|
|
 |
|
|
October 18, 2009: The Poetry project and the Poetry Choices are now available
in the Handouts section. Remember that your responses are due on every Monday
that you have English class.
*****************************
The Fall syllabus is now posted in the Homework section. A-Day is posted
first; scroll down for B-day.
Round Rock High School
300 Lake Creek Drive Phone (512) 464-6000
Round Rock, Texas 78681 FAX (512) 464-6190
August 25, 2009
Dear Parents of Advanced Placement English Students,
By now you have probably seen the syllabus for this class, which was given to
the students on the first day of class. If so, you know that Advanced
Placement English is a college-level course with college-level requirements;
at the end of the spring semester, the students will have the opportunity to
earn college credit by taking the Advanced Placement Examination in English
Literature and Composition, which is administered nationwide by the College
Board. The Advanced Placement Program has operated nationwide for over thirty
years and in Round Rock since 1979.
The focus of the Advanced Placement English Literature course at Round Rock
High School is the study of artistic use of language in works of increasing
complexity. In that study, students will build skills in analysis,
organization, and composition while studying classic works of literature,
both with the class and independently. Students will learn time management,
priority-setting, and self-discipline as they do the reading and writing
tasks that address the objectives of the course. Since one of the goals of
this class is to develop independence in learning, it is the student's
responsibility to be aware of the assignments in the syllabus and to meet the
due dates for those assignments.
Success in the AP English Program requires that the student be committed to
academic excellence. Students who choose not to meet the deadlines and
requirements of assignments do not show the necessary commitment. At the end
of the semester, the grades of students who have chosen not to meet the
requirements of this course will be redesignated as regular course grades and
will not receive the weighted Grade Points of this course.
You can assist your child by helping him stay on schedule with his work, by
encouraging him to discuss with you the works he is reading, and by
reassuring him that he is doing valuable work. Advanced Placement students
work at a level of difficulty that most of them have never attempted; many of
them are a bit insecure in their ability. I have assured them that everyone
in the class is capable of succeeding, but they always need your support and
encouragement, too.
Students will also need help budgeting for the examination fee. The cost is
about seventy-five dollars, with a down payment made when the student
registers for the exam in March and the remainder paid in May when the exam
is taken. The State of Texas may subsidize part of the cost of the AP tests
again this year. Since May is a high expense month for seniors, I have
advised them to put the money aside early, so that expense will not prevent
them from taking the test. The expense of tuition for college class hours is
much higher than the exam fee. Placing out of college hours is a substantial
financial saving.
As a group, the Advanced Placement students at Round Rock High School have
consistently scored very well on the Advanced Placement Examinations. Since
each institution has its own policy of granting credit for AP scores, each
student should consult the College Board website (www.collegeboard.com) or
the website of his chosen college or university to learn what the AP credit
policy of the college is.
My preparation to teach this class includes undergraduate and graduate
degrees in English from The University of Texas and postgraduate work at The
University and at Southwest Texas State University (Now Texas State
University). I have taught English courses for Central Texas College and
Austin Community College since 1974. Since 1981, I have conducted College
Board workshops for teachers beginning to develop and teach Advanced
Placement English courses. I have conducted the Texas Christian University AP
English Summer Institute each summer to help AP English teachers improve
their skills.
If you have questions about the Advanced Placement program, our Advanced
Placement English class, or your child's progress, please call me. My
conference hour is from 2:30 - 4:10 on A-days and on B-days; the school phone
number is 464-6000; My classroom phone and Voicemail number is 464-6203. My
home phone is 258-2467; I am happy to hear from you before 10 p.m. if you
need to call me at home. My e-mail addresses are mhilsabeck@yahoo.com and
marcia_hilsabeck@roundrockisd.org. There is a link to my e-mail on the Round
Rock High School page of the District web site.
I look forward to working with your child this year. I also look forward to
meeting you on Back-to-School Night, September 14. The schedule for that
evening begins at 6:30 and runs until about 9:30 p.m.
Sincerely,
Marcia S. Hilsabeck
English Teacher
Round Rock High School
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
