Mrs. Rutledge
College Prep English III and English IV
Spring Semester 2012
You should have received the class rules and a course syllabus; however, the syllabus will be continuously modified. Make sure that you check periodically for updates i.e. revisions, modifications, and deletions which may occur depending on class progress. Please keep in mind that there may be occasional class meetings or other interruptions over which we have no control; therefore, one period may vary from another. The syllabus is written in such a way that deletion and addition of material can occur without disruption of the thematic material being used.
An East Tennessee State University student, Stuart Bowen, is the student teacher assigned to your class. Please rest assurred that I am the mentor teacher (teacher of record) and will be in constant communication through email with his supervising teacher, Mrs. Alice Spurling, from the university's school of education. We will meet and discuss the curriculum and adjust assignments with criteria necessary for a successful learning experience for you and the student teacher.
Following one week of observing me in the classroom, he will begin his experience by accepting responsibility for teaching one class per day until there has been an opportunity to interact individually with each class. The following week he will begin full teaching responsibilities under my mentorship. You should respect Mr. Bowen as you would any teacher, and in doing so, interact firstly with him before approaching me if there is any question regarding assignments. He will follow my syllabus and the established classroom rules so there should be no confusion. In some instances, he and I will team teach, so you will be responsible to the person who specifically assigns the corresponding assignment.
Naturally, if a situation arises that needs my intervention, I will discuss the concern with Mr. Bowen, and call for a conference between the three of us in order to rectify the situation, so please honor "the chain of proper protocol." However, I will resume full teaching responsibilities at the end of the student teacher's time with the class.
This course will include outside readings (details on the readings will be forthcoming), as well as units on the novel, drama, poetry, nonfiction, research, and history of literary eras, while continuing to expound upon grammar and its relevance to written and oral communication.
English III students will concentrate on test taking strategies following the completion of these units with emphasis on basic writing skills, recognition of literary terminologies, and grammar in order to prepare for the state mandated writing and end of course exams. Literary selections will focus on American literature pre-Puritan through contemporary eras. You should utilize outside reading guides available on the internet or at local bookstores or in the libraries.
English IV students will concentrate on preparation for transition to college or the work force through grammar, writing, and recognition of literary components necessary for successful communication applicable to universal themes found in "the human condition." Literary selections will focus on British literature from the Dark Age through contemporary eras. You should utilize outside reading guides available on the internet or at local bookstores i.e. Barnes and Nobel, Books-a-Million, Mr. K's or other.
Grammar is one of the major focuses of this semester because it is the foundation for writing. Let's be honest, yes, it CAN seem boring, but, look at it like puzzle pieces. When you look at the scattered pieces of what will become a picture, it's scrabbled and makes little sense. Once you start working on a corner, piecing one part with another, the shape changes, and if you are patient...wallah...a picture begins to be recognizable! We will do a variety of graphic organizers to help you visualize these concepts.
PRETESTS (determines your knowledge before you start) and POST TESTS (determines what you actually learned) will be given over grammar and literature to gage your progress.
Individualized tutoring will be available upon request; however, if you are unsure of anything feel free to let Mr. Bowen or me know so that you can have assistance i.e. a peer tutor during class. You MAY NOT have to stay after school, but, IF you DO the session WILL BE scheduled so that you CAN arrange for transportation.
You will be expected to keep an English notebook: it should be a three ring binder with the following tabs: grammar, literature, current events (one per week: newspaper, television or radio newscast, or magazine. The event must be cited or a copy included and a brief summary included), notes, and journal (the first 10 minutes of class will provide daily opportunities for "bell ringers").
We will work in the literature and grammar books assigned to you and as well as from a variety of classroom texts, paper back novels, magazines, and newspapers.
You will be expected to read magazine and newspaper articles as assigned.
WHO IS YOUR STUDY BUDDY? Remember that YOU need to pick someone in the class who will take notes for you in the event that you are absent. This person should exchange telephone numbers with you and YOU should call him or her to find out what actually was covered. You DO NOT need to call ME to request assignments in the event that you are absent only ONE day (call your buddy), although if you know AHEAD of time that you are going to be absent, then you may wish to inquire.
It is the policy of the department to allow ONE day PER DAY of absence to turn in make up work i.e. homework that may have been assigned in the event of an absence. However, if the assignment was given on the day that you were present it is due on your first day back in class following an absence. If the assignment is a research paper, essay, project or other which had a due date, it MUST BE SENT to school on or before the date by a parent, classmate or other responsible party. You will be given 50% credit if the assignment is turned in late. Homework assignments will receive a 15 points penalty per day late. In the event of a printer malfunction you should email the assignment to me.
EMAIL me at rutledgef@jcschools.org.
You should have a valid library card for BOTH SHHS Library and the Johnson City Public Library to successful complete assignments. If this is a problem please let me know ASAP! ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE OBLIGATIONS i.e. overdue or lost books!!!
You are expected to use a computer to write your formal papers i.e. essays and follow the standard 12 font, double space, black ink only (make sure you have access to a printer).
CURSIVE WRITING is expected when not submitting a formal paper. If you don't know how to do so, please see me and I will give you a writing form. Although manuscript is acceptable in lower grades, once in high school students are expected to demonstrate this skill. You may use pencil ONLY in notetaking. HOMEWORK should ALWAYS be written in BLUE or BLACK INK only if NOT TYPED.
All the terminologies which are listed in your textbooks (at the bottom of various pages of the reading selections) as well as those within the study questions will always be in some form on your tests.
ALWAYS EXPECT A CHECK QUIZ OVER YOUR READING!!!!!
It is important that you work diligently, turn work in on time, and ATTEND class so that you don't fall behind. Class discussion often stimulates ideas through dialogue which really can't be made up because of its spontaneity, and notes only reflect ideas that come out of the "spoken" interaction with your teacher and peers.
Always check the calendar in addition to your syllabus to stay on track.
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