* Mrs. Lauren N. Kaszonyi * * 412-655-8610 x 6255*
Course Web site: kaszonyi.wikispaces.com * Course Twitter Account: @TJAPEnglish
"The heights by great men reached and kept,
Were not obtained by sudden flight
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.”
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I. COURSE OVERVIEW
In this introductory college-level English Language and Composition course, students read a variety of academic texts and work to improve their writing style and strategies through the study of rhetoric. As students digest the course’s core texts, they examine how a given historical climate produces and influences both fiction and nonfiction literature. The featured literary authors for this course include: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, and Tim O’Brien. In addition, students will read designated chapters from The Language of Composition (2nd edition) as well as numerous supplemental nonfiction articles, essays, and other literary forms.
As growing writers, students will scrutinize and engage in argumentative, analytical, and research-based writing as they navigate the possibilities of language and composition. The curriculum helps students to develop their composition skills through the study, analysis, and application of rhetorical strategies in reading and writing. Students have opportunities for peer-review at several different stages of the writing process and specific stylistic analysis by their teacher, their peers, and themselves. This course’s writing requirements include a major independent research paper, a critical literary analysis, several rhetorical analysis essays, synthesis essays, and argument essays. Because writing is the focus of this course, students should expect to write frequently both in class and at home. I am available to conference with students regarding individual writing progress at any time throughout the school year. Students should schedule an individual writing conference with me if they are struggling.
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an authentic college experience as well as the tools to become close readers and skilled writers. By the end of the year, students should be able to interact more capably with literary texts and write with a more focused sense of purpose and a mastery of rhetorical strategies. Students should be aware of how their writing fits with the occasion, the audience, and the purpose. All students will be encouraged to take the AP English Language and Composition exam in the hopes of earning 3 college credits. Please be aware that even if a student decides not to participate in the exam, he/she will still engage in test preparation throughout the school year. Many students find that the fourth nine weeks is the most challenging in terms of the workload and difficulty of the material. Students will be expected to practice writing AP essays (rhetorical analysis, synthesis, and persuasive essays) throughout the school year; however, we will practice these types of essays more intensely during the fourth nine weeks. The AP exam will take place on May 18, 2018 at the cost of $93. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. For further information regarding testing, please visit the College Board Web site at www.collegeboard.com.
*PLEASE NOTE: Students enrolled in this course should welcome academic challenge and understand that this course parallels the expectations and requirements of a college composition course. Students must exhibit a dedicated work ethic in order to be successful in this class.
II. PRIMARY READING SELECTIONS
Textbook: The Language of Composition (2nd edition)
Novels, Essays, and Poetry:
The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
Revolution Rhetoric: Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Abigail Adams, Ben Franklin
Walden, “Civil Disobedience,” and “Life without Principle” by Henry David Thoreau
Excerpts from Nature and “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Selected poetry by Walt Whitman
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut or another war novel of choice
*See overview of course readings for more detail*
III. CLASSROOM RULES AND EXPECTATIONS
v Demonstrate respect for your teacher, your classmates, and yourself at all times.
v Be prepared for class. You are expected to have read all assigned material prior to the due date so that you can fully participate in class activities and discussions. Failure to read is unacceptable.
v Stay focused, on task, and motivated. Always give your full attention to the assigned task and put forth your best effort.
IV. AP HONOR CODE
v AP students are expected to practice academic honesty and integrity at all times. Any cheating (minor or major) will result in a failing grade and will be reported to the proper administrators and the National Honor Society sponsor for further disciplinary action.
V. ABSENCE PROCEDURES (*Please take special note of this section)
v If you are absent from class for any reason, it is your responsibility to see me about missed work. You are responsible for all material covered in class (notes and discussion) and any missed assignments. Please see me in the morning on the day you return to school regarding missed work.
v If you know that you are going to be absent due to an appointment, field trip, and/or athletic event, let me know beforehand and retrieve your assignments. You are required to be prepared for class the day of your return (quizzes, tests, homework, etc.).
v You must make up all missed work (including tests/quizzes) in a timely manner. TJHS gives you the same number of days to make-up work as you were absent. If you were absent for only one day and a test was given that day, you must take the test on the day you return. If you are absent or late to school on a day that a major composition is due, the composition is still due. You must submit the composition via e-mail by your assigned class period time just as you would in college. Late compositions will incur a 10% point deduction per day late.
