Advanced Placement English Language and Composition/
Houston Community College Dual Credit
2015-2016 Class Syllabus
Instructor: Miss Amy Sidle
E-mail: amy.sidle@springbranchisd.com
Room: O104
Telephone: (713) 251-2587
Tutorials: by appointment
Testing Days: ODD
To Access Teacher Webpage:
mhs.springbranchisd.com > Faculty Directory > Amy Sidle
(please bookmark my teacher website to your laptop for quicker access)
Course Overview
Class Period
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
CRN Code
73156
73159
81784
81785
HCC Library Bar Code __________________________ (Required for research – you’ll find this
once you log-in to your HCC student account)
Course Description: “A course devoted to improving the student’s writing and critical thinking,
(HCC Catalog) writing essays for a variety of purposes from personal to academic, including
introduction to argumentation, critical analysis, and the use of sources.”
Prerequisites: Admission to Houston Community College, registration and payment for course
Course Goals: English 1301 is part of the core curriculum and as such, emphasizes all of
the Core Competencies: reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking, and computer literacy.
Credit: 3 hours
Course Requirements:
Critical Analysis
Rhetorical Analysis
Documented Persuasive Essay (Research)
Compare/Contrast Essay
Argument Essay
McGraw Hill Connect
Final Exam
10%
15%
20%
10%
15%
15%
15%
• You must receive a 70 (C) or higher on the in-class essays to pass the course.
 Students missing more than 20% of a semester course, approximately 2 weeks of school, will lose
a letter grade (from their HCC final grade).
• Minimum requirements for this course: 5,000 total written word count
• McGraw-Hill Connect: Learn/Smart Achieve (Required Student Purchase/$40)
Withdrawal from Class: You must notify me if you intend to withdraw from English 1301 so that
I can contact HCC. (You cannot drop yourself from this Dual Credit class.) You will also need to
discuss this with your counselor so that you can be placed in another class.
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NOTE: College credit is given by semester. This semester you will enroll in this 1301 Class and
pay tuition for the course. Next semester you will enroll in 1302 and pay tuition for the course for
which you will earn 3 more credit hours. You are not enrolled in a year-long class at HCC, and it is
critical that you take care of this registration and payment in January, 2016.
Tutoring: HCC Writing Center, Room 703 (Mon-Thurs 8:30-8; Saturday 10-2). 713-718-5889
 Online tutoring: www.hccs.askonline.net (Your HCC ID # is your username; your HCC student
email PW is your AskOnline PW.) Submit with adequate turnaround time.
• The HCC Libraries offer assistance in finding and documenting resources. If you would like help
with research, you may contact the librarians, Melba Martin and Peggy Edwards, at
melba.martin@hccs.edu or at peggy.edwards@hccs.edu, respectively, or call the library at 713-7185655. The library is in room RC1.
English III AP/Dual Credit is also designed to prepare students for the College Board Advanced
Placement Exam in Language and Composition. Students enroll in the class with the expectation of
taking the examination in the spring.
The course focuses on critical thinking, argumentative writing, and close analysis of various kinds of
texts. English III AP/DC also includes a survey of American literature including works from the
Colonial era to contemporary novels, short stories, drama, and poetry.
AP Component
Students will follow a course of study recommended for maximum results on the AP exam, and the
requirements may seem rigorous at times. Close reading of texts assigned is crucial to the student’s
success in the class and on the AP language exam. Class discussions will be evaluated and graded on
the number and the quality of the responses given by the student, as well as on the textual support
offered. After every reading, in-class, or homework assignment, expect a graded discussion. Every
student is responsible for the information and is required to participate, as class discussion is a
valuable tool for close analysis and examination of literature.
A survey of American literature is woven into the novel selections, short stories, and poetry, so that
students do not miss out on a traditional junior English course.
Tests and writing assignments will serve as practice for the writing section of the AP examination, as
well as preparation for a variety of college writing. Interpretation and discussion of literature will be
emphasized. In class writing assignments will be given to provide the students with practice in
testing situations with limited response time. Meaningful, supported interpretation of literary text
will be stressed in the class.
Skills Required
The following skills will be at a premium: to budget one’s time, to read and reread the assignments
carefully, to contribute in a meaningful way to the discussions, to interpret literature in timed
situations, and to support one’s ideas with specific textual references and quotations.
The AP Exam
The AP test itself has two sections. One section typically has 60 multiple choice items designed to
measure the student’s ability to understand and analyze literature. The student is expected to make
critical judgments about language, structure, tone, imagery, meaning, and other aspects of the
passages. This one-hour section is 45% of the grade on the exam.
The second section is composed of three essay questions designed to measure the student’s ability to
write coherent, intelligent, persuasive, well-organized essays on literary topics. This two-hour
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section represents 55% of the student’s grade on the exam. Essays are read and scored by collegelevel writing instructors and high school AP teachers on a scale of 1-9, with 9 being the highest
possible score.
