AP Language and Composition Instructor: Ms. Finney Course: AP Language and Composition Contact:
[email protected] Course Description "The AP English Language and Composition course is designed to help students become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts and to become skilled writers who can compose for a variety of purposes. By their writing and reading in this course, students should become aware of the interactions among a writer's purposes, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effective writing." (College Board, 2004) Primary Learning Goals AP Language and Composition is a college level course that explores the way in which rhetoric is used as an art of persuasion. Using Aristotle's systematization of rhetoric as a base, students will look at the three types of persuasive appeals: pathos, ethos, and logos in expository, analytical, argumentative, and personal text. By doing this, students will deepen their awareness of how rhetoric works from the perspective of the writer, speaker, and listener, and the influence of language on the individual and society at large. By the end of the course, students will understand: • What they read: the thesis, the author's motivation for writing, tone and style, and the occasion or context. • How a text is created to develop meaning and purpose including genre, organization, paragraphing, syntax; • The relationship of the text's creation to its accomplishment, the purpose of academic intellectual prose, its meaning and effects; • How to articulate their analysis of what they read; how the organizational structure, diction, syntax, imagery, figurative language flesh out the meaning of a text; • How to create, develop and support an argument, acknowledging the complexities and nuances of important issues that adults argue about in contemporary intellectual circles; • How to become good citizens through public discourse issues • How to enter into a conversation with sources and develop a thesis or argument or exposition by synthesizing these conversations into their own writing; • How to analyze and incorporate their analysis of visual texts into their writing; • Effective research skills and proper MLA citation; • How to read a question or essay prompt so they know how to approach it • How to grapple with archaic prose • Test-taking strategies necessary for the success on the AP English Language and Composition exam • How to write using various rhetorical strategies
Writing Requirements: The goal of the writing program implemented in this course is that students will be prepared to write the type of position papers required in college. This will require you to generate an effective thesis, support your thesis with major premises and evidence, and to justify your argument. In order to do this effectively, you must synthesize information from multiple sources to create a coherent and sustained case for your position, and cite your sources using an approved method of citation. Throughout this course we will focus on analytical, argumentative, and expository writing. To do this, we will read multiple authors that have vast experiences and perspectives, as well as examine various supplemental materials. Informal journal writing will also be implemented in order to form our arguments. In-Class Timed Writings: In-class timed writing will be given on a regular basis. These will consist of writing prompts from past AP exams, as well as responses to assigned readings and current events in the local, national, and global news. All in-class essays are hand written in blue or black ink and simulate the AP exam experience. When essays are revised and rewritten beyond the initial in-class "rough draft" and are reviewed, edited, and reflected upon by the teacher and/or peers, they must be typed and in accordance with MLA format. Nonfiction Presentation Project: Students will choose an American nonfiction author in order to research his/her major work(s), rhetorical devices, mode of discourse, and style. Students will develop a PowerPoint presentation and speech that will be delivered during class. This project is completed in the 2nd semester (3rd quarter). Students will be given specific guidelines and approved list of authors: Classroom Policies: ü Homework is due at the beginning of the period. If it is not completed, student will follow the homework guidelines established by the school. Please read your Student Handbook for further information concerning homework policies. ü You must come to class each day prepared and on time. Once you come in, you are to complete the Do Now activity that will be on the board. Credit will be given each day for the completion of the writing activity. ü To be successful, you must bring in the required material and assignments each day. This includes the following 1. An English five subject interactive notebook 2. One glue stick 3. Blue or black pens 4. Highlighters (2 or more colors) Additional materials you may want to have: • A pocket dictionary • Loose-leaf notebook paper • Post-it tabs • A packet of Index cards • Los Angeles Public Library card (lapl.org) • Flash drive (this may be the same flash drive you use for Medical Science 11) ü Scholarly discussions are a big part of the learning environment in this classroom. Thus it
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is imperative that we value the opinion of others. Students are free to express their perspective in an educated manner, and will be given the upmost respect. In exchange, you are free to voice your opinion, challenge a claim, or justify an argument. Please remember that the same level of respect you desire from others should be given. Students are required to read all reading assignments that are assigned in a timely and prompt manner. This class offers students the opportunity to discuss various subjects, so it is crucial that all parties stay on top of the reading. In addition, students should stay up to date with current issues around the world, so that they can make an educated and insightful contribution to classroom discussions surrounding political and social topics. Students need to comprehend and analyze various perspectives on the issues they read and write about, while also deciphering the rhetorical devices used to convey their message. Final drafts of major written assignments must be typed and follow the MLA format unless otherwise specified. This includes a works cited page. When credit is not given to the original author, it is called PLAIGARISM!!!!! Students who plagiarize will be given no credit and will be reported to the office for further discipline. Technology is integrated in the course throughout the year. Students and the teacher o utilize Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for assignments, o presentations, activities and projects. Students will also utilize the Internet for interactive o blogs, project research, and the school website for download of assignments and o homework. Students are required to interact with technology as a part of each unit. o Students will also be required to participate in discussions via their grade level blog. Cell phones must be turned off and put away during the class period. If your cellular device is visible, it will immediately be confiscated and turned into the office. Please see the student handbook for further information pertaining to the confiscation of cellular devices. Food, gum, and drinks are not allowed in the classroom. The Code of Conduct in your student handbook will be strictly adhered to. Inappropriate language, cruel remarks, bullying and other negative behavior will not be tolerated. Please refer to pages 25 to 28 in your student handbook for further details.
