Ms. Davis
PRE-AP ENGLISH
Rdavis10@houstonisd.org
Janedoe@alumni.rice.edu
Cvhs-english-2.wikispaces.com
Welcome to Pre AP English! This year will be packed full of literature and writing, so be
prepared to read some great plays and novels and to become a fabulous writer by the end of the
year.
In this course, you will be expected to put forth your best efforts at all times. We have
more than enough material to cover, and a short amount of time in which to cover it all.
Therefore, you need to come to class with your assignments read and homework done, ready to
discuss your opinions with classmates. By the end of the class, you will have gained new reading
skills, new writing skills, and new vocabulary to apply to both. You will be an expert at the
TPCASTT and other study tools, and you will be ready to tackle AP English and the AP test next
year.
We will examine three overarching topics throughout the year, asking essential, thematic
questions about them and using various texts to understand how they relate to one another and our
selves: the purposes and power of storytelling, choices and the act of deciding, and the power and
effects of language. We will continue to analyze texts and how they construct meaning via
literary techniques and elements, such as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and
tone, but will also be examining more how meaning is constructed and affected by rhetorical
techniques & elements, author’s style, and syntax.
My approach to this course is as a facilitator of your learning and intellectual curiosity, not
simply a depositor of information. As you enter this new phase in your own education, use the
following quotes from poet Adrienne Rich to help guide you in ALL of your coursework at
CVHS and beyond:
“The first thing I want to say to you who are students, is that you cannot afford to think of being
here to receive an education: you will do much better to think of being here to claim one. One of
the dictionary definitions of the verb "to claim" is: to take as the rightful owner; to assert in the
face of possible contradiction. "To receive" is to come into possession of: to act as receptacle or
container for; to accept as authoritative or true.”
--Adrienne Rich
"Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for
you; it means learning to respect and use your own brains and instincts; hence, grappling with
hard work."
-- Adrienne Rich
Your success in my course is not simply defined by the grade you receive every nine weeks. It is
defined by how much you are pushing yourself to learn new things so you may grow as a thinker,
reader, speaker and writer. It is about being reflective about your learning, making adjustments,
and simply doing the work. The student who takes this approach to their learning will
undoubtedly come out stronger and will have shown more growth and progress than the student
who is only concerned with their letter grade.
Goals for English 2:
Demonstrate ability to write a standard 4 or 5 paragraph essay.
Understand and apply the conventions of expository and persuasive essay writing
Use peer editing to provide constructive criticism to classmates and use such criticism to
improve writing.
Use advanced sentence structure and syntax techniques.
Demonstrate understanding of grammatical structures and use them correctly and
appropriately to improve writing.
Read and interpret complicated texts based on understanding of the elements of writing
(i.e. syntax, connotative devices, structure, and literary elements).
Participate in whole class discussions of texts.
Recognize and analyze complex themes that cross different texts.
Produce writing that reflects an interpretation of the text, based on class discussions and
individual interpretations.
Understand and produce varied types of writing, including persuasive, business, critical/
analytical
Texts for English 2:
Antigone or Medea (may be asked to provide your own copy)
Independent reading choice—listed on summer reading
(provide your own copy)
Grapes of Wrath or East of Eden (Provide a copy)
Julius Caesar (Literature text book)
Catch 22 (provide a copy)
This list is subject to change and/or additions.
Some of the books listed above may be checked out of the library; however, for some
selections, I may require you to do annotations, so you will need a copy of your own or
some other method of annotating.
Class Rules and Requirements:
1. Come to class on time
2. Always bring required materials, including pen and paper.
3. Be respectful of the teacher and of classmates.
Supplies
Three-ring binder with pockets
Paper
Black or blue pens or pencils
One of the following supplies: Kleenex, paper towels, markers or highlighters, glue,
construction paper, or one ream of printer paper
*This year, we are very low on scissors and markers.*
Grading Policy
Major grades (tests, essays, projects)
Vocabulary/ Quizzes
Daily grades (journals, classwork, homework, notebook)
Process Writing
50%
15%
20%
15%
Notebooks:
You should organize your notebooks carefully, with sections for vocabulary, warm ups,
literature, skills, and writing. Put these sections in whatever order you choose, but make
sure they are clearly labeled. If you are ever unsure of where something should go in your
notebook, ask me.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary quizzes will be given every week. You will receive 20 SAT words for each
quiz, and you will complete the provided exercises for homework, as well as writing a
sentence with each word. Completion of this assignment will count as a daily/homework
grade. Vocabulary is cumulative (i.e. it may appear on later quizzes and the exam).
