AP English Language and Composition and American literature Course Syllabus 2017-2018

Mrs. Amelia Sanders

Room # 2205

678-494-7844 ext. 491

Course Overview & Goals

This course focuses on the study of American literature, embracing its rhetorical nature and recognizing the literature as a platform for argument. This course provides the rigor and challenge of a college level English course. It emphasizes a variety of writing modes and genres and the essential conventions of reading, writing, and speaking. The students will develop an understanding of how historical context in American literature affect its structure, meaning, and rhetorical stance. The course will enable students to become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts. The students will encounter a variety of informational, literary, and non-print texts from across the curriculum and read texts in all genres and modes of discourse, as well as visual and graphic images. Instruction in language conventions and essential vocabulary will occur within the context of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The students will demonstrate an understanding of listening, speaking, and viewing skills for a variety of purposes. This course will focus on the consideration of subject, occasion, audience, purpose, speaker, and tone as the guide for effective writing, as well as the way generic conventions and resources of language contribute to writing effectiveness. The students will compose a variety of writing, including expository, analytical, and argumentative writings which support the academic and professional communication required by colleges, as well as personal and reflective writings which support the development of writing facility in any context. The students will produce responses to timed writing assignments, as well as writing that proceeds through several stages or drafts, which include opportunities for revision guided by feedback from teacher and peers. Students will analyze primary and secondary sources and develop the research skills needed to effectively synthesize these sources for their writing.

Textbooks

TEXTBOOK

Selections from various texts (electronic & class copies)

Thank You for Arguing, Jay Heinrichs

The Crucible, Arthur Miller

Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer

Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston

The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald

The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien

Individual Reading Selection (Details to come)

Materials Required

  • Lined paper, pens, pencils, highlighters, sticky notes
  • An organized three-ring binder. Suggestedorganization is described below:

Class Notes & Reference Material - organized by unit of study

  • You will be expected to take notes during lectures and class discussion. Sometimes a note sheet will be provided for you by the teacher, but not all the time.
  • All materials given for class reference should also be kept up with and organized by unit. These materials will be related directly to American Literature concepts, AP language and composition issues, writing instruction, MLA/APA guidelines, and online resource help.

CCSD Grading Scale

90-100 = A80-89 = B74-79 = C70-73 = D69 and below = F

Grading Procedures/ Percentages

20%Formative assessments (classwork/homework, quizzes, discussions)

30%Summative Writing & Language assessments

30%Summative Reading & Listening/Speaking/Viewing assessments

20%EOC

Final Exam/ End of Course/AP Exam

A midterm exam is given at the end of fall semester; a final exam is given at the end of spring semester.

There is a State-Mandated End-of-Course Test in American Literature that counts 20% of the final course grade. End-of-Course test scores are also posted on transcripts. The EOC for this course will be given at the end of the FALL SEMESTER.

In addition to preparing students for college level classes, AP language and composition is also driven by the yearly AP Exam. While this exam is not required and does cost extra money, it is highly encouraged. Not only does the exam itself prepare you for the rigor college exams will entail, it can also earn you college credit. In addition to these benefits, Kell also offers the following incentive: students may exempt the final exam during SPRING SEMESTER if they take the AP exam for this class.

  • If a student signs up for an AP exam but does not take the AP exam, his/her grade for the semester will be amended so as to reflect a grade of zero for the class final examination if it is not taken.

Exam Dates

FallEOC:Wednesday, 11/29, Thursday, 11/30, Friday, 12/1

AP Exam:Wednesday, May 16, 8am

Class Expectations

The faculty and students at Kell are a community of people working together. In order to accomplish our goals, we must treat each other with mutual respect and adhere to established expectations of behavior.

Classroom Procedures

  • Once the bell rings, be in the classroom and please take out necessary materials for class and start reviewing/working on the warm-up.
  • Bathroom/Hall Passes: No passes are given within the first or last 15 minutes of class. Passes out of the classroom will be given at the discretion of the teacher.
  • Class is not dismissed by the bell. Students are to remain in their seats until the teacher dismisses them.

Classwork

Classwork will be a combination of lecture, discussion of readings, answering student questions, group work, independent work, and AP exam practice. Attendance and participation in class are essential to your success in this course.

Homework

Daily reading assignments and required work will be included. Quiz and test dates will be noted. Students are responsible for keeping up with reading assignments and being aware of, and ready for, quizzes and tests. Unannounced quizzes are always a possibility. Periodically, essays and/or projects will be required to be completed outside of class, but the bulk of your homework will be reading and studying. Unit calendars will be provided with updates as necessary.

