AP Language and Composition



Mrs. Harmon Room 307Phone # 253-931-4719 x1307sharmon@auburn.wednet.eduAP English Language and CompositionCourse SyllabusOverviewWelcome to AP English Language and Composition. I look forward to getting to know you and guiding you through the academic challenges that lie ahead. This class will help you advance your reading and writing skills by providing rigorous coursework that emulates what you might find in a college environment. By the end of the class, my hope is that you achieve the following goals as identified by the CollegeBoard’s official AP English Course Description:Analyze and interpret samples of good writing, identifying and explaining an author’s use of rhetorical strategies and techniques.Apply effective strategies and techniques in your own writing.Create and sustain arguments based on readings, research, and/or personal experience.Write for a variety of purposes and produce expository, analytical, and argumentative compositions that introduce a complex central idea and develop it with appropriate evidence. Demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English as well as stylistic maturity in their own writings.Demonstrate understanding of the conventions of citing primary and secondary sources.Move effectively through the stages of the writing process, with careful attention to inquiry and research, drafting, revising, editing, and review.Analyze images as text.Evaluate and incorporate reference documents into researched papers.ExpectationsAs an AP student, you are expected to perform in a manner that demonstrates that you have the maturity and diligence to succeed with college level work. To do this, the following expectations may be helpful. You are expected to:Come to class prepared.Read all materials presented to you.Keep an open mind when studying new ideas and philosophies and respect other students’ right to speak and hold ideas different from your own.Engage in intellectual, thought-provoking discussions which include active listening and constructive plete all work in a timely manner.Produce writing samples that illustrate a command of the language.Participate in all activities.Maintain excellent attendance and be responsible for missed work.Seek help if you begin to struggle with any of the above expectations.Cell phones should not be seen or heard once class has started. If it becomes an issue, you will lose the phone and face additional consequences.Take the AP Language and Composition exam.AssignmentsFollow all directions carefully, both written and oral.Assignments must be legible and complete to earn credit.Due to the academic rigor of this AP course, late work will not be accepted. Rare exceptions are up to teacher discretion. Assignments are due at the beginning of class unless noted otherwise. Assignments turned in towards the end of class are considered late.At teacher discretion, redos and retakes might be allowed and/or required on a limited basis for summative assessments. Summative assessments include, but are not limited to, unit tests, speeches and essays.All large writing assignments must be typed, 12pt font size, and double spaced. (Do not use fancy and/or unreadable fonts). Refer to my Essay Writing Resource Packet for specific instructions.Academic HonestyI do not tolerate cheating of any sort. A few examples of what I consider cheating include:Looking at someone else's test or quizTalking during a test or quizCopying homework/having others do your homework for youPlagiarizing Keeping notes, cheat sheets, or anything that has the answers in plain view during a test or quizAllowing someone else to copy your workThe sequential consequences for cheating are:Verbal warning and a zeroZero, office referral and parental contactAn automatic F for the course and parental contactAttendanceBecause of the nature of this class, attendance is vital. It is your responsibility to inquire about make-up work, take missed quizzes/tests, and collect any handouts/notes. Make-up tests/quizzes—If you have an excused absence, you may take a make-up test or quiz within a week of your return. If your test/quiz is not made up in a timely manner, you will receive a zero. Make-up assignments—If you have an excused absence, you have two days following the date of absence to turn in work assigned the day of your absence. Long term projects are due on the day they are assigned—no exceptions unless it is an emergency situation and you have called or e-mailed me before or on the due date. E-mailing and/or submitting the assignment to can count as turning the assignment in if you are absent, but please make sure to also turn in the hard copy of the assignment when you return to class.MaterialsPencil and blue or black pen as well as highlighters and multicolored pens College-rule notebook paper (NO SPIRAL EDGES)Three-ring binder with pockets and dividersNotebook (can be a composition, spiral-bound, etc.) for your Reading Journale-mail address (for )OPTIONAL: post-it notes (for annotations)Required TextsCohen, Samuel, ed. 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology, 3rd edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s Press, 2010.You will need to check out this textbook from the library. It is your responsibility to take care of this book—please put a cover on it and treat it gently.You will be reading at least one argumentative non-fiction book of your choice and may decide to purchase the book. You will regularly read magazines and/or online journals to keep up with current events and cultural trends, and determine interest in possible research topics. Having this background knowledge will not only enable you to discern the context of what you read in class, but will help you construct your own meaningful arguments. While I am happy to assist you, it is your responsibility to find valid, high quality sources.Year-long Activities and Assessments Critical Reading/AnnotationAfter a brief review of close reading and annotating skills, my expectation is that you close-read and annotate EVERY reading assignment for class. This skill-set will help you learn to analyze the persuasiveness of an author’s argument and is crucial to your success at the college level. In some instances, I will give you focal topics to help