Advanced Placement Literature and Composition 2016-2017
Dr. Cathy Power - Room 2202 - [email protected]
Students are expected to keep this course syllabus in their notebooks all year.
Classroom Expectations
Class Rules: Be prepared. Be on time. Be involved. Be respectful.
Our classes adhere to the rules put forth in the Student Handbook regarding dress, tardiness, and other matters. For example, no food is allowed. Students may have bottled water only. Students are expected to read and be familiar with rules and regulations in the school’s student handbook that is posted on the school website.
Attendance: Attendance at school is critical. Repeated absences will adversely affect the student’s grade. The work we do in class cannot be repeated or simulated in a 5-minute session. If a student must miss school, he or she is responsible for e-mailing or calling one of his or her contacts to make sure the student understands the assignments. If a student is absent, he or she will be expected to come prepared with the assignments for the next class period—including scheduled and non-scheduled quizzes and tests. This is a college level class and absences and assignments will be treated as such. If a student misses class because of TAG, it is his or her responsibility to turn in assignments due on the day he or she returns to class. It is also the student’s responsibility to check with the teacher or another student for any notes, handouts, etc.If a student is going to be out several days, it is his or her responsibility to e-mail teachers for assignments and find a friend to collect any missed materials.
Passes: Do not ask for a pass to leave class to get materials, homework, or for any other reason. Do not ask to go the restroom during class time. Take care of restroom needs before or after class.
Supplies: Students need a 2” binder with dividers, a highlighter, index cards, college-ruled paper, blue or black pens, and one blue or black expo marker. We would also appreciate students purchasing Kleenex and hand sanitizer for their own use in the classroom. Other supplies will be needed for projects assigned throughout the year.
Course Requirements
Course Description
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition - Description of Course Goals
(from http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_englit.html?englit)
The AP English Literature and Composition course is designed to engage students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students can deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students should consider a work's structure, style, and themes, as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone.
The course includes intensive study of representative works from various genres and periods, concentrating on works of recognized literary merit. Students in an AP English Literature and Composition course read actively. The works taught in the course require careful, deliberative reading. And the approach to analyzing and interpreting the material involves students in learning how to make careful observations of textual detail, establish connections among their observations, and draw from those connections a series of inferences leading to an interpretive conclusion about a piece of writing’s meaning and value.
Writing instruction includes attention to developing and organizing ideas in clear, coherent, and persuasive language. It includes study of the elements of style. And it attends to matters of precision and correctness as necessary. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on helping students develop stylistic maturity, which, for AP English, is characterized by the following:
• a wide-ranging vocabulary used with denotative accuracy and connotative resourcefulness;
• a variety of sentence structures, including appropriate use of subordinate and coordinate constructions;
• a logical organization, enhanced by specific techniques of coherence such as repetition, transitions, and emphasis;
• a balance of generalization with specific illustrative detail; and
• an effective use of rhetoric, controlling tone, maintaining a consistent voice, and achieving emphasis through parallelism and antithesis.
The writing required in an AP English Literature and Composition course is thus more than a mere adjunct to the study of literature. The writing that students produce in the course reinforces their reading. Since reading and writing stimulate and support one another, they are taught together in order to underscore both their common and their distinctive elements.
Textbook Info
Perrine's Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense (ISBN: 0155074946) ($85.81)
Various novels and plays to be purchased the first week of school. See the reading list for this year.
Students may also wish to purchase a copy of 5 Steps to a 5: AP English Literature to complete extra practice for the AP exam or How to Read Novels Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster.
Grading Scale
Free Response/Essay conversion School System Grading Scale Grading Percentages
9 = 97-100 5 = 70-79 90 -100 = A 35% formative assessments
8 = 93-96 4 = 60-69 80 - 89 = B quizzes/homework/seminars
7 = 89-92 3 = 50-59 79 - 70 = C 50% summative assessments
6 = 80-88 2 = 40-49 69 and below = F tests/projects/essays
1 = 30-39 15% final exam
Grade Reports: Grade reports will be given out upon request. Please keep track of your grades in ESchool.
