1. Welcome to McCullough Junior High Mrs. Dara Parker 7 th Grade Pre-AP Language Arts

2.   Essay A: Describe a setting in which you have collaborated or interacted with people whose experiences and/or beliefs differ from yours. Address your initial feelings, and how those feelings were or were not changed by this experience.  Essay B: Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?  Essay C: Considering your lifetime goals, discuss how your current and future academic and extra-curricular activities might help you achieve your goals. ApplyTexas Essay Prompts A, B and C For U.S. Freshman and International Freshman Applications

3.   Please respond to one of the following essay questions. Your essay will be evaluated for the quality of your writing and your ability to provide a focused response to the question you choose. Your response should demonstrate intellectual curiosity and academic rigor, and should be thoughtful, well- organized and free of grammatical and spelling errors. Please limit your response to 500 words.  Werner Heisenberg and Horace Lamb are attributed similar quotes. Heisenberg allegedly stated, “When I meet God, I am going to ask him two questions: Why relativity? And why turbulence? I really believe he will have an answer for the first.” What scientific truth would you seek if presented the opportunity? Why?  Political philosophy is the analytical framework underpinning the evolution of one’s conceptual, historical, ethical, and political views. Elucidate your own, personal, political philosophy.  What if everything you’ve been taught is wrong? University of Kansas's Honors College application: Fall 2016 Essay Prompts

4.  The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (REQUIRED SUMMER READING)  Must have read and annotated prior to the start of school  Annotated book in class beginning Tuesday, 9/8. Students will also need a new or used, clean copy of the following novels:  The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis  Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya  A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Literature

5.  Required Book: Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop, Level B  used entire school year  study resources online: www.vocabularyworkshop.com – login instructions inside of workbook Additionally…

6.  “SURF” Reading Sustained Uninterrupted Reading for Fun  Chosen by the student, approved by the parent  1-2 new fiction novels each semester  Appropriate reading level – no comics or graphic novels  SURF books will be regularly incorporated into lessons throughout the year  Students must bring a SURF book to class each day.  E-Readers okay

7.   Classwork and homework will focus on developing critical thinking, reading and writing skills, and study skills that will help students succeed as they continue to move through their educational careers and into the real world.  State Testing STAAR Writing: March 29 & March 30 STAAR Reading: May 10 Assessments

8.   Advisory: Students may get a pass to see me for extra help.  Tutoring: Before school everyday except Tuesdays, no pass needed  PAWS: See McC PAWS website for location, schedule & times Extra Help

9.   Major grades 60%  Daily grades (including homework) 20%  Quizzes 20%  The Language Arts Dept. does NOT offer a re-test policy. Late Work  Major Grade Projects -10 points per day  Quiz grades-no credit  Daily grades – late work is not accepted, including homework  It's the student's responsibility to check the Absent Folder and ask for help to get caught up after an absence – check website – use planner.  2 locker passes per semester for forgotten work.  Check your child’s planner and the class website for the most up-to- date information about homework.  Extra credit will NOT be offered. Grades

10.   Conference: Please contact the Counseling Center if you wish to schedule a parent/teacher conference. -Red Days: 2:30-3:50 -Green Days: 2:30-3:50  Email: darparker@conroeisd.net  Website: http://mccullough.conroeisd.net/Teachers/darparker Contacting Mrs. Parker