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Sheryl L. Miller Hosey
English Department
Council Rock High School South
AP 11: English Language and
Composition Syllabus (2008-2009)
In this class you will be
constantly working on the marketable skills of writing,
reading, and higher-order thinking, as well as
developing strategies for decision making, time
management and studying. By working together I hope
this can be one of the best English classes you’ve ever
had. Beyond that, I hope to help you develop your
success as a student and as an individual.
It is my goal to make this
year intellectually challenging as well as interesting
and exciting. Be prepared, organized, receptive and
enthusiastic, and so will I!
A note
to your parents from administration: Council Rock School
District strongly encourages parents to survey the
outstanding collection of challenging literature
contained within our program. Much of the content
presents important and complex ideas that
encourage critical thinking. Any connection discussed
in class is made that much stronger by the conversation
and connections that are made at home. We invite you to
discuss any of the elements of our courses with your
child’s teacher.
Do not seek perfection, for
you will surely fail; seek to better yourself each day.
I am here to help you
achieve your best.
Curriculum
I reserve
the right to alter this slightly according to class
needs and requirements.
Course Description
The AP course in Language and
Composition engages students in becoming skilled readers
of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines,
and rhetorical contexts and in becoming skilled writers
who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their
writings and their reading should make students aware of
the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience
expectations, and subjects as well as the way generic
conventions and the resources of language contribute to
the effectiveness in writing (from College Board AP
Workshop Materials).
Texts/Materials:
You should expect to read an
average of 100 pages per week.
Cohen,
Samuel. 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology
Harris, Robert. Virtual
Salt: A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices
http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm
Schakel,
Peter. Approaching Literature in the 21st
Century
Shostak,
Jerome. Vocabulary Workshop: Level G
Wyrick,
Jean. Steps to Writing Well, Thompson
Wadsworth
Council Rock High School South Student Research Guide
Required Summer Reading:
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby
Hurston,
Zora Neal. Their Eyes Were Watching God
Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath
Twain,
Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Literature:
Douglass,
Frederick. The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass
Gaines,
Ernest. A Lesson Before Dying
Kerouac,
Jack. On the Road
Miller,
Arthur. The Crucible
Rawles,
Nancy. My Jim
Shaara,
Michael. Killer Angels
Short
stories (American authors)
Poetry
(American authors)
Composition
A.
5-7 Analytical essays that
focus on rhetorical modes and literary styles
B.
2-3 Advanced Placement timed
practice essays (minimum)
C.
Personal/narrative/creative essays
D.
2-4 PSSA and SAT practice
essays
E. 3-4 Literary research
papers
Vocabulary and Spelling
Vocabulary Level G. Many weeks there will be a
vocabulary and spelling quiz. Vocabulary will be
reinforced through composition. You can earn bonus
points for finding vocabulary words in your daily
reading (school assignments, books, newspapers,
magazines, etc.) Each sentence you find with a
vocabulary word in it must be either copied by hand or
photocopied; the name of the author and source must be
recorded. I shall periodically ask you for your list of
vocabulary words found in outside sources and record
your bonus points (usually two weeks before the end of
the marking period). There is a limit of fifteen bonus
points per marking period for this activity.
Grammar
Grammar
emphasis is on usage and mechanics. We shall review
several sections of the textbook and relate them to our
writing assignments. There will be a
focus on sentence structure,
elements of style, and conventions of writing.
Test
Preparation
Practice exercises for the
SAT/PSAT, PSSA, and AP
multiple-choice questions and free-response answers,
as well as strategies
for their successful completion, will be reviewed in
class.
Guidelines for Success
What you will need every
day:
1. Notebook in which you can
take notes, keep handouts, record grades, etc.
2. A pen or pencil and paper
plus a red pen and highlighter.
3. Textbooks: I will tell
you what to bring for the next class or you may check
the Web site.
4. A cooperative attitude.
What you should do:
1. Complete all assignments
and turn them in on time.
2. Any information I write
on the board or show via an overhead should be copied
into your notes.
3. If you are absent, it is
your responsibility to make up all of your work. You
are to check the Web site for assignments and what we
did while you were gone and ask your class partners for
further information and interpretation of notes and
assignments. Come to me only as a last resort for this
type of information. Written work due while you are
absent must be submitted the day you return to be
considered on time. You have five school days from the
date of a test/quiz to make up the work missed while you
were absent. An exception to this is vocabulary
quizzes, which are given each Friday. If you are
present on Friday, regardless of whether you were out
during that week, you will be expected to take the
quiz. Also excluded from this rule is the research
paper, which is due on the date regardless of illness
(more information will follow). Serious long-term
illness/absence will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Partner #1
___________________________________ Phone
______________________
Partner
#2 ___________________________________ Phone
______________________
Partner #3
___________________________________ Phone
______________________
4. If you are having
difficulty in this class, it is your responsibility to
seek help. I am available Monday through Thursday after
school in room 280 until 3 PM, unless otherwise noted on
the board. You can also ask for a special appointment
outside of these times should you need it. You can
e-mail me at any time (mh@millerhosey.com). I usually
respond to e-mail Monday through Friday between 7
PM and 10
PM; I have no set times during the weekend, but I will
check it before Sunday evening whenever possible. Check
my Web site www.millerhosey.com for other help.
5. Participate in class.
There will be many opportunities to respond to writing,
reading and other students in the class. Take advantage
of this.
6.
As a student working at this
level, you are expected to hand in all work on time and
in the proper format.
Grading
Grades
will be based on points earned. All points earned for
tests, quizzes, blue book exams, writing assignments,
and homework will be added to together for the marking
period. Any bonus points earned will then be added to
the total. The points earned versus the total points
possible will determine your grade. I do not round
up; please do not ask. I offer many opportunities
for earning extra points. Take advantage of this
whenever possible.
A+ = 97-100
A = 93-96 C = 73-77
A- = 90-92 C- = 70-72
B+ = 88-89 D+ = 68-69
B = 83-87 D = 63-67
B- = 80-82 D- = 60-62
C+ = 78-79 F = 59 and below
Rules
1. All South and school
district rules will be followed in this class.
2. Be in your seat and ready
to begin when the bell rings. All late arrivals will be
recorded; you get two “free” lates each marking period
(within one minute of the bell). The third and
subsequent late arrivals will result in detentions. If
you are late but have a pass, come in quickly and
quietly, and give me your late pass.
3. All materials from other
classes must be put away. I am very sensitive about
this; I work very hard to make the class interesting and
fun while we learn, and I refuse to be ignored while you
are doing other work. All materials for this class
should be out and/or readily available.
4. Cell phones are NOT to be
used during class for ANY reason. To be clear: NO
TEXTING during class.
5. Cheating will not be
tolerated. Many efforts will be made to thwart any
attempts; do not try your luck. Penalties will be swift
and severe.
6. Be polite. It will get
you much farther in life than being rude.
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