you with this process. I will spot check and assess your annotations, often without prior notice. VocabularyInstead of a list of arbitrary words, you will study predominantly Greek/Latin prefixes, roots, and suffixes. You will have 25 prefixes, roots, and/or suffixes to memorize at a time and will take a vocabulary quiz every other week. The content of the quizzes will be cumulative. In addition to basic memorization, you will learn how to puzzle out the meaning of previously unknown words with your newly acquired knowledge of prefixes/roots/suffixes, and use the dictionary to determine word origin. The purpose of vocabulary study is to help you develop strategies for decoding the challenging texts you will read this year, as well as to assist in your preparation for the SAT.In addition to learning prefixes, roots, and suffixes, you will be responsible for understanding and applying terms related to rhetoric and writing. You are expected to demonstrate this knowledge via quizzes and practical application in writing assignments and class discussion.GrammarHaving a firm command of English grammar is the foundation to effective writing and the development of your personal writing style. We will briefly review past grammar learning and build on what you know so you can effectively analyze how grammar plays a part in rhetoric. Timed WritingIn an effort to expose you to writing under a time constraint—a necessary skill for mastering the free response section of the AP English Language and Composition exam—you will practice timed writing on a regular basis throughout the year. This will also give you the opportunity to respond to the kinds of prompts you are most likely to see on the exam, as I will be using a combination of released free response questions from past exams as well as prompts designed around our class readings. These prompts may ask you to analyze a text, present a persuasive argument, or synthesize sources in an expository way. I will assess you similarly to how the AP readers score, based on a scale of 1 to 9. For many of the released exam prompts, you will have the chance to look at actual representative student samples and assess your own writing as well as others based on those samples. You will also edit, revise, and write reflections for some of your timed writes in order to practice your writing process skills.Class DiscussionClass discussion is one of the best ways to clarify and apply what you have read and illustrate your growing analytical skills. It is an integral part of the class, and my expectation is that everyone participates. It is imperative that you show the utmost respect for your classmates, their ideas, and their right to voice their opinions and present their arguments in an environment that is safe and encouraging. Any behavior that disrupts that environment will not be tolerated. Because class discussion is such an important avenue for learning, good attendance is absolutely necessary. Reading JournalThroughout the year you will read and respond to a variety of texts. You will keep a journal separate from your binder for this class that is a dedicated for your annotations. The journal will include your notes, questions and analysis and will serve as practice for close reading and thinking skills as well as a means for assessing your comprehension of the texts. OtherIn addition to the above, you will have a variety of multiple choice, short answer (chunk), paragraph and short writing assignments that complement the reading, help you with author’s purpose, and promote skill application. These assignments will reflect a variety of modes, including expository, argumentative, narrative, analytical, and synthesis.Summative assessments will count as 80% of the cumulative semester grade. Summative assessments include, but are not limited to, quizzes, unit tests, speeches and essays.Formative assessments will count as 20% of the cumulative semester grade. Formative assessments include, but are not limited to, daily work, reading, homework and timed writing. Grading ScaleA = 93-100%A-= 90-92%B+= 88-89%B = 83-87%B- = 80-82%C+= 78-79%C = 73-77%C- = 70-72%D+= 68-69%D = 60-67%F = Below 60Grades .5 or higher will be rounded up to the nearest decimal. (i.e. 92.5% A- will round to 93% A. However, a 92.4% is still an A-)My family and I have read all of the information regarding the expectations for Mrs. Harmon’s AP Language and Composition class, and agree to the requirements of the class.Signature: _______________________________ Printed Name: ______________________________(student) (student)Signature: _______________________________ Printed Name: ______________________________(parent/guardian)(parent/guardian)Date: _______________Parent/guardian e-mail address: _______________________________________________________Parent/guardian preferred contact phone number: _______________________________________Parent Permission for Video/Movie/DVD/Film UsageThe AP Language and Composition class follows district protocol regarding the use of films in class. This includes obtaining parent permission to view films with an industry rating of PG-13 as well as documentaries or other television programs which may not have a clear rating. While this course does not utilize film on a regular basis, there are sometimes instances when viewing a film benefits students’ understanding of challenging reading material.In order to save time for everyone, I would like to obtain blanket permission to show PG-13 or non-rated television documentaries in the future without sending out repeated permission slip forms. If you choose not give comprehensive permission, I will continue to send an individual permission slip home with your student on a film by film basis.If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to email me.I give permission for my student to watch PG-13 and non-rated films/videos such as documentaries in AP English Language and Composition for the 2013-2014 school year.Signature: ________________________________________Date: ____________________(parent/guardian)Upcoming Dates:Open House is September 17th , starting at 5:30pm Fall Parent/Teacher conferences are on October 16th, from 3:30pm until 7:00pm. ................
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