Friday, Aug 28th

Looking forward to reading your SAT prompts next week. Here is a link to the college board site for more practice:
SAT Prompts June 2015

Today's discussion involving the Heinz Dilemma was quite intriguing as the class seemed split on whether to adhere or break the law. Please save all of your handouts, because they may haunt/help you on a future test or essay question.

Homework:Read Act I of a Doll's House and be ready to discuss the following questions:

1. Do you feel sorry for Torvald?
2. What does Nora’s tree decorating and chattering at the end of Act I reveal about her character?

Please bring AP Lang workbook to class on Thurs. Sept  2.

Tues Aug 25, 2015

                     

In a addition to responding to a timed writing response today, we discussed the concept of identity and developed group definitions.

Home work due Wed. Aug 26: Ibsen Act I, Scene I hand-out.

In your free time this coming weekend read:

Ibsen's Biography

Friday, Aug 21

The AP English Language and Composition course focuses on how writers use rhetorical devices in order to make effective arguments. During our class this year you will have a chance to analyze how visual images — with or without words — argue, influence, and persuade. This year you will learn the basic elements of argumentation and rhetorical strategies. We, as a class, will grapple with these essential questions:

 • What makes a visual text argumentative?
 • What are the elements of a visual analysis?
• What are the similarities and differences among rhetorical strategies in written and visual texts?
 • How are visual images used to make immediate and subtle arguments?

Please look at the following picture article in Time Magazine and be prepared to address some of the above questions in groups on Tuesday, Aug 25. Ask yourself, what point is the artist trying to make?

The World According to Banksy

http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1678584_1477709,00.html

Also bring a copy ( old fashioned or electronic) of Ibsen's A Doll's House to class on Tuesday.

P.S. I did a first read of your Virginia Wolf papers and was pleased! Happy to have ALL of you in my class.

AP Language and Composition Syllabus 2015-2016

Advanced Placement English Language

Mrs. Cales  #119

ccales@alverno-hs.org

This full-year course focuses on major works of British and Classical literature that the student will analyze, imitate, illustrate, compare, interpret, criticize and research.

Combined with this traditional study of literature is an in-depth preparation for the Advanced Placement Language Exam that takes place in May of 2016.

This additional material will allow the student to practice timed multiple-choice tests on close reading as well as to respond to prompts concerning various works of literature and nonfiction.

In both cases originality of ideas, facility with discovering and employing rhetorical strategies and the ability to read with concentration are encouraged.

The student will be able to:

1. create an original thesis which she must support in a three-element essay by analyzing the literature studied in class.
2. analyze a poem, short story, play, novel and non-fiction essay for literary devices, rhetorical strategies and characteristics unique to each genre.
3. define and use new vocabulary words and literary terms in sentences and/or drawn illustrations.
4. identify the major cultural/political events influencing the literature studied.
5. discuss current political/cultural issues orally and in writing.
6. deliver a persuasive speech and participate in class discussions regularly.
7. write an original story, poem, critical research paper, personal essay and creative project based on the class literature.
8. participate in work involving groups such as peer editing, illustrating and play writing.
9. use inclusive language correctly as well as critique sexism and gender bias in media.
10. demonstrate an understanding of the content and purpose of myth and classical fairy tales.
11. within a limited period of time write a coherent and technically correct personal/persuasive and/or literary essay in response to a prompt.
12. pass a multiple-choice test based on close reading.
13. compare works of literature to each other and to film and/or theatrical versions.
14. follow literary theme and style as they develop from earliest literature.
15. exhibit an understanding of the structure and scoring of the AP Language exam.
16. perform to the best of her ability in the Advanced Placement Exam.

Books Needed:

5 Steps to a 5, MLA, Canterbury Tales, Jane Eyre, Macbeth, British Poets, Oedipus, Bedford Reader, Metamorphosis, Jekyll and Hyde, Vocab F

Other  Materials:

. One notebook with dividers

. Blue or black pens and highlighters

. Number two pencils

. One journal

Grading

Approximate Relative Weight:

. 10% Participation and Project

. 15 % Quizzes

. 15 % Homework

. 20 % Exams

. 20% Papers

. 20 % Final

  

Alverno Grading Scale

94-100 = A                                  73-76 = C

90-93   = A-                                70-72 = C-

87-89   = B+                                67-69 = D

83-86   = B                                  63-66 = D-

80-82   = B-                                 60-62 = D-

77-79   = C+                                0-59 = F

Alverno Honor Code: Any plagiarism or cheating on homework, quizzes, tests or essays will result in an automatic “0” on the assignment and referral to the Dean for action.

Late work:  NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.  It is the student’s responsibility to see the teacher on the day she returns to class in order to schedule a time to makeup a missed exam, NOT missed homework. If a makeup is not scheduled at this time, the student will receive a (O) for that test.

Absences: It is your responsibility to obtain missed assignments/lecture notes from one of your phone buddies or log onto Alverno homework website.

Tardy Policy: For every two tardies, a fifteen minute "teacher assistant" service will be required. This usually will take place during the student’s lunch hour.

Information regarding assignments

. All assignments will be typed unless otherwise instructed.

. Assignments are always due at the beginning of class.

British Literature -Student/Parent contract

I (Print student name) _____________________________________________ have read and understand the policies and expectations of Mrs. Cales’ class. By signing this contract I agree to fulfill these requirements to the best of my ability.

Student Signature__________________________    Date_________________________

I (print parent /guardian name) have read and understand the policies and expectations set forth in this syllabus. By signing this contract, I agree that my student (print name of Alverno student) ______________________________________ is to fulfill the requirements of Mrs. Cales’ class.

Parent/Guardian Signature____________________   Date_________________________