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Clear Creek Independent School District
Course Syllabus 2014-2015
Each secondary teacher in the Clear Creek Independent School District furnishes a course syllabus to students and parents
during the first week of a course. This document contains general information about the course in which the student is registered
and specific information from the teacher regarding the section in which the student is enrolled.
Course Title: AP Language and Composition
Approximate Timelines and Due Dates of Long-Term Projects:
Students will receive a handout with the approximate due dates for all long term assignments. The exact time frames for the
work done in class, homework, and assessments may vary slightly depending on the needs of the class or campus. Therefore,
the listed dates are the earliest that any of the assignments would be due.
General Methods of Assessment and Grade Calculation:
The students will follow district guidelines. Quizzes, homework, daily assignments, class participation, written compositions,
oral presentations, long-term projects, and major exams may be used in the evaluation of a student’s progress. Daily grades
(quizzes, homework, practice compositions, practice exams, daily assignments, class participation, and oral presentations) will
account for 50% of the nine weeks grade. Major grades (written compositions, major exams, and long-term projects) will
account for 45% of the nine weeks grade. A reading\writing assessment will make up the remaining 5% of the nine weeks
grade.
For the semester grade, the first nine weeks grade will account for 42.5%, the second nine weeks grade will account for 42.5%,
and the final exam grade will make up the remaining 15%.
Assigned Reading/Literary Works not contained in course textbook:
We may be reading several outside novels. After we decide on the titles, I would strongly encourage the students to purchase
their own copies of these books so that they can annotate them as they read. We do, however, have enough copies in the library
for each student.
For all state-approved courses, the State of Texas has developed the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) which
define the guidelines under which Clear Creek ISD must develop the objectives for the course. These TEKS are crossreferenced to the CCISD curriculum objectives. In addition, CCISD objectives are also cross-referenced to the Texas
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) objectives.
The complete TEKS document, which was approved by the Texas State Board of Education, may be found on the internet at
www.tea.state.tx.us/teks and is accessible to teachers, parents, and students.
In AP English III, students increase and cultivate their communication proficiencies while focusing on course objectives
identified in the TEKS. Writing assignments revolve around six specific traits (ideas, organization, voice, word choice,
sentence fluency, and conventions), and emphasize literary and expository analysis. This course also stresses advanced
placement competencies, including the in-depth study of major works from American literature, the development of high level
literary analysis skills, independent research synthesizing information from a variety of sources and disciplines, the mastery of
major rhetorical forms, and the development of a personal writing style. Refinement in the areas of vocabulary building and
grammar usage is continued.
Required materials:
Textbook – Available online for homework – I have a class set for class work
Outside novels – To be determined
#2 pencils and blue or black pens
Standard loose-leaf notebook paper – paper that has been torn out of a spiral is NOT acceptable
Some type of 3 ring notebook to hold handouts and notebook paper
Flash drive – Recommended
Class Rules:
In addition to school and district guidelines concerning student behavior, I have two simple rules for my students.
1.
2.
Be considerate. This will be defined by the class during the first week of school.
Work to the best of your ability. Strive to improve.
Consequences:
1st instance – verbal warning
2nd instance – verbal warning
3rd instance – parent contact
4th instance – parent conference.
5th instance – the student is referred to the office for further disciplinary action. We don’t want this. 
Makeup work guidelines:
Students are responsible for asking me for work upon returning from an absence. I will not track them down to tell them.
Students have as many days to make up work as they were absent from the class. For instance, if a student is absent for 2
days, they have 2 days to complete the makeup work upon returning to class.
However, if a quiz or test was announced before the student was absent, the student will be expected to take the quiz on the
day that they return.
All work turned in after the allotted time will be considered late. Extenuating circumstance will be treated accordingly.
Late work guidelines:
Work that is late will result in a reduction of the earned grade. An assignment may be turned in up to two days late, but the
student will only receive 75% of the earned grade. Any assignments turned in after that will receive a grade of zero.
Re-teaching/Reassessing:
If 50% or more of the class scores score less than 70% on a classroom test, that material will be re-taught and those students
will be reassessed. The maximum those students can earn on the reassessment is 70%.
I look forward to the coming year. I know that we’re going to have many thought provoking lessons and activities,
and, if things go according to plan, you’ll leave this class with a few more ideas, tools, and strategies to face future
challenges and opportunities.