Advanced Placement English and Composition

Palisades School District, 2006-07

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition

Ms. S.R. Becker

Room 115

Phone Number: 2332

E-mail:

Tutorials: Tuesdays and Thursdays; other days can be scheduled by appointment.

Description of the Course: This is a college course. It involves the reading of twelve assigned books, including others at the teacher’s discretion. Writing and reading essays are crucial; therefore, exemplary skills are necessary in those areas. An excellent command of the English language is paramount. Writing complete sentences, accurate spelling, and using correct punctuation are necessary. Projects may also be assigned that include keeping a Writer’s Notebook, learning how to discuss a book utilizing Socratic Circles, learning literary terms, and giving speeches, as necessary. Homework is an integral part of this course since much of the reading is done outside of class. A minimum of at least an hour per evening should be set aside for this class. Depending on the assignment, this time allotment could be more. It is suggested that at least a B or a B+ be attained in the tenth grade.

Textbooks: Reading for Writers; The Essay Connection, Fourth Edition, D.C. Heath, 1995; various Advanced Placement Handbooks, and the novels which include: Moby Dick, The Scarlet Letter, All The King’s Men, Walden, East of Eden, Passage To India, House of Mirth, Cosmos, Timeline, Einstein’s Dreams, O Pioneers!, and Heart of Darkness, and The Way To Rainy Mountain. Over the Thanksgiving break, Othello is to be read; over the Christmas break, King Lear. Various essays are to be read as the year progresses.

Course Objectives: Primary objectives are to become a better reader and writer, and to prepare for a course load that is comparable to that of a college student taking an English class. Another important objective of the course is to pass the AP exam.

Course Schedule: The class meets every other day for the whole year.

Description Of How Grades Are Earned: The total amount of student points is divided into the total amount of points available for the grade earned.

Description Of Portfolio-Quality Projects: Any of the essays might be used for the portfolio.

Safety Considerations: There will be no throwing of pens, pencils, or rubber bands or other projectiles. There will be no eating in class. Drinking of water only is permissible.

Other Information Pertinent To The Course: This course is not for the faint-hearted or for the status climber. This course needs to be taken for the right reasons, that is, to become a better reader or writer. AP scores will come to the students in July. They have no bearing on the course grade except to help in preparation for the exam. Much of that preparation depends on the student. Short cuts for studying are ill-advised. Also the AP course as it has been taught for the past several years has been changed. New guidelines will be updated as they become available.

Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular group.

Questions Asked About The Course:

1.  Is it hard? Yes.

2.  Will I have to spend a lot of time on it? Yes.

3.  Will I have time for a job? Probably not. Other outside activities may also have to be placed on hold. Generally speaking, involved activities that take an enormous amount of time are not the ones to be engaged in while taking this course. Every student is different, but AP courses take a lot of dedication and determination, and the amount of time spent at home in study might override any extracurricular considerations.

4.  Is it possible to receive help, especially if I am weak in grammar? Yes. Tutorials are available for as long as it takes; however, a student should be aware that a college course is not a remedial one for catch-up. If language arts skills are poor, then a Level One English course is recommended.

5.  How were the books chosen? The books were chosen because some of them are part of the regular eleventh grade curriculum; the others were chosen for the subject material. The science core books are used for essay reading, discussion of scientific concepts, and ultimately, a trip to the Allentown School District Planetarium. Other magazines should also become part of the students’ background, such as, the news magazines, Time or Newsweek; science magazines, such as, Discover, Scientific America, National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Natural History; and other magazines that are germane to the students’ interests.

6.  Why are the essays graded differently from the Pa. Rubric? AP Central has its own scoring guide which we have to follow. Generally, anything that is written in a vague manner without appropriate support is given a C. Students must write a solid thesis, give in-depth and adequate support with use of examples and details, and create an appropriate conclusion that matches the essay.

7.  Is there room for creativity? There really isn’t room for much creativity. Creative nonfiction is taught, but it is not the same as what is demanded in a creative writing course. They are two different courses with two different sets of writing requirements necessary for each of them.

8.  Why are AP courses offered at a high school? They are offered because many students relish a learning environment that is rigorous. Also, if a 4 or a 5 in the AP exam is achieved, then that is one less course that has to be taken when the student goes to college. However, it is important for the student to research if the college of his/her choice actually will accept AP courses. Sometimes, they do not, and that needs to be factored into the choice he/she makes.

9.  How many AP courses should a student take in a semester? Not more than two should be taken, but as always, it is up to the consideration of the student. It is important to factor into the equation the amount of free time that a student has, with his/her course load, along with extracurricular activities. A student should have time to breathe.

10.  If I feel that the course is too much for me to handle, what do I do? You must see your guidance counselor immediately.

Description of How Grades Are Earned: The total number of student points is divided into the amount of points that are possible in order to calculate the end grade. Vocabulary grades can be 20 or 30 points; compositions/essays are 100 points; projects can be 100+ points; homework can range from 10 points up to 75 or 80 points, depending on the assignment. Other assignments are at the discretion of the teacher and can range accordingly.

Grading Policies: Make a concerted effort to complete all work neatly and on time. All work counts. Be aware that all assignments should be done with the same level of academic excellence, regardless of whether they are homework assignments or major projects. A student’s work is a representation of his/her best efforts. One’s signature is important; one’s reputation is made with one’s presentation. Even as sloppy work would not be submitted to an employer, neither should a student’s submission be something that is not of a first-rate quality for the teacher. Get into the habit of doing all work well and on time.

