AP English Literature and CompositionSyllabus
2017-2018
Teacher: Ms. Elsie Dang
E-mail: or oom: 301
Office Hours: Mondays and Thursdaysfrom 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course in AP English Literature and Composition is the culmination of your four years in the English Honors/AP program and follows the curricular requirements described in the AP English Course Description published by the College Board. It is designed as a rigorous freshman college/university course that “engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature” (45). By the end of the year, you will have studied works written in several genres by both British and American authors from the sixteenth century to the present and will have written extensively and critically on what you have read. You will not only be challenged academically this year, but also will expand your current thresholds for intellectual discipline and risk. Though the literature and the learning are of primary importance, those enrolled in AP English Literature are expected to take the AP Exam in English Literature and Composition administered Wednesday, May 9, 2018.
A student who earns a grade of 3 or higher on the exam (3=Qualified, 4=Well Qualified, 5=Extremely Well Qualified) will be granted college credit at many colleges and universities throughout the United States. It is to that end that the AP course aims to prepare students with the skills and vocabulary required to handle any literary passage with confidence.
This course is UC-approved and satisfies area B of the A-G requirements. In case of emergencies or if you somehow cannot contact Ms. Dang, please contact any of the English Department Faculty members, and they would be happy to assist you.
ELA Teacher Grades/Classes E-mail Room No.
Mrs. Grace Martinez / ELA 9/ELD 2/Film / / Rm. 105Ms. Cynthia James / ELA 10/ELD 1 / / Rm. 307
Ms. Lena Song / ELA 11/AP Lang./ELD / / Rm. 305
**The units of study and assessments below are subject to change according to Ms. Dang’s discretion.**
Required Materials(to be brought to class everyday) / Units of Studyand Assessments- School-issued device
- Pencils and pens
- 2 folders with prongs/fasteners (first one is provided at the beginning of the year)
- 1 college-ruled notebook
●Collections by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
●Course novels (see right column) / August: How to Read Literature Like a Professor; skills review (argumentative writing, annotation, analysis)
September:The Great Gatsby; narrative writing
October:Hamlet; personal statement finalizing
November/December:Metaphysical Poetry and Romantic Literature; poetry explication
January:Pygmalion andVictorian Literature; research essay
February/March:Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man
April:Heart of Darkness; pre-AP literary analysis boot camp
May/June:The Canterbury Tales+ TED Talks; creative projects
SCHOOL-WIDE GRADING SCALE
Students will be graded for each standard in the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts on a 4-point scale. Students must pass with a C or better in order to earn credit for this course, just as in college. Progress reports are sent home every 5 weeks. Grades can be checked anytime at laalliance.gradebook.net/pinnacle/piv.
ASSIGNMENT POLICIES
Grades in Ms. Dang’s class will be based on “major” and “minor” grades.
- “Major” grades include anything big: all tests, essays, projects, unit homework (all homework for a unit averaged into one grade), and anything else Ms. Dang deems important enough to assess a student’s skill or knowledge.
- “Minor” grades include the small stuff: a quick assignment, a quickwrite written in class, or an occasional quiz. In some instances, Ms. Dang will not grade a major assessment unless the minor assignment is submitted. For example, if a process essay is assigned, she will not grade the essay without proof of brainstorming and outlining. Some grades that receive a check culminate into a major grade. For instance, Ms. Dang will occasionally check novel annotations and give a “check” grade; at the end of the novel, she will average those grades into one major grade.
Late Work: Late assignments will be docked partial points according to the timeline below:
DUE DATE / 1 MEETING LATE / 2 MEETINGS LATE / 3 MEETINGS LATE / No class meeting
Late assignment can only earn a maximum of a 2, UNLESS students elect to attend tutoring.
4 points possible / -0.5 point / -0.5 point / -1 point
*Assignment will continue to be eligible for a maximum of 2 points until the end of the grading period. At the end of the grading period, the assignment will no longer be accepted late.
●After an assignment is late by three or more class meetings, students may submit the assignment for a maximum score of 2, UNLESS students come to at least ONE full session of tutoring. For major assignments, such as essays and presentations, students must come to at least TWO full sessions of tutoring in order to avoid penalty.
●If a student is unhappy with the score of any assignment, s/he may re-submit that assignment for full credit,provided that the original assignment was turned in on time.
●Late assignments will no longer be accepted once the 5-week grading period for that assignment closes.
Cheating/Plagiarism: There is nothing creative or honorable about stealing someone else’s work and claiming it as your own. Especially in non-fiction writing assignments, you must adhere to MLA format for proper citation and documentation. Consequences for cheating or plagiarism include a zero score on the assignment, an office referral, and a phone call to your parents. A second offense will result in possible removal from class with an “NP” grade.
ABSENCE AND TARDY POLICY
Unexcused absences: If a student has an unexcused absence, he or she must complete make-up work by the following class meeting in order to receive credit. If the late work is a result of an unexcused absence (truancy), then all assignments will be penalized according to the late work policy above.
Excused absences: In the event of an illness, death in the family, court appearance, or nationally-recognized religious holiday on the date an assignment is due, the student should bring the assignment on the next date that s/he returns to class. If an assignment is given while the student has an excused absence, then the student will receive one week without penalty to make up any missing assignments.
In the event of an absence (excused or unexcused), it is the student’s responsibility to check Digital Agendas, Google Classroom, work with peers, speak to me or e-mail me about the assignments they missed. Students who miss school for any reason (excused or unexcused) are strongly encouraged to attend tutoring!CLASSROOM NORMS- Be a P.R.O!
