English II Pre-AP
Ms. Natalie Fischer
Houston Academy for International Studies
Course Description
In this course we will be working with various pieces of literature and other
mediums as preparation for the STAAR and English AP exams. We will utilize
technology and traditional text to support learning and development. In doing this,
our classroom environment can be one in which there are mindful, independent,
and adaptable life-long learners.
The course will concentrate heavily on literary analysis and terminology that will be
pertinent for developing the higher order thinking necessary for your success in an
early college institution and beyond. We will use reading as a way to become
efficient writers and we will write as a way to have our voice heard.
Course Objectives
Throughout and by the end of the 2014-2015 school year, students in this class will
be able to…
- Consciously and actively participate in the process of reading and writing.
- Utilize feedback to effectively write, revise and edit in order to improve
work.
- Read for enjoyment through text that may appear daunting and be able to
think and communicate critically about it.
- Voice their opinion based on prior knowledge and the analysis of new
information.
- Actively listen to and respect other members of the learning community.
- Engage in learning experiences as a teacher, student, and observer.
- Navigate the immense variety of resources in our technology-based society.
- Appreciate the importance of face-to-face communication.
Expectations







Students are expected to…
Attend all classes and arrive on time
 Contribute to and support the
learning environment at HAIS
Remain up to date with assignments
 RESPECT the HAIS community
Come to class prepared
 Maintain a positive attitude
Follow set procedures
 Display appropriate behavior in
Turn in assignments on time
accordance with HAIS Student Code
Participate in different capacities
of Conduct and established
Adhere to current MLA Writing
classroom rules
Standards
Failure to adhere to the above may result in one or more of the following…
 A verbal warning from teacher to
 Email and/or verbal communication
student
with parent or guardian
 A notation in GradeSpeed
 A Discipline Referral
 Administrative action
-
Course Text
In the following order we will be working with…
Literature: 10th Grade Edition, Holt MacDougal
Introduction to Poetry
Norton Anthology of Romantic Literature
Enders Game, Orson Scott Card
Macbeth, William Shakespeare
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe
Supplemental materials will be provided for many texts.
Students are welcome and encouraged to bring in any medium of work (fine art,
music, videos) they find is relatable to our course work.
Supplies
By the end of the first week all students should bring with them to class…
Mandatory:
For extra credit at any time:
 1in three-ring binder with
 Post-It Tabs
plastic inserts inside and out
 Tissue Boxes
 Pens – Red, Green, Black, and
 Paper towel
Blue
 8 ½ x 11in Plain White Paper
 #2 Pencils
 Hand Sanitizer
 Multi-Colored Highlighters
 Markers
Course Outline
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Short Fiction Reading and Writing/ Learning the SAR
Poetry Café: Exploration of various forms of poetry
Enders Game paired with Hollywood Goes to High School excerpts
“What’s done cannot be undone.” – Macbeth and the Tragic Hero
Things Fall Apart and Exam Prep
Making Connections - Literary Influence on Film and Art
Edmodo
Please sign up for the “English II” Edmodo group using the following code: h98ufd
Grading Criteria
Six-Week Period
Tests
Projects
Quizzes
Homework
Class Work
25%
25%
20%
10%
20%
Semester
First Six Weeks
Second Six
Weeks
Third Six Weeks
Fall Final Exam
Total
25%
25%
25%
25%
100%
Grades in AP courses and Concurrent Course Credit classes approved by Houston
Community College are given extra weight:
A = 5 points, B = 4 points, C = 3 points
Criteria for Grading High School Academic Subjects
90-100 Excellent quality of work through mastery of subject
80-89 Good quality of work - above average with consistent effort
75-79 Satisfactory quality of work, average achievement
70-74 Below quality of work expected – below average achievement
Below 70 Unsatisfactory quality of work – poor work, failing
Attendance
Attendance counts toward participation. If any portion of class is missed, it is the
responsibility of the student to find out what was missed without disturbing class time and
to make up the work. A student may check Edmodo for missed assignments and upcoming
work. It is not the job of the teacher to keep you up to date and be your personal calendar
keeper… No Excuses!
It will be at the discretion of the teacher to determine what constitutes as an excused
absence. For excused absences, late assignments will be accepted within 24 hours of the due
date without the deduction of points. Assignments will not be accepted late if it is the result
of an unexcused absence.
A student must be in attendance at least 35 minutes during a regular class period or 60
minutes in a 90-minute class period in order to be counted present.
Assignments
The due dates for assignments will vary according to the amount of time and effort
necessary for satisfactory work to be produced. All due dates will be set forth by the teacher
and are expected to be adhered to. Feedback will be provided for most assignments and
upon the request of the student. Some assignments will not be graded or returned as they
are formative assessments of your learning and used to tailor the course to student needs.
If an assignment is submitted one day late (Due: 9/23; Submitted 9/24), it will receive a ten
(10) point deduction. Any later, the assignment receives a twenty (20) point deduction up
until the fourth Friday of the grading cycle. No assignments will be accepted late beyond the
fourth Friday of any grading cycle.
Teacher Information
Ms. Fischer
HAIS Hours: 7am-4:30pm
English Tutorials: Tuesdays, 4:10-5:20pm
(Should tutorials need to be rescheduled for any reason, notice will be given and the
tutorial time will be rescheduled in the same week.)
To see me outside of class please email me
the night before or 24 hours in advance
nfischer@houstonisd.org
You may also reach me on Edmodo