AP English Language / Honors American Literature – Composition: 2014 - 15
Mrs. Coane
Kell High School: Language Arts Department
Kell High School: (678) 494-7844 e-mail:
Class website: http://www.cobblearning.net/coane (click “AP Lang” tab on top of page)
School new website: www.carltonjkellhighschool.com
Welcome to AP English Language/Honors American Literature - Composition. I am so happy that you have chosen to include academic rigor in your high school career by requesting to take this course. By design, this course is to introduce you to the rigorous and fast-pace requirements of college level courses. This course is designed to comply with the curricular requirements described in the AP Course Description and the content requirements of the State of Georgia. Students experience several intrinsic NEW ELEMENTS within this course as it is the FIRST AP ENGLISH COURSE a student may request to take, and thus . . .
· it is the FIRST experience with the academic demands of COLLEGE LEVEL ENGLISH classes,
· it is the FIRST English course where the content focus is LANGUAGE, not literature,
· it is the only course that includes three STATE / NATIONAL MANDATED TESTS:
1. Georgia High School Graduation Writing Test : Wednesday, September 24,
2. AP English Language Exam: Friday, May13, 2015 @ 8:00AM (yes, it starts @ 8:00 AM! ),
3. state mandated End Of Course (EOC): TBA (about last week in April – two days during class
Our study includes extensive reading, intensive writing, and continued development of critical thinking skills. Success in this course will require your time – time to read, time to write and time to think. Shortchanging yourself in any of these areas will severely decrease your success in this class.
“Course Description: This college-level course provides students with opportunities to write about a variety of subjects from a variety of disciplines and to demonstrate an awareness of audience and purpose - emphasizing expository, analytical, and argumentative writing. AP English Language students read primary and secondary sources carefully, synthesize material from these texts in their own compositions, and cite sources using conventions recommended by professional organizations. The purpose of the AP English Language course is to enable students to read complex texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers. The course pre-supposes that a student is proficient in composition. It is geared to the student who aspires to take the AP English Language Exam in May; all students are expected to take the AP English Language Exam. Non-fiction prose literature is the primary emphasis of AP English Language. This is a rigorous course requiring extensive reading and writing; class participation is extremely important and poor attendance can negatively affect the grade in the course and on the AP Exam.
The College Board outlines the curricular requirements for students of AP English Language /American Literature as:
• analyze and interpret samples of good writing, identifying and explaining an author’s use of rhetorical strategies and techniques;
• apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writing;
• create and sustain arguments based on readings, research, and/or personal experience;
• write for a variety of purposes;
• produce expository, analytical, and argumentative compositions that introduce a complex central idea and develop it with
appropriate evidence drawn from primary and/or secondary sources, cogent explanations, and clear transitions;
• demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English as well as stylistic maturity in their own writings;
• demonstrate understanding of the conventions of citing primary and secondary sources;
• move effectively through the stages of the writing process, with careful attention to inquiry and research, drafting, revising, editing,
and review;
• write thoughtfully about their own process of composition;
• revise a work to make it suitable for a different audience;
• analyze image as text; and
• evaluate and incorporate reference documents into researched papers.”