The weighted grades are translated to a 5-1 scale, with five being the highest score possible:
(Pass/Possible College Credit) 5 extremely well qualified
(No Credit) 2 possibly qualified
4 well qualified
1 no recommendation
3 qualified
Many colleges will grant students who earn a 3 or better college credit. AP credit is generally
transferable from one institution to another and is recognized by many foreign universities.
Students are encouraged to contact universities of interest to determine how much credit specific
institutions will allow, though 3-6 hours credit is common and policies vary from year to year.
Grading & Absences
Major/Test: 70%
Minor/Quiz/Daily: 30%
Note: You have separate MHS & HCC grades
• Grading timed essays will often be holistic, based on the criteria used for AP essays. Because of
the large number of essays graded, general comments are sometimes made to the group as a whole
when specific errors are shared by many students. Students receive the rubric early in the year and it
is also found on the teacher webpage.
• Five to eight major grades will be given per grading period. These grades will include timed, inclass essays and released AP Language and Composition Multiple Choice exams, research projects
and group assignments.
• In the case of work prepared outside of class, late major work will be penalized at the rate of ten
points per calendar day; however, HCC assignments will not be accepted after two calendar days.
• District grading guidelines require that work assigned prior to an absence (assignments, reading,
test and quizzes) is due upon the student’s return to class.
• Make-ups must be arranged immediately upon the student’s return, and it is his/her responsibility
to do so.
• Students are expected to turn in work if they attend school at all on days assignments are due.
(This is applicable to days when extracurricular activities require a partial absence.)
 Students are responsible for obtaining any missed notes or assignments and scheduling their own
make-ups. Most material can be found on the website and hard copies, if any, can be found in the
blue crate. Please check with a classmate also before approaching me.
 Per English Department policy, no late in-class or daily work is accepted, except in the case of
excused absence.
• Presentation materials must be in class on the day a group is scheduled. Exchange phone numbers
and email addresses so that the group can go on even when someone is unexpectedly absent.
• In-class essays must be made up within one week of the absence for full credit; preferably within
one or two days. After the week, the student may make up the essay (within a reasonable time) for a
maximum grade of 50.
Course Requirements
Reading
Summer Read
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter
A second summer read from the list.
Textbooks (issued by MHS)
The Language of Composition
Elements of Literature
(online textbook: http://tinyurl.com/nezsvcj)
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Materials
Composition Notebook/Spiral
Colored hi-lighters (at least 2)
Folder/Binder that is strictly for English
Post-it notes – various sizes
USB Flash drive
Notebook Paper/ Pens/ Pencils
Tissue box/Legal pad of paper – will be determined by class period to bring for the class to share.
Technology
Technology is welcome, is ENCOURAGED in this classroom. Please bring your tablets, laptops, etc. to
class. These are great tools with which to enhance your learning and will be used daily.
You are expected to check and maintain your school email, especially with regards to your Google account
and access. Know the usernames and passwords for all your accounts – not knowing this information will
not excuse you from participation or an assignment, as you are unprepared for class, and could affect your
grade. You should ALWAYS back-up your notes and work in Google Drive, where you have 30GB of
free storage.
Tablets: Please download these apps
Laptops: Please bookmark these websites
Showbie
www.showbie.com
Google Drive
drive.google.com
Google Docs
docs.google.com
Remind
www.remind.com
QR Reader
www.collegeboard.com
SAT Question of the Day (iPhone app that can coggle.it -- a free mind-mapping site where you
be downloaded on the iPad)
will use your Google acct to access
Total Recall – Mind Map (by Zyense)
www.prezi.com
Prezi
getpocket.com
Pocket
www.dictionary.com
Any Dictionary app
www.quizlet.com
Quizlet
Note taking – this is up to you. Use whatever
Any note taking app – Notability†, Evernote*, website or software, such as Pages or Word, to
take notes.
Bamboo Paper, Penultimate*, etc.
* these allow you to create an account that syncs your material to their server so you never lose your work.
†
A PDF annotation app that allows for you to export (or “Open In”) another app. This is “high-tech” and
there is not a good free app unfortunately. I highly recommend, but cannot force you, to purchase Notability
for $2.99. Not only is it the best note-taking app in my experience, but it does absolutely everything I
could, and you could, ever want a great education app to do! (There is also a Mac app for $5.99 that will
sync with your iPad app to keep your work.)
Have any great app or website suggestions? I would LOVE to hear from you! Let’s learn together!
With the versatility of technology comes great responsibility. These devices are for educational purposes in
the classroom, not to play games, troll Facebook, or message your friends. You should always be ‘present’
with us in the classroom, which means being free of the distractions that technology can bring. At times, I
will ask for screens to be off to ensure everyone is with me. On testing and essay days, technology will not
be necessary. You can and will get your technology taken from you (and returned via the principal) if you
abuse this privilege.
Please ensure these precious and expensive tools have cases for damage protection and have your first and
last name labeled. You bring these devices on your own volition and you alone are completely responsible
for them.
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Don’t have access to these devices in your personal life or unable to bring yours to school? Not to worry!
