Pre-AP English I Syllabus 2012-2013
S. Brown, sbrown16@houstonisd.org
Room 204 (conference time 10:24am - 11:14am)
Course Description and Pacing: In Pre-AP English I, students will study the Comingof Age Theme. In each unit, two essential questions are asked to focus students’
attention. Students answer these questions through the activities in the unit and reinforce/
review them again at the end of the unit.
1st Cycle: Style and Voice
2nd Cycle: Expository Text
3rd Cycle: Rhetorical Devices in Persuasive Texts and Media
4th Cycle: Poetry and Drama
5th Cycle: Historical Fiction
6th Cycle: Epic Poetry, Epic Heroes, and Archetypes
English Textual Power, Level 4, focuses on literature that highlights the theme of
Coming of Age. Building on their knowledge of literary elements in traditional literary
genres, students study the relationship between narrative voice and style, while also
analyzing literary and stylistic elements in film and literature. They develop persuasive
writing skills by using rhetorical appeals. Performance and oral interpretation build
students’ speaking and listening skills. Research continues to play an important role as
students evaluate social, cultural, and historical influences on texts. Students also
continue to evaluate their use of strategies.
Pre-AP English I Syllabus 2012-2013
Students are expected to:
 Be present and on time.
 Be courteous and respectful to teachers and peers.
 Be prepared for class.
 Be actively engaged and committed to learning.
Grading Policy:
 Classwork 40%
 Homework/Class Participation 10%
 Quizzes/Projects 25%
 Six Week Test 15%
Note: Summer assignment will be counted as a quiz/project grade for the first six weeks
grading cycle.
Make-up Work: Students will have the number of days equal to their number of days
absent to complete and turn in make-up work without penalty; work turned in after the
allotted time will receive late penalties.
Late Work: Students have five school days to turn in late work from the due date of the
assignment; the late assignment will receive a five-point penalty for each day it is late.
After the five-day window has passed, students may turn in an assignment within the
grading cycle for a grade of 60.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Received course syllabus for English I
Student Signature: _____________________________________ Date: _____________
Parent Signature: ______________________________________ Date: _____________
Pre-AP English I Syllabus 2012-2013
Addendum
- Tutorial days and times are Mondays and Wednesdays from
4:15pm-5:15pm. After school tutorials will not be held on
early dismissal Wednesdays.
- Retest Policy – Students may retake a failed test; the test
retake will be a different.
- MacBook Use for Online textbook info:

SpringBoard Online: http://springboard.collegeboard.com
Username: student ID number
Password: password
School Code: 268508

Holt McDougal Online: Coming soon!
Materials List:
- 2 inch three ring binder
- Dividers, sticky notes, highlighters, 3x5 index cards,
black/blue/red pens
Pre-AP English I Syllabus 2012-2013