Due Dates

Assignments are due in class on the due date unless otherwise noted. Summative assignments may be submitted up to 1 day late for a maximum score of 70%. If absent on a due date, the absence must be excused, and the assignment will be accepted without penalty the day the student returns. Late classwork/homework is not accepted. If a student misses a homework assignment due to an excused absence, he/she will be permitted to make-up the assignment or will be omitted from it all together.

Attendance/Make-Up Work/Grades

It is your responsibility as a student to maintain make-up work or any information discussed in class while absent. If you are absent look on the class blog for the information you missed, and be sure to check the make-up bin for anything with your name on it. If you missed notes while you were gone, get that information from one of your classmates or check the blog, sometimes notes appear there. If you still have questions, ask the teacher before or after class or during extra help hours. Bottom line: it is your responsibility. Long-term assignments or upcoming tests are expected to be completed on time even if absent the day prior.

Grades will be placed as a zero until any outstanding work is made up. It must be done in a timely manner – for me this means within a week of the absence. If work is not made-up within the given time frame, the grade of zero will remain as the final grade for that assignment. You must make-up work during LASSO or before/after school - class time is not used to make-up work.

Extra Help & Make-Up Hours

LEAP tutoring and/or LASSO period

Other times available if needed – speak with Mrs. Sanders to schedule an appointment.

Class Blog: (group code will be given out in class)

A classroom blog is available for both the student and parent to have as a tool in keeping up with classroom assignments and activities. The blog is updated each day with the daily agenda, including printable handouts, notes (when possible), and assignments. If a student misses class or has a question regarding an assignment or activity in class, this is the first place to check before coming to the teacher.

General Class Behavioral Expectations

Students are expected to be in class every day, arrive on time, and remain attentive, respectful, and on task throughout the entire class period.

-Show RESPECT: For your teacher, yourself, and your classmates.

-Please bring ALL necessary materials to class, everyday; failure to do so will result in a lower conduct grade. Necessary materials include books, notebooks, writing utensils, assignments, etc.

-Keep voices at an appropriate level

-No DISTRACTING Food or Drink – Drinks must have lids and your area must remain clean of food or drink debris. This privilege will be revoked if cleanliness becomes an issue.

*Consequences for breaking any of the above rules:

1) A verbal warning by the teacher

2) A telephone call to the parents or guardian of the student in violation of classroom rules

3) Morning or afternoon detention – it will be served within the week of the offense

4) Referral to administration

*If misconduct is an extreme offense, consequence one, two, and/or three from above may be by-passed.

Personal Electronic Devices Policy (Please see Student Handbook for more details)

Electronic devices are not permitted UNLESS given direct permission by the classroom teacher. Some situations and learning activities will be appropriate for use of electronic devices, others will not. The teacher will determine when it is appropriate to use cell phones, i-pods, e-readers, or other devices. Basic rules:

-Phone calls and/or texting are NEVER permitted in the classroom unless given direct permission by a teacher.

-Using a PED to take pictures or recordings is NEVER permitted in the classroom unless given direct permission by a teacher.

-PEDs are NEVER permitted to be out during a testing environment. If a PED is out during a testing situation it will automatically be assumed that the student is cheating.

-If listening to music while working, ear pieces must be worn, and the volume must be low enough so another person cannot hear it. Sharing ear pieces is not permitted.

If at any time the teacher believes a student is abusing the privilege of using electronic devices, the privilege will be taken away and the student will be assigned an administrative referral.

**A copy of this syllabus is available on the class blog should you need to refer back to it at any time.**

Please complete the attached portion and return it to the teacher

I have read the course syllabus and class expectations information sheet, and I understand the student is responsible for knowing the information and following all of the course rules and regulations. I also understand that the class blog will be updated daily and will be a vital part of this class.

This course syllabus must be signed by the student and parent, and then returned to the teacher by:

Student’s signature Date

Parent’s SignatureDate

IMPORTANT for PARENTS:Parents, please print the following information.

Does your student have consistent access to a computer with a word processor? ______

Does your student have consistent access to the internet? ______

Home Phone Number:

Mother/ Legal Guardian Name

Second Contact Number (cell phone or work #)

**Email Contact:

Father/ Legal Guardian Name

Second Contact Number (cell phone or work #)

**Email Contact:

** Please print legibly as this will be my primary means of communication.