AP English Language and Composition Syllabus 2017-2018

Teacher Information:

Mr. Ian Taylor

BA English/Secondary Education

M.Ed Candidate – Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis

East Tennessee State University

English Teacher

East Hamilton School

Room 1244

Course Overview

The Advanced Placement English Language and Composition course is a college-level, introductory writing course that satisfies the English 3 requirement and may result in college credit with the successful passing of the AP exam in May. Students in this course will read and carefully analyze a broad and challenging range of nonfiction prose selections with an emphasis on making sure they understand how the intentional construct of language plays a critical role in all forms of communication. We do this by reading and analyzing a broad and challenging array of historic and contemporary works of non-fiction and fiction to increase students’ awareness of their own writing styles and techniques. Students then use this information to compose effective narrative, expository, analytical, and argumentative essays. Students will benefit from advanced writing instruction that emphasizes writing as a process consisting of multiple phases, including planning, drafting, and revision (and repeat). Students will be given feedback on their work from both the instructor and their peers. Students will also be taught and expected to employ varied vocabulary and sentence structure, to organize ideas logically, to balance generalization and specifics, to effectively use rhetoric, and to cite sources in accepted formats. In other words, students should be prepared to read and then write…and write…and write some more.

Course Materials

  • College-ruled notebook paper
  • 3-ring binder and dividers
  • Highlighter (any color)
  • Book tabs (small rectangular post it notes, essentially)
  • Index cards
  • Blue or black pens
  • Red pen
  • Pencils
  • Flash drive

Course Texts

The course textbook, entitled Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide, Tenth Edition (KirsznerMandell), will be provided by East Hamilton School. Students will, however, be expected to obtain their own copies of the following texts to be used in class:

  • In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
  • The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
  • Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
  • The Crucible by Arthur Miller
  • The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • 1984 by George Orwell

By purchasing these texts, students will be able to annotate as necessary, something that could not be done to a text provided by the school system. These texts can be purchased new or used. If the student is unable to purchase a text for any reason, please let me know as soon as possible so that I may find a copy of the text for the student. In being completely transparent, while I have five years of prior teaching experience, I am new both to East Hamilton and teaching this particular course. I have outlined a number of texts that I think can be covered before the end of the year; however, I have not yet seen it in action. You may purchase all of the texts at once; however, be advised that we may not get to cover all of the texts listed. I will announce a couple of weeks in advance the upcoming need for a particular text if you prefer not to purchase all of them at once. We will begin the semester with In Cold Blood and The New Jim Crow. Students will need these texts by Monday, 8/14/2017.

Policies:

The student is expected to:

1.)Come to class on time. Tardies are absolutely unacceptable unless dire circumstances call for them. If tardiness begins to become a problem, I will attempt to contact your parent(s)/guardian(s) about the matter and report each instance to the main office.

2.)Come to class prepared. Many of your materials will be provided to you; however, it will be your responsibility to keep up with these materials and bring them to class every single day. If you are missing any materials, you will be considered to be unprepared and this could eventually have an adverse effect on your grade in this course.

3.)Participate. Much of this class relies on your ability to analyze and discuss various texts so that you may write about them. Often times, students find that they are better able to develop a thesis after discussing their ideas further with other students. This is the process and you will be expected to participate in discussion and daily activities. As a college course, some material presented in the course will spark passion and debate between students. Students are expected to maintain a professional demeanor, provide evidence to support his/her thought(s), and respect the opinions of ALL other students in the room so long as they are not derogatory in nature. Any comments that are made that are degrading to any individual or group of people will not be tolerated and will be subject to disciplinary action.

Late Work:

All assignments are due at the beginning of the period on the given due date. Major assignments, such as essays and projects, will receive a grade reduced by one letter grade for each day the assignment is late. Homework cannot be turned in late unless the student is absent on the date it was assigned or the student has an excused absence on the day it is due. “It is the student’s responsibility to get his/her make-up work after an absence. When a parent requests student work, the teacher should be given one full school day notice to allow time to gather the assignments and get them to the office. Extenuating circumstances may warrant additional time. If a student’s absence is unexcused, he/she may be allowed to make-up work for reduced credit” (East Hamilton Teacher Handbook).

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty will result in automatic failure of the assignment. Plagiarism is defined as trying to pass off someone else’s work as his/her own. Avoiding plagiarism is easy. Don’t copy anyone else’s work or turn in anyone else’s work. Cite all sources that are not your own.

Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices:

Technology can be a major asset to the English classroom when used appropriately. Students will be allowed to use devices only when the teacher has given permission and only for academic purposes. In all other cases, students’ phones are to be placed in the pockets on the wall at the beginning of class. If a student chooses not to place his/her phone in the appropriate pocket and has the device out during class, he/she is subject to consequences aligned with the school’s phone policy. This is a school-wide policy that is to be implemented in every classroom.

Assignments and Grading

Essays and Other Projects – 20 %

Quizzes – 10%

In-Class Assignments – 20%

Tests/Assessments – 50%

Grading ScaleGrade PointAP (Weighted)

A – 93-1004.05.0

B – 85-923.04.0

C – 75-842.03.0

D – 70-741.02.0

F – below 7000

NAME (PRINT):

Welcome to AP English Language. This course will be more rigorous than any English course you’ve had yet. Your reading, writing, comprehension, and thinking levels are good enough to get you here—it’s now time to make you better. Therefore, please read the following statements (and have your parents/guardians do the same) and sign below, indicating that you understand all of the requirements and expectations. **This signed form is due on Monday, August 14, 2017.

1.I understand this course will involve critical thinking, organizing, and analyzing skills

2.I expect both the assignments and the grades I earn in AP English Language to be based on and reflect a more rigorous standard than previous English courses.

3.I understand there will be more reading and writing in AP English Language than in any other English course I have taken so far.

4.I understand Mr. Taylor’s expectations in the classroom and his procedures and will do my best to abide by them.

I have read and understand all of the objectives, requirements, and expectations for the AP English Language course.

______

Student signatureDate

______

Parent SignatureDate