Ms. Mann
English II Pre-AP
Course length: Full year, 1 credit
Room: Bowden 121
Instructor E-mail: [email protected]
St. Philip’s ECHS Office: (210) 486-2406
Conference Period: 2B (T/Th)—10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Bowden 121
Tutorial Hours:
Rose R. Thomas Writing Center—Norris Technical Building (NTB) Room 405W
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Monday—Friday)
Course Description:
English II Pre-AP includes the development of critical thinking skills and advanced mechanics,
syntax, usage, and vocabulary in preparation for the PSAT. The course emphasizes the skills and
strategies needed to succeed in AP courses in grades 11 and 12 and requires critical reading of
classical, Medieval, Renaissance, and contemporary literature with particular focus on writer’s
style and purpose. Students use technology to produce a variety of oral and media
communication presentations and work with peers to analyze and evaluate their presentations in
terms of the effect of media on the intended message.
Curriculum Topics:
Fall Semester
Genres
Writing
Focus
Texts
(Not all
inclusive, just a
representative
list)
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Spring Semester
Fiction (Short stories)
Literary nonfiction
Persuasive texts, including non-print sources (e.g.,
web pages, documentaries, political debates)
Poetry
Persuasive essay
“My Mother Pieced Quilts” (Poetry) Teresa by
Paloma Acosta
“Theme for English B” (Poetry) by Langston
Hughes
“Where I’m From” (Poetry) by George Ella Lyon
“Legal Alien” (Poetry) by Pat Mora
“Prayer to the Masks” (Poetry) by Leopold Sedar
Senghar
“The Second Coming” (Poetry) by William Butler
Yeats
“Thanksgiving: A Personal History” (Essay) by
Jennifer New
“Us and Them” (Satire) by David Sedaris
Excerpt from Funny in Farsi (Memoir) by Firoozeh
Dumas
“Everyday Use” (Short Story) by Alice Walker
A Sound of Thunder (Short Story) by Ray
Bradbury
“Harrison Bergeron” (Short Story) by Kurt
Vonnegut
St. Philip’s Early College High School
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Drama
Fiction (Novel)
Expository texts
Research-based expository essay
Literary Analysis Essay
Antigone (Drama) by Sophocles
Things Fall Apart (Novel) by Chinua Achebe
Kohlberg’s Six Stages of Moral Reasoning (Article)
“School’s Out for Summer,” (Essay) by Anna
Quindlen
“Time to Assert American Values” (Editorial)
“Rough Justice,” (Article) by Alejandro Reyes
Ms. Mann~2016-2017 English II Pre-AP Syllabus
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“Sonny’s Blues” (Short Story) by James Baldwin
By The Waters of Babylon” (Short Story) by James
Baldwin
“The Lottery” (Short Story) by Shirley Jackson
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading-High School: http://bit.ly/ELARTEKS
Materials:
Textbook: SpringBoard® English Textual Power™ Level 5, College Board (2011)
By Friday, August 26, students must bring the following items to class every day unless otherwise instructed by the
teacher.
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Blue or Black pens and/or pencils: Students are required to use blue or black ink (preferred) or pencil (allowed)
on all assignments and assessments in this class.
Highlighters: Students will need a minimum of two highlighters (pink and yellow).
Colored pencils: Students will need a pack of 10 colored pencils. These will be used for the thorough annotation
of texts.
Composition book: The composition book will be utilized daily as a reading/writing notebook, as well as a place
for all in-class notes. Warm-up activities will be completed in this book as well.
Post-it notes and flags: Students will use post-its and post-it flags to mark texts they cannot write on.
Planner: Students need to have their planners with them every day.
Expected Outcomes:
In English II Pre-AP, you will be active learners in learning content and mastering (or enhancing) skills necessary to pass
the English II EOC exam. Additionally, you will read and analyze texts written in a variety of periods, genres, disciplines,
and contexts, and you will continue to become skilled, practiced writers who compose for a variety of purposes. The
overarching purpose of this course is to enable you to read, write, and communicate effectively and confidently in
courses across the curriculum, as well as throughout your academic, professional, and personal lives. This course
emphasizes literacy as the foundation of all professional and creative communication.
Evaluation:
Grade Weights
40% Assessments
Tests & quizzes
Essays
Projects
60% Assignments
In class assignments
Homework
*Semester Exam is 15% of
semester average.
