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AP? English Language & Composition2019-2020Mrs. CharlesRoom N103acharles@ Times: M/W4:00-5:00 PM, T/Thurs 7:30-8:15 AMPlanning periods 1st & 7thCourse Description and Philosophy AP? English III is a rigorous college-level course. It surpasses the expectations of the regular curriculum. As such, students read and discuss complex and nuanced literature and topics.? We read and analyze rhetoric, with a special focus on non-fiction, and persuasive works. Students will write exhaustively in order to prepare for the College Board’s Advanced Placement exam, for college, and for professional life.? For most students, the level of challenge and complexity from Pre-AP to AP requires adjustment and focus in terms of work ethic, study habits and time-management. As a part of the AP? Language curriculum, students are thoroughly exposed to academically rigorous strategies for argumentation and persuasive writing. Writing well about language is also a key component in course design. Students will keep a writing log and portfolio over the course of the year to document their improvement and to engage themselves in thinking about their writing. If students work hard, remain focused, determined, and conscientious, they will emerge from this course with a new perspective about language. On the other hand, this is not a class for those who find the study of rhetoric a frivolous endeavor, nor is it for those who simply wish to pad their transcripts with AP? credits.General Expectations This course is both challenging and rewarding.? Students are expected to:Read a wide range of challenging works of recognized rhetorical merit and understand the nature of language in an argumentative and rhetorical sense and in its historical and universal plete weekly writing assignments. (Average 2-4 pages/week). Attend four class tutorials per six weeks.Produce a research paper that meets the standards of a college-level course. Learn and utilize a cumulative vocabulary list. Take the AP? Exam in May.Write critical analyses of rhetoric using a confident personal voice and style, a wide-ranging vocabulary, a variety of sentence structures, logical organization, and a balance of insightful assertions with supportive and illustrative details (often under time constraints);Participate with maturity and insight in the discussion of rhetoric, and pay consistent attention to the comments of others, offering questions, substantive commentary, and/or corroborative evidence from text or other research materials;Develop and practice close reading strategies to answer multiple choice and open-ended essay questions such as those appearing on the AP? Language and Composition Exam;Devote 5 to 7 hours per week to studying course material; and prepare to take the AP? English Language and Composition Exam in early May. Mission Statement:Every student will learn that in life everything is an argument and that there are no right or wrong arguments but strong and weak depending upon the strength of an argument’s evidence.Required Supplies: DUE DATE: September 6, 2019 A/September 5, 2019B Blue/Black ink pens DAILYLoose-leaf wide-ruled notebook paperComposition book or spiral notebook1.5 or 2 inch binder for handoutsPocket dictionary/ thesaurusCopies of texts (students must purchase or check out from a library)Enroll in the Word of the Day at Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich First Six Weeks, 9/6/19A, 9/5/19BIncidents in the life of a slave girl by Harriet Jacobs (Linda Brent), Second Six WeeksFast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser Third six weeks. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, Fourth Six Weeks Classroom Management PlanBe on time and dressed in appropriate school dress code attire. Follow all class, school and district directions/rules. Complete all assignments by stated and/or published deadlines. Consume food and drink in designated eating areas. Water is allowed. Bring all necessary materials to class each day. ConsequencesFirst violation or infraction-teacher student conference Second violation or infraction-parent contactThird violation or infraction-assignment to teacher detention (30 min) or Behavior Contract written (both the counselor and parent will be contacted)Fourth violation/infraction, refusal to attend detention-discipline referral submitted to the Discipline Office Classroom Incentives-Up to 100 minor grade points distributed equally to lowest scores after completion of five or more tutorial sessions.Essays may be rewritten multiple times within a six weeks with the highest score recorded in the gradebook.Daily Routine/Warm Up/Start on Time PolicyThe student will need to be in class on time as the warm-up assignment is implemented within the first ten minutes of the class period and calculated in the daily class work grade. Students missing a bell ringer or warm up must report to after school tutoring. Parents will be contacted if a student misses three (3) bell ringers/warm ups.Syllabus cycleFirst Six WeeksN&D, Rhetorical Devices, Rhetorical Analysis, CompositionSecond Six WeeksRhetorical Devices, Mock Exam, ILSG, SynthesisThird Six WeeksArgumentation, FFN, CompositionFourth Six WeeksNJC, Research Project, CompositionFifth Six WeeksSelected passages, Exam Review Sixth Six WeeksSelected passages, Review, AP? Exam, ProjectsGrade Weights for Determining Six-Week Grades: Classwork/Homework 40%:classwork, multiple choice passages, reading quizzes, participation, vocabulary, homework, process and timed writings, etc.Tests/essays (20%) projects/presentations (20%)Six weeks’ exam/“mini mock exam” (15%)Cornell Notebook (5%)Makeup Work Because of Absence: For any class missed, the teacher may assign the student makeup work based on the instructional objectives for the subject or course and the needs of the individual student in mastering the essential knowledge and skills or in meeting