The AP Literature Exam
The AP Lit test for 2012 will be given on Thursday, May 9th at 8:00 a.m. The test is three hours long. For 60 minutes, candidates read prose passages and answer sets of multiple-choice questions on the passages. Then the candidates have 120 minutes to answer three essay questions. Performance on the multiple-choice section counts for 45% of the total score; performance on the essay section counts for 55%.
Assessments
Essays: Essays will be written in class and outside of class. Most essays will be completed in a timed writing format. An assortment of rubrics will be used for scoring including the AP rubric which is constructed on a 1-9 scale. See the Evaluation section above for grading details.
Research Papers: Because the entire year will involve multiple research projects, it is important that everyone understands the following: Grades for research will be based on mechanics, content, and form. Follow teacher instructions for all requirements.
Do not use general encyclopedias. A variety of sources must be used. All documentation of sources must follow the MLA style. See also the section below on Plagiarism and Other Forms of Cheating.
No late research papers or projects will be accepted. Major research papers and projects will be due by 4:00 p.m. on the due date.
Proper documentation of sources is essential to avoid plagiarism. Check to make absolutely sure documentation matches the works cited before turning the paper in to be graded. Refer to the school style guide at the school’s website for details. Improper documentation of sources on the works cited page or within the paper will result in an honor code violation.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of another's words or ideas and the presentation of them as though they are entirely one's own. Acts of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following actions: (1) using words or ideas from a published source without proper documentation; (2) using the work of another student (i.e., copying another student's homework, composition, or project); (3) using excessive editing suggestions of another student, teacher, parent, or paid editor. Unless directly stipulated by the teacher, collaboration on written work is not acceptable. Students who willingly provide other students with access to their work are in violation of the school Honor Code. In order to avoid plagiarism, the student must document ALL sources consulted or used in the preparation of a project or presentation.
Computers: Anything the student does in the computer lab or library that does not involve using approved programs or materials in the approved, appropriate manner can cause the student to lose his or her privileges for the rest of the year.
Cheating: If a student is caught cheating on ANY assignment, the student will be referred to the grade-level administrator. If a student sees or hears of anyone cheating, it is his or her duty to report it.
Milton Honor Code
I understand that academic integrity creates a strong academic and ethical environment at Milton High School. I pledge that I will be personally responsible for upholding the values of academic integrity by being honest and not tolerating academic dishonesty.
Honor Code Violations
In accordance with Board Policy JCD, when a student is suspected of cheating the following must happen:
Milton English Department Recovery Policy
Any student who has completed all Unit I work to date and whose average is below a 75 (with the 7 bonus pts) after completion of the unit may apply for recovery for a summative assignment. The student will have up to one week after receiving a final summative grade to request recovery. Upon receiving the request for recovery from the student, the teacher will then determine the type of recovery and the time frame appropriate for such recovery. At this point, a student/teacher conference will take place and a recovery contract will be created. The grade for the recovery summative assessment and the grade for the original unit summative assignment will then be averaged together. This average will then replace the original unit summative assignment grade. No recovery may be requested before the completion of the first semester unit or during the last ten days of each semester.
Help Hours
See your teacher to arrange time for individual help.
Dr. Cathy Power - Room 2202 - [email protected]
Students are expected to keep this course syllabus in their notebooks all year.
Classroom Expectations
Class Rules: Be prepared. Be on time. Be involved. Be respectful.
Our classes adhere to the rules put forth in the Student Handbook regarding dress, tardiness, and other matters. For example, no food is allowed. Students may have bottled water only. Students are expected to read and be familiar with rules and regulations in the school’s student handbook that is posted on the school website.
Attendance: Attendance at school is critical. Repeated absences will adversely affect the student’s grade. The work we do in class cannot be repeated or simulated in a 5-minute session. If a student must miss school, he or she is responsible for e-mailing or calling one of his or her contacts to make sure the student understands the assignments. If a student is absent, he or she will be expected to come prepared with the assignments for the next class period—including scheduled and non-scheduled quizzes and tests. This is a college level class and absences and assignments will be treated as such. If a student misses class because of TAG, it is his or her responsibility to turn in assignments due on the day he or she returns to class. It is also the student’s responsibility to check with the teacher or another student for any notes, handouts, etc.If a student is going to be out several days, it is his or her responsibility to e-mail teachers for assignments and find a friend to collect any missed materials.