St. Philip’s Early College High School
Note
Grading Scale
90-100
A
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80-89
B
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75-79
C
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70-74
D
Below 70
F
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Progress reports are issued at the end of
every three weeks.
Report cards are issued at the end of every
nine weeks.
Teachers are required to post one grade per
week per subject in the online grading
program, with a minimum of 15 grades per
nine weeks.
Teachers have the weekend to post grades,
and up-to-date progress can be checked
through iDataportal on Mondays after noon.
Ms. Mann~2016-2017 English II Pre-AP Syllabus
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Grade Level Classification:
0-5.5
Freshmen
6-11.5
Sophomore
12-17.5
Junior
18+
Senior
College Course Conversion:
A=95
B=85
C=75
D=72
F=65
Communication Policy:
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Email ([email protected] ) is the best way for parents to get in touch with me as I don’t have regular access to a
phone during the school day. I try my best to respond to emails within one school day.
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If you prefer to talk on the phone, leave a message with the main office (210-486-2406) that includes a call back
number and the best time of day to reach you. I return phone calls during my conference period (11 a.m. to noon on
T/Th) or after school.
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Students and parents can sign up to receive text messages from me through Remind. I use this service to send
out brief reminder messages about upcoming assignments or tests.
Link to sign up:
https://www.remind.com/join/msmann44
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Students should sign up for a Schoology account and join the SPECHS 10th grade course so they have access
Schoology 10th grade Code: 762C7-C7WX8
to course resources.
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Parents can request access to Schoology as well once their child is a member of a course. Email Ms. Mann for
more information.
Electronic Devices in the Classroom:
As an ECHS we allow students to bring their own devices to school for instructional purposes; however, each teacher has
his/her own policy about the use of devices in their classroom.
The tables below explain what’s allowed (or not) in Ms. Mann’s class:
YES
SOMETIMES
When appropriate during the class period, you can:
Ms. Mann will make an announcement if you have
permission to:
Use a device to take notes or type up a document
Use an online dictionary
Listen to music (on headphones)
Use a device to access the internet
Read an e-book or online text
Use a device as a planner
Use a device to take a picture of a document or resource
Use a device as a calculator
NEVER ALLOWED
Taking a phone call
Text messaging
Using social media or playing games
Taking photos or recording videos of students or teacher
St. Philip’s Early College High School
Ms. Mann~2016-2017 English II Pre-AP Syllabus
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Students are expected to follow the rules for electronic devices established in each classroom. In Ms. Mann’s class,
students who violate these rules will be subject to the following consequences:
1st time—Verbal warning
2nd time—Student must sign document acknowledging awareness of consequences for subsequent violations
3rd time —Device confiscated* and turned into office. Parent must pay $15 to get the device back.
*Refusal to comply will result in discipline referral.
Attendance Policy
Tardiness:
Passing periods are fifteen minutes long this year, so students should not have trouble getting to class on time. The
classroom door will close at the beginning of the period, and after that point, students will be counted tardy unless they
have an admittance pass from the office or another teacher.
Note for students in 1st period:
If you arrive to school late, you need to check in with the office; Mr. Rosas will give you a late admittance
slip to show to your teacher.
Absences:
Follow make-up policy below. Make sure to follow up with classmates or the instructor* about lessons, activities, and
handouts that you missed and make a plan to attend tutoring.
*Please do this at an appropriate time; before or after school would be best or right before or right after class.
Homework Policy:
Homework is due at the beginning of the class period unless otherwise stated. Homework turned in after this will be
subject to a late penalty.
Make-Up Policy:
Extensive content will be covered daily in Pre-AP English II, so students must be in class. However, in the event of an
excused absence, students have two school days (for every day absent) to make-up missed work. If an assignment was
due when you were absent, it is due the day you return to class.
After an absence, it is your responsibility to acquire missed notes, classwork, or other information as soon as possible to
avoid falling behind.
Late Work Policy:
Assignments turned in after the due date will be subject to a late penalty of 5 points per day (up to four days). After that,
the maximum possible grade you can earn will be a 70.
Re-teach/Re-test Policy:
Students who score lower than 70% on an assessment or major assignment will be allowed to re-test/resubmit once they
attend tutoring with Ms. Mann and demonstrate understanding of the TEKS and skills being assessed. Re-testers may
take an alternate version of the original assessment.
General Advice for Success:
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Bring required materials to class every day.
Follow instructions the first time they are given.
Use academic English when speaking, writing, or communicating in class.
