Kim Drain/English II Pre-AP

Room 309/ Conference Period: 2nd

Telephone: 832 484-4469

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year. I am pleased that you have chosen to enroll in Pre-AP English. One of the main objectives of this course is to prepare you for taking the college level AP English courses in the 11th and 12th grades. Consequently, the class has a rigorous curriculum and demands commitment, effort, and attention on the part of the students. I look forward to working with you to insure that each student has the maximum opportunity to learn the required curriculum, develop the academic and personal skills needed for success in high school and college, and master the objectives set forth in the TEKS.

Please read the following information carefully, sign and detach the bottom section on the second page, and return it to me for your 1st daily grade of 100%. Keep this letter for your reference.

Writing:

Writing is an integral part of every Pre-AP/AP class. Students will be required to write process papers of varying lengths throughout the year. In class, timed writings will be assigned. Process papers must be typed and students are expected to turn in all original and process work including hand written drafts. Plagiarism, like other types of cheating will not be allowed. In its simplest terms, plagiarism means presenting as one’s own any or all portions of someone else’s work or ideas without documentation. This includes any papers or ideas found on the internet.

Reading: The more you read, the better writer you will become!

Students will be notified in advance of books we will be reading that are not in the text. Students are encouraged to purchase their own copies of books so that they may annotate as they read. If a student is unable to purchase a book, the parent must contact me and I will check a book out to him or her. However, they may not annotate in these books. Most of the assigned reading is done outside of class and discussion is most often done after the entire work is read. As they read, the students will be asked to keep some type of reading log or journal. Students are expected to actively read the required books and not depend on Cliff‘s Notes, etc. or class discussion for understanding.

Grading:

Major grade work will be 60% and minor grades will be 40% of the six weeks average. Students will be informed in advance about the expectations and the basis for grading each assignment. Class discussion, instructional handouts, and rubrics are among some of the guidelines used. In addition, you may check the class website. All work is due at the time of assessment, and deadlines for major grade work will be announced in advance. Any major grade work that is turned in after the last due date assigned will not earn more than 50%. If the student is absent on the day a major grade paper or project is due, he or she must make arrangements for the assignment to be brought to me at the time that it is due. If there are any personal extenuating circumstances, a parent must contact me. It is so important that students develop good study habits and responsibility for success in school and elsewhere.

Notebooks:

Students are expected to keep a separate 3-ring binder with dividers for English. A syllabus for each six weeks and a grade sheet for recording all returned assignments should be placed in the front. Keeping an up-to-date, well organized notebook and bringing it to class each day is a requirement for this course. Please occasionally ask to see your child’s notebook, grades, and current class work. You may also check the class website for information about what we are doing in class. In this way, you will be able to better monitor his/her progress each six weeks.

Supply List:

◦ 3-ring binder with dividers

◦ Single-subject notebook

◦ Notebook paper

◦ Blue or black pen

◦ Highlighter

Last Names A-L: tissues Last Names M-Z: glue stick or markers

Tutorials:

Please be sure to see me if you need any help or would like to conference about your writing. I will be happy to meet with you before or after school. Make sure that you let me know in advance when you would like to come so that I can clear my calendar to help you individually. ** Please note that Wednesday after school is the official meeting day and time for teachers’ House, Department, and Faculty meetings.

***Parents, please contact me if you have any questions or if I can assist you in any way. E-mails are the most efficient way to reach me—I do not answer the phone during class. Contact between student, teacher, and parents is of great benefit to all of us.

Detach this bottom section, both student and parent sign, and return to me. Keep the letter at home for reference. Thank you.

I have read the English II Pre-AP letter.

Parent Signature ______

Student Signature ______

Period: ______