Mr. Isaac W. Williams | M.A.

English Department
English III
El Paso Academy Charter High School West Campus
Campus Phone Number: 915.845.7997
Conference Period: 6th
E-Mail: iwilliams@elpacademy.com
English III: American Literature
The Conversation of American Literature, History, and Culture
Course Description:
English III focuses on the evolution of American Literature through American history. We will trace the
development of American Literature through the literary canon beginning with Native American
traditions all the way to contemporary literature.
English 3A: Native American Traditional Literature to 1900s
English 3B: 1900s to Current
Blended Curriculum:
As required per the El Paso Academy Charter District this course will be instructed through a
blended curriculum. Blended curriculum is an effective teaching approach which incorporates a
composite of traditional instruction with technological resources. This specific course will be using the
following forms of blended curriculum tools: Blackboard, E-Journal entries, partial Online Unit
Readings, Internet Research, Videos, and online projects.
Blackboard:
The course content will mainly be distributed through Blackboard. Blackboard allows students to
obtain all important course content at home and at school. Students will be instructed by instructor
as to ways to obtain their blackboard account on coursesites.com.
Unit Readings:
Students will be using the Mirrors and Windows textbook for this assigned grade level as their
primary text. In addition, students will be engaging in the text:
English 3A: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
English 3B: Anthem by Ayn Rand
Rules for Success:
If you can follow these guidelines, you should be successful in this class.
1. Treat yourself, other people, and personal property with respect.
2. Come to class prepared, ready and willing to learn every day.
3. Turn ALL completed assignments ON TIME!
4. Use time wisely and responsibly.
5. Take responsibility for your success.

General Classroom Policies

Students must follow the following policies:
1. Arrive to class on time with all of your materials (book, notebook, paper, pencil, assignments,
vocabulary book, etc.).
2. If you are not in your seat when the bell rings, you will be counted tardy. The tardy policy
found in the student handbook will be strictly enforced.
3. There is open seating in my classroom. This however may be modified depending on student
behavior and engagement.
4. When the instructor is talking YOU ARE NOT! In addition, if a fellow student is talking to the
class, YOU ARE NOT!
6. As per district policy, the use of any phones and/or unapproved electrical device is NOT
allowed. If teacher catches student with phone and/or unapproved electrical device the
teacher will confiscate the item and turn it in to the office.
7. In general, if you are behaving in a manner inappropriate for the classroom, I will first give
you a warning. If the inappropriate behavior continues, you will be assigned a 15-minute
detention to be served after school. If the problem is still not resolved, you will be sent to the
office. Your parents may be contacted as well.
8. If you receive a detention, you must serve it either on the day you receive the detention or
the next school day. If you do not, I will add on the amount of the original detention each day
until you serve it. If you refuse to serve your detention, you will be referred to the office. As long
as you have any un-served detention, you will lose the privileges of leaving the classroom and
earning extra credit.
Assignment Policies
The following are policies surrounding assignments:
1. When you miss class due to unforeseen circumstances, it is your responsibility to see me before
school the day you return to get your assignments. It is your responsibility to turn in your missing
assignments in a timely manner. (I generally allow one day for each day you were gone.) It is
not my responsibility to track you down. Do not interrupt class to ask for assignments.
2. When you miss class due to an event or activity you know about ahead of time it is your
responsibility to see me before or after school at least one day in advance to get your
assignments. Your assignments are due when you return.
3. I do not accept late papers except on major writing assignments. Major writing assignments
may be turned in late with a deduction of 10% for each day the assignment is late.
4. Please put the proper heading on ALL of your assignments. Assignments that do not have the
proper heading are subject to be thrown away.
5. All online assignments are due as illustrated by the due date. Being absent doesnt excuse you
from the assignment since you can access the assignment from home.
6. If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing any assignment, you will receive no credit for that
assignment. There may be additional consequences, depending on the severity of the
offence.
Specific Policies
The following policies must be followed by all students:
1. Unless you are otherwise directed, you should be in your seat when the bell rings to begin
class, and you should stay there until the end of class.
2. The bell does not dismiss you from class I do. Please wait to be dismissed before leaving your
seat.
3. Please do not touch my belongings (things on my desk, posters, pictures, etc.) without direct
permission. My desk and the area behind my desk are off-limits unless you have my permission.