Be present and engaged in class and when doing homework and outside reading.
St. Philip’s Early College High School
Ms. Mann~2016-2017 English II Pre-AP Syllabus
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Be open-minded.
Expectations:
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As soon as you arrive to class, get your SpringBoard book and other materials needed for the day. (Check
the agenda on the board for more info.)
Put away devices and take off headphones before class starts.
Copy homework assignments/due dates into planner. (Check the agenda on the board for more info.)
Classroom Rules:
1. Be punctual, prepared, and ready to participate.
2. Abide by St. Philips ECHS Code of Student Conduct.
3. Respect the feelings, ideas, space, and property of everyone in the classroom/school.
Violations of classroom/school rules will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
Consequences for minor infractions*:
1st Offense: Verbal Reminder/Warning
2nd Offense: Student conference in hallway
3rd Offense: Phone call to parent
4th Offense: Referral
*Violations of electronic device policy have
different consequences. See Electronic
Devices section above for more information.
Consequences for serious infractions:
Referral to office
Phone call to parent
St. Philip’s ECHS FIERCE Motto
Family United
Innovative
Engaged
Respectful
Committed
Effect Positive Change
Academic Dishonesty Statement:
Academic dishonesty is copying someone else’s homework and giving homework to someone else to be copied,
plagiarizing—using another person’s work, ideas, or a quotation as if it were one’s own, using unauthorized notes,
giving or receiving help on a test by talking to another person or showing work to another person during the test
or talking about the test after it has been taken to someone who has not yet taken it.
St. Philip’s Early College High School
Ms. Mann~2016-2017 English II Pre-AP Syllabus
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By signing this document, you agree to abide by all Academic Dishonesty policies. Students who are academically
dishonest will receive a zero for the 1st offense with no opportunity to make-up the assignment. A second
academic dishonesty infraction may result in student’s withdrawal from St. Philip’s ECHS.
St. Philip’s College Mission Statement
St. Philip's College, founded in 1898, is a comprehensive public community college whose mission is to empower our
diverse student population through personal educational growth, ethical decision–making, career readiness, and
community leadership. As a Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution, St. Philip's College is a vital facet
of the community, responding to the needs of a population rich in ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic diversity. St.
Philip's College creates an environment fostering excellence in academic and technical achievement while expanding its
commitment to opportunity and access.
The college fulfills its mission by offering:
1) General courses in arts and sciences leading to an associate degree.
2) Transfer education for students desiring to attend senior institutions.
3) Developmental courses that improve the basic skills of students whose
academic foundations require strengthening.
4) Applied Science and technical programs leading to an associate degree or
certificate designed to prepare students for employment and/or to update crucial skills.
5) Workforce and Career development training programs for business, industry and government.
6) Continuing education programs for occupational and educational enrichment or certification.
7) Counseling and guidance designed to assist students in achieving their educational and professional goals.
8) Educational support services including library services, tutoring, open use computer labs and writing center.
9) Services and appropriate accommodations for special populations, to include adult literacy and distance
education.
10) Quality social, cultural, and intellectual enrichment experiences for the community.
11) Opportunities for participation in community service and economic development projects.
St. Philip’s College Quality Enhancement Plan: Ethical Decision Making
St. Philip's College is committed to quality education; as such, the focus of the 2016 Quality Enhancement Plan
(QEP) is ethical decision-making which is the ability to connect values and choices to actions and consequences.
QEP Student Learning Outcomes:
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Values: Students gain skills to assess their own values.
Ethical Issues: Students identify and are knowledgeable of ethical issues.
Perspectives: Students analyze various ethical perspectives.
For more information on the QEP, visit https://www.alamo.edu/spc/qep/
St. Philip’s Early College High School
Ms. Mann~2016-2017 English II Pre-AP Syllabus
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Ms. Mann’s English II Pre-AP Course Syllabus Signature Page
Student Name (PRINT):
Period:
Student’s E-Mail:
I,
, have read and understand Ms. Mann’s
(Student name)
English II Pre-AP course syllabus, expectations, classroom rules, and consequences.
Student Signature:
Date:
Parent Name (PRINT):
Parent E-mail:
Contact Number:
I have read Ms. Mann’s English II Pre-AP syllabus and understand class expectations, rules, and procedures as
outlined in the document.
Parent Signature:
Date:
Please sign this page where indicated and return to Ms. Mann by Friday, September 2.
St. Philip’s Early College High School
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