Advanced Placement Language and Composition
Ms. Svincek
Overview
This course enables students to become skilled readers of various types of pros for the purpose of achieving greater skills as writers. Students will examine the importance of identifying various purposes and best practices for approaching different types of writing. Students can expect to develop a better understanding of complex texts and apply their awareness of the complexities of language to their own writing.
Students will write essays using the formal writing process, employing both the teacher and peers at the revision stage. By the end of the course, students will have become more aware of their own patterns of thinking related to writing and how to use those patterns for their purpose. All of the semester’s course work assists with preparation for the AP English Language and Composition Examination and writing for college and real-world experiences.
Goals
By the end of this course, students will be able to do the following:
· Choose and employ effective writing strategies
· Explain, analyze, and apply effective rhetorical strategies
· Analyze, create, and sustain arguments based on evidence and support
· Produce compositions that introduce a complex idea and develop it with well-chosen evidence and explanations
· Synthesize ideas from various sources in order to achieve a given or chosen purpose
· Strengthen writing through the use of the revision process
· Identify how nuances in language aid in the construction of exemplary writing
· Extend vocabulary for life-long growth in the use of language
Activities
· Students are required to write college-level essays using each of the following patterns of development:
Exemplification Comparison and Contrast Narration Synthesis
Extended Definition Description Cause and Effect
Process Analysis Classification and Division Argumentation
· Research/MLA Documentation: students will write an extended research paper following MLA style guidelines.
· Students will practice for the AP examination by close and careful reading of essays in order to analyze rhetorical strategies and techniques.
· Students will study vocabulary and complete exercises and tests.
· Students will read assigned texts to analyze writing styles.
· Students will work on speaking and writing skills related to gaining employment.
Materials Needed
· Standard blue or black ink pens (no gel or marker-type)
· Pencils
· Notebook exclusively for this course (which may be collected and graded at any time)
· Assigned texts(supplied) / grammar text (supplied)
· Standard loose-leaf paper (spiral will not be accepted for credit)
· Access to a personal computer with a working printer
Behavioral Expectations
Students are expected to treat all members of the learning community with respect at all times. This is a college-level course; we expect the best of ourselves at all times.
Students are to be punctual and prepared each day. School policy on lateness is as follows: first offense = warning and phone call home, second offense = detention at the teacher’s convenience, third offense = office referral.
Please heed the policies of the school and county as outlined by BHS and FCPS, respectively.
Grading Policy
A student’s final quarter grade is determined by dividing the number of pointes earned out of the number of points possible. A=90-100%; B=80-89.99; C=70-79.99; D=60-69.99; F=0-59.99
Graded work includes compositions that must follow proper format or they may be returned for zero credit. Rough and final drafts must be typed and must be submitted at the start of the period they are due. Late rough drafts earn no credit but must still be submitted and approved/scored prior to revising them and submitting a final copy. Late final drafts of compositions are penalized 20% each day late up to two days late at which time the grade is a zero. Submitting any draft late may jeopardize the ability to submit subsequent drafts on time! Students will be given a reference sheet for the required format of compositions. Graded work also includes quizzes (announced and unannounced), vocabulary and other tests, class work and homework assignments, AP in-class practices, AP in-class essays, group writing projects, research work, and class attendance/ participation/ graded discussions. Late work for these types of assignments is not accepted for credit.
The final course grade is an average of the final percentage grades, not the letter grades, of the two marking periods.
Grades will be updated and can be accessed through Pinnacle.
Absence Policy
Unexcused late assignments, including rough drafts of compositions, may not be made up for credit. However, assignments that are part of a writing process must still be submitted before students may move to the next step of writing and expect to earn on-time credit for that. Otherwise, the next draft (or final copy) will be late as well.
It is the student’s responsibility to arrange make-up of any missed assignments, quizzes, or tests upon his/her return from absence. Also, any work the student should have submitted the day he/she was absent must be turned in immediately upon return. The work from an absence must be made up within the same framework of time given to other students for that assignment. Tests, quizzes, in-class essays, multiple-choice practices, and AP-related and scored practices must be made up outside of the regular class period within three school days of the absence.
The Honor Code/Behavior
Each student must read and sign a copy of the Honor Code. Understand that using another writer’s work or ideas, including but not limited to using exact words, paraphrasing, or summarizing, without giving credit to the source (documentation) is plagiarism. Plagiarism will result in a zero and an office referral, at the least. Students also may not copy from or provide answers or work to another student. This behavior also violates the Honor Code and will result in the same consequences as plagiarism.
Students are expected to follow county and school rules at all times.
I look forward to an enlightening and rigorous semester.
Ms. Svincek email:
I have read and understand the policies and expectations of AP Language and Composition with Ms. Svincek.
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