• Entry Bell 7:20• 1st Period-English I Advanced 7:30- 8:20• 2nd Period-English I Pre-Ap 8:25- 9:15• 3rd Period- English I Pre-Ap 9:20- 10:10• 4th Period- English I Pre-Ap 10:15- 11:05• 5th Period – Theater Arts I 11:10- 12:10• 6th Period – Conference 12:45- 1:35• 7th Period – Theater Arts I 1:40- 2:30

BiographyAfter graduating from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) in Houston, Texas with a focus in theater, I decided to attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where I received my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Communications with a concentration in English and African-American studies. After graduation, I worked as a corporate concierge before deciding to pursue my teaching career. I worked as the speech and drama teacher for six years at Lake Olympia Middle School where I was honored to be awarded the Lake Olympia Rookie Teacher of the Year award in 2003-2004, the Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators (HAABSE) Teacher of the Year award in 2005-2006 and the Lake Olympia Teacher of the Year award in 2006-2007.

Definition of AP

AP, or Advanced Placement, Courses are college-level courses that a student can take in high school. The courses are more rigorous than high school courses since they are, in fact, college courses and students can receive college credit for taking the courses, although not all colleges grant students college credit for the courses.

Required MaterialsIt is the student’s responsibility to come to class each day with the appropriate materials for class.

composition notebook (flat-bound, please)three-ring binder (1.5 to 2 inch) (5 tabs or dividers)blue or black pens pencilred or other color pens for checking worksaving device for computer work (flash drive)plenty of notebook paper

Course Content1st Nine WeeksShort StoriesLiterature Terminology and

ApplicationVocabulary, including prefixes and

suffixesIntroduction to Writing GenresOpen-Ended Writing StrategiesText Structure

2nd Nine WeeksNovel: To Kill a MockingbirdVocabularyLiterature TerminologyWriting Strategies/Literary AnalysisOpen-Ended Writing Strategies

3rd Nine WeeksIntroduction to MythologyEpic: The OdysseyIntroduction to ResearchVocabularyOpen-Ended Writing Strategies, continuedExpository Writing

4th Nine WeeksIntroduction to PoetryIntroduction to Drama/Renaissance and William ShakespeareRomeo and JulietVocabularyWriting Strategies/Literary AnalysisExpository Writing and Poetry Analysis

Late Work PolicyDaily Work/Homework - not submitted on time will

be counted as late with a maximum next day grade of a 70. After the 70 opportunity has

passed, the highest grade the student can earn on the assignment is a 50. No late work will be

accepted after the third day. Major Grades- 15 pts per day off of major projects not submitted on

time. All work must be completed before the next progress report.

Tutorial Policy

If at any time you need help with an assignment or need to access a computer to complete anassignment, I encourage you to attend tutorials. Simply show up with your pass, sign in on the tutorial roster and begin work. Don’t forget to sign out before you leave. I offer tutorials on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. but I am also available on any other day when requested in advance. All tutorials are by appointment only. Make-up tests are given during tutorial times. If you attend tutorials YOU NEED A PASS.

Travis Honor CodeAll students are expected to follow the THS English Department Honor Code.

Cheating, copying, or plagiarizing will result in an automatic 0 per Travis High School policy.

According to dictionary.com, plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and/or thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.

Literature Textbook and books to purchase

Holt McDougal Literature 9Holt McDougal Literature 9We strongly recommend that our students purchase their own copies of the books that we will be reading and analyzing. Annotation is invaluable for thorough analysis.

Animal Farm by George OrwellTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Color of Water by James McBrideGreat Expectations by Charles DickensRomeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareOne additional Shakespeare play to be assigned later

Web Page

• Consult my web page on the Travis High School web site for important information, due dates, assignments, and documents.

• www.fortbendisd.com/campuses/ths/courses.cfm

• Click on “English”• Click on “T. Thomas” by English I AD• Click on “T. Thomas” by English I Pre Ap• Click on “Resources

Contact InformationEmail:tiffanie.thomas@fortbendisd.comConference time:12:45 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.(281) 634-8098