Absences
If you must be absent, please do your best to let me know ahead of time so that you can
get your assignments. If you fail to tell me ahead of time, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
to find out what you missed and make it up. I will not tell you what the assignment was,
or ask you for it. It is up to you to ask for any handouts you may need and turn in your
work, either at the very beginning or the very end of class- do not interrupt class time! If
you do not show it to me within three school days, you will receive a 50 for the
assignment. If you are absent for any tests or timed writing assignments, please consult
me to reschedule. Remember, test questions and prompts may change for make up tests!
Late work will not be accepted. Please complete all class work, homework, and make
up work on time.
Re-take Policy
Please review the Carnegie re-take policy. All requests must be submitted within one day
of the grade being posted on Gradespeed. You will not receive higher than a 70 on any
re-takes.
Tutoring
If you are having trouble, and would like to schedule a tutoring session or private writing
conference, talk to me before or after class. Appointments may be scheduled during
SSEP, during lunch or after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
If you receive a report card grade below a 75, you will be REQUIRED to attend tutorials
in SSEP at least once a week.
Academic Integrity
Do not even think of cheating in this course. Any student caught cheating will face the
full consequences of their actions, including receiving a “0” on the assignment in
question. This includes homework/classwork assignments (if you are not authorized to
work together). Be sure to review the Academic Honor Code in your planner, to remind
yourself of your commitments and of how to avoid cheating or plagiarizing. Also review
your student handbook to remind yourself of the serious consequences of cheating. Please
believe that if you cheat, you will face the consequences. Save us both the trouble.
Detention
If you have the misfortune to receive a detention, you will be expected to report for 30
minutes during lunch. Detention will be given out only after you have received one
verbal warning. You will be expected to serve your detention within three days of receipt,
and you will inform the teacher when to expect you. If you have to miss a club meeting
or reschedule with another teacher, it will be your responsibility to tell that teacher.
Detentions are given out for excessive tardiness or disruption of class or disrespect of
classmates or teacher. If you aren’t sure if something is disruptive or not, don’t do it.
Procedures
1. Come to class quietly, sit in your seat and begin working on the warm up. Do not
wait for the bell to ring.
2. Do not be tardy. You are considered tardy once the bell has rung, not once I have
taken roll.
3. You should always have your notebook, paper, a writing utensil, and any reading
materials required for class- this includes any reading material I tell you to
bring and also any reading done for homework, unless you are told otherwise.
4. The bell does not dismiss you. You will be released in a timely manner. Please do
not pack up until then.
5. All homework and projects are due as soon as you enter the classroom on the due
date, although you may turn them in early.
Syllabus
This is meant to be a brief outline of the topics we will cover. It is not all-inclusive, and
we may spend more or less time on some things as necessary.
Cycle 1:
-Summer Reading reviews and discussion
-Review of literary elements and devices and introduction to style analysis
-Poetry and short stories
-Introduction to literary analysis and critical readings
- dialectical journals
- Formal essay on theme or character
-Timed writing (expository)
-Voice and style, modifiers, phrases and clauses
-Focus on thesis sentence and sentence chunks (Jane Schaeffer)
-Introduction to syntax, sentence collage project
Cycle 2:
-Grapes of Wrath or East of Eden
-Independent (summer) reading and project
-Focus on introductions and conclusions
-Non-fiction analysis
-Persuasive writing and rhetorical appeals
-Research method (synthesis essay)
-Pronoun agreement, phrases and clauses, modifiers
Cycle 3:
- Antigone/Medea
- Julius Caesar
- Themes: The Other; Differences; Society vs. Family; Power of Language;
Betrayal/Friendship
- Irony, appeals, structure
-Critical analysis essay
-Syntax patterns and language study
-Improving writing through structure and syntax
-Timed writing
-Research paper
-Rhetoric and argumentation
-Selected independent reading
-Applied practice for AP/Pre-AP tests
Cycle 4:
- Catch 22
- Themes: Unity/Interconnectedness; Spread of Capitalism; Nature of Humanity; Power
of Individuals; Satire as change; War
- “A Modest Proposal”
-Introduction to satiric devices
-Satire presentation
-Timed writing and multiple choice from EOC
-Critical or literary analysis on independent reading
Contact Info
You may always contact me by email at rdavis10@houstonisd.org (during the day) or
janedoe@alumni.rice.edu (after school- please forward a copy of any emails sent to this
address to the first one as well).
Additionally, I maintain a wiki for students to contribute and interact with one another.
The address is cvhs-english-2.wikispaces.com. Students are expected to register for this
website and contribute to it by adding class notes, vocabulary, and other items. A wiki is
meant to be collaborative; it is only useful as long as students are using it!
Finally, all students and parents should sign that they have read and understood all rules
and procedures.
Student Name
Signature
Parent Name
Signature
Parent Email
Student Email