English III 2014-2015
Leslie Murphy
Contact Information:
Online Classroom Website: http://scott.kyschools.us/olc/teacher.aspx?s=1736
Phone: 863-4141
Course Description: English III is a survey course of American literature that begins with Puritan literature up through the Modern period. In addition to reading the literature, students will continue to improve their writing skills, with a focus on literary and argumentative writing.
ACT Testing: All juniors will be required to take the ACT test in March, as mandated by the state of Kentucky. Kentucky pays the testing fee for each student, and it will be given during the school day. To ensure that students are successful with this exam, I will be reviewing basic grammar concepts in class, as well as utilizing an ACT prep program online called Method Test. Throughout the year, students will also have exposure with timed passages to help them become comfortable with the timed format of the test.
Extra ACT Help Available: SCHS understands that a strong ACT score is very important to our college bound students since it determines admission and scholarship offers. For those students interested in some extra help, our National Honor Society club offers ACT tutoring after school each Monday and Thursday from 4:00 until 5:00 pm beginning on August 18, 2015. Tutoring is offered in each of the tested subjects: English, Reading, Science and Math.
Required Class Supplies To Be Brought Daily:
· 1 inch binder or 3 prong folder
· blue/black pen or pencil
· loose leaf notebook paper
· highlighters in at least 4 different colors
Grading: Students will be assessed in a variety of ways, including homework assignments, writing assignments, quizzes, tests and a few major projects. Grades are calculated using the basic point system where the number of points earned is divided by the number of points possible.
· SCHS has the following grading scale:
A=100-92 B=91-84 C=83-76 D=75-68 F=67-0
Parents are highly encouraged to monitor their child’s academic progress using Infinite Campuses Parent Portal. I update grades weekly, typically on Monday afternoons. If you do not have the log on information for the Parent Portal, please contact the school and that can be given to you.
Homework: Students can expect some homework in this class. Most of this homework will be assigned readings, so that we can maximize our class time with discussions and whole class analysis of the work. I understand that many students are involved in extra-curricular activities or have part-time jobs, so I try to keep homework assignments short so they can be completed in fifteen to twenty minutes.
Late Work: Students are expected to submit assignments on time. In the event that an assignment is late, it may be submitted for half-credit. No assignments will be accepted after two weeks from the due date has passed.
If a student has been absent and it is excused, students may have the number of days they were out to turn in the work. For example, is a student missed 3 days of school, he has 3 days after his return to complete and submit the assignments. In the case of severe illness, please contact me and we can work out something that benefits the student.
Getting Work When Absent:
· I maintain a folder in the classroom that contains any handouts that were distributed in class. Most notes and many of the classroom assignments will also be found on my online classroom page.
· Students are responsible for checking the folder or the webpage to get what they need.
Cheating/Plagiarism Policy: In order to master the skills needed to be successful in this course, it is very important that students do their OWN work. Copying assignments that were intended to be completed individually from another student is a form of cheating that will not be accepted. The school policy on cheating will be followed. Please see the student handbook for more information on this.
Tutoring/Extra Help: I am available each morning before school for tutoring beginning at 8:00. At this point, I plan to be available after school on Mondays for extra help. This may change some weeks due to my children’s activity schedules.
What to Expect From Me:
· I will be prepared for class with lessons that adhere to state and national standards to get you ready for college or the workforce.
· I will be available to help you when you need it, or will find help for you if your schedule does not work with mine.
· I will respect you as a young adult and respect your ideas and opinions.
Classroom Rules/Student Expectations:
· I expect you to be respectful—respect yourself, respect classmates’ rights and property, and respect my rights and property. This is the most important expectation that I have for you.
· I expect you to be ready for class—arrive on time, prepared with materials, a positive attitude.
· I expect students to resist the temptations of technology and to keep their cell phone silenced, off their desk and out of their hands unless permission has been given to use this tool.
· I expect you to be a responsible young adult—think before you act, be accountable for your actions and words, and to be an active participant in your education.
Consequences:
I expect you to follow the class rules, policies, and procedures outlined. Failure to abide by classroom policies will have the following consequences:
· 1st offense: Verbal Warning
· 2nd offense: After school detention and/or phone call home
· 3rd offense: Behavior referral
Communications: Communication between students, parents and the teacher is essential for student success. Please feel free to contact me at any point during the year if you have concerns about this class, or feel that there is a situation in which I need to be aware. I will be communicating with parents via comments in the Parent Portal, as well with email and phone calls. I can be most easily reached through email at .