Illness: If a student has been ill, check with a classmate for any missed assignments. It is a good idea to trade phone numbers or e-mail addresses with someone in class. That way, he/she can stay current with what is occurring in class.

Missed Work: Always check with the teacher for missed work, but not in the beginning of class. Three seconds before class begins is not an appropriate time to check for missed work. Stay after school; consult with the teacher for a mutually convenient time.

All missed work must be made up or a zero will be given. This is the student’s responsibility. Assume that something has occurred during one’s absence. If a student is going on a field trip, he/she will submit the assignment before the trip. No exceptions! Otherwise, the student will earn a zero.

Within Three school days after an illness, contact should be made with the teacher to make up missed work. Check with the teacher for a timetable to submit the assignments. After the time has elapsed, the 10 percent per day deduction will go into effect. If an assignment is given or announced a week or two in advance, the student must assume that it must be submitted or the quiz taken on the day of one’s return to class. Short term work may be submitted or taken the day after one has returned to class.

Quizzes: They may be announced or unannounced. Study class notes each night to gain familiarization with the material. This means to reread the notes that were given in class and the reading selection that has been discussed. That way, the information is fresh in one’s mind. The purpose of a quiz is to check to see if the student is indeed reading the assignments and has retained the material. Unannounced quizzes cannot be made up. Announced quizzes can be made up if there was an absence.

Special Projects: These might include speeches, written assignments, or reading material that are pertinent to the class. They will receive a major grade.

Compositions/Essays: They will equal anywhere from 50 to 100 points. They must be done legibly, with every other line skipped, in dark blue or black ink. Write on one side of the paper. At the top right hand side, place one’s name, date, course title, and period. Sloppy work will not be accepted.

Writer’s Notebook: It will be collected and graded periodically, as time permits, on length, completeness, quality of work, and neatness. These books are generally used in the AP, Creative Writing, or Advanced Reading Seminar classes. The Daybook would also fit under this category.

Additional Class Notebooks: The notebook should be kept to record all necessary class material, including all handouts that are given. The handouts could include anything that has been taught, reviewed, or mentioned in class. Tests can be given on all material, including verbal instruction. If the accuracy of one’s notes is in question, please see the teacher for clarification.

Homework: It counts. It is not busy work. It is practice time to check if the assigned work has been read or the new material understood. A student should make the time to study and to complete the assignments, for it takes time to develop worthwhile skills. If homework is submitted consistently, the student will be better prepared to perform on quizzes; and will, therefore, not be as prone to be overwhelmed during test and exam times. Incomplete homework gets a zero. Sloppy homework will not be accepted and cannot be resubmitted.

Plagiarism: School policy will be strictly enforced. Plagiarism is the stealing of other people’s thoughts and ideas to make them your own. ALL STUDENTS MUST GIVE CREDIT TO THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO ARE BEING QUOTED. The types of plagiarism are blatant, partial, structural, and ideological. Depending on intent and frequency, the grade will be lowered by one letter grade or be given a zero. There also exists the possibility that an “F” could be given for the entire course, depending on the circumstances. See the Student Handbook for more information.

Late Papers: Submit your work promptly. Late papers have a way of becoming lost papers. A student should submit all work on time. The deduction of ten percent per day penalty is attached to late papers.

Behavior: School is a place for learning; therefore, the student should be prepared to work upon entering class. Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated. A student may be dropped from a class for behavior that is detrimental to the safety and welfare of the other students or for the disruption of the learning environment. Also being late to class is not permissible.

General Rules For Speeches:

A student should:

1.  Be courteous. One person speaks at a time.

2.  Use appropriate language.

3.  Be attentive to others; something new might be learned.

4.  Be creative, but not inappropriate. Check with your teacher if you want to “do something on the edge.”

5.  Be supportive and positive. Follow The Golden Rule.

6.  Growth is possible, but sometimes it takes time. A student is here to learn poise and finesse in front of one’s classmates. It takes time to become adept in speaking, especially if public speaking is not one’s prime asset.

Helpful Hints:

1.  Reading books constitutes several assignments for this course. A successful communicator needs to draw from the world of ideas. Vocabulary enhancement is a by-product of this endeavor.

2.  Researching topics for special papers must be done accurately. Statements must be documented. Note the difference between opinion and fact. Be aware of events occurring in the world. Consult news magazines and the newspaper.

3.  Learn to take notes and to review them every night. Studying for quizzes and exams will be easier.

4.  Listen carefully to instructions.

5.  Please proofread and revise all written work. Many simple mistakes can be avoided if this is done thoroughly. Revision means to change and to improve the work, not only to recopy it on clean paper.

6.  Neatness counts. Remember a paraphrase of the old adage: “You never have time to do something right the first time, but you make the time to do it well the second time.”

7.  Help is available. Please ask. A student should not wait until the night before the quiz or exam to decide that he/she doesn’t really know the material. See your teacher after school for help. Also, Shakespeare paraphrased is available at bookstores, if a student cannot fathom Othello or King Lear. Notes can also be found on-line.

8.  Exams are in January and in June. They are comprehensive.

9.  We are all human. Let us learn to respect one another.

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