COURSE OVERVIEW
ENGLISH II Pre AP
Instructor: Diane Franz
(713) 741-2410
dfranz@houstonisd.org
I am pleased that you have chosen to enroll in Pre-Advanced Placement English class;
however, I want all parents and students to completely understand the rigor of the class
and the commitment required by the student. For this reason, I require that the student
and his/her parents/guardians read and sign this agreement. A student who does not
fulfill his commitment to the requirements of this agreement or who has problems with
the level of work may be counseled by the dean, his/her counselor, or myself to transfer
to an on-level class the following semester. However, students who sign this agreement
are committing to at least a semester of Pre-AP English.
Please read the following information carefully. If you wish to continue in this PreAP course, sign the agreement and return it to me by _____________________.
In English II Pre AP, the student will integrate the language arts skills of speaking,
listening, writing, and reading through the study of literature themes. Through an
integrated approach to the study of composition, literature, and usage, the student will
gain a better understanding of him/herself and his/her relationships with others. In
addition, the student will be introduced to the concepts needed to succeed in advanced
placement English courses.
SUPPLIES:
1. black or blue pen, red pen, highlighter (any color)
2. 3 ring binder (any color) with loose leaf paper (may share with another class)
3. Dividers labeled as follows:
a. Assignments b. Warm-up c. Literature d. Grammar
e. Strategies
4. 3X5 white index cards (for research paper 2nd semester)
5. Required Textbooks: Writing Coach, Literature, Grammar workbook and Vocabulary
Power Plus (Book 2)
6. Other Reading Selections:
Summer Readings: Bless Me, Ultima and Great Expectations
Night (E. Wiesel)- REQUIRED- 2nd semester
Julius Caesar (W. Shakespeare)- OPTIONAL 2nd semester
CLASS RULES:
1. BE PROMPT: be on time and in your seat before the tardy bell rings.
2. BE PREPARED: bring all materials to class everyday.
3. BE POLITE: be respectful to yourself, classmates, the teacher, and school personnel.
4. BE PRODUCTIVE: complete assignments on time and participate in class
discussions.
5. NO FOOD, DRINKS, OR GUM IN CLASS (water is allowed)
ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICY will be followed by the guidelines set in the
student handbook.
CONDUCT- an “S” in conduct will be given for any of the following:
1. excessive talking
2. disrespectful to teacher, peers or guest
3. failure to return forms with parent or guardians signature (progress report, growth
plan, detention form, etc.)
HOMEWORK: The daily average for homework will be 30-45 minutes. Students are
often assigned reading or long-term projects that require them to plan their time carefully
so that they are not overwhelmed by deadlines. Developing self-discipline in the areas of
time management is a goal of this Pre-AP class. Whatever class work is left unfinished
will become your homework; therefore, in order to reduce your homework load, you
must make good use of every minute of every class.
MAKE-UP:
1. Make-up work will be given for excused and unexcused absences. An excused and
unexcused absence will be given 3 school days (not class days) for completion.
2. Upon returning to school, collect your make-up assignments from a classmate, or see
the teacher before or after school, before or after class or at lunch. IT IS THE
STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO COLLECT HIS/HER MAKE-UP WORK.
3. Late work will be accepted 1 day late, but the highest possible grade awarded will be
a 70. An assignment turned in anytime after that day will be awarded a 0.
4. Field trip, school activities, doctor’s appointment, etc (aware of the absence in
advance): If you will be attending a school approved field trip, school activity or other
appointment that requires you to miss class, it is your responsibility:
A. to make arrangements in advance to take any exam or quiz that you will miss
B. to make arrangements in advance to turn in all assignments that are due on the
day of the absence
C. to collect assignments in advance of the absence and turn them in on time
RETAKE and LATE WORK POLICY: will be followed by the guidelines set by the
department. (see separate handout)
CHEATING POLICY: If a student is caught cheating on any assignment (homework,
test, quiz, essay, project, etc.) that assignment will be given a 0, a conduct cut will be
issued and a disciplinary form will be turned into the office.
EXPECTATIONS ABOUT READING AND CONTEST:
1. Assigned reading is done outside of class most of the time.
2. Discussion of outside reading is most often done after the entire work is read.
3. Students may be reading one book or play in class and a different book outside of
class.
4. Students are expected to read the books required- not depend on Cliff’s Notes,
Spark Notes or class discussion for understanding.
5. Students are encouraged to enter a writing contest each semester. Please read the
board and check the contest folder for details.