HONORS AMERICAN LITERATURE – COMPOSITION: This course is a chronological study of American Literature from native inhabitants and early colonial exploration to the writers of the struggle for freedom and independence from the old world. From this Birth of a Nation, students examine the emerging and uniquely American voice that contributes to the literary periods of Romanticism and Transcendentalism, Realism, Modernism, and the Contemporary. Inherent within the course is a state required research paper. As an AP course, it is an Honors course and endorses the principles of Honors Classes, as such, students are expected to not only meet class expectations as outlined below and in the Student Handbook, but also to adhere to the precepts of an Honor Code. Academic integrity is based on a respect for individual achievement and requires a commitment to always produce your “personal best.” Adherence to an Honor Code prohibits cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, as well as aiding and abetting academic dishonesty. Honor Codes are mainstays of many universities and colleges; information about Honor Codes is included on the following sites:
http://www.virginia.edu/honor/, http://www.princeton.edu/honor/, http://library.gcsu.edu/~sc/gcsuexhibit/honor. htmlhttp://www.honor.gatech.edu/revwhat.html, http://www.college.emory.edu/current/standards/honor_code.html
AP English Language/ American Literature-Composition 2014 -15:
1st Semester Curriculum (Estimated)
1st 6 Weeks:August 4 – September 12 / 2nd 6 Weeks:
September 13 – October 31 / 3rd 6 Weeks:
November 1 – December 19
Student Holidays:
September 1 (Mon) – Labor Day Holiday
· Summer Readings: Submit work; Literary Circle; Discussions; assessments
· Intro to AP English LANGUAGE – differences between “language” and “literature”
· Pre-Tests: Allusions/ root words; Vocabulary; Literary Terms; Literature Unit 1(pre-tests are NOT included in academic grade - a Zero Credit item)
· Deconstruction of previous AP English Language Exam Prompts
· Annotation When Reading: How and Why
· Allusions/root words: Students present
· Vocabulary: Units 1 & 2
· SAT “Hot Words”
· Literature Unit 1: Literature of Early America (Beginnings to 1800) (textbook)
· The Crucible (in textbook)
· Plagiarism Unit (lead-in to Research Paper)
· MLA Writing Format
· Personal Narrative Essay
· Persuasive Essay
· Embedded Grammar Study
· Begin Research Paper (DUE January)
· Prepare for Georgia State Graduation Writing Test ( Sept. 24, 1 and 2nd periods)
· Literary Terms
· 10 Minute AP MC Practice
· Propaganda/ Persuasive Writing Techniques
· Aristotle’s Forms of Reasoning; Art of Persuasion (chart)
Subject to change / Student Holidays:
Sept 15 –19 –Student/Teacher Holiday
State/ National Testing:
Georgia State Graduation Test: Writing –
Sept 24th (Wed)(required for all 11th
grade students)
PSAT –Oct. 15 (11th graders must register
through Guidance and pay to take
test which is REQUIRED for consider-
ation for National Merit
Scholarships)
· Prepare for Georgia State Graduation Writing Test ( September 24th Wed, 1st and 2nd periods)
· Deconstruction of previous AP English Language Exam Prompts
· Allusions/root words: Students present
· Vocabulary: Units 3 & 4
· SAT “Hot Words”
· Literature Unit 2: Literature of The American Renaissance ( 1800 to 1870) (textbook)
· Parallel Reading
· 10 Minute AP MC Practice
· Embedded Grammar Study
· MLA Writing Format
· Research Paper
· Readings from Norton Reader (college textbook)
· AP English Language Exam Multiple Choice pre-test/practice
· Literary Terms
· Art of Persuasion (chart)
· Persuasive Writing Techniques/Allusions
· Students register & pay for all AP Exams
(exams: May 4 – 15) / Student Holidays:
November 4(Tues)- Student Holiday
/Teacher Workday
November 24 -28 (Mon – Fri) –
Thanksgiving Holidays
Dec 22 (Mon) – Jan 5 (Mon) –Winter
Break
· Deconstruction of previous AP English Language Exam Prompts
· Allusions/root words: Students present; completed chart due; assessment over all
· Practice AP Eng Lang Exam multiple choice questions
· Vocabulary: Units 5 & 6
· SAT “Hot Words”
· Literary Terms
· Embedded Grammar Study
· Literature Unit 2: Literature of The American Renaissance ( 1800 to 1870) (textbook)- final Unit Exam
· Parallel Reading
· 10 Minute AP MC Practice
· AP English Language Exam Multiple Choice practice; Error Review Form
· Persuasive Writing Techniques/ Logos
· Research Paper – Rough draft peer-edit due; “Best Draft” submitted to teacher Nov.
· Readings from Norton Reader (college textbook)
· Art of Persuasion (chart)
· Semester Final Exam - given according to school schedule Dec 16 – 19 (Tues-Friday)
· Students register & pay for all AP Exams
(exams: May 4 – 15)
( 1. ) ELECTRONIC GRADE-BOOK: Cobb County School District provides the website at which students and parents may view current grades in every class at any time. Parents access this site via a personal password. Students and parents are asked to obtain (from the front office) their individual password and check this site at least once a week to keep up with current grades. Parental knowledge of current grades is extremely important in all classes, but particularly in AP English classes – a grade of a “C” can quickly drop. Parents with questions about grades should e-mail the teacher immediately. Students with questions about grades should see the teacher immediately (that week).
