AP English Language and Composition Syllabus

 

 

Anchor Text:

 

The Language of Composition, Third Edition (2019)

 

 

Course Description

 

This course, equivalent to an introductory college English course, focuses on language arts skills and nonfiction literature. Additionally, students will hone their reading skills on critical and rhetorical analysis. Students will engage in timed writing, analysis of writers’ style and diction, and preparation for the AP Language and Composition test. Depending on the college they select, students may receive college credit and/or qualify for advanced standing upon entering college.

 

According to the College Board, “The AP English Language and Composition course focuses on the development and revision of evidence-based analytic and argumentative writing, the rhetorical analysis of nonfiction texts, and the decisions writers make as they compose and revise. Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Additionally, they read and analyze rhetorical elements and their effects in nonfiction texts—including images as forms of text— from a range of disciplines and historical periods” (College Board Course and Exam Description 7). The course is structured by unit, theme, genre, or other organizational approach that provides opportunities to engage with the following big ideas throughout the course: Rhetorical Situation, Claims and Evidence, Reasoning and Organization, Style.

 

Course Objectives

 

Upon completion of the AP English Language and Composition course, the College Board states that students should master the following skills:

 

• Interpret and analyze purposeful writing, identifying and explaining an author’s use of rhetorical strategies.

• Analyze images and other multimedia for rhetorical features in order to acknowledge the power of visual literacy in understanding an author’s purpose.

• Use effective rhetorical strategies and techniques when composing.

• Write for a variety of purposes.

• Go through a writing process that includes feedback from other readers, revision, and proofreading.

• Respond to different writing tasks according to their unique rhetorical and composition demands, and translate that rhetorical assessment into a plan for writing.

• Learn to see argument as addressing a wide range of purposes in a variety of formats. 

 

This is a writing-intensive course. Students will write regular in-class essays; students are expected to revise essays through reflection, peer revision, and conferencing. Either written or conference-style feedback will be given on writing assignments. Some reading assignments will be completed as homework. During our class period we will discuss, analyze, and write about the texts we have read.

 

Evaluation

 

Your grade will be based on the following criteria, as well as other assignments that are given at my discretion:

 

 

Communication: If you have a question about a grade or an assignment, you may send me a message via email to ask about the grade. Your message must be written in an academic tone and formatted as appropriately with a subject, greeting, body, and salutation. My email address is [email protected]. Text @dupuylangto the number 81010 to receive class reminders.

 

Independent Reading:  Accelerated Reader will count for 5% of your semester grade. You must read a book that is within your level. You must achieve your specified number of points, and you must maintain an 85% average on all quizzes as is mandated by the school. Every week, you will have 15-20 minutes designated to silent reading. During this time, you must have your AR book, you must be reading, and you must not be talking or creating any classroom disturbance. You may not work on an assignment for another class. If you forget your book, or come to class without a book, I will assign you a book to read. You will not be allowed to leave the class to go to the library unless you take an AR test at the beginning of class. 

 

Course Expectations:

 

• Students are expected to be successful in this class and come to it with a positive attitude.

• Students are expected to write. And write. And write some more.

• Students are expected to be curious learners who collaborate with each other through respect and mutual growth goals.

• Students are expected to be in their seats when the bell rings. 

• Students are expected to respect the opinions of others in class discussions. 

• Students are expected to participate in class readings and discussions. 

• Students are expected to come to me if they encounter a problem understanding any segment of the course.

• Students are expected to complete assigned readings on time.

• Students are expected to take the AP course exam at the end of the year.

 

Assignments: Assignments are posted weekly on my OnCourse website under the agendas tab. It is the student’s responsibility to keep up with assignments, assessments, and daily agendas. 

 

Makeup Work:  If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to collect your makeup work. Essentially, you will have one class day for every day absent to complete the work. This includes ALL assignments, including major assignments. Assignments will be entered as a 0 in the gradebook until they are made up. If an assignment in the quizzes or homework categories is not made up in the time frame as explained above, it will not receive more than half credit. If an assignment in the tests/large essays or informal writing/projects categories is not made up in the appropriate time frame as explained above, the grade will decrease 10% each day. AR is a district-wide initiative and therefore cannot be completed past the deadline. Please collect notes or bellringers missed from a classmate.

 

Cheating: Cheating is any act of turning in work that is not your own, giving or receiving answers on a test or quiz, plagiarizing in a written or oral report, or any other form of academic dishonesty, such as taking an AR test over a book that you have not read. Any student who is caught cheating will receive a 0 on the assignment and will not be allowed to make it up for credit. They may also be subject to disciplinary action. Students are responsible for knowing whether or not their work is an act of plagiarism. Unsure if you have plagiarized? Check here: Harvard Writing Center: What Constitutes Plagiarism?

 

Technology:  Students are expected to follow the school-wide cell phone policy in my class. Parents and guardians, please respect school policies and contact students via the office when students are in school. Much of the work assigned to students this year will be done on laptops. Students are expected to stay on-task and access only sites appropriate to the coursework. Continuous misuse of technology will be met with disciplinary action and/or academic penalties. 

 

Entering Class: In order to be considered on time for my class, you must be: 1. In your assigned seat with proper uniform, 2. Quiet, 3. Working on bell work with necessary supplies on your desk. Parental contact and/or disciplinary action will be taken if a student is not consistently following procedures. 

 

Support Systems for Students: Recognizing that not all students are prepared for all material taught at the same time, students will regularly be pulled for Hype Time intervention. Parent/guardian conferences must be scheduled through the guidance department. 

 

Materials: Please come to class with computers charged. Additionally, all students need to bring the an AR book, a binder or folder with loose leaf paper, and highlighters. Students should have a blue or black ink pen with which to write. Since we cannot write in school book copies, I suggest that students maintain a composition notebook for their annotations.

 

Curriculum: All texts used in this class or works of literary merit, they have appeared on the AP exam in the past, or they have been taught traditionally at West Feliciana High School. Students will be expected to master high level texts and classics with thought-provoking themes. If you or your student have any questions or concerns about the texts taught in this class, please contact me in writing.

 

** This syllabus is subject to change at any point in the year at teacher’s discretion**