September 14, 2015

Books are humanity in

print. -Barbara W.
Tuchman

English III!
Literature as a Reflection of Society!

Course Description!
Contact Information
Course Instructor: Jessica Taylor
Phone Number: 405-246-8013
Email Address:
jtaylor@harlemvillage.org
Website: www.HVAEnglish.com

This course introduces students to theories of

literature and social justice. We will address the
following broad (and frequently overlapping)
questions: !
What is literature? !
What is social justice? !
How are literary forms (and literary criticism)
distinctive in the ways in which they grapple
with questions of social justice? !
How do literary forms reinforce or challenge
dominant ideologies? !
In what ways does literature critique social
injustice and imagine new models of society? !
How does literature generate varying
emotions in its readers that might serve to
promote (or prevent) social justice?

September 14, 2015

!
Grading and Assessments!
All courses at HVA High are cumulatively graded by semester,
indicating the progress of a student throughout the terms. A
students grade in each course reflects the average of all of the
students assessment grades over the course of the semester, which
may include Term Exams, unit exams, and Authentic Assessments.
A students grade will constantly change as more assessments
accumulate in a course, thus the grade a student receives earlier in
the year has the potential to be dierent than their grade at the
end of the year. !
Cumulative grading allows teachers to have many of their
assignments carry over multiple terms and allows for a more
holistic approach to assessment. A semester-long grading policy
also oers a more well-rounded view of a students achievements
and sends a strong message to our community that every grade
matters. Students cannot rely on a grade magically vanishing
after a term; they have to hold themselves accountable to their
success from the beginning to the very end of the school year. !

The English Department uses letter grades, which correspond to

HVA Highs 4.0 grading scale. This scale emphasizes what students
are learning and mastering rather than what points are gained or
lost. Teachers grade books will reflect the 4.0 scale and no
percentages will be used. However, when grades are reported to
students, they will receive only a letter grade. This is meant to
emulate the grading scales that are most commonly utilized in the
college setting in humanities classes. The scale is as follows:

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September 14, 2015

Grading Weights
Annotation 20%!
Writing 25%!
Seminar 20%!
Declamation 10%!
Term Exams 20%!
Homework/Classwork 5%!
Annotation: Demonstrating reading comprehension by
systematically marking up the text.!
Writing: Formal writing assignments, such as an essay or
essay component!
Seminar: Spoken participation in a structured class
discussion surrounding one central question!
Declamation: Presenting a relevant introduction and
memorized passage in front of the class.!
Term Exams: Cumulative assessment that shows students
mastery of important skills. !

Late Work and Absences!

Late work will not be accepted one week after the original
due date. Should students hand in an assignment late, they should
expect to lose a letter grade (at minimum). !
In the event that a student is absent, they should collect any
missed assignments or handouts from the absent bin in the
classroom and check in with their accountability partner about any
notes or important announcements they missed. Finally, the
student should check-in with the teacher if there are any
extenuating circumstances surrounding the absence so that we may
communicate strategies to stay up-to-date about class. !
In the event that a student is absent on declamation day
(students must have a legitimate excuse from a parent; if a student
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September 14, 2015

suspects that they will be absent the following day they must email
theater in advance), student may make up their declamation/oral
presentation as per arrangement with the teacher. Students must
make up declamation within two days of returning to school, it is
their responsibility to seek out the teacher and make this
arrangement. If presentation involves a group of students, they
must take responsibility for the absence of the one individual and
make arrangements with the teacher accordingly. Should a student
miss their declamation/oral presentation without an excuse and/or
prior notice, they will not be allowed to make it up and receive
zero credit for the assignment. !
In the even that a student is absent on seminar day without
notice or reason, student may not make up the seminar, and they
will receive no credit. In the event that a students is absent on
seminar day, but with a legitimate reason/prior notice, they must
seek out teacher to arrange an alternative presentation on the
seminar topic (including turning in seminar preparation) during
teachers oce hours.!
Should student miss any other quiz or exam during an absence, it
is their responsibility to seek out the teacher to make up the
assessment. This can only be done up to one week from the
original exam date. !
It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to stay up to date on all class
requirements.!

Student Support and Oce Hours!

My door is always open if you need assistance in this class or with
anything else. Please feel free to set up an appointment during
oce hours or after school. You are also welcome to call, text, or
email me with questions, comments, or concerns. !
Ms. Taylors oce hours are: !
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 3:30-4:00 in Room 410!
Supplies:
A binder for only this class only (at least 1-inch)!
Dividers!
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September 14, 2015

Loose-leaf paper!
Pens/Pencils!
Notebook!

English Department Honor Code!

At HVA High and in the English Department, we take academic
integrity very seriously. We expect that all work that you produce
and ideas are your own. If you cite ideas or language that belong to
someone else, you must give them credit. Failure to do so is
considered plagiarism, and in college could result in your expulsion
from the university. Thus, with each pieve of written work that you
turn in for this class, you will write and sign the following English
Department Honor Code: !
The work that I produce and the ideas in this work are my own. !

Curriculum Overview!
(Subject to change)!
Major Works:!
Sula - Toni Morrison!
1984 -George Orwell!
Macbeth -William Shakespeare!
Cyrano de Bergerac -Edmond Rostand!

Final Notes on Homework!

Coming to English class without having done the reading is like
driving on the highway blindfolded. Dont be that person that is
making things up, and has no idea what happened in the text. You
will bring all of us down if you dont do your part. However, if you
complete your reading and homework and come adequately
prepared for class daily, we can all have an incredible experience
and learn from one another. You have a responsibility to yourself
and your community to give your all. !

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Final Notes on Participation!

It is imperative the world hear your voice, thus it is imperative that
your develop it. In this course, we will focus much of our learning
around rhetoric, the art of argument. The more you learn to listen
closely and speak clearly, the more influence your voice will have
on yourself, your choices, and your community. By fully engaging in
class you will increase the depth and breadth of your
understanding and get more out of your learning.