AP English Literature - Marcia Hilsabeck

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Visit the TeacherWeb® videos to learn about the features, modifications, and customizations available on your website. Click here to learn more. Announcements small medium large 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 Or, would you like to view and optionally restore one of these previous versions? Password: Forgot your password?

AP English Literature - Marcia Hilsabeck

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