PALM SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS POLICIES AND EXPECTIONS

20014-15


Course Description:

This course will follow the curricular requirements outlined by the College
Board in the AP English Literature and Composition Course Description,
which focuses on building skills necessary for college level reading and
writing. Students will study and learn poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction,
written at various times from the sixteenth to the twenty-first centuries, but
more importantly, they will get to know a few works in depth. They will be
led to read deliberately and thoroughly, taking time to understand how
meaning is embodied in literary form, and considering the social and
historical values the work reflects. Careful attention to both textual detail
and historical context will provide a foundation for interpretation, whatever
critical perspectives are brought to bear on the work under study.

This course includes approaches that develop skills to study and write, and
are expected to justify their written and verbal interpretations. Students will
work together and explore a variety of reading and writing strategies proven
effective in preparing for success on the Advanced Placement English
Literature exam, including skill sets related to confidence and facility with
language; skill in critical reading, writing, and thinking; and success in
academic endeavors. The course will build in the vocabulary of rhetorical
techniques as well as introducing additional terms of literary analysis for
poetry and fiction. We will concern ourselves with the construction of style
analysis and several other modes of writing. Discussion of the AP
examination will include test materials and student exemplars from previous
examinations. We will explore the multiple-choice section to develop close
reading skills and literary terms and techniques. We will also look specifically
at strategies to identify tone and how to apply critical theory to the texts we
study.

Course Requirements and Policies:

Attendance policy
Students must be in their seats, workstations, or assigned areas, and
prepared to do the work for class at the beginning of the period. A tardy
SUBJECT: AP English Literature/Composition EMAIL: Hclaggett@psusd.us
TEACHER: Mr. Claggett ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL _____
becomes a truancy when the student enters after 25% of the class time
has expired (13 minutes).

Policy on academic honesty

Temple City High School expects honesty and integrity from all its students.
Always submit work that represents your original words or ideas. If words
or ideas used in class assignments do not represent your original ideas or
words, you must cite all relevant sources. All acts of cheating on
assignments (roving eyes, cheat sheets, open books during tests, talking
during tests), plagiarism (as defined by instructor), forgery of signature, and
falsification of data will result in:
Parent conference, grade of F on assignment, referral
Second offense will result in student being dropped from the course with an
F.
(Refer to Cheating and Plagiarism Contract for complete details)

Policy on late and make-up work
It is the students responsibility to make up all missing work due to excused
absences. For each day a student has an excused absence, the student may
turn in the missing assignment(s) and receive full credit. Students who are
truant may not make-up class assignments.

Late work policy if student is not absent:
No late work accepted for homework and daily assignments
Essays and major assignments will be accepted one day late for half
credit


Grading Categories
50% Writing: Written and Oral English Language Conventions, Writing
Strategies, Writing Applications

45% Reading: Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary
Development, Reading Comprehension Literary Response and Analysis;
Listening and Speaking: Listening and Speaking Strategies, Speaking
Applications

5% Common Assessments: Standards-based








Grading Scale
A=100-94, A-= 93-90
B+=89-87, B=86-84, B-=83-80
C+=79-77, C=76-74, C-=73-70
D+=69-67, D=66-64, D-=63-60
F=59-0

AP English Notebook

Students must keep all assignments and handouts in a three ring binder
specifically designated for AP English Lit and Comp. Notebook assignments
will be collected and evaluated every two or three weeks. For each
Notebook assignment, MUST have MLA header, clearly label (ex;
Notebook 1-Jane Eyre ch. 1-10, etc.), and attach specific class notes.

English Workshop & Extra Credit

All students must complete 20 English Workshop points each Grading Period
(60 total for semester; see directions near the end of this document).
Extra Credit:

Extra credit for this course can only be earned by extra
workshop points. Any points earned beyond the min. requirement
each
GP
will count as extra credit. At least 60 extra credit pts.
needed for a max. 2% increase in semester grade.



