Course Syllabus
English III 2015-2016
Victoria Katherine Tuttle (AKA: Ms. Tuttle, Ms. T, or Queen Tut)
Email: vtuttle@houstonisd.org (generally answers emails until 8 PM)
Website: http://www.englishwithtuttle.com/
Course Overview:
Welcome English III students! I am thrilled to be working with you this year as you continue your journey through the
beautiful maze which is your high school English career.
Before we begin our class, consider the following: what is the purpose of English? Why do we study it? In fact, what is
the purpose of language at all? As we begin to answer these questions, it is my belief that you will see studying English
as important for two reasons; first, because it will give you the tools to express complex and profound concepts—a skill
which will be necessary to your success in the art worlds which await you--and second, because it will allow you to
create meaning through language. Remember—it is never just about what you say, but how you say it.
Thus, throughout this course we will be focusing on developing not just your reading and writing skills, but also your love
for literature, language, and communication. To foster this we will be exploring the theme of the "other"; we will look at
how society creates "others" by considering monsters, outsiders, the "sick", fanatics, and the culturally constructed
partitions of race, class, gender, sexuality, and nationality. This will be an exciting year, full of challenging, interesting,
mind-expanding assignments, so make sure that as the year progresses you communicate with Ms. Tuttle (email) if you
have any questions or concerns!
A Note on "Academic":
As this is an Academic/on-level class, we have the freedom to explore the theme of "otherness" with more depth than
an AP class. This said, a significant portion of class will be spent preparing for the SAT, college entrance (application
essays), and college classes themselves. To this end we will begin with the basics but quickly move on to in-depth
literary/rhetorical analysis, comparison prompts, and research based writing. Second semester, we will continue with
rhetorical analysis while adding personal narrative and reflective essays to the mix. More reading will be done outside of
class in order to facilitate more in-depth discussions. We will also begin a series of creative projects that will combine
work from each student's art area with the act of crafting an argument. Please note that throughout the entire course
we will be working on SAT aligned prompts to prepare you for the redesigned SAT.
Below is a chart of the central texts we will cover each six weeks. These central texts will be supplemented with shorter
texts of various genres including short story, essays, news articles, poetry, and flash fiction. Grammar, vocabulary, and
SAT Prep instruction will supplement reading and writing.
Timeline Central Texts
Writing Focus
1st Six
Short Stories:
Rhetorical analysis paragraphs-Weeks
“Recitatif" by Toni Morrison
essay.
"The Book of the Grotesque" and "Mother" by Sherwood Anderson
"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
nd
2 Six
*The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Rhetorical analysis of text and
Weeks
articles.
SAT aligned prompts.
3rd Six
*Slaughterhouse-five, Or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-dance with Rhetorical analysis of text.
Weeks
Death by Kurt Vonnegut
SAT aligned prompts.
th
th
4 -5
*The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Creative piece and written defense.
Six
SAT aligned prompts.
Weeks
5th – 6th
*Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Personal narrative/essay.
Six
Weeks
*Books or texts that you are encouraged to purchase through the school store or independently. If you unable to do so, please contact me as
soon as possible so we can arrange for you to have the supplies you need to be successful.
Grading:
All grades will populate in either the Formative Assessment or Summative Assessment category on Gradespeed. Since
formative work is necessary for success on summative work, the formative category is weighted more than the
summative category; however, there will be significantly fewer assignments in the summative category. Thus, as each
summative assessment determines more of the student’s grade, students will have the option to retest/rewrite these
assessments (see below).
Assessment Type:
Formative:
Homework (Completion Grades)
Participation Grades (Virtual or Analog Discussion)
Weight
60%
Reading Check Quizzes
Grammar Quizzes
Vocabulary Quizzes
SAT Multiple Choice Practice
Drafts
Review of a Peer’s Essay
Summative:
In-Class SAT Prompts/Essays
Final Drafts
40%
Major Tests
Projects (Work+Defense)
Extra Credit/Bonus:
Each six weeks, students are given the opportunity to read a short story, article, or book (chosen by Ms.
Tuttle/announced at the beginning of the six weeks) and complete a minor essay or project over that work for extra
credit. The grade for this assignment may be averaged with a formative assessment grade of the student’s choice. For
additional information on extra credit, please see Ms. Tuttle’s website.
Three bonus points, added to a summative assessment of your choice, can be earned for each PSAT or SAT practice
exam completed on KhanAcademy.org. To earn credit the student must log into their Khan Academy account, show Ms.
Tuttle their completed practice exam, and discuss their results with Ms. Tuttle. Students may ONLY earn bonus for
completed practice exams, not for quizzes! NOTE: Since there are only 4 full length practice exams on the site, you may
wish to ration them!
Classroom Practices:
Classroom Procedures:
 Backpacks will be left outside of the classroom. Bring any necessary materials for the day (text, pen, laptop,
binder, etc.) with you into the classroom.
 On your way into class, pick up handouts, if there are any.
 When class begins, Ms. Tuttle will close the door.
 We will work from beginning of class to the end of class. If there is time at the end of class for you to fraternize, I
will let you know. Class is over when you are released.
Food:
 Students will NOT be allowed to eat during class.
 Students will be allowed to drink water from closed water bottles during class. Other drinks are not allowed.
