Course Syllabus

“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word.” – Emily Dickinson

 

“In making a speech one must study three points: first, the means of producing persuasion; second, the language; third, the proper arrangement of the various parts of the speech.” – Aristotle

 

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”  - Edward Bulwer-Lytton

 

 

 

AP English Language and Composition 2018-2019

Mrs. Jill Blythe -jblythe@wcpss.net

SMART Lunch Wednesdays (B) and Fridays (A)

 

Welcome to a new school year at Panther Creek! I look forward to working with you this school semester. Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition is a college-level course that is both demanding and challenging, and also very rewarding. Students who earn a qualifying score on the AP Exam in May are eligible to receive college credit at many institutions. My goal is to motivate and challenge students to become more independent and analytical thinkers and writers. Our focus is to read more voraciously and independently, to deconstruct literature for content and rhetoric, and to write more insightfully and meticulously than ever before.

 

Supplies needed by August 29:

1. One 3-ring notebook (preferably 2”) with dividers
2. One full-sized spiral notebook (college ruled)

 

Also, you must purchase the supplemental texts (print copies only – must annotate) for this class.

1. The Crucible by Arthur Miller – due by Tuesday, Sept. 4
2. Lone Wolf by Maryanne Vollers
3. The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald
4. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

 

 

Academic Procedures

1. Homework and classwork (which count together as your engagement grade) are not accepted late. If you are absent, the guidelines for “makeup work” apply (see below).
2. Major assignments not turned in on the due date will have 10 points deducted for every day late; major assignments will not be accepted after they are 5 days late. (The penalty points are subtracted from the grade earned.)

 

 

 

Makeup work

Students who are absent are expected to check Canvas for assignments and are allowed one day per absence to turn in the missing work. (Please communicate with me if there are extenuating circumstances.) Quizzes and tests are to be made up during SMART Lunch or after school. It is imperative that you take responsibility for keeping up with any missed assignments on Canvas!

 

Academic Integrity

As outlined in the Panther Creek High School Student/Parent Handbook, academic integrity is valued for all students.  Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the “Understanding Academic Integrity” section of this handbook and adhering to the expectations outlined.  An administrative referral and parental contact will be made for students who do not uphold the standards of academic integrity.

 

Grading

AP English Language and Composition grades are weighted as follows:

Major Assessments – 70%    (tests, essays, projects, etc.)

Minor Assessments – 25%   (quizzes, seminars, etc.)

Student Engagement (which includes certain in-class and homework assignments)  – 5%

 

Please note: If a student does not turn in a minor or major assessment, no credit will be earned for that assessment.

The final exam (in January) for this course counts 20% of the final grade.

 

10-point grading scale:

A = 90-100

B = 80-89

C = 70-79

D = 60-69

F = <59

 

PCHS Basic Expectations

1. Participate actively in learning
2. Celebrate diversity
3. Honor PCHS and WCPSS procedures and policies
4. Strive to be a person of character

 

Classroom Rules

• Please bring all necessary materials to class, including notebook, paper, writing utensils, and texts.
• Be in your seat with materials out, from the time the tardy bell rings until I announce it is time to pack up materials.
• Take restroom breaks before class and only ask permission to leave the room in an emergency.
• No food or drinks (except water) during class. (You are permitted to eat in the room before school and during SMART Lunch.)

 

 

 

AP Lang Syllabus – Fall 2018 – Mrs. Blythe

Each quarter will include:

1. Engagement grades (including homework assignments and also in-class assignments)
2. Minor assessments (quiz grades, timed writings, seminars)
3. Major assessments (tests on texts, projects, writing portfolios)

 

• The order of this syllabus may shift as needed.

 

Week 1: Introduce rhetorical triangle and terms, begin argument journal, take AP multiple-choice baseline, introduce Q1, Q2, and Q3 essays

 

Week 2: Start The Crucible, introduce visual rhetoric, write Q1 essay

 

Week 3: Continue The Crucible, including Crucible vocab.; write Q2 essay

 

Week 4: Finish The Crucible, add nonfiction selections; write Q3 essay; Crucible multiple-choice test

 

Weeks 5 – 7: Nonfiction Book Club – focus on primary sources, social issues, creating Public Service Announcements (PBL project = major assessment); second AP multiple-choice practice; focus on Q1 essays

 

Weeks 8 - 11 – The Great Gatsby - focus on AP lit and rhetoric terms; assembling the writing portfolio for self-evaluation; Gatsby multiple-choice test; focus on Q2 essays

 

Weeks 12 – 14 – Lone Wolf – focus on primary sources; autobiographical primary sources project; focus on Q3 essays

 

Weeks 16-18 – The Scarlet Letter- review AP multiple-choice tests; Scarlet Letter multiple-choice test; final portfolio evaluation;

 

Final Exam: The final exam will consist of one AP multiple-choice test (60 minutes), plus 2 timed essays (80 minutes)

The final exam counts as 20% of the final course grade

 

 

 

 

 

 

AP Language & Composition Units and Essential Questions 2018

(The sequence of these units will vary.)

 

 

Unit I:  

Theme: Laying Foundations: Rhetoric, the Triangle, and the Exam: 

Essential Question: How will my experiences in AP Language and my enhanced understanding of rhetoric, analysis, and argument make me a more informed and contributing citizen? 

 

 

Unit II  

Theme: Seeking Light – Education, Environment, and Culture: 

Essential Question: To what extent does education serve the goals of the 21^st century learner, establish environments of collaboration, and honor our current multicultural society? 

 

 

Unit III 

Theme: Living Real – Community, Economy, Global Society: 

Essential Question: What is the evolving relationship/responsibility of the individual to the community, economy, and to the larger global society?  

 

 

Unit IV  

Theme: Telling Truth – Language, Communication, Values:    

Essential Question: How does the language we choose and use to communicate reveal who we really are, what we truly believe, and what we inherently value? 

 

 

Unit V  

Theme: Wielding Influence - Persuasion, Power, and Politics  

Essential Question: When the relationship between the citizen and the state conflict, how do individuals attain the necessary power to make critical changes in government? 

 

 

Unit VI  

Theme – Becoming Equal – Race, Place, Gender:  

Essential Question: How has one’s race, place, and gender impacted individuals (and individual groups) in America throughout our country’s evolution?  

 

 

Unit VII:  

Refining Knowledge  - Final Preparation, Practice, and Pacing 

Essential Question: How will my enhanced understanding of rhetoric, analysis, and argument help me engage in conversation about a meaningful issue personal to my life and/or experience?