English III Syllabus

Mrs. Massie

taylor.massie@cmcss.net

(931) 648-5690

Course Description

Welcome to English III - also known as American Literature! During this course, you will continue to hone your craft as a critical reader, writer, and thinker! You will engage with a variety of genres and text types, including short stories, poems, novels, and literary nonfiction. You will collaborate with your peers, engage in evidence-based discussions, and present your ideas in a variety of formats. You will set goals and reflect on your learning. As juniors, we will also place a heavy emphasis on ACT preparation - examining question styles and improving skills in the English and Reading sections of the test.

Supplies
School-issued laptop	Earbuds or headphones	Highlighters (not required, but helpful)	Notebook paper	Pencils

Course Grading

Grading Scale

100% - 90% = A

89% - 80% = B

79% - 70% = C

69% - 60% = D

59% - 50% = F

Types of Assignments

Quizzes - reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary

Writing - You will plan and write for a variety of purposes.

Discussions/Presentations - Two important components of the English curriculum are speaking and listening. You will participate in both class and small group discussions and/or presentations.

Projects - I want you to have opportunities to discover your own ideas and talents, be creative, and collaborate and share with others. Therefore, you will be asked to demonstrate your understanding in a variety of ways and with a variety of digital tools.

Be confident!

Be curious!

Be persistent!

Be engaged!

Our class will be one where everyone belongs and everyone learns. This means that all of our interactions will be respectful of diversity: culture, nationality, race, ethnicity, disability, economic status, religion, gender identity, and sexuality. Our learning environment will be one of trust and safety. I encourage you to get to know and learn from each other. We are all different, and these differences will make this class better.

All work in this class is expected to be your own, completed by you for this class. If you receive help from an article, book, website, another person, etc., you must indicate that on the assignment. This is called citing your sources. When you take credit for someone else’s work, it is plagiarism and will be handled according to the Code of Conduct. If you are ever unsure about whether you have correctly given credit to a source, please ask, and I will help you.

Classroom Culture

Academic Integrity

CMCSS Conduct & Discipline Policy

Students are expected to behave in class and online in a polite, respectful manner that does not violate the rights of others. In addition to being respectful of others, students should be on time, on task, and prepared to learn every day. I expect students to take responsibility for their own learning and to have a positive attitude. I believe that all students will do their best when they have clear and consistent guidance. Any violations of the CMCSS Code of Conduct may result in parent contact, referral to school counseling, discipline referrals, etc.

Attendance, Tardies, and Skipping

We will follow the school attendance policy. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. You are considered tardy if you are not seated in class by the time the bell rings. On your first offense, you will receive a verbal warning. On your second offense, parent contact will be made. On your third offense, you may receive a discipline referral.

School policy states that students who miss 10 or more minutes of class are considered to be skipping. The first offense will result in a discipline referral and parent contact. Continued behaviors will lead to additional disciplinary consequences.

AI Usage

We will embrace the responsible use of AI as a learning tool while maintaining academic integrity. For each assignment, I will clearly specify the allowed level of AI usage, ranging from no AI use to full AI collaboration. When AI is used, you must always cite this assistance, provide links to AI interactions, and include your original work. You are expected to follow these guidelines and be prepared to discuss and evaluate AI contributions. This policy will help you learn digital, proper citation practices, and critical thinking while you develop essential writing and analytical skills. Remember, the goal is for everyone to learn and grow in their abilities.

Classroom Procedures & Expectations

Entering Class	Classroom Supplies
If the classroom door is closed, please wait in the hall until I open it. Upon entering, look at the board and follow the instructions you see. There will be something on the board every day. Be in your seat working on the given task when the bell rings.	Please bring the required supplies listed on the first page to class every day. A charged laptop is necessary to do class work.
Dress Code	Hall Pass
Students will be given the opportunity to correct dress code violations. For any Minor Dress code offenses are those that can be easily fixed or clothing adjusted to be in compliance with the dress code, the student will be sent to the Front Office where Administrators will notify parent(s) that the student is out of dress code. Repeat offenses will result in discipline referrals.	Use the restroom between classes. No more than two people will be allowed out of the room at any given time. Use the sign out / sign in sheet any time you leave the room. Take a hall pass when you leave the classroom for any reason. School policy states that when a student exits the classroom during the class period, the student’s cell phone will remain in the classroom. Students are not allowed to take cell phones to the restroom during class time.
Cell Phone	Leaving Class
Keep your cell phone out of sight. Ensure ringer and notifications are silent. School policy states that: First violation: Parent contact Second violation: Discipline Referral Subsequent violations: Discipline Referral	You will be given one minute to pack up at the end of class. Do not pack up early or gather by the door. You will be dismissed when the bell rings.

Topics Covered

It is the policy of the Clarksville Montgomery County School System to follow the dictates of state statutes 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: https://employees.cmcss.net/misc/ViewISO?filename=INS-A073.pdf.

The chart below outlines the units of study for English III used to enhance student learning or solidify mastery of standards in each unit. This chart is not inclusive of 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 related to the assignments are addressed in class.

N1	N2
Unit 1 Savvas: Writing Freedom Unit 5 Savvas: Facing our Fears Major Text(s) Required: The Crucible and “The Declaration of Independence” Focus on Argument Writing	Unit 2 Savvas: The Individual and Society Major Text(s) Required: Self-Reliance (excerpt by Ralph Waldo Emerson), Civil Disobedience (excerpt from Henry David Thoreau), Selections from Whitman, Emerson, Thoreau, and various poets Focus on Personal Narrative Writing
N3	N4
Unit 3 Savvas: Power, Protest, and Change Major Text(s) Required: “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” (Frederick Douglas), “Second Inaugural Address” by Abraham Lincoln, The Poetry of Langston Hughes, Selections from The Poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks, Alice Walker, James Baldwin, Phyllis Wheatley, Nikki Giovanni Focus on Explanatory Writing	Unit 6 Savvas: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Tales Major Text(s) Required: “A Brief History of the Short Story”, “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, “Ambush” by Tim O’Brien, “The Man to Send Rain Clouds” by Leslie Marmon Silko, “Housepainting” by Lan Samantha Chang Focus on Research Writing
Great American Novels
Any of the following novels may be read and discussed during N3 or N4: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry	Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Letter to Families

Dear families,

I am so excited to have your student in class this year! We have so much to accomplish in such a short period of time. It will be critical that we all work together to ensure that your student is equipped with the necessary skills for a successful postsecondary life. English III is full of opportunities to learn about our great American authors and prepare for the ACT! This class is the sole reason I became an English teacher. With the right mindset and our open lines of communication, I have no doubt that by the end of the year, your student will be more prepared for life after high school. It’s going to be a great year and I can’t wait to work with you.

Taylor Massie

English III Teacher

Taylor Massie

Parent and Student Acknowledgement Form

I certify that I have read the contents of this syllabus (to include classroom procedures and expectations as well as topics that may be covered in English III).

Parent Signature Date

Student Signature Date