AP Language and Composition/ Pre-AP English 11 Course Requirements and Highlights 2017-2018 Bassett High School Mrs
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AP Language and Composition/ Pre-AP English 11 Course Requirements and Highlights 2017-2018 Bassett High School Mrs. Sarah Kenny- Rm. 13 Email: [email protected] The AP Language and Composition class is designed for eleventh graders who plan to take AP or dual enrollment English during their senior year and who will take the AP test in May. The content of the course includes an in-depth study of the types of writing: description, narration, persuasion and argumentation, and exposition. The course of study includes the mechanics, process, and analysis of written expression. Students utilize methods of writing that encourage "intelligent writing" instead of simply "mechanically- correct" writing. The course also includes in-depth analyses of classic and contemporary American literature. Because of this demanding course, students must have a serious attitude and be willing to work hard toward improving writing and literary analysis skills. Course Introduction AP Language and Composition not only teaches academic writing but personal writing as well. The goal of this course is to introduce students to various rhetorical modes: argument, rhetorical analysis, and synthesis. The expectations and requirements are high, but the knowledge and increased writing skills are imperative for success in higher-level fields. In an AP Language and Composition course, students are required to read works of literature and rhetoric and to develop a sophisticated and differentiated style of responding to these different works. Reading the works is fundamental and required; being able to discuss the works intelligently, either in small groups or in large class settings, is also necessary. Being able to write about the works’ content and style is essential. You will be doing a lot of writing. In fact, you will have to write a lot more than I can formally assess. The number of written assignments will vary depending on the level of the students’ previous preparation in composition. We will write a minimum of 2 essays per grading period, in and out of class. Essays will be assessed using performance rubrics. A. Method of Instruction This class is a combination of lecture, group discussion, peer conferences, reading requirements, oral presentations, seminars and writer’s workshop. B. Expected Course Outcomes In preparation for the AP examinations in English, students should read widely and reflect on their reading through extensive discussion, writing and rewriting. Students should assume considerable responsibility for the amount of reading and writing they do. The AP course assumes students already understand and use Standard English. The intense concentration on language in this course will enhance the following: a wide-ranging vocabulary used appropriately and effectively; a variety of sentence structures; a logical organization; a balance of detail; C. Course Goals and Objectives In the AP course, students will create and sustain arguments based on reading and research, demonstrate mastery of standard written English as well as stylistic maturity in their own writings, write in a variety of genres and contexts, analyze and apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writing, identify and explain an author’s use of rhetorical strategies and techniques. read extensively and master a wide range of types of literature read a wide range of nonfiction works read closely for detail read for literary devices and structures and rhetorical strategies read challenging works of recognized literary merit respond to reading through thoughtful inquiry articulate responses orally in rich discussions conducted in an atmosphere of open exploration and acceptance of alternative interpretations write intelligent, insightful, and sensitive critical analyses of literary passages and works in both impromptu and prepared essays D. Student Suggested Supplies 3-ring binder (1 ½ or 2 inches) Folder or binder insert(s) with pockets Loose leaf paper (college ruled) Highlighters Pencils Pens (blue or black) Dry Erase Markers Sticky pads (your preference for annotation) Available textbooks E. Recent Novels of Study The Grapes of Wrath- John Steinbeck A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie – Tennessee Williams The Awakening – Kate Chopin Pilgrim at Tinker Creek – Annie Dillard The Things They Carried – Tim O’Brian Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas- Frederick Douglas Death of a Salesman and The Crucible – Arthur Miller The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn –Mark Twain F. Student Evaluation Evaluations will occur throughout the English section of the course in the following areas: i. Tests (worth 200 points) ii. Quizzes (worth 100 points) iii. Essays (100 or 200 points-- As Posted on Assignment) iv. Research/Projects (200 points) v. Oral Presentation (200 points) vi. Daily assignments/ homework (100 points) G. Grading Scale and Credits LETTER GRADE NUMBER RANGE HCPS Courses DE/AP Courses A+ 100-97 4.0 5.0 A 96-93 4.0 5.0 A- 92-90 3.7 4.7 B+ 89-87 3.3 4.3 B 86-83 3.0 4.0 B- 82-80 2.7 3.7 C+ 79-77 2.3 3.3 C 76-73 2.0 3.0 C- 72-70 1.7 2.7 D+ 69-68 1.3 2.3 D 67-66 1.0 2.0 D- 65-60 .7 1.7 F 59-0 0 0 H. Specific Classroom Policies Electronic Devices: On occasion, cell/smart phones/watches etc. may be a part of our classroom projects, but on all other occasions, these devices are to be turned off and out of sight. If the teacher sees the cell phone, she will take it and place it in cell phone jail until the end of class. There is to be absolutely no contact with electronic devices during formal assessments. Food and Drink: Please adhere to BHS policies regarding keeping cafeteria food in the designated eating areas. Also, beverages should be in containers with screw on tops (sealed until your arrival in the school). Snacks and treats may be discretely consumed in class as long as students clean up after themselves. Messes, trash, unpleasant odors, disruptive sharing, etc. will result in the loss of food and beverage privilege. Every effort must be made to maintain a sanitary and healthy environment. Attendance: Daily attendance is mandatory and does affect the overall success of a student in this course. If a student misses more than 50% of a class period, he/she will earn an absence. Tardy Policy: Each day a student must make every effort to be punctual. Please read the policy updates in your student handbook/agenda. Students are allowed only two tardies per class per semester before disciplinary action will be taken. Students should be in the classroom before the bell rings—not running in at the tail end of the bell. Technical Problems: Personal computer/printer problems should not be used as an excuse for late work. The school library has computers for your use. Students should complete assignments in time to troubleshoot technical difficulties before deadlines. Make-up work: The student is responsible for taking care of any work missed due to absences. All students with a verified absence will have three days to make up any missed work. Unexcused, late assignments may not be accepted. The student will receive credit for his missed work only if the absence was verified or excused and if the teacher receives the completed work before the three- day period. If a student does not report to class but has been in school during the day an assignment is due, he must turn in the assignment before he leaves, or it will not be accepted. Student activities and school sanctioned trips will not excuse a student from any required work. If a student is absent the day of a quiz/test, the student must be prepared to take the missed quiz /test the next day the class meets. Being absent before an assignment is due or before a test does not excuse the student from turning in the assignment or from taking the test on the scheduled day. Personal Conduct: Respect one another. Lack of consideration for the teachers or students will not be tolerated. Paper Organization: All assignments should be organized using MLA format. The student’s name, course number, instructor’s name, and date of submission should fall on the first four lines on the left-hand margin. Each essay should have a title, centered on the following line (line 5). All essays should be typed in a 12-point, double-spaced, easily readable font. Plagiarism/Cheating: (taken from PHCC English 111 syllabus; Mrs. J. Staples) Cheating is the actual or attempted practice of fraudulent or deceptive acts for the purpose of improving one’s grade or obtaining course credit; such acts also include assisting another student to do so. Typically, such acts occur in relation to exams, projects or homework. However, it is the intent of this definition that the term cheating not be limited to the above listed situations only, but that it include any and all actions by a student that are intended to gain an unearned academic advantage by fraudulent or deceptive means. Plagiarism is a specific form of cheating which consists of the misuse of the published and/or unpublished works of others by misrepresenting the material so used as one’s own work. Penalties for cheating and plagiarism are a 0% on the assignment, a referral to the assigned administrator and a parent conference. Plagiarism can include submitting a paper written by someone else as your own; written by means of inappropriate collaboration; written by you for another class, submitted without the permission of both instructors; purchased, downloaded, or cut and pasted from the Internet; or that fails to properly acknowledge its source through standard citations. An honor code will be enforced.