You can use the ones I have in the classroom tech cart. Or use the resources in the library when not in class.
Not tech savy? Not to worry! You are always welcome to use tangible resources in class that help you
learn best! You will only be required to submit digitally and, at times, print material from the website to
bring to class.
Course Expectations
 Conduct: This is a college level class: Always conduct yourself with maturity; acknowledge other
speakers with dignity. This is especially important because of the sensitive and mature nature of
some of the topics discussed in class.
 Cell Phone Policy: Save your chatting and texting for later. Cell phones should be on silent or
vibrate and kept out of sight for the duration of the class period. At times, with teacher
permission, there will be exceptions to this rule.
 Readings: The reading schedule is always given in advance and assigned reading must be
completed and reviewed prior to class. Novels must be read in their entirety prior to the due date.
Students are expected to annotate a text, to listen and participate in class discussions, and to take
notes on all material. Interpretations in a literary class are welcome as long as they are supported
with textual evidence.
 No food in the classroom. Drinks with a closeable top are fine. Absolutely NO GUM!
 Cheating/Plagiarism: When writers use materials from other sources, they MUST ACKNOWLEDGE
THESE SOURCES. Not doing so is called plagiarism, which means: using material without crediting
the ideas or expression of another. This includes collusion, which is “the unauthorized collaboration
with another person in preparing written work for credit.” Consequences of plagiarism or collusion: a
grade of “0” for the first instance of collusion and an “F” in the course for a second instance and for
cheating or plagiarism on any assignment. See the mandatory Plagiarism Contract for further
information. Please act as an individual thinker and writer; I want to read your work not someone
else’s.
 Posted class rules: Be prompt; Be prepared; Be respectful; Be present; Be yourself!
Writing Assignment Policy
 All assignments must have the following header (single-spaced):
Name
Ms. Sidle
AP/DC Lang – Class Period
Date
Document Word Count (typed documents only)
 All written assignments, unless otherwise specified, must be typed with a 12 point size, double spaced
and in a clear, legible font. Handwritten essays will only be accepted in the case of an in-class essay.
 All papers should have 1.25” right and left margins and 1” top and bottom margins. (this is default on
your computer – don’t change the margins)
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Creating Accounts
Turnitin.com: In compliance with the MHS English Department policy, all papers MUST be submitted
to Turnitin.com before they will be graded. Turnitin.com is anti-plagiarism software utilized by most of
academia to assist instructors in detecting plagiarism in written works. (A No Tolerance policy is taken
with cheating.)
o Make sure to use the SBISD login at: https://turnitin.springbranchisd.com You have a
Turnitin.com account already since you are an SBISD student; use your SBISD log-in
information to log-in to Turnitin.com at the URL provided, not at the general website.
o Turnitin.com will be used mainly for formal assignments.
o Once logged-in to your SBISD account, add your class to your account:
 1st – 10390924
3rd - 10390944
nd
 2 – 10390930
4th - 10390954
 The class password is “language”.
Showbie:
o You need to create a Showbie account. This can be done at www.showbie.com or on the
Showbie app. YOU MUST USE YOUR SBISD EMAIL AND PASSWORD to create the
account; this continuity amongst accounts will be easier for you to remember.
o You can submit an assignment via computer or app; your assignment merely needs to be
on the piece of technology you are submitting from. ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE
IN PDF FORMAT. Showbie will be used mainly for class assignments, daily work,
homework and general material.
o We will create accounts together on the 2nd day; however, you can check our Google Drive
folder for step-by-step instructions on how to create your account, how to complete the
assignment already in your class, and how to submit it. It’s all super simple! Seriously.
o Use the code below to add your class to your account (which you’ll be asked to do as you
create an account):
 1st – PZ8UR
3rd – V8JDR
 2nd – 2896Q
4th – 4HMMM
o Showbie will be used as a “digital portfolio” of your work. As long as you maintain your
account, you will have access to your submitted and graded assignments. Awesome!
Remind:
o I will be providing “reminders” for you throughout the year. You will need to signup for these notifications.
o It’s super simple. Go to www.remind.com, or open the Remind app, click on “I’m a
student or parent.” Then search for our class: @sidleapeng to enroll OR simply
text @sidleapeng to 81010 to enroll.
o Reminders will typically be sent in the afternoon or evening, but never passed 10pm.
o If you change classes or simply wish to cease the reminders, simply text STOP back.
Webpage/Google Drive: On my teacher webpage, I will post reminders of major grades,
activities in class, needed necessary items and general high school information. The Calendar link
will feature major grade dates and other important dates that should be marked in your planner. Our
shared Google Drive folder contains necessary material for class, notes, handouts, PowerPoints and
other helpful documents to help you succeed in this course. Usually there will not be hard copies of
this material in class; if that is your preference, feel free to download and print your own copy.
Please check the webpage and our Google Drive folder frequently for updates and a general
knowledge of what is happening in class. Feel free to email me with questions or concerns.
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