subject or course requirements. A student will be responsible for obtaining and completing the makeup work in a satisfactory manner and within the time specified by the teacher. A student who does not make up assigned work within the time allotted by the teacher will receive a grade of zero for the assignment. A student is encouraged to speak with his or her teacher if the student knows of an absence ahead of time, including absences for extracurricular activities, so that the teacher and student may plan any work that can be completed before or shortly after the absence. Please remember the 64 importance of student attendance at school and that, even though absences may be excused or unexcused, all absences account for the 90 percent threshold in regards to the state laws surrounding “attendance for credit or final grade.” [See Attendance for Credit or Final Grade.] A student involved in an extracurricular activity must notify his or her teachers ahead of time about any absences. A student will be permitted to make up tests and to turn in projects due in any class missed because of absence. Teachers may assign a late penalty to any long-term project in accordance with time lines approved by the principal and previously communicated to students. Daily makeup assignments must be turned in promptly. Makeup Exams must be taken during tutoring hours by appointment within a one-week timeframe.Re-Test Policy: To ensure that test grades reflect content mastery, a student will be permitted to retake any major test that he failed within five school days of the date of the failing grade was earned or no later than ten days of the date of the test. If the test is passed on the second attempt, the failing grade will be removed from the grade book, and the passing grade will be recorded, with the following exception. When student behavior or actions clearly demonstrate that a major test was failed due to lack of effort or inappropriate behavior, a teacher, with the principal’s approval, may assess a grade penalty. The penalty will be either the average of the two tests or a 70 (if either the average or the second attempt is above 70). The grade given a student failing the test for the second time will be the higher score earned on either test. The retesting policy will not apply to semester exams. Late Work Not Related to an Absence: Late Work Not Related to an Absence: Students must be given at least one opportunity to submit late work not related to an absence. Late work will receive a 10-POINT deduction for each school day late (whether class meets or not). After 40 points have accrued the work may not be accepted and an “F” grade is earned. THIS POLICY IS FIRM.Extra Credit may be offered in addition to, but never INSTEAD of, assigned work. If a student is failing the class, extra credit will NOT be an option. EC is designed to enhance performance, not substitute the work.Students who earn a “2” or lower on the AP? English Language & Composition Exam are strongly encouraged to retest the following year. Any student who chooses to do so will earn extra credit points applied to the sixth six weeks’ grade.Timed and Process Essay Scoring GuideFirst SemesterSecond Semester9 = 100TBA8 = 90TBA7 = 85TBA6 = 80TBA5 = 75TBA4 = 70TBA3 = 68TBA2 = 65TBA1 = 60TBA0 = 0 paper is blank / no attempt made0 = 0 paper is blank/ no attempt madeOngoing Assignments:Cornell Notebook – students are required to keep a notebook of quick writes, rhetorical analysis prompts, and notes focusing on a particular element or skill students are expected to learn. Multiple Choice Passage Practice-Students will practice analytical close reading and multiple-choice strategies weekly.Vocabulary Development-Students will learn and practice usage of 30 college-level vocabulary words every six weeks.Rhetorical Analysis Tests – Students will take timed analysis tests over works studied. Independent Reading – students are required to read current event articles/blogs outside of class and must be prepared to discuss them at length in Socratic Seminar as well as analytically in timed write essays. Timed Writing – students must practice 40-minute timed writing responses to AP? prompts.Google Classroom Codes:2nd Period- quc9cyp3rd Period- wmwfyh34th Period- hl5hgk8th Period- ofoqifb-32384985725Student Name: __________________________________Class Period: __________Print name -32384985725AP English Language and Composition Contract 2019-2020I have read the course description and syllabus for AP English Language. I understand my responsibilities in this course, and that this is a college level course. I understand that there will be significantly more work than a typical class. I will abide by class expectations. I understand that I am expected to take the A.P. Exam given in May of 2020.______________________________________ _______________Student signature DateI/we have read the course syllabus and expectations for AP English Language. I/we understand the benefits offered by this course, and support my/our student’s enrollment in this course. I/we do my/our best to ensure my/our student follows course expectations. I/we understand the demands of this course exceed those of a typical course and that my/our student will have to devote significant time to reading and studying in order to be successful. I understand that I am expected to sign my child up for the AP Exam given in May of 2020._____________________________________ _______________Parent/Guardian Date_____________________________________ _______________Parent/Guardian Date____________________________________________________________________Parent(s)/Guardian(s) signature(s)___________________________________Parent/ Guardian Contact Number (best number to reach you)___________________________________Parent/Guardian Email Address***This contract must be returned by the end of the second week. ................
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