English III AP
Mrs. McHale
Course Syllabus, 2015-2016
Charlotte.McHale@springbranchisd.com
Course Description: College Board Advanced Placement Courses provide college level studies for high school students
who are ready to do college level work. AP Courses are taught using college level materials and strategies that will
prepare students to take College Board Advanced Placement Examinations. The AP Language and Composition course
assumes that students already understand and use Standard English grammar. The intense concentration on language use
in this course should enhance students’ ability to use grammatical conventions both appropriately and with sophistication
as well as to develop stylistic maturity in their prose. Stylistic development is nurtured by emphasizing the following: a
wide-ranging vocabulary used appropriately and effectively; a variety of sentence structures, including appropriate use of
subordination and coordination; a logical organization, enhanced by specific techniques to increase coherence, such as
repetition, transitions, and emphasis; a balance of generalization and specific illustrative detail; and an effective use of
rhetoric, including controlling tone, establishing and maintaining voice, and achieving appropriate emphasis through
diction and sentence structure. To study how stylistic effects are achieved by writers’ linguistic choices, students will read
selections of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction by American authors.
Grading Policy: The impact of individual assignment grades on a cumulative six weeks average will vary each six weeks
because there will not be exactly the same number of assignments during each of the six weeks periods. As a general rule,
however, here is the relative weight of different kinds of grades:
Short assignments/quizzes/daily work:
Paragraphs/longer assignments or quizzes:
Essays/major tests/projects:
count once
count twice
count three times
Extra Credit: The teacher may suggest possible choices throughout each grading period. Additional ideas from
individual students are always welcome. Only one extra credit grade (a daily grade unless specified by the teacher) per
six weeks is allowed. Completing an extra credit assignment does not guarantee an “A” on the assignment or for the
six weeks. All extra credit must be turned in by the fifth week of each grading period.
Late Work: No late homework or daily class work will be accepted unless the student has been absent. Unless otherwise
designated by the teacher, major assignments will be penalized 20 points for each calendar day late.
Make-up Work: If a student is absent, it is his responsibility to get missed work. A long term project/assignment for a
major grade should be turned in the day a student returns to class. If the school determines a student’s absence is
unexcused due to truancy, no credit will be given for an assignment. If the student’s absence is excused for a school
activity for which he has advance notice, he should be prepared for class with completed assignments when he returns.
Extracurricular activities are not excuses for putting off making up work or assignments.
Department make-up: Thursday after school
Tutorials: I will normally be available for tutorials from 3:00 to 3:30 Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and other times
(including mornings) by appointment. Students are encouraged to see me with any questions or concerns about what
we’re covering, make-up work, etc.
Classroom rules: In addition to following the school-wide discipline management plan outlined in the Student Code of
Conduct, please observe the following classroom rules:
1. Be prompt
 All students should be seated when the tardy bell rings.
2. Be prepared
 Students should come to class with all necessary materials and completed assignments. Note: work that is to be
typed will not be accepted unless it is typed. Printer problems, email issues, crashed hard drives, etc. are not
excuses for not having work in on time. If you do not have access to a computer/printer at home, you may use the
school library computers before or after school. Electronic versions of work, also, will not be accepted in place
of a hard copy.
3. Be polite
 Respect should be shown to all people and ideas in the classroom. Specifically, as we explore literature together, I
expect you to be sensitive to the views of others. Please do voice your opinions, remembering that others may
completely disagree. Respect and courtesy are the keys to successful classroom discussions. I will likewise be
respectful and courteous to you by making every effort to grade you fairly, teach you to the best of my ability, and
always being honest and straightforward in my interactions with you. I ask you to extend the same courtesy to me.
If you believe that I have graded you unjustly or that the work is overwhelming you, please discuss the problem
with me before you rely on parents, counselors, etc. to intercede on your behalf.
4. Be productive
 All students should remain on task according to the teacher’s instructions for the entire period. During
independent work time, students should first complete work for English before moving on to work for other
classes. Sleeping and headsets are never allowed. Cell phones and other electronic devices may be used to access
the internet only when directly specified by the teacher; otherwise, visible/audible electronic devices will be
collected and turned in to the grade level office. Furthermore, students are expected to do their own work at all
times and observe copyright laws by documenting all borrowed materials/ideas in order to avoid plagiarism*.
*Giving or receiving information or help on a test, possessing unauthorized material during a test, or copying
another student’s assignment is dishonest. Plagiarism, submitting another’s work (including study guides like
Sparknotes, Cliff’s Notes, Monkey Notes, etc.) as your own, is also dishonest. Penalties include a zero on the
assignment and appropriate disciplinary action for all students involved. Only work shared with an assigned
cooperative learning group will be exempt from this rule.
Turnitin.com: All outside written assignments must be uploaded on Turnitin.com in a timely manner and earn a less than
5% originality score. An assignment is counted as late until it is submitted on Turnitin.com with the required 5% or less
originality score. The student is responsible for resubmitting any assignment that has an originality score above 5% prior
to the original due date in order to earn full credit. It is not up to the teacher to let the student know that there is an
originality issue. Students will be able to see the originality score after uploading the document and will have the
opportunity to resubmit. Do not wait until the last minute to submit and/or resubmit an assignment because sometimes
there is lag in processing time. It is also possible that the originality score will change after the original submission, so be
aware that what you are submitting is truly your own original work and that you are responsible for changes in originality
score. Only contact the teacher about an originality issue if you cannot upload a resubmission and need the teacher to
open a resubmission category for the assignment. Do not e-mail any assignments to the teacher to upload or accept for
you.
Discipline: Anything a student does in violation of classroom rules or that disrupts the learning process or my instruction
process is considered misbehavior. Should disciplinary procedures become necessary for classroom infractions, the
following will occur:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Warning
Conference with teacher
Parent phone call/conference
Discipline referral
Supplies:
 Your AP text book: The Language of Composition, by Shea, Scanlon and Aufses. Bring this every day.
 Folder/binder
 notebook paper,
 blue or black pens,
 pencils,
 Highlighters: 1 blue, 1 green and 1 yellow; optional: 1 pink