AP English: Language and Composition

2^nd Semester 2009-10

Dr. Gingrich

Web Page:  http://www.rsgingrich.com

E-Mail: gingrich@fultonschools.org

Course Description:

            The purpose of this course will be to develop writing which is at the level of a student entering their second year of college course work.  One focus will be on the development of critical analysis of non-fiction works, the writing of critiques of those works focusing on the authors’ purpose, use of rhetorical strategies, and tone.  A second focus related to this will be the analysis of visual media, including film and video.  A third focus will be students writing in a wide range of modes including argumentation, narrative, explanatory writing, and textual analysis.  The main goals of the course stem from the College Board’s AP English Course Description May 2007/May 2008 which contends that through their reading and writing students should acquire a keen understanding of the connection “among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing” (p.6).

Goals and Units:

In alignment with the course description, we will strive towards the following goals. (1). Students will compose sophisticated writing (college level) focusing on the subsequent areas: argumentation, writing in academic disciplines/professional areas, narrative both fictional and creative non-fiction, and textual (including visual and electronic texts) analysis. (2). Students will hone their critical reading and thinking in the following areas: academic discourse—specifically the rhetoric and research designs in these specific disciplines, non-fiction--especially argumentation--, visual and media analysis. (3). Students will develop skills and strategies for the AP Examinations: timed writing (rhetorical analysis, argumentation, synthesis) and reading comprehension (multiple choice questioning strategies included). (4).  Students will read and respond to a wide range of literature/film focusing on variety of historical periods, genres, audiences, and purposes including but not limited to the following: satire, drama, non-fiction, argumentative, anecdotal, media (news, editorials, etc.), 20^th Century American novels, and documentaries.

Grading, Projects, Papers Due Dates:

Papers and Projects=50 %

Category A: Medium Essays/Projects 25%

            Documentary Film Project (1500-2000 words)

Argumentative Paper  (1500-2000  words)                 

Portfolio                                                                     

Category B: Short Papers, Responses to readings 10%

            Open Essay

            Reader Responses

            Article Review Project

Category C: Research Paper and Presentation (2000-3000 words)  15%

AP Practice Exams=35%

AP Exam C:                                                                                                     10%

AP Exam D:                                                                                                     10%

AP Exam E:                                                                                                      15%

State End of Course Test=15%

*Each AP Exam is comprised of 3 essays (persuasive, rhetorical analysis, synthesis) and one multiple choice test.  Students will take exams one section per week completing the exams over a four week span with about a two week interim between exams.   Students will have completed all three exams by the end of April just prior to the beginning of the actual AP exams.  The exams will consist of College Board exam questions from previous years’ exams with the exception of two synthesis questions which will be teacher constructed.

Drafting Policy:

Writing in this class emphasizes process and individual growth as a writer.  A daily grade

will be given for rough drafts of essays which are due at the beginning of the period on peer writing workshop days; students receive full credit if they complete the word requirements.  Second drafts will be graded by the instructor.  Once students receive their second drafts with the instructor’s grade and comments they will have one week to revise the paper if they are not satisfied with their grade/score or wish to improve their writing. The grade for the revised draft will replace the previous grade.  In connection with the writing process and emphasis on student progress, the final assignment of the semester will be the student construction of a portfolio representing their work over the course of the year, including works from first semester which focused on American Literature. This is in alignment with the assertion in the AP English Course Description May 2006/May 2007  that composition programs in college “recognize that skill in writing proceeds from students’ awareness of their own composing processes; the way they explore ideas, reconsider strategies, and revise their work” (p.7).  In editing and revising their writing, students should incorporate the objectives for effective writing from The College Board’s AP English Course Description May 2006/May 2007:

• Wide-ranging vocabulary appropriately and effectively;
• A variety of sentence structures, including appropriate use of subordination and coordination
• Logical organization, enhanced by specific techniques to increase coherence, such as repetition, transitions, and emphasis
• A balance of generalization and specific illustrative detail; and
• An effective use of rhetoric, including controlling tone, establishing and maintaining voice, and achieving appropriate emphasis through diction and sentence structure (p.8)

Readings:

Primary Readings:

Harr, Jonathon.  A Civil Action. New York: Random House, 1995.

Capote, Truman.  In Cold Blood.  New York: Random House, 1965.

Supplemental Text:

Bedford Reader, 9^th edition.  X.J. Kennedy, Dorothy M. Kennedy, and Jane E. Aaron (Eds.).  New York:  Bedford/St. Martins, 2006.

We will use this text in class.  Here is an outline of the required readings and due dates for major assignments for the semester.  As there are no other assignments you will not receive a monthly calendar this semester.  The first day to have a book I will go over some ideas in the book and give you the majority of the period to read.  If you do not have a book you will take a practice AP essay test which will be averaged in with your other AP essay tests. As you will be taking 9 AP essay tests this semester, you might prefer taking the time to read one of the books.

Reading Schedule

The reading assignments should have been completed by the beginning of class. Readings are either in the Bedford Reader or in the main books. 

Have In Cold Blood by Truman Capote by Monday, January 25^th

Have Civil Action by Jonathan Harr by February 16^th

Have read independent work of non-fiction or five articles by the same author/finish assignment by March 19th

*These readings are in the Norton Reader.  We will read them in class.  You only have to read the non-fiction readings and the readings from the Bedford Reader in class.

Papers/Project Due Dates

Paper One: Rogerian Paper                 Friday, January 29^th

^Paper Two:  Open Essay                           Friday, February 19^th

Paper  Three: Article Reviews              Friday, March 19^th

Paper Four: Documentary Paper        Friday, March 26^th

Paper Five: Research Paper                 Friday, May 7th

Paper Six:     Portfolio                            End of Final Exam Period

Rogerian Argumentation

Thursday, January 28th

Frasier                          Vegetarianism                                                                          

Singer                           Why Not Eat Meat                                                                   552-57

Khan                            Immigration                                                                              570-72

Chavez                         Racial Profiling                                                              575-77                                                            

Gelsey                          F.B.I is Reading over Your Shoulder                                         579-82

Dinh                             How U.S. Patriot Act Defends Democracy                               585-89

*King                                       Letter from Birmingham Jail                                           888-902

Monday, February 1st

Satire 

Barry                       Batting Cleanup                                                                             245-47

Sedaris                     Remembering Childhood in Africa                                     251-55

Baker                           Plot Against People                                                                  384-86

Friday February 5^th first half of  In Cold Blood (Last to See them Alive; Persons Unknown)

Friday, February 12^th have finished In Cold Blood

Tuesday March 9th Part I of Civil Action

Tuesday, March 16th Part II of Civil Action

Tuesday, March 23rd Part III of Civil Action            

Discrimination

Tuesday,  March 23rd

King                             I Have A Dream                                                                       625-29

Naylor                          The Meaning of a Word                                                            486-89

Leong                           Being a Chink                                                                           492-95

Staples                    Black Men and Public Space                                                         205-7

*Rausch                                   In Defense of Prejudice                                     666-74

*Hurston                                  Colored Me                                                                 41-44

*Wideman                                Hoop Dreams                                                               45-56  

Power

Thursday, March  25th

Orwell                          Shooting an Elephant                                                                645-51

Said                             Clashing Civilizations                                                                 669-72

*Machiavelli                             The Prince                                                                    864-70

Roles                                                                                                                                     

*Eighner                                   Dumpster Diving                                               23-31

*Bettelheim                              Victim                                                              56-58

*Sanders                                  Under the Influence                                           140-150

________________________________________                            _________________

Student Signature                                                                              Date

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