AC English III Syllabus: 2017-2018
Instructor: Dr. Maximilian Maier
Instructor’s Office: (Note change) Zinnamon 8107
Email: [email protected];
Phone: 713-448-8432
Course Website: www.drmaier.weebly.com
Office Hours: Lunch, and by appointment.
Course Description:
The goals of this advanced, year-long survey of English literature are numerous. First, the course endeavors to provide students with a solid foundation in the literature, history, and culture of England. Through engagement with a wide array of novels, poems, essays, and short fiction, you will develop keener critical thinking skills and sensitivity to the richness of language and literary expression. You will continue building their verbal skills and arrive at increased confidence in written and spoken expression.
Regular vocabulary and reading exercises will sharpen your verbal processing and enhance your performance on standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, or AP.
Of course, the ultimate aim of an English course at SJ is to teach you how to be a more competent reader, writer, and critical thinker. In this year, will build upon their acquired competence in composing argumentative essays and using textual evidence.
By the end of AC English 3, you should be able to perform the following tasks (and hopefully many others):
Primary Textbooks:
Required Texts:
The Norton Anthology of English Literature (Ninth Edition) Make sure that you buy the two packages containing three volumes each. It is a 6-volume set A-F). You need this in PRINT (no online version acceptable)
Package One (Volumes A-C) ( (ISBN (978-0-393-91300-2)
Package Two (Volumes D-F) (ISBN 978-0-393-913101-9)
Vocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots: Volume V (Clayton: Preswick House, 2005)
ISBN 978-1-58049-207-2
Sentence Composing for College by Don Killgallon (Heinemann, 1998)
Homework: Although the bulk of Homework assignments will involve reading, there will be numerous homework assignments in the vocabulary book and elsewhere. You will be required to complete these on time in order to earn proper credit.
Participation: This is a critical component of the class and is not to be neglected. Woody Allen once remarked that “eighty percent of success is showing up.” This is not the case in this class, however. The course will largely depend upon class discussion, and ALL students will in some form contribute to class discussions, often working in small groups. Behavioral distractions and unlicensed use of ipads or phones will negatively impact this critical component of the overall grade. You are called upon to act at all times like a Strake Jesuit student.
Meetings: As part of your participation grade, it is required that each student meet with me outside of class at least once each quarter during the first semester. Appointments must be made by the student. This is a great opportunity to get personalized feedback on your work and set goals for improvement.
Grading:
Essays and Major Projects/Assessments: 60%
Participation, Homework, Discussions and Group Work: 20%
Quizzes 20%
Note: This breakdown will be 100% of your progress report and Quarter 1 grades. However, it will account for 80% of your semester grade.
The Final Exam will constitute the remaining 20% of your semester grade.
Daily Work: Readings will be completed before every class and students must be ready to discuss them immediately when class starts (be settled and ready to begin when the bell rings).We will frequently work in small groups to tackle discussion questions. Your active participation in these groups is critical and you will be graded on your contributions to these endeavors.
Writing Assignments: Writing is the most important work you will turn in to AC English III. Because this is an AC class, a higher standard will be expected of you. Only your best work should be submitted. You are strongly encouraged to meet with your teacher to go over your writing and understand how you can improve in this critical area.
Quizzes: Frequent reading quizzes will be given throughout the year. These quizzes gauge something very important--namely if you have done your assigned reading. The only way to consistently do well on these quizzes is to read what is assigned.
Tardy Policy: At Strake Jesuit, it is a fundamental expectation that ALL students arrive on time and have their materials ready. If you are tardy or unprepared, you are considered tardy and a PH will be assessed.
Behavior: We are representatives of the finest college preparatory school in the city and need to remind ourselves to strive for excellence in all realms. Respect the instructor and your fellow classmates at all times. Depending on severity and/or frequency, more drastic punishments—such as multiple PHs or Saturday PHs—will be enforced. The class participation grade will suffer as well.
iPads and Cellphones:
iPads are used on a regular basis but ONLY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR. Unless otherwise told, you are to keep your iPad out of sight.
Cellphones are NOT permitted at any point in the classroom. Simply having your phone on your desk or visible at any point (even before the bell has rung) will get you a PH.
Late Work Policy: Strake Jesuit is a college preparatory school. As such, we emphasize the importance of submitting work on time. Substantial grade reductions will occur if work is submitted late. Special and extenuating circumstances should be explained to the teacher in advance of the due date.
Writing Policy: Papers should comply with standard MLA format for headers and citations. At this point in your SJ career, you should have mastered the nuts and bolts of MLA citation and should be thoroughly competent. Any questions or doubts here should be addressed to the instructor before any work is handed in.
Academic Integrity: Plagiarism, cheating, and academic dishonesty of any kind are serious offenses with serious disciplinary consequences at Strake Jesuit. The ideas you use in any work for class must be your own. You are NOT to consult any outside sources (printed or online) other than the texts we read in class when preparing your homework and essays.
The turnitin.com software is very good. Any cases of academic dishonesty will in disciplinary consequences with the Dean.
Instructor: Dr. Maximilian Maier
Instructor’s Office: (Note change) Zinnamon 8107
Email: [email protected];
Phone: 713-448-8432
Course Website: www.drmaier.weebly.com
Office Hours: Lunch, and by appointment.
Course Description:
The goals of this advanced, year-long survey of English literature are numerous. First, the course endeavors to provide students with a solid foundation in the literature, history, and culture of England. Through engagement with a wide array of novels, poems, essays, and short fiction, you will develop keener critical thinking skills and sensitivity to the richness of language and literary expression. You will continue building their verbal skills and arrive at increased confidence in written and spoken expression.