Grading Scale A = 3.4 – 4.0
B = 2.7 – 3.3
C = 2.0 – 2.6
NP = below 2.0
Absences To best succeed in school, you should be in class every day. But if an absence is unavoidable, then you are responsible for making up all class work and homework within forty-eight hours of your return.
Students will find all assignments posted on PowerSchool and/or the school website. Remember, taking the initiative to do this make-up work is solely your responsibility. Course Outline: The AP Language and Composition course will follow the following outline. Please note that this is a tentative schedule, and subject to change: Unit 1: Introduction to Language Theme: Language and the craft of writing. Learning Goals: Students will understand: • close reading and annotation • parts of speech and English sentence construction • SOAPSTone and TPCASTT as analysis strategies • how to approach a pre-20th century text • AP multiple choice testing format • Close reading of a bibliographic citation • How to create an annotated bibliography • How to compose a complete, well-developed paragraph • The effectiveness of an author’s technique Texts will include the following genres • biographical excerpts • essays • op-eds • poems • advertisements • photos • political cartoons Writing Assignments: • Analysis Paragraphs: Evaluate the effectiveness of the author’s writing strategies. • Analytical Essay: Analyze the rhetorical and writing strategies from the selected readings. Which author most effectively used rhetorical and writing strategies to convey their message? AP Exam Practice: • Multiple Choice sample tests Unit 2: Rhetorical Analysis Theme: Government, democracy, values, & society
Learning Goals: Students will understand: • close reading and annotation • the rhetorical triangle and rhetorical strategies • analysis of primary documents • forming an objective argument • selecting appropriate evidence • analysis of visual text • how to structure a formal written argument • format and function of in-text citation and a Works Cited Page (MLA) • the AP Analysis Free Response format Texts will include the following genres • primary political documents • essays • op-eds • advertisements • photos • political cartoons • newspaper headlines • blog posts • paintings • music Writing Assignments: • Analytical Essay: Analyze the rhetorical and writing strategies from the selected readings. Which author most effectively used rhetorical and writing strategies to convey their message? AP Exam Practice: • Multiple Choice sample • 2 released free response questions, or analysis of a text from a past Synthesis FRQ document Unit 3: Argument Theme: Aestheics: art, media & entertainment; nature & the environment Learning Goals: Students will understand: • development of an argumentative position • explanation of evidence • how to incorporate evidence into an argument • specific vs. general details; sophistication of evidence • revision for clarity • features of visual texts • research note-taking Pg 5
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generating research questions application of formal rhetorical strategies
Writing Foci: • presenting evidence • coherence & unity • development of an idea • Developing a complete essay AP Exam Practice: • Argument Free Response Questions Unit 4: Synthesis Theme: Culture, voice, colonization; the American Dream; marginalization; war Learning Goals: Students will understand: • close reading and annotation • developing a single argument from multiple texts • pairing visual and written texts • how to manage complexity or ambiguity in art and writing • writing on a concept vs. writing on a source/text Writing Foci: • establishing a tone • developing personal style • using multiple, distinct sources to support a single idea • timed writing AP Exam Practice: • Synthesis Free Response Questions Unit 5: Targeted Development Students will have personalized remediation and support to continue learning and skill development Unit 6: Personal Statements Unit 7: Film Criticism and Analysis
1 Portions of syllabus adapted from Rolf M. Gunnar's Syllabus: AP 11- English Language and Composition copyright 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011; Tiffany Edwards’ Syllabus: AP English Language, 2011
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