Homework:
 All work is due when the door closes or at the beginning of class. Any student that is working on homework
after the door closes will not earn full credit on the assignment.
Absences:
 If students are absent due to performances or other predictable activities, students need to request work ahead
of time. Students must turn in completed work the day of their return.
 For an unexpected absence, students should go to Ms. Tuttle's website for notes, handouts, etc.. It is the
student’s responsibility to check in with Ms. Tuttle to make he/she/they have all necessary materials from the
previous class. I WILL NOT TRACK YOU DOWN.
 Missed tests, quizzes, and in class essays must be made up the first day you return to class. This means you will
miss that day’s class work causing you to fall further behind, so make every effort not to miss one of these
assessments.
Tardies:
 Students will be counted as tardy if they enter the class AFTER Ms. Tuttle has closed the classroom door.
 Tardies will be excused ONLY if the student is carrying a time stamp from the office, a Late Bus Pass, or a note
from their previous teacher.
Late Work:
 Completion grades will not be accepted late.
 Major, long-term assignments (essays) will be accepted late, but for each day that the assignment is missing,
points will be taken off the possible grade for that assignment:
o Day Due--100, 1 Day Late-90, 2 Days late-70, 3 Days late-0
Retake Opportunities (Summative Assessments Only):
 Students will have the opportunity to retake or rewrite summative assessments if the original assignment was
submitted on time and was completed to the best of the student’s ability.
 Retake assignments for tests may require students to demonstrate mastery in a different way (written instead of
multiple choice).
 Students must attend a tutorial before retaking a test or rewriting the final draft of an essay.
 Retakes will be averaged with the original grade in order to generate the final grade for that assignment.
Plagiarism and Cheating:
Academic honesty is an integral component of a student's education. All graded academic exercises, including homework,
quizzes, tests, essays, research papers and projects, are expected to be conducted individually and completed as the
student’s original work unless otherwise instructed. The consequences of not adhering to this policy are a zero as the
final grade for the assignment, a “P” in conduct for that marking period, and administrative referral.
Cell Phones:
 In accordance with school policy, cell phones should be off and out of sight unless Ms. Tuttle explicitly states
otherwise.
 If a cell phone sounds, or if a student is actively using a cell phone during class, the cell phone will be collected
and taken to the main office. The student or parent will be required to pay a fee to recover the cell phone.
 Using a cellphone during a graded assignment (quiz, in-class essay, test) is considered cheating.
Supplies:
 Binder with clear plastic pocket on the front (1 1/2 - 2 inch)
 6-8 Dividers (Suggested: 1. Syllabus/Calendar 2. Vocab 3. Grammar 4. Writing 5. Reading Notes 6. Extra)
 3 different color highlighters (pink, blue, green)
Bring Everyday
 Paper/Notebook (college ruled)
1) Binder (Organized)
 Manila file folder x2 (turned into teacher)
2) Writing Utensils
 Pencil bag
3) In-class Text
o 2 Pencils (#2 for Scantron)
4) Laptop (when we get
o Eraser
them )
 Pens (2 Black, 2 green, 2 blue, 2 red)
 1 box of Kleenex (turned into teacher)
 School issued planner
 Laptop (when issued)
*Ms. Tuttle will not “lend” you materials for the day so make sure that you come prepared so that you can participate
fully.
Schedule!
Tutorials:



Ms. Tuttle will be available for tutorials during lunch (room 135) on every red day unless otherwise posted.
Additionally, Ms. Tuttle will be available for tutorials until at least 4:30 pm after school on Tuesdays in room 135
(unless otherwise posted). If you need to meet with her another day after school, please email her at least one
day in advance to schedule an appointment.
Ms. Tuttle can be available before school but must be emailed at least two days in advance to schedule an
appointment.
Contacting Ms. Tuttle:
 The best way to reach me is by e-mail: vtuttle@houstonisd.org. I check my e-mail until 8 PM most days.
 I will do my best to respond within 24 hours, but will not check my email over the weekend.
 I am available for conferencing before 7:30 AM and between 12:30 and 1:30 PM by appointment.
Where to Find Ms Tuttle/Ms. Tuttle's Class Schedule:
1st Period
2nd Period
3rd Period
4th Period
5th Period
6th Period
7th Period
8th Period
9th Period
7:50-8:40
8:45-10:15
10:20-11:50
12:30-2:00
2:05-3:35
8:45-10:15
10:20-11:50
12:30-2:00
2:05-3:35
English III
Study Hall
English III
Conference Period
English III
College Prep/Grad Support
Pre-AP English I
Conference Period
Pre-AP English I
Room 135
Room 133
Room 135
Room 135
Room 135
Room 135
Period:
English III Syllabus Signature Page
I, the undersigned, hereby acknowledge that I understand and will scrupulously adhere to these policies.
Student Name (Print): __________________________ Student Signature: _________________________ Date: _______
Parent Name (Print): ___________________________ Parent Signature: _________________________ Date: _______
Parents/guardians, please provide the following contact information:
Phone number for parent/guardian: ____________________________________________________________
E-mail address for parent/guardian: ____________________________________________________________
E-mail address for student: ___________________________________________________________________
Thank you!
(*Note: When applicable, legal modifications and accommodations will always replace standard class policies.)