Passes: Do not ask for a pass to leave class to get materials, homework, or for any other reason. Do not ask to go the restroom during class time. Take care of restroom needs before or after class.
Supplies: Students need a 2” binder with dividers, a highlighter, index cards, college-ruled paper, blue or black pens, and one blue or black expo marker. We would also appreciate students purchasing Kleenex and hand sanitizer for their own use in the classroom. Other supplies will be needed for projects assigned throughout the year.
Course Requirements
- All timed essays must be written in blue or black INK.
- Assignments must be turned in on time. Homework will not be accepted late. The grade for other late assignments will drop 25 percent per day. (See below for the special note regarding lateness for major research papers/projects.) Student will receive a zero for assignments not turned in within 3 days of the due date. If student is absent the day an assignment is due, it is due the day he or she returns. No exceptions!
- Any work turned in without a name will be counted late and given a 25% deduction.
- It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a timely request for make-up work in case of absence.
- If there is homework due and student is absent, it is due the day he or she returns. No exceptions.
- Tests will be made up the day student returns to school unless other arrangements are made.
- A Test or quiz not made up within one week of an absence will result in a zero. No exceptions!
Course Description
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition - Description of Course Goals
(from http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_englit.html?englit)
The AP English Literature and Composition course is designed to engage students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students can deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students should consider a work's structure, style, and themes, as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone.
The course includes intensive study of representative works from various genres and periods, concentrating on works of recognized literary merit. Students in an AP English Literature and Composition course read actively. The works taught in the course require careful, deliberative reading. And the approach to analyzing and interpreting the material involves students in learning how to make careful observations of textual detail, establish connections among their observations, and draw from those connections a series of inferences leading to an interpretive conclusion about a piece of writing’s meaning and value.
Writing instruction includes attention to developing and organizing ideas in clear, coherent, and persuasive language. It includes study of the elements of style. And it attends to matters of precision and correctness as necessary. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on helping students develop stylistic maturity, which, for AP English, is characterized by the following:
• a wide-ranging vocabulary used with denotative accuracy and connotative resourcefulness;
• a variety of sentence structures, including appropriate use of subordinate and coordinate constructions;
• a logical organization, enhanced by specific techniques of coherence such as repetition, transitions, and emphasis;
• a balance of generalization with specific illustrative detail; and
• an effective use of rhetoric, controlling tone, maintaining a consistent voice, and achieving emphasis through parallelism and antithesis.
The writing required in an AP English Literature and Composition course is thus more than a mere adjunct to the study of literature. The writing that students produce in the course reinforces their reading. Since reading and writing stimulate and support one another, they are taught together in order to underscore both their common and their distinctive elements.
Textbook Info
Perrine's Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense (ISBN: 0155074946) ($85.81)
Various novels and plays to be purchased the first week of school. See the reading list for this year.
Students may also wish to purchase a copy of 5 Steps to a 5: AP English Literature to complete extra practice for the AP exam or How to Read Novels Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster.
Grading Scale
Free Response/Essay conversion School System Grading Scale Grading Percentages
9 = 97-100 5 = 70-79 90 -100 = A 35% formative assessments
8 = 93-96 4 = 60-69 80 - 89 = B quizzes/homework/seminars
7 = 89-92 3 = 50-59 79 - 70 = C 50% summative assessments
6 = 80-88 2 = 40-49 69 and below = F tests/projects/essays
1 = 30-39 15% final exam
Grade Reports: Grade reports will be given out upon request. Please keep track of your grades in ESchool.
The AP Literature Exam
The AP Lit test for 2012 will be given on Thursday, May 9th at 8:00 a.m. The test is three hours long. For 60 minutes, candidates read prose passages and answer sets of multiple-choice questions on the passages. Then the candidates have 120 minutes to answer three essay questions. Performance on the multiple-choice section counts for 45% of the total score; performance on the essay section counts for 55%.
