Deflora English III Syllabus 2020/2021

 

Mr. Deflora

Sean.Deflora@sfisd.org

Room - D113

Phone Extension 3261

 

Ms. Deflora's Schedule

1st  Theatre Arts 1

2nd Theatre Arts 1

3rd  English III

4th  English III

5th  English III 

6th Conference

7th  English III                                                

                                              

English III Course Description This course is designed to explore American literature and to develop reading, language, literature, media, writing, research, and study skills.

Remind App

I use the Remind App account for my classroom. This is a great way for me to send out assignment reminders and imperative information. Both students and parents can sign up for the account by following the instructions below. All students are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to do this in order to stay up to date with information. All information is kept private and there is no way for me to ever know a student’s personal number or vice versa.

Instructions:

1. Get out your phone.
2. Create a new text message to the number 81010
3. The message should say “@sdeflor”
4. Press send.
5. Follow all other instructions sent to you via text.

(if you are having trouble with 81010, try texting “@sdeflor” to (315)790-6994)

 

Course Overview 

1^st 9 weeks: During this 1^st Nine Weeks, students will read literary works from the Modernist period of American literature.  Students will identify the alienation of the modern man and examine the tensions that are embedded in the work of John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men.  Informational and critical texts will supplement and further enrich the students’ analysis of the literary work.  Students will respond to the literature with daily Quick Writes and by answering open-ended short essay questions utilizing textual evidence, with an emphasis on strengthening persuasive writing skills.  Grammar and vocabulary instruction will be interspersed in mini-lessons throughout the unit, and a mini-poetry workshop will review poetic devices and guide students in the poetry analysis process.

Required Reading:  Short story "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner.  Novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, designated poems from literature text.

2^nd 9 weeks:  In this unit of study, students will be exploring the question, “Does everyone have a dark side?”  They will read and analyze a drama, excerpts from the literature book on Transcendentalism, informational/historical texts, and non-fiction selections.  A minimum of two short essays will be assigned, along with daily Quick Writes as assigned by the instructor.

Required Reading:  "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", The Crucible by Arthur Miller, excerpts by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau-literature book.

 

3^rd 9 weeks:

We will start the new-year off exploring where people turn to make sense of their lives.  Does the individual chart his or her own destiny?  The alienation of the modern man will be addressed at length.  Students will write literary analysis essays and respond to informational and critical texts to strengthen their persuasive writing skills.

Required Reading: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

College Application/Career Essay

4^th 9 weeks:

This unit will initiate our focus on the research process.  We will utilize the literary writing skills we have developed all year to analyze an American literary selection of the student’s choice.  Students will analyze how authors use rhetorical techniques to influence reader emotions and to advance their purpose in writing.  They will analyze works for style, tone, and diction, and will discover how these elements enable a reader to access the author’s purpose.  The final culmination of this unit is a written research paper which follows MLA format.

Required Reading:  assorted short stories and poems from literature text, and excerpts from The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

IMPORTANT-PLEASE READ

Throughout the year, we will be working on various grammar and punctuation skills, as well as vocabulary.  We will use The Write Source text, and classroom copies are available.  Should you wish to check out a literature book, you may do so in the library.

*See "Weekly Planning" page for a weekly overview of lessons       

Tutorials

 

Assessments   Class work, homework, participation, short writing assignments (journals, paragraph responses etc.), major essays/papers, quizzes/tests, and projects.

Grading  

Major - Exams, essays                     50%

Minor – Quizzes, projects                 30%

Daily - Class work, homework          20%

*Late work

Students may be permitted to turn in an assignment up to three school days past the original due date with a grade deduction of 25 points off of the grade earned.

Homework   All homework will be collected at the beginning of class unless otherwise instructed.  If it is not turned in at this time, it is late (points will be deducted accordingly). 

*All minor/daily assignments associated with a major assignment must be turned in prior to the administration of the major assignment (exam/test).

Please visit (www.sfisd.orgLinks to an external site.) for more information. 

 

Classroom Policies

Be Respectful - No one (student or adult) should feel uncomfortable or unwelcome in this classroom.   

Be Responsible - Get to class on time.  The tardy policy is in the student handbook and on my bulletin board.

Be Present - Take care of your personal business on your time.  Bathroom and nurse passes are to be used sparingly. Do not enter or leave the class without a pass. 

Be Involved – Pay attention, do your work, participate.

 

SCHOOL RULES Must Be Followed

Dress Code

Students are expected to know and follow the approved dress code.

IDs

Students must wear ID badges.

Tardy Policy

Students must be inside the classroom when the bell rings or they are considered tardy and will have to go to the tardy station for a permit.

10/10

Students are not allowed to leave the classroom the first ten minutes or the last 10 minutes of class.

Cell Phones

Cell phone use is not allowed during instructional time.

The following procedures will be followed in the event that a student is using their cell phone when not permissible.

1st Offense - A verbal warning will be given to put the cell phone away.

2nd Offense - The phone will be confiscated for the remainder of class.  It will be returned at the end of class.

3rd Offense - The phone will be confiscated and turned in to the campus bookkeeper*.  The student and/or parent will have to retrieve the phone after school and pay a $15 fine. 

Failure to turn in cell phone will result in student being sent to the office, receiving an office referral, and having to pay the $15 fine.

*In the event that a student refuses to follow the expectations, further disciplinary action will take place.

Cell phones may be used in between classes or at lunch but again not during instructional time.

Please be aware many teachers have testing policies that will ask you to turn in your phone before a test or quiz, you must follow these policies.

Food and Drink

Students are allowed to drink bottled water in class.  No food is permitted. No sodas, Sonic drinks, coffee, etc.

ONLINE ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students that are attending class virtually will be asked to abide the following rules while attending class.

· Log in on time, daily

· Keep your video turned on

· Keep your microphone muted unless instructed otherwise

· Adhere to the bathroom break policy

· Keep video stationary

· Position yourself in a place away from noise and distractions (no music or television)

Rewards & Consequences

Rewards:

   - Extra credit tickets

   - Candy

   - Music

   - Food day (breakfast, pizza, potluck…)

   - Homework pass

Consequences:

   - Student warning

   - Student/teacher conference

   - Teacher detention before or after school will be assigned.

   - Parent/student/teacher conference may also occur at this point.

   - Office referral. 

Some people feel the rain; others just get wet.- Bob Dylan

I am looking forward to working with you.  This is going to be a great year!

 - Mr. Deflora