Course Syllabus

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AP Language and Composition                                                    2018-2019

Ms. Jensen—room 305

mjensen@paplv.org

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION/OVERVIEW

Advanced Placement Language and Composition is designed to develop skills in critical reading of and writing about works of literary merit and related ideas. Students will be carefully analyzing a broad and challenging range of texts (primarily non-fiction), working to deepen their awareness and understanding of rhetoric and the complexities of language. This is a college level course designed to prepare students for the AP exam in May. The class is taught with this in mind, assuming all students are planning to take the exam. As this is an advanced class, performance expectations are appropriately high, and the workload is challenging. Students will study the structure, meaning, and value of representative works. Students will complete writing assignments that focus on the critical analysis of literature (close-reading) that help students understand the resources of language (rhetorical devices). This course requires students to become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of rhetorical contexts and skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their reading and their writing should make students aware of a writer’s purpose, a reader's expectations, and an author’s argument, as well as the genre conventions and the resources of language that contribute to effective writing. A significant component of this course requires students to engage with outside sources in reading, writing, research, and speech.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES 

  • Students will be able to read complex texts with understanding.
  • Students will be able to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers.
  • Students will be able to evaluate primary and secondary sources carefully, synthesize material from these texts in their own compositions, use and understand non-print materials, and cite sources using the Modern Language Association (MLA) format.
  • Students will be able to engage in meaningful, academic discussions based on the texts.

 

WRITING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

  • Articulate clear ideas for a variety of purposes
  • Develop a wide-ranging vocabulary with denotative accuracy and connotative resourcefulness
  • Organize with particular attention to specific techniques of coherence such as repetition, transitions, emphasis, parallelism, and antithesis
  • Avoid redundancy and superfluity
  • Understand and create clear, unambiguous thesis statements
  • Balance generalization and specific illustrative detail
  • Develop a variety of effective sentence structures
  • Hone revising and editing skills
  • Self-evaluate and review peer writing
  • Practice effective timed writing in preparation for the AP exam

 READING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

·      Read actively—annotate key words and ideas

·      Visualize—create mental images of what you are reading

·      Paraphrase mentally while reading

·      Recognize and understand how grammatical and literary devices create meaning

·      Identify and respond to the author’s meaning and purpose

 

TEXTS—Year-at-a-Glance

  • The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric textbook
  • Nonfiction readings will include Douglass's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, essays, articles, political writing, speeches, historical text, creative non-fiction, and criticism
  • Visual texts will include political cartoons, photographs, advertisements, and other rhetorically significant media

 

MATERIALS  

  • 5-subject notebook with pocket folders OR a 3-ring binder with a folder and a set of at least 5 dividers
  • College-ruled loose leaf paper
  • 3x5 lined notecards
  • Highlighters
  • 2 pencils
  • Blue/black ink pens

 

**Please be prepared with the necessary materials every day.

 

GRADING POLICY

Each semester, your final grade will be based on the following:

 

Essays = 30%

  • Rhetorical analysis essays, argument essays, synthesis essays, and additional formal writing assignments                    

Quizzes & Projects = 20 %

  • Quizzes that assess reading comprehension and your knowledge of literary terms, rhetorical devices, vocabulary, and grammar
  • Group presentations and individual speaking assessments
  • Visual argument project

Timed Writes = 15%

  • AP exam and ACT preparation

Classwork & Homework = 25%

  • Annotations, discussion questions, book work, discussions, and partner work
  • Vocabulary and grammar work
  • Multiple choice practice and miscellaneous prep for the AP exam

Final Exam = 10%

  • Comprehensive semester final

**Grades are automatically updated each night at 9:30. Assignments entered after this time will not be reflected on ParentWeb until the next night at 9:30. This does not mean that there will be new grades in the gradebook every day. Also, not everything collected will be graded.

**If you have questions about your grade, please see me any time before or after school or email me with your concerns.

 

ASSIGNMENTS 

  • Every essay must be word-processed and needs to be SAVED until the end of the year unless otherwise stated. You are required to use your Office 365 account for all word-processed assignments.
  • When returning from an absence, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Please refer to the blog, ask another student, and/or see me. Ask for clarification at the appropriate time (i.e. when class is not in session).
  • There will be revision opportunities for some essays throughout the year. In these instances, students have one week to revise and may earn up to one increased letter grade.