EXPECTATIONS FOR WRITING: These expectations are for all types of writing: short
answer response, EOC style writing, AP style writing and the research paper, just to
name a few.
1. Writing is an integral part of every Pre-AP/AP class. Students will be required to
write process papers of varying lengths and genres throughout the year.
2. Due to time restraints in the classroom during the composing and revising
process, it is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements to meet with
the teacher to discuss his/her concerns regarding his/her paper.
3. Timed Writings: Students are expected work within the time limit of a given
essay.
4. Papers written outside of class should be typed.
5. Students are, of course, expected to turn in original work. Plagiarism, like other
types of cheating, results in a 0 for the assignment, a conduct cut issued and
notification to the office. Plagiarism includes using any or all portions of
someone else’s work, including papers found on the Internet. If a student lacks
citations (plagiarism) in his/her final copy, he/she will receive a 0 on his/her
paper.
6. Each student is responsible for maintaining his or her writing portfolio by placing
graded essays in the folder and each student is encouraged to refer to his or her
portfolio to help with his or her growth as a writer.
TEST RETURN POLICY: Graded test (scantron/essay) will be returned to the students
to view their grade during the class hour once all make-up exams are complete, but then
they will be returned to the teacher. A copy of the test may not be taken from the
classroom. A student or parent may come before school, at lunch or at another
prearranged time to discuss and go over the test, test results and answers.
CYCLE GRADING:
Summer Reading
1st
30%
2nd, 4th, & 6th
N/A
3rd & 5th
N/A
Common Assessment
25%
25%
N/A (tested
on final
exam)
Major Assessment
(exams, essays, extensive projects,
research papers)
30%
50%
60%
Assessment
(vocabulary test, quizzes, activities)
10%
20%
30%
Minor Assessment
5%
5%
10%
Due to EOC testing, the percentages for cycle 5 and cycle 6 are switched
VOCABULARY
SCOPE AND SEQUENCE- English 2 Pre-AP
1ST CYCLE
2ND CYCLE
3RD CYCLE
Ch. 1-4
Ch. 5-7
Ch. 8-11
(Word Power Plus)
LITERATURE
Summer Reading
Novels
Short Stories
Finish Short
Stories
King Arthur
Excerpts
Poetry
Begin Nonfiction
(Essays and
Speeches)
GRAMMAR
Review Parts of
Speech and Parts
of a Sentence
Phrases and related
punctuation
Clauses
Sentence Structure
and related
punctuation
WRITING
Analytical- Novel
Timed Writing
EOC Short
Answer
Analytical- Short
Story
Persuasive EOC
Timed Writing
EOC Short
Answer
Analytical- Poetry
Persuasive EOC
Timed Writing
EOC Short
Answer
4TH CYCLE
Ch. 12-14
5TH CYCLE
Ch. 15-18
6TH CYCLE
Ch. 19-21
LITERATURE
Night (Elie
Wiesel)
Continue
Nonfiction
EOC Practice SA,
Begin Julius
Caesar
(Shakespeare)
Various excerpts
from Laying the
Foundations
Finish Julius
Caesar and read
Antigone
(Sophocles)
Various excerpts
from Laying the
Foundations
GRAMMAR
Pronoun usage,
capitalization, and
other punctuation
Verb usage and
tenses
Adjective and
adverb usage
WRITING
Biographical or
Argumentative
Research Paper
Persuasive Essay
EOC
Style Analysis and
Persuasive EOC
Timed Writing AP
Prompts
Rhetorical
Analysis and
Argumentative
writing
Timed Writing AP
Prompts
VOCABULARY
(Word Power Plus)
ENGLISH 2 PRE-AP ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF EXPECTATIONS
It is in the student's best interest that we work together. I will forward notes and
progress reports through your son/daughter. In addition, emails or phone calls will be
made during school hours, if necessary.
Please sign below indicating that you and your child have read and understand the
expectations for English II PAP and return it no later than ________. If you have any
questions or concerns, please call (713) 741-2410 or please feel free to email me at
dfranz@houstonisd.org.
STUDENT’S NAME ________________________________ PERIOD ___________
(please print)
STUDENT’S SIGNATURE __________________________________ DATE________
PARENTS’ NAME ____________________________________________________
(please print)
PARENT SIGNATURE________________________________________________
PARENTS’ EMAIL ____________________________________________________
(please print)
PARENTS’ EMAIL _____________________________________________________
(please print)