VI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. English Notebook
v A three-ring binder is required so that you can add or delete pages as necessary and should include, by unit and in chronological order, all class handouts, study guides, homework, notes, and vocabulary units. Please organize your binder into the following categories:
Semester 1 Semester 2
AP Dictionary AP Dictionary
AP Test Prep AP Test Prep
The Language of Composition The Language of Composition
The Scarlet Letter The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Writers of the Revolution The Great Gatsby
Modern Rhetoric TED Talk
Grammar and Style War Literature Unit
Research Final Exam Review
Transcendentalism
Midterm Exam Review
2. Compositions and Research
v Compositions will be written both in and out of class and must follow current MLA format.
v A rough draft may or may not be collected. However, it is expected that rough drafts are completed for more extensive, formal compositions.
v Late papers and research will receive an automatic deduction of one letter grade (10%) for each day the assignment is late. This is a TJHS English department policy.
v Students at TJHS are required to complete a satisfactory research project. Failure to do so will result in failure of the course for the year, regardless of other course grades, as per department and district policy.
v If your personal printer malfunctions, e-mail the document to yourself and print at school. A broken printer (or lack of printer) is never an acceptable excuse for late work. In the case that the school printers malfunction, you are expected to e-mail your work to me by your assigned class period. No exceptions.
3. Participation in Literary Discussions
v An integral part of this course is the discussion of American literature and the social and historical climates surrounding the novels we read. Your participation in Socratic seminar discussions is expected, required, and assessed. You must engage in a conversation with the novels to fully appreciate the literature and to demonstrate your understanding of larger social issues present within the text.
4. Independent Vocabulary Study
v During the course of the school year, you are tasked with creating an AP dictionary which includes terminology specific to your ability level and needs. You are able to use your AP dictionary during AP multiple choice exams and in-class timed writings.
VII. GRADING POLICY
1. Grades are determined using a total points system. You will earn points throughout the grading period which will then be converted to a percentage grade at the end of each nine weeks. The grading scale is as follows:
A: 90-100% B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69%
*Note: Students are awarded an extra quality point for grades above a D.
2. You are responsible for keeping track of your grades using the PowerSchool system.
3. Assessments may include but are not limited to the following:
Discussions/Participation Take-Home Compositions Timed Essays
Presentations Group Projects Creative Projects
Homework Reading Quizzes Debates
Vocabulary Quizzes Required Research Paper Unit Tests
VIII. CURRICULUM MAP
August/Sept. / Oct./Nov. / Dec./Jan. / Feb./March / April/May / JuneRequired Reading:
Summer reading
The Scarlet Letter
Reading supplements:
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Jonathan Edwards
Chapters 1, 2, and 5 from The Language of Composition / Required Reading:
Writers of the Revolution
Modern Rhetoric
Grammar and Style Unit
Chapters 3 and 4 from The Language of Composition
Required Research Project:
Note-taking
Outline
Rough drafts
Final copy / Required Reading:
Walden, “Life Without Principle,” and
“Civil Disobedience,”
Henry David Thoreau
Nature and “Self Reliance,” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Select Walt Whitman poetry
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain / Required Reading:
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Fitzgerald’s Eras,” Matthew J. Bruccoli
“Gatsby: False Prophet of the American Dream,” Roger Pearson
Excerpts from Reading Lolita in Tehran, Azar Nafisi
Chapter of Choice from Lang. of Comp. / Required Reading:
Chapters of Choice from Lang. of Comp.
AP Test Preparation – many nonfiction essays accompany this preparation
The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien
Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut (or another war novel of choice) / Required Reading:
none
Required Writing: argument essay, creative writing or critical analysis / Required Writing: rhetorical analysis essay, research proposal, research paper / Required Writing: creative writing, synthesis essay, satirical analysis / Required Writing: argument essay, synthesis essay / Required Writing: synthesis essay, argument essay, rhetorical analysis essay / Required Writing: optional essay final
AP English Language and Composition Course Contract
*Please sign and return this form by the end of the first week of school*
I have read and understand the course requirements, expectations, academic challenges, grading procedures, and AP honor code. I understand that I will be held accountable for fulfilling course expectations and maintaining academic integrity at all times. Because this is a college course in high school, I understand that my writing will often be assessed using the rigorous College Board 9 point holistic grading rubric. This rubric reflects college-level composition expectations. Additionally, I understand that all reading will be completed independently outside of class. It is expected that AP students engage in a close reading of all assigned material and come to class prepared to discuss.
In the event that I engage in any type of academic dishonesty (copying homework, plagiarizing a paper, cheating on a quiz or test, etc.), I understand that I will receive no credit for the assignment and that my name will be submitted to the administration and the National Honor Society sponsor for further disciplinary measures.
I vow to submit my own, original work and to put forth my best effort throughout the school year. I accept the challenges of Advanced Placement, including the increased work load, rigorous pacing, and higher academic standards.
Class Title: __AP English Language and Composition__ Period: ______
Student Name (print): ______
Student Signature: ______
Parent/Guardian Signature: ______Date: ______
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