Email: Room 302
Course Description
This course of study is equivalent to a college English Composition course and is available to the student interested in taking the Advanced Placement Examination in English Language and Composition.
*The nature of this course, in addition to its requirements, will vary per level.
Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to help students “write effectively and confidently in their college courses across the curriculum and in their professional and personal lives” (The College Board, AP® English Course Description). The course is organized according to the requirements and guidelines of the current AP English Course Description, and therefore, students are expected to read critically, think analytically, and communicate clearly in both writing and speech; in essence, this class is designed to increase your ability to think globally, communicate logically and effectively, and increase your insight into the human condition. In pursuit of these goals, we will study and work on a variety of American Literature pieces, short argumentative pieces, compositions skills, speaking and listening skills, usages skills, and vocabulary development.
Course Novels:
Students are required to have 6 novels for the school year. Make sure to purchase your books in order to have them ready for our coverage of them in class. Being prepared is the key to your success in your outcome of this class. The novels required for class are as follows:
The Crucible by Arthur Miller / The Awakening by Kate ChopinThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain / Inherit the Wind by Lawrence and Lee
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald / The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
All other short readings will be assigned by the teacher and students will be provided with a copy of the reading for that day/week (depending on the length of the reading) in the form of a handout. All short readings and/or assignments will be posted on the class website, so make sure you have access to it in order to print your copies of any lengthy reading/assignment to bring to class.
The teacher will let students know ahead of time when to bring novels that are required for class assignments.
Required Materials:
Students will need to bring:
Þ Pocket folders w/brads
Þ College ruled notebook paper
Þ College ruled spiral notebook
Þ Blue or black ink pens
Þ #2 pencils
Þ Highlighters (different colors for annotations)
Course Requirements
Attendance Policy:
This class is largely handled as a discussion and participation course and part lecture course, so it’s impossible to miss and simply get notes from someone else. Therefore, your success in this class depends on your willingness to both attend class and interact dynamically within it and with your peers; your attendance and participation are crucial. You will be given the opportunity to earn collaboration points through book reviews and journal entries to earn your participation grade. Your participation grade will be constructed from these points. Your attendance will be critical to gaining a high collaboration grade.
Assignments:
All assignments will be posted on Edlio, so please make sure that you are familiar with looking up any and all assignments that will be assigned. I will try to make it a point to handout a hard copy of any assignment that will be given in class prior to it being posted on the class website.
All written papers, whether they are Essays and/or Major Papers, will be submitted to Turnitin.com. This will avoid any discrepancy with plagiarism and undocumented work. After all work has been submitted through turnitin.com, I will collaborate with the student to submit a final draft of any work and will then grade it. This process will avoid any questions on how a paper is graded and the means by which it will be graded.
All major papers should follow the conventions of formal documentation style as taught by the instructor and will be expected to be largely free of serious grammatical and mechanical errors.
Late Work:
Be advised that this will be a demanding and writing intensive course. Writing assignments include both in-class and out-of-class activities. Reading should be completed prior to class in order to prepare for adequate discussion. Bear in mind the following rules and guidelines regarding submission of written work:
· Assignments must be turned in on time in order to earn full credit. If your work is turned in after the due date, you will not earn full credit and your grade will start at 60%. This policy is for every assignment including major projects and/or major papers.
· After a late grade has been issued, your grade may be lowered based on the quality of the work you turn in.
· If you are absent for any reason, you must check Edlio in order to find the assignment(s) you missed and it is your responsibility to print the assignment and be prepared to turn it in within the necessary time allowed for the number of absences.
Grading Scale:
Percentage Grades: Tests, Major Essays, Projects=55%;
Quizzes and Minor Projects=35%; Homework and Participation=10%
Grading Scale for All Assignments
A+ / 97-100A / 94-96
A- / 90-93
B+ / 87-89
B / 84-86
B- / 80-83
C+ / 77-79
C / 74-76
C- / 70-73
D+ / 67-69
D / 64-66
D- / 60-63
F / 59 and below
Tutoring
Tutoring is available by appointment before school and after school. Make an appointment with me in class or by email so that I can be sure I am not away from my desk when you need my help. Students, if you feel as though you are struggling, make an appointment immediately, do not wait until the last minute or before grades are due. I cannot help you if you do not ask for help. I am here to help you unless some major emergency comes up on my part!!! SEEK MY HELP!!
