this course should result in critical thinking with confidence and self-confidence. The Tennessee State Board of Education has provided a common set of academic standards and expectations for what students should know and be able to do independently at the close of each grade level. Clarksville-Montgomery County follows these standards and determines the order in which these state-mandated standards are addressed in the schools. 

It is the policy of the Clarksville Montgomery County School System to follow the dictates of the state statues in the selection and use of all instructional materials. Parents or legal guardians may request to review any instructional materials used in the classroom of the parent or legal guardian’s child following the guideline set forth in Instructional Policy INS-A073 found at: http://www.cmcss.net/departments/instruction/departmentforms.aspx

The chart below outlines the units of study for English III and major reading assignments that could be used to enhance student learning or solidify mastery of standards in each unit. This chart is not inclusive to every assignment for English III, as additional or different assignments may be created based on the needs of students. Specific details for major assignments will be shared with students and parents or legal guardians as the standards relating to the assignments are addressed in class. 

Materials Needed

It is the expectation that students come prepared for class. In the event that a student is not prepared, these items should be borrowed and returned to another student. As a last result, the instructor can supply items for classroom use, but this should not be an expectation. 

Supply List

• 3-prong pocket folder
• College-ruled notebook paper
• Blue or black ink pens and pencils
• Kleenex or hand sanitizer
• Highlighters (any color)

Classroom Expectations/Norms

Students should become familiar with and are expected to follow the Student Code of Conduct provided by CMCSS at http://www.cmcss.net, located under the Students and Parents tab. These guidelines are applicable in a variety of situations and settings here at NEHS. In addition to the policies by CMCSS, students should:

• Respect yourself and others. 
• Respect personal and school property.

General Guidelines/Classroom Norms:

• Tardy policy: In accordance with the NEHS Tardy Policy, the student will be provided a warning on the first offense, a phone call will be made or email sent after the second offense, and an office referral is given for the student’s third tardy to class. 
• All purses, backpacks, drawstring bags, or any personal items should either be placed on the floor or under a desk during instruction to keep walkways clear. 
• There will be NO cell phone usage inside the classroom unless permitted by the classroom teacher. 
• There will be NO food items in the classroom unless permitted by the classroom teacher. 
• Students should remain in assigned seats unless permitted otherwise by the instructor. Failure to comply with this policy will result in disciplinary action by the instructor. 
• Students are required to arrive in class with all necessary materials.
• Students may only work on English III assignments in class unless otherwise stated by the instructor. All other work will be confiscated and the corresponding teacher will be notified. 
• Participation in class and group discussion is required. Be prepared to engage in all lessons. 

Discipline

1st offense: Verbal warning and/or behavior notification (This may lead to a participation point deduction.)

2nd offense: Parent Conference (Phone call/email) and/or detention

3rd offense: Office referral (This may lead to ISS/Suspension.)

Daily Procedures

• Students are to turn in all homework assignments when requested by the teacher. Any work submitted after all other work has been collected will be considered late. 
• The bell signals the start of class. All students should begin working on the Bell Ringer posted on the projector immediately when seated. 
• All students should bring a fully charged laptop daily. While laptops may not be used for the entirety of the class, students will utilize them throughout the class period. 

Grading Policies

The Northeast High School grading scale is as follows:

A= 100-93 B=92-85 C=84-75 D=74-70 F=69 and below

Students and parents can view grades through Powerschool. The link is located on the Students and Parents tab on the CMCSS website. 

Total Points Scale

For this course, each student’s grade will be calculated using a total points scale. Each individual assignment will be given a numerical point value. At the end of the nine-week grading period, the student’s grade is the number of points earned out of the total number of points made available for the course.  If there are questions concerning the grading policies of the instructor, please contact the instructor before the grading period has concluded. This will help students, parents, and instructors have better communication and understanding of classroom grading policies. 

No grades are given to a student; each grade is earned. Effort, participation, and completion are all factors that are taken into consideration when evaluating student work and progress. At any time during the course, students and parents should feel free to conference with the instructor on questions and/or concerns on grading procedures or policies. 

Assignment/Work Policies

Absences

Students are responsible for making up all work that was missed due to the absence. This includes bell ringers, notes, reading, core assessments, and homework assignments. Students can find work in the Makeup Work Crate within the file folder with the date of the absence. All classwork or homework items will be located in the folder. Absentee/late work should be collected prior to class instruction time. Students have two days to complete the missing assignments from the day returned to school following the absence. If there are assessments/quizzes/tests to be completed, the student must schedule a time to complete those with an instructor present. If additional time is needed for any missing assignments, students must conference with the instructor, and time will be allotted depending on individual circumstances. 

Late Work

Late work is considered any work that is submitted to the teacher after the work has been collected. A zero will be entered into the grade book if any assignment is missing, including classwork and core assignments. The expectation is that late work will not be accepted, however, the acceptance of late work will be determined upon review of individual circumstances by the instructor. Students will not receive full credit for work that is not submitted by the due date. Each day that an assignment is late, an automatic 15% will be deducted from the assignment grade. After five class days late, an assignment will not be accepted. 

Bell Ringers

Bell ringers will be completed daily and collected at the end of every week to be graded. Students are responsible for keeping up with the bell ringers throughout the week. Bell ringers are an important component to instruction, and students will need this information to study for quizzes and core assignments. Bell ringers are considered a classwork assignment and must be completed if they are missed. 

Quizzes and Core Assignments

Students are required to demonstrate mastery of a number of skills throughout the course. When given individual quizzes and/or tests, the expectation is that students will remain silent throughout testing sessions. Cheating, borrowing, and/or sharing information during individual testing sessions is not permissible. This behavior will result in a zero for the given assignment. Disruptive behavior (including, but not limited to all forms of communication, including technology devices) will result in disciplinary action.

Academic Honesty

In all aspects of academics, plagiarism or cheating is considered a serious matter and the repercussions are detrimental to academic success. If a student is caught plagiarizing/cheating, a parent/guardian will be contacted immediately. The student will receive a zero for the assignment. For the purposes of this course, cheating is defined as:

• Copying answers that are not original work from the student.
• Taking any information from a source without giving proper credit to the creator.
• Looking/glancing onto another student’s paper or work during individual testing sessions.
• Using any notes/guides/study preparations during individual testing sessions without instructor permission.
• Any type of collaboration during individual work or testing sessions.
• Using any type of technology during individual testing sessions without instructor permission. 

Tutoring/Extra Credit Policies

Tutoring

If at any point during the school year, students are interested in tutoring, please confer with the instructor. There are weekly tutoring sessions available to students with an English teacher at NEHS. If a student requests to be tutored by his/her instructor, confer with the instructor to set up a time. 

Extra Credit

It is to the instructor’s discretion to provide extra credit throughout the school year. In the event that a student feels he/she needs more opportunities to earn course credit, a conference with the instructor can be requested. Students can also reference the Reading Workshop board in the classroom to complete extra credit assignments as listed. *Please note: Opportunities designed to allow students to recover from a low or failing grade will only be allowed when all work required to date has been completed and the student has demonstrated a legitimate effort to meet all course requirements including attendance. 

Note from the instructor

Welcome to English III! I am so excited to have you in class and look forward to working with you to reach your personal and academic goals this year. We will strive to become strong thinkers and problem-solvers as we read exciting pieces of American literature and answer essential questions about life in America. I will be here to guide you in discovering your truth in different pieces of writing and providing the justification to back it up. It will be a year full of memories!

Mrs. Maddox