Participation

Active participation is an important part of this class. Participation credit can
be earned through questions and comments in class discussion and by
helping with classroom tasks (20 pt. grade each GP; 60 pts. for sem.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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---------Overview of Course Procedures:

Reading Assignments
We will read eight major works, both novels and plays, and approximately
30 poems. For novels and plays, students will complete Questions, Quotes,
and Notes (Q, Q, and N) unless told otherwise (see directions near the end
of this document).


Students are expected to complete all assigned reading and be prepared for
class discussion. During the course of the year, we will engage in-depth
analytical reading, also known as close reading. Students are expected to
annotate/ write margin notes and/or keep separate notes as they read,
paying careful attention to details, such as rhetorical features, structure,
themes, motifs, style (diction, imagery, tone, figurative language), and the
social and historical contexts and values expressed in the texts.

Writing Assignments:

Writing Instruction
During our year together, we will discuss the features of effective writing. A
wide variety of writing instruction will be provided, including discussion and
handouts on logical patterns of organization; instruction on balancing
general analysis with specific, concrete support; and effective use of
rhetoric.

We will also cover the essentials of MLA format in detail, including
parenthetical citation, use of quotations and the Works Cited page. These
concepts will be reinforced through lessons and discussion throughout the
year.

Timed Writing
Students will write at least one timed essay in each two week period as we
progress toward the AP exam. The vast majority will be past AP English
Literature prompts: poetry, prose, and open. Some instructor designed
prompts will also be included. For example, after our discussion of Hamlet,
you will be given an exam where you are given three prompts and will select
only one as the basis for your composition. AP prompts will be graded on
the 9 point scale. You will be given a generic 9 point rubric at the start of
the year; I will discuss and explain the rubric in-depth; I will also provide the
specific rubric for the specific prompt when available. We will frequently
examine sample student essays and engage in mock scoring sessions.

Formal Critical/Analytical Papers: Writing to Explain (Expository)
and Writing to Evaluate
Students will write three or four typed, revised critical/analytical essays (3-5
pages) and one major typed, revised analytical research paper (6-8 pages).
It is my contention that the majority of college level writing is persuasive.
As a result, the key to successful essays for this class is a clearly articulated
position that the writer sustains throughout the paper supported by specific
evidence from the text(s).

For each critical/analytical paper, students will receive a detailed handout
with specific instructions, including a scoring rubric specific to the essay. A
rough draft will be required; we may complete in-class peer review of
essays. The completed essay will receive substantial teacher commentary
on the text, an end note, and a marked scoring rubric indicating successful
elements and areas for improvement.

Students will generate the topics for their analytical research paper based on
one or more of the major works we have studied during the year: multiple
outside sources and literary criticism, and MLA format, including
parenthetical citation, use of quotations and the Works Cited page, required.
Students will submit a formal proposal for approval and must complete an
MLA outline as part of the process. Procedures for the rough draft, peer
review, and evaluation of the paper are the same as for the critical/analytical
essays.

Revision of graded essays and research papers: All essays scored D+ or
lower MUST be revised; revision optional for essays scored C- or better
(see detailed Essay Revision Directions at the end of this document).

Class Discussion/Participation
We will actively engage the material throughout the year via class
discussion. I often begin the day with a brief lecture, framing essential
questions for the lesson. On many days, I will also address some issue
related to the features of effective writing. After that, we will move to active
discussion, using a series of questions and answers modeled on the Socratic
Method. Students will be asked to make assertions and claims about the
material and support with specific textual details and quotes. Since your
homework will primarily consist of formulating questions and locating
quotations and details, all students should be ready for class discussion. I
frequently call on students for responses to specific questions whether or not
they have their hands raised. Be prepared.

This class will function as both a traditionally structured English class and as
an English workshop. You will be given the opportunity to work in areas of
individual interest, strength, or need. Some projects and activities can be
done in groups. Time will be given periodically to work on projects and
activities, and for class presentations.