Binder
You will be required to keep an English binder. You will need to purchase a 1 inch three-ring binder to
be used solely for this class.
You are required to bring your notebook to class every day. I will periodically check your notebooks
for a grade. You may not know ahead of time when I will grade your notebooks, so it is in your best
interests to always have your notebook ready.
Quick Writes
Students will be given a daily Quick Write to launch the class. It is your responsibility to keep track of
your quick write entries. If a student is absent the student must still be completed by the end of the
week. Quick writes will be graded when binders are checked. Please know that all of your quick
writes are confidential and are for my eyes-only.
Cornell Notes: Unit Reading/Literature and Class Notes
All notes must be done in Cornell Note format. There is a sample attached to this document for your
review. Instructor will give the last five minutes of class for students to compose their Reflection
Summaries for their notes. Notes will be part of binder check.
Writing Assignments
All writing assignments must be typed in 12 pt. Times New Roman in MLA format. On major writing
assignments, I will accept late papers with a deduction of 10 points for each day the paper is late.
Please note that I only accept late work on major writing assignments, which we take through the
writing process.
Exams
You will have a total of three exams in this course. All three exams are comprehensive. They will assess
your knowledge on the overall content of the course.
Final
Your final for this course is a composite of the various projects.
Tutoring
Students can partake in tutoring with instructor before school, during lunch, after school, and during
the instructors conference period as permitted by current period teacher. If additional tutoring is
needed, please inform instructor to refer you to the tutoring center. You may also visit the tutoring
center on your own time.
Extra Credit
Students will be given multiple possible tasks to obtain extra credit. Extra credit will be implemented
towards the upcoming exam.
Grading
Grades will be based on the following main items: daily activities/assignments, literature tests,
journals, vocabulary lessons and quizzes, and writing assignments. Although other grades are subject
to be taken. No late work or make up work! The grade weight for this course is as follows:
Daily Assignments
Writing Assignment
Exams:

50%
20%
30%

English III A:
Week of Instruction
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 3
Week 4

Week 5

Week 6
Week 7
Week 8

English III B:
Week of Instruction
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9

Unit Focus & Readings

Building Foundational Skills through Native American Literature
The Osage Creation Account - Unknown
Exploring the Shaping of America through Puritan Literature
Of Plymouth Plantation William Bradford
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Jonathan Edwards
Exploring the Shaping of America through Puritan Literature
The Crucible Arthur Miller
Understanding the American Revolution through Non-Fiction
Speech in the Virginia Convention Patrick Henry
Common Sense Thomas Paine
Understanding the American Revolution through Non-Fiction
The Crisis, No. 1 Thomas Paine
Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson
Discovering Transcendentalism
Nature Ralph Waldo Emerson
Civil Disobedience Henry David Thoreau
Self-Reliance Ralph Waldo Emerson
Appreciating the American Gothic
The Raven Edgar Allan Poe
Introduction to a Nation Divided through Slavery Literature
Narrative of Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Harriet Jacobs (Linda Brent)
Struggling for Equality in America
Aint I a Woman Sojourner Truth

Unit Focus & Readings

Struggling for Equality in America
We Wear the Mask Paul Laurence Dunbar
Modernism and the Roaring Twenties
The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Harlem Renaissance & the New Negro Movement
Negro Speaks of Rivers Langston Hughes
I, Too, Sing America Langston Hughes
Hard Times in the American Development
The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck
The Beat Movement
On the Road Jack Kerouac
American Tension and Challenges
Inaugural Address John F. Kennedy
Ambush Tim OBrien
Contemporary American Literature
Learning to Love America Shirley Geok-lin Lim
English III Capstone Project Research Project
From the Ground Up
English III Capstone Project Research Project
From the Ground Up