Cedar Ridge High School held an Advanced Academic Night to inform students and parents about its Pre-AP, AP, and dual credit course offerings. The agenda included welcome remarks from the principal and presentations from the English, history, math, and science departments. The document provided overviews and expectations of the Pre-AP/AP courses in each subject area, as well as contact information for questions. Pre-AP courses are intended to prepare students for the rigor of AP courses and exams through advanced content and skills development. AP courses provide an intensive study of topics that could earn students college credit if they pass the AP exams.

1. Cedar Ridge High SchoolAdvanced Academic Night

2. Agenda Dr. Presley, Principal - Welcome ACC Presentation – Dual Credit English Department History Department Math Department Science Department Articulated Courses Closing

3. Pre-AP and AP for CRHS English Classes 2011-2012

4. AP over a four year time span Pre-AP English I Pre-AP English II AP English III AP English IV

5. What Does Pre-AP and AP mean in an English Class? Pre-AP and AP English classes provide an advanced study of literature and writing including language structure. The pre-AP course initiates preparation for the College Board Advanced Placement English Exams at the high school level; therefore, the literature study is classical in nature, meeting standards set by the College Board. The College Board’s The AP Vertical Teams Guide for English gives an accurate summary for English Pre-AP expectations: An AP course in English Language and Composition engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their writing and their reading should make students aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing. The AP student must become a critical thinker, a theorist, and a master in the communication of your analyses of literary works through writing if you are to receive college credit through the AP exam.

6. General Expectations: Pre-AP and AP English coursework is rigorous and rewarding, and students will be exposed to a variety of challenging assignments. Typically, AP bound students read and write above grade level, are self-motivated and self-disciplined, and are willing to spend substantial time completing superior work. Students are expected to think abstractly and analytically, and communicate their thoughts through a variety of written responses. A successful AP student shows a desire to engage these challenges with a positive attitude and seek assistance outside of class when necessary.

7. Example Syllabus for Pre-AP English II Close Reading is a skill that is required in order to discover more than an author’s message. The following are a list of some of the devices and concepts that we will be focusing on this year: Finding patterns in a text through annotation Linking literary criticism to meaning in the text Analysis, including, for example, author’s development of tone through imagery, diction, choice of details and point of view; author’s use of figures of speech and sound devices, such as assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia, rhyme, rhythm, alliteration. Grammar (or Syntax) is important because, when we recognize that authors do not select words and grammatical patterns randomly, we gain a better understanding and more control over the use of our own language. We will be touching on grammar all year through meaningful texts, your own writing and examining mentor sentences. Writing is a process. Learning to write is a process. The only way to learn how to write well is through writing and writing and writing some more. Part of the process is revision. These two activities are imperative to a good writer. In a writer’s workshop setting, you will be able to: Write introductions that attack an issue in a thoughtful manner Write well-developed and solid paragraphs Use facts, quotes, and paraphrase as support for a stated position Write thesis statements powerful enough to dictate the direction of the paper Gain patience for deep and meaningful revisions Write several modes of discourse: narrative, description, exposition, persuasion Use original and creative forms in writing Analyze, not simply summarize Develop a voice Develop ideas quickly and under the duress of timed settings

8. Course Overview For Pre-AP Pre-AP English I and II increase the rigor of the curriculum through an introduction to: AP strategies for note-taking and studying Practiced timed-writings More independent reading assignments Annotation An increased level of literary analysis

9. Course Overview for AP AP English courses continue to increase the rigor of the curriculum. AP English III students will intensely prepare for the AP Language and Composition test. AP English IV students will intensely prepare for the AP Literature and Composition test.

10. Summer Reading Assignments: Information is pending. Please check the CRHS website in May for more information and details on specific titles for each grade level.

11. Pre-AP/AP Department Contacts: Andy Esquivel Ryan Harvey Shelly Jipp Kate Ikard Megan Lanfear Miranda Marshall Cathy Rollins Jennifer Sanders

12. Pre-AP/AP Social Studies

13. Pre-AP World Geography (9th) This course includes the same broad topics of study as World Geography Studies. The emphasis is on reading and evaluating literature, journal articles, and current events and preparing research projects. The skills taught in this course prepare students for success in AP courses.

15. Students are expected to master important analytical skills as well as specific factual information. Emphasis is placed on reading, constructing arguments, analyzing data, and interpreting opinions.

16. College credit may be earned by demonstrating competence on the AP World History Examination in May of each year.

18. Emphasis is placed on reading, constructing arguments, analyzing data, and interpreting opinions.

20. Emphasis is placed on reading, researching case studies, analyzing data, and experimentation.

22. Pre-AP and AP for CRHS Math Classes 2011-2012

24. Pre AP (pre AP TAG) Algebra 2

25. Pre AP (pre AP TAG) Pre Calculus

26. AP Calculus AB (1st semester of college calculus*)

27. AP Calculus BC (1st and 2nd semesters of college calculus*)

28. AP Statistics** College credit depends on AP exam score

30. Introduce skills, concepts and assessment methods consistent with AP courses

31. Develop students’ mathematical communication skills

32. Develop an appreciation of mathematics as a human accomplishment* Source: College Board

33. Pre AP Math Teachers Robert_Pigeon@roundrockisd.org Susan_Campbell@roundrockisd.org Karen_McLinden@roundrockisd.org

34. Pre-AP and AP for CRHS science Classes 2011-2012

35. Advanced Science Offerings at CRHS Next year we will offer: AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science Anatomy and Physiology Medical Microbiology and Pathophysiology Environmental Systems Fall 2012, we may add*: AP Physics Aquatic Science Earth and Space Science Astronomy Scientific Research and Design AdvancedBiotechnology † * Future course offerings are determined by student interest, academy and school needs, available resources, and administrative priorities. This is an incomplete list. This list also does not guarantee a course will be offered. † May be offered as an ACC-articulated or Dual Credit class.

36. AP Science Course Pre-Requisites

37. Science Department Contact Info If you have any questions about advanced academics in the science department or how advanced science courses may fit in your child’s education, please contact: Science Department Chair Jeremy Thompson jeremy_thompson@roundrockisd.org 512-704-0047

38. RRISD Articulated Courses2011-2012