 

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY

  • Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. That means that if the assignment still needs to be printed, submitted to turnitin.com, is in your locker, or is otherwise not with you, then the assignment is considered late.
  • Assignments turned in late will result in a late work penalty/point reduction.
  • If late work becomes an issue, your parents/guardians will be notified.

 

**Work not printed and brought to class in hard copy form when class begins is considered LATE. You will also be required to submit some assignments electronically to www.turnitin.com. For an assignment to be considered on time, BOTH forms of submission need to be completed. I will not accept assignments via email. 

**If you are not in class on the day a major assignment is due, you are still expected to submit it to www.turnitin.com before the due date/time, so please plan ahead. If it is an excused absence, this is the ONLY time that you do not have to turn in a hard copy. (The electronic copy will serve as both forms of submission, because I will print a hard copy for you from your submission to www.turnitin.com).

 

Finally, I know things happen. Please talk to me if something outside of class is getting in the way of your completion of an assignment. I am here to help you be successful!

 

PARTICIPATION

Class participation is expected each and every day.  If you have not done your reading or annotations, you will struggle to make a constructive contribution to our classroom discussion.  You can expect to be called on each and every day, so be proactive – raise your hand when you have something unique to share! We will have graded discussions throughout the year. Details and rubrics will be shared prior to discussion. If you are absent on the day of a graded discussion, you must complete a reader's response to make up the points.

 

 

 

WORK DAYS

Work days are designed for students to work on English work so that they may ask questions, get help, or simply get ahead on that week’s reading. I like to be able to work one on one with students, and I understand that many of you are busy; therefore, I have worked these days into the schedule so that you can get the help and feedback you need. Do not expect to work on another subject on these days. Additionally, cell phones or other electronic devices need to remain silent and out of sight during work time.   

 

PLAGIARISM

Any work turned in that is determined to contain ANY plagiarism could result in a significant loss of credit for that assignment. Parents and administrators will be contacted.  Additionally, students will be expected to complete an alternative assignment.

 

CLASSROOM RULES

School policies regarding absences, tardies, phones, and dress code will be followed. Students are expected to respect and follow all rules contained in the student handbook. Ignorance of the contents of this document is not an excuse for breaking school or classroom rules.

  • Cell phones and other mobile devices need to be turned off and put away at all times in your pocket, purse, or bag. These devices should not be visible. If I see your phone, I will ask you to turn it into the phone basket every day you come to class. I will not keep your phone – you will pick it up at the end of the hour. If you refuse to follow this class policy, I will contact your parents and grade-level administrator. All cell phones and devices will be turned in on test days.
  • Purses/bags must be kept away underneath desks – NOT in your lap.
  • Drinks with lids are acceptable. Food is not allowed in the classroom, so please plan accordingly. Gum and hard candy/mints are allowed as long as they don't become a distraction. If you make a mess, please clean up after yourself. 
  • Locker/restroom passes will be granted at my discretion. If you do not have your planner, you will not get a pass – NO EXCEPTIONS.
  • Tardies – Please get here on time. You need to be in the classroom when the bell rings in order to avoid a tardy.
    • 1st –warning; 2nd –detention; 3rd –parent contact/detention; 4th –principal contact

 

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” –Henry David Thoreau

                                                                                 

 

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Please return this signature page by Thursday, August 23rd.)

 

I have read and understand the classroom policies, including the “Late Assignment” Policy.

 

 

 

___________________________________       ____________________________________

Student Signature                                                 Student Name (please print)

 

 

 

 

___________________________________       ____________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature                                   Parent/Guardian Name (please print)

 

 

 

 

______We are able to supply the necessary school supplies by August 23rd. 

 

 

______We are unable to supply the necessary school supplies by August 23rd. 

            (Ms. Jensen is happy to supply these if needed!)

 

**I look forward to working with you this year! If you have any questions, please email me at mjensen@paplv.org

Course Summary:

Date Details Due