Assessments
- Tests and quizzes - Reading quizzes are unannounced; vocabulary, allusion, and grammar quizzes as well as major tests will be scheduled.
- Terminology/vocabulary - College preparatory as well as literature and rhetoric related terms will be studied.
- In-class and out-of-class essays – Students will write varied types of essays, in many cases working through practice writing and drafts prior to submitting to the teacher a final product. Specifics will vary based on the type of essay assignment explained in class.
- Class discussions and Socratic seminars
- Homework and journal entries
- Optional projects
- Group and individual presentations
Essays: Essays will be written in class and outside of class. Most essays will be completed in a timed writing format. An assortment of rubrics will be used for scoring including the AP rubric which is constructed on a 1-9 scale. See the Evaluation section above for grading details.
Research Papers: Because the entire year will involve multiple research projects, it is important that everyone understands the following: Grades for research will be based on mechanics, content, and form. Follow teacher instructions for all requirements.
Do not use general encyclopedias. A variety of sources must be used. All documentation of sources must follow the MLA style. See also the section below on Plagiarism and Other Forms of Cheating.
No late research papers or projects will be accepted. Major research papers and projects will be due by 4:00 p.m. on the due date.
Proper documentation of sources is essential to avoid plagiarism. Check to make absolutely sure documentation matches the works cited before turning the paper in to be graded. Refer to the school style guide at the school’s website for details. Improper documentation of sources on the works cited page or within the paper will result in an honor code violation.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of another's words or ideas and the presentation of them as though they are entirely one's own. Acts of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following actions: (1) using words or ideas from a published source without proper documentation; (2) using the work of another student (i.e., copying another student's homework, composition, or project); (3) using excessive editing suggestions of another student, teacher, parent, or paid editor. Unless directly stipulated by the teacher, collaboration on written work is not acceptable. Students who willingly provide other students with access to their work are in violation of the school Honor Code. In order to avoid plagiarism, the student must document ALL sources consulted or used in the preparation of a project or presentation.
Computers: Anything the student does in the computer lab or library that does not involve using approved programs or materials in the approved, appropriate manner can cause the student to lose his or her privileges for the rest of the year.
Cheating: If a student is caught cheating on ANY assignment, the student will be referred to the grade-level administrator. If a student sees or hears of anyone cheating, it is his or her duty to report it.
Milton Honor Code
I understand that academic integrity creates a strong academic and ethical environment at Milton High School. I pledge that I will be personally responsible for upholding the values of academic integrity by being honest and not tolerating academic dishonesty.
Honor Code Violations
In accordance with Board Policy JCD, when a student is suspected of cheating the following must happen:
- The teacher will notify the appropriate grade-level administrator.
- The administrator will thoroughly investigate the incident in a timely manner.
- The student’s parents will be notified.
- If the student is found guilty of violating the honor code, the student will either have to repeat the assignment, receive a zero, or have other administrative consequences.
- Honor code violations may result in an entry on the student’s permanent disciplinary record.
- Honor code violations can be issued for but are not limited to the following incidents:
- Plagiarism
- Seeking unauthorized assistance
- Granting unauthorized assistance
- Using technology in a manner that gives unauthorized assistance.
Milton English Department Recovery Policy
Any student who has completed all Unit I work to date and whose average is below a 75 (with the 7 bonus pts) after completion of the unit may apply for recovery for a summative assignment. The student will have up to one week after receiving a final summative grade to request recovery. Upon receiving the request for recovery from the student, the teacher will then determine the type of recovery and the time frame appropriate for such recovery. At this point, a student/teacher conference will take place and a recovery contract will be created. The grade for the recovery summative assessment and the grade for the original unit summative assignment will then be averaged together. This average will then replace the original unit summative assignment grade. No recovery may be requested before the completion of the first semester unit or during the last ten days of each semester.
Help Hours
See your teacher to arrange time for individual help.