Be Prepared. Bring all your materials to class, keep track of your assignments, and advocate for yourself.
Be Respectful of all people and property at all times.
Be On-Task. As young adults, you should be a self-directed learner and be able to manage your own behavior for your own good and others’.
- During lecture or class discussion, you must raise your hand to speak or use the talking piece. No talking or noise will be tolerated at this time – your full attention should be on whoever is speaking.
- During group work, you should be talking very quietly with your partner(s). You may not get out of your seat without permission.
- While working on your own, there should be no talking. This is a quiet time so everyone has a chance to focus and put their best effort into their work.
Eating in class:
- There is no food or drink permitted in class except water. Throw your trash away outside.
Showing up late to class:
- Once the bell rings, I close the door to the class. If you come in after the door is closed, you are late and will be marked tardy. More importantly, you are disrupting learning and showing disrespect to me and to your classmates.
- If you are tardy during a quiz/test/presentation without a note or reasonable excuse, you will not be able to make up that missed assignment.
ELECTRONICS POLICY
School-issued devices may be used in class according to the Acceptable Use Policy only. (The Acceptable Use Policy is distributed during Advisory, and extra copies can be obtained through the Main Office.)
According to the school-wide cell phone policy, all cell phones and earbuds must be turned in during advisory at the beginning of the school day. If a student uses an unauthorized personal device during class time, he/she will be sent to the office to turn in that device.
Misuse of electronics will result in parent contact. Repeated misuse will result in a face-to-face meeting.
BATHROOM POLICY
Go to the bathroom before school, during nutrition and lunch, or after school. If it’s an emergency, do not interrupt instruction to ask to leave. Wait until an appropriate time.
You cannot use the restroom the first 15 minutes and last 15 minutes of class. On TUESDAYS, there is no restroom pass at all. You have a restricted number of bathroom visits.
Should you need to use the restroom, you will receive 3 bathroom passes for every 10-week grading period. If you use all of them, you owe me time after class; if you don’t use them, you can turn them in for extra credit at the end of a grading period.
The restroom pass is the class clipboard. You must hold on to the clipboard the entire time you are out of class and bring it back undamaged.
CONSEQUENCES
-In-class warning and seat change (if necessary)
-Detention during after class/nutrition/lunch
-Parent/Guardian Contact
-Parent/Guardian Meeting
-Parent/Guardian Meeting with Administrator and/or Counselor
CONTACT: If there are ever any questions or concerns, please e-mail Ms. Dang at or . Students and parents can also sign up for text announcements through Remind.com (also a free app through the Apple Store or Google Play). Instructions on how to sign-up for reminders are as follows:
- Text @getlitdang to 81010. You can opt-out of messages at any time by replying “unsubscribe @getlitdang.” If you still experience issues, text @getlitdang to (213) 394-4634.
- Send an email to . You can leave the subject blank to sign-up via email. To unsubscribe, reply with “unsubscribe” in the subject line.
SYLLABUS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT/PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION FORM
FOR STUDENTS:
1. List two things that you will do in this class that will help you to earn a great grade.
a)______b)______
2. List two things that you would like Ms. Dang to do in this class that will help you to earn a great grade.
a)______b)______
3. With what clubs/sports/activities are you involved or are going to be involved this year?
______
______
4. What are your goals after high school? ______
______
5. Please add any additional information you would like Ms. Dang to know below:
______
______
6. By signing this form, I acknowledge and commit to the responsibilities outlined for English 12.
●I have read the policies and expectations for Ms. Dang’s class, and I understand my responsibility to submit classwork and homework.I accept any consequences for noncompliance.
●I understand the school-wide Late Work Policy. Late assignments will be docked partial points according to the timeline below:
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / FridayDUE DATE / 1 MEETING LATE / 2 MEETINGS LATE / 3 MEETINGS LATE / No class meeting
Late assignment can only earn a maximum of a 2, UNLESS students elect to attend tutoring.
4 points possible / -0.5 point / -0.5 point / -1 point
*Assignment will continue to be eligible for a maximum of 2 points until the end of the grading period. At the end of the grading period, the assignment will no longer be accepted late.
●After an assignment is late by three or more class meetings, students may submit the assignment for a maximum score of 2, UNLESS students come to at least ONE full session of tutoring. For major assignments, such as essays and presentations, students must come to at least TWO full sessions of tutoring in order to avoid penalty.
●If a student is unhappy with the score of any assignment, s/he may re-submit that assignment for full credit, provided that the original assignment was turned in on time.
●Late assignments will no longer be accepted once the 5-week grading period for that assignment closes.
Student Name: ______Student Signature: ______Date: ______
FOR PARENTS:
1. Have you had mostly positive or negative interactions with your child’s teachers in the past?¿Ha tenidointeraccionespositivas o negativascon la mayoríade los maestrosde su hijo/aen el pasado?
______
2. What should Ms. Dang know about your son or daughter that would help me teach them better? (Attach if needed) ¿Qué debo saberacerca de suhijo /aque me ayudaráaenseñarle mejor? (Adjuntarsi es necesario)
3. My son/daughter has reviewed the class expectations with me, and I understand what is expected of him/her. I will do what I can to help my child be successful.Mi hijo/hija a repasado la expectativas de la clase y los requisitos con migo y yo entiendo que espera de el/ella. Hare lo que puedo para ayudar a mi hijo/hija para ser exitoso/a.
Parent Name/ Nombre de Padre: ______Signature/ Firma: ______
E-Mail: ______Phone #/ Numero de Telefono: ______