( 2. ) GRADING: All course grades fall within the following academic grading categories or 2 additional NON-GRADED areas listed in our grade-book which have ZERO VALUE and are thus NOT used to determine the student’s academic grade in the class. Grade Categories and percentages are:
20% - - End of Semester Final Exam (1st semester; EOC 2nd semester)
30% - - Summative Writing
30% - - Summative Reading
20% - - Formative Work (worksheets, quizzes, homework - reading, writing, listening, speaking)
0% - - Pre-tests, etc. that are used for data collection purposes only, NOT used to determine academic grade
0% - - “Academic Environment” (used to update students/parents about classroom areas of concern, NOT used to
determine academic grade)
GRADING SCALE: 90% -100% = A, 80% - 89% = B, 74% -79% = C, 70% -73% = D, 69% and below = F
( 3. ) LATE POLICY: If you are present the day a summative essay/project/assignment is due, you may turn it in one day late for a MAXIMUM of 60%. After that, the essay/project/assignment will NOT be accepted for credit. In order to optimize feedback and learning, formative assignments will NOT be accepted late. Students and parents need to realize that every absence results in a loss of knowledge; the information lost due to multiple absences negatively affects content understanding. Attendance is important. Planning medical appointments so that students do not continually miss the same class is beneficial. While all field trips and activities can provide positive experiences, maturity requires prudent reflection when planning to miss academic instruction and discussion. Students must have earned the required class grade for the teacher to be able to sign their Field Trip Permission Form. Give serious thought to IF you can miss a class to go on a Field Trip. All class work is due BEFORE leaving on any field trip. Unexcused absences result in students receiving a zero for all work missed during the absence and a corresponding negative impact on class grade.
( 4. ) MAKE-UP TESTING is Tuesday mornings at 7:30 am. Scheduling make-up testing is the responsibility of the student, NOT the teacher. Club meetings, athletic practices, etc. are NOT acceptable reasons to postpone make-up testing. Students may arrange for a different time to do make-up work if Tuesday mornings are impossible; arrangements must be made when student returns from absence. If absent only a few days, students are expected to complete all make-up TESTING within 2 weeks, and make-up work is due when students return. If students return to school after one or two days absent, they are expected to take pre-announced assessments.
( 5. ) TEXTBOOKS: The Norton Reader, 11th edition (*) Literature: The American Experience
ARCO English Language and Composition, 6th edition Vocabulary Workbook, Level F (cost: $10.00)
The Little, Brown Handbook, 9th edition (grammar text *) Patterns For College Writing (*)
Newspapers and news magazines * denotes college texts
( 6. ) VOCABULARY STUDY: Vocabulary quizzes will test student’s ability to correctly use words – NOT match words to a definition. Vocabulary Workbooks cost $10 and will be sold during the first two weeks of school. The last day students may order a Vocabulary Workbook is Friday, August 15, during their class period. Checks must be made payable to “Kell High School”. Students will participate in various vocabulary activities; grades will be taken. If a student does not purchase a Vocabulary Workbook, they need to check out a copy of the vocabulary workbook from the teacher FOR OVERNIGHT and return the book the next morning before school. Waiting till the last night to do work only to find that no vocabulary workbooks are available to be checked out does NOT exempt the student from the assignment. There are LIMITED copies available from the teacher – plan ahead! This vocabulary workbook by design focuses on SAT words.
VOCABULARY WORKBOOK CHECKS: There will be a graded Voc Workbook Check for each vocabulary unit. Work is checked for accuracy. Specific answers for all 5 workbook areas (Choosing the Right Word, Synonyms, Antonyms, Completing the Sentence, and Vocabulary in Context) will randomly be checked. (Please write your answers clearly as they will need to be read by someone other than you.) If a student does not purchase a vocabulary workbook, they are to write their answers to the questions on notebook paper – the specific areas being answered must be listed and each area must be numbered; please write your answers carefully as they will need to be read by someone else. Students should put their name clearly on the outside of their Vocabulary Workbook.
VOCABULARY MASTERY OPTION --Any student who earns an A grade on a Vocabulary Quiz will be exempt from the next Vocabulary Workbook Check (however you are studying is working for you, keep doing it! ). IF a student has NOT taken the previous Vocabulary Quiz by the time the next unit’s workbook check is due, their Vocabulary Workbook Check is due as scheduled and there is no exemption option . This exemption is NOT a retroactive privilege.