Regular vocabulary and reading exercises will sharpen your verbal processing and enhance your performance on standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, or AP.
Of course, the ultimate aim of an English course at SJ is to teach you how to be a more competent reader, writer, and critical thinker. In this year, will build upon their acquired competence in composing argumentative essays and using textual evidence.
By the end of AC English 3, you should be able to perform the following tasks (and hopefully many others):
- Compose insightful argumentative essays on some of the most provocative and interesting texts in the rich literary history of the British Isles
- Engage ancient and venerable texts like Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight with alacrity and confidence
- Appreciate the rich cultural legacy of Britain and understand some of the key plot points in English history (the Anglo-Saxon invasion, the spread of Christianity to England, the Norman Conquest, the Protestant Reformation etc.)
- Fully recite a poem by Shakespeare, Donne, Milton, or Wordsworth
- Appreciate the wit of Swift's brilliant satire "A Modest Proposal"
- Use higher level vocabulary with confidence and ease in your writing and speech
- Appreciate the richness of English literature and understand the major concerns of the Medieval, Elizabethan, Romantic, Victorian, and Twentieth Century periods.
- Confidently recite the famous opening lines of Milton's Paradise Lost
- Understand a Shakespearean pun in Twelfth Night
- Witness the unspeakable tragedy that befalls King Lear
- Analyze the ideology behind English Imperialism and situate it within its proper cultural context
- Learn how to see God in works of literature
- Appreciate how reading and thinking about literature can not only make us better with language, but also how we learn about the human condition
Primary Textbooks:
Required Texts:
The Norton Anthology of English Literature (Ninth Edition) Make sure that you buy the two packages containing three volumes each. It is a 6-volume set A-F). You need this in PRINT (no online version acceptable)
Package One (Volumes A-C) ( (ISBN (978-0-393-91300-2)
Package Two (Volumes D-F) (ISBN 978-0-393-913101-9)
Vocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots: Volume V (Clayton: Preswick House, 2005)
ISBN 978-1-58049-207-2
Sentence Composing for College by Don Killgallon (Heinemann, 1998)
Homework: Although the bulk of Homework assignments will involve reading, there will be numerous homework assignments in the vocabulary book and elsewhere. You will be required to complete these on time in order to earn proper credit.
Participation: This is a critical component of the class and is not to be neglected. Woody Allen once remarked that “eighty percent of success is showing up.” This is not the case in this class, however. The course will largely depend upon class discussion, and ALL students will in some form contribute to class discussions, often working in small groups. Behavioral distractions and unlicensed use of ipads or phones will negatively impact this critical component of the overall grade. You are called upon to act at all times like a Strake Jesuit student.
Meetings: As part of your participation grade, it is required that each student meet with me outside of class at least once each quarter during the first semester. Appointments must be made by the student. This is a great opportunity to get personalized feedback on your work and set goals for improvement.
Grading:
Essays and Major Projects/Assessments: 60%
Participation, Homework, Discussions and Group Work: 20%
Quizzes 20%
Note: This breakdown will be 100% of your progress report and Quarter 1 grades. However, it will account for 80% of your semester grade.
The Final Exam will constitute the remaining 20% of your semester grade.
Daily Work: Readings will be completed before every class and students must be ready to discuss them immediately when class starts (be settled and ready to begin when the bell rings).We will frequently work in small groups to tackle discussion questions. Your active participation in these groups is critical and you will be graded on your contributions to these endeavors.
Writing Assignments: Writing is the most important work you will turn in to AC English III. Because this is an AC class, a higher standard will be expected of you. Only your best work should be submitted. You are strongly encouraged to meet with your teacher to go over your writing and understand how you can improve in this critical area.
Quizzes: Frequent reading quizzes will be given throughout the year. These quizzes gauge something very important--namely if you have done your assigned reading. The only way to consistently do well on these quizzes is to read what is assigned.
Tardy Policy: At Strake Jesuit, it is a fundamental expectation that ALL students arrive on time and have their materials ready. If you are tardy or unprepared, you are considered tardy and a PH will be assessed.
Behavior: We are representatives of the finest college preparatory school in the city and need to remind ourselves to strive for excellence in all realms. Respect the instructor and your fellow classmates at all times. Depending on severity and/or frequency, more drastic punishments—such as multiple PHs or Saturday PHs—will be enforced. The class participation grade will suffer as well.
iPads and Cellphones:
iPads are used on a regular basis but ONLY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR. Unless otherwise told, you are to keep your iPad out of sight.
Cellphones are NOT permitted at any point in the classroom. Simply having your phone on your desk or visible at any point (even before the bell has rung) will get you a PH.
Late Work Policy: Strake Jesuit is a college preparatory school. As such, we emphasize the importance of submitting work on time. Substantial grade reductions will occur if work is submitted late. Special and extenuating circumstances should be explained to the teacher in advance of the due date.
Writing Policy: Papers should comply with standard MLA format for headers and citations. At this point in your SJ career, you should have mastered the nuts and bolts of MLA citation and should be thoroughly competent. Any questions or doubts here should be addressed to the instructor before any work is handed in.
Academic Integrity: Plagiarism, cheating, and academic dishonesty of any kind are serious offenses with serious disciplinary consequences at Strake Jesuit. The ideas you use in any work for class must be your own. You are NOT to consult any outside sources (printed or online) other than the texts we read in class when preparing your homework and essays.
The turnitin.com software is very good. Any cases of academic dishonesty will in disciplinary consequences with the Dean.