Course Overviews:
Reading Responses and Daily activities
v Critical reading is a large part of your academic experience; therefore, the readings that will be selected for your journal entries will assist you when writing your papers. Responses are designed to engage your ability to think critically, so based on what you read, you will respond to what you think about the reading. In essence, you will be writing a review on what you’ve read.
v Short Readings will be given periodically. Students will then be given time to begin writing their reading responses which could either be done online through an online response journal or from time to time, it may be handwritten and turned in on the same day of the reading. A journal entry is one full page (approximately 300 words) of typed commentary per reading assignment. That will earn you a “B” on the journal assignment; if you wish to earn an “A”, one and a half pages (500 words) is the standard per reading assignment. Reading journals will be turned in on due dates and must be up to date when they are turned in.
v Writing journals are merely a notebook for students to take notes on their readings or for them to begin the writing process based on their readings. For the most part, all journal entries must be typed and turned in to the teacher when requested. These writing assignments will be checked periodically based on their due date and after a compilation of four journals (whether it’s online or turned in), each set of entries will count as a quiz grade. It is vital that you do not miss an entry as it will affect your quiz grade.
v ISR (Independent Silent Reading) is something we will be doing on specific days to help us wind down from our busy work schedule in class. ISR is based on the novels you will be required to have for our class (6). On any given day, I will tell you to bring your novel and you will have the entire class to read as much of the novel as you can. I will then select specific excerpts from the novel and have you write a short response to whatever part of the novel we are on. Your answer to the question will be counted as a quiz grade. Note, ISR days will count as a daily grade providing you have your novels with you. If you do not come prepared for my class on ISR days, you will earn a grade of zero for that day. Make sure you are prepared and that you have you novels with you when instructed to bring them.
Practice AP Exam Essay Questions and Timed Writings
v A Practice AP Exam (essay questions and timed writings) will be administered periodically and more frequent as we near the actual exam date. As a requirement when you signed up for the AP Class, you will need to attend a scheduled Saturday practice exam when the time nears for the actual exam. Students are encouraged to take the practice exam as it will help them prepare for the actual exam in May. By administering these exams, students will gain a complete understanding of what the exam is going to be like and will help them be adequately prepared for the final AP Exam.
Research Paper
v A final synthesis paper will be required at the end of the final school semester. It will be written on a topic chosen specifically by the student and will be based on the theme of “Social Injustices in Society.” For topic selections, we will go to the library and use their resources through “Facts On File” and “Opposing Viewpoints” in order to look through topics that might peak your interests. I will provide a detailed set of directions in an Assignment Sheet for this paper and we will begin it early enough that you will have time to complete it by the end of the second semester (last quarter).. If there are any questions, please confer with me about your concerns so that I may help you with anything you may need help with.
Student Responsibilities and Class Policies:
Classroom Conduct
We will treat one another with respect and dignity. A strong sense of community creates an environment in which we can take risks and learn from one another. Please don’t stifle another student’s (or your own) engagement in the learning process by littering our intellectual environment with negativity. In addition, students will be expected to follow the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct as outlined by Antonian College Preparatory High School. Familiarize yourself with the Antonian Student Handbook’s expectations regarding student behavior and choices. These expectations will be upheld within the learning environment. Disruptive or inappropriate behavior will be dealt with according to school policy. Technology used for learning is encouraged, but please, no text messaging, use of social media, or phone calls during class. Keep your cell phone in your backpack and out of sight unless otherwise instructed by the teacher.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated in this course under any circumstance. It is important that a student recognizes this policy as stated in the Antonian Handbook. An automatic “F” will be issued if plagiarism is recognized by the instructor on any assignment that is turned in.
I am committed to providing you with proper information to help you excel in my class. I believe that true learning is only possible in an environment of academic integrity; therefore, I expect my students to adhere to a strict code of academic conduct, which prohibits cheating on assignments, plagiarizing the work of others, and collusion through unauthorized collaboration. You are expected to do your own work, unless I specify group work. You are also expected to give proper credit when you directly or indirectly use the work of others. Penalties for academic dishonesty are serious and range from failing the assignment to failing my course. If you are caught doing any of the above mentioned dishonest acts, I will go through the proper channels of discipline to ensure that the infraction stays within your permanent record.
Tips for Success
§ Think of yourself! Nurture your independent thinking skills so that you can develop and defend your ideas. Don’t be afraid to be different—our differences make us interesting.
§ Learn for the sake of learning instead of focusing solely on making good grades. Value the process, not just the product!
§ Set up a conference with me to discuss your writing. It is very difficult for me to communicate everything you need to know about revisions through notes scrawled in the margins of your graded essays. Meet with me face-to-face during and after the writing process.
§ Engage in class discussion. It will make the time pass more quickly, and you might even learn something in the process! When a classroom of people suddenly becomes a community of learners, amazing success can be achieved!!
§ Honor the learning community by coming to class prepared and sharing what you know. Keep up with your writer’s notebook assignments. Do your best to adhere to deadlines during the writing process. Read the required texts by the due date.
Student Name: ______Class Period: ______
Students, please rewrite the following in the space provided.
I have read the syllabus for Ms. Guerra’s AP class, and I understand what is expected of me. As an Antonian student, I will be committed and motivated in my studies, demonstrating a positive and proactive attitude towards my education, taking responsibility for my own learning, my own behavior and my own decisions.
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Student Signature Date
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Please sign below to indicate that you have read the syllabus for your student’s class and that you acknowledge the expectation of the curriculum for your son/daughter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you and I look forward to a successful semester.
Ms. Guerra
(210) 344-9265 ext. 302
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Parent/Guardian Signature Date
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Preferred Contact Phone Number Preferred contact E-mail address