C O N T A C T I N F O

Lee Ann Spillane, Ed.S., NBCT Cypress Creek High School 1101 Bear Crossing Dr. Orlando, FL 32824 classroom phone: 40-7.852.3400 ext. 2689 cell: 321.945.7984 (texting okay) class web page: http://www.laspillane.org email: spillal@ocps.net Class Twitter: @spillarkeCCHS

Your Name: ________________________

This isnt a popularity contest, its not the moral Olympics, and its not church. But its writingnot washing the car or putting on eyeliner. If you can take it seriously, we can do business (108) ~ Stephen King, On Writing

AP Language & Composition Syllabus Course Description

AP Language and Composition is a college level critical reading and writing course. As King says, If you dont have time to read, you dont have the time (or the tools) to write. We will read, interpret, analyze and write every day. Students will write numerous essays in class and at home exploring such rhetorical modes as narration, description, argumentation and expositionamong others. Course reading assignments are primarily non-fiction (essays, letters, speeches, biographical excerpts, pamphlets, and articles), but will also include novelsfrom the American literature curriculum. All students are expected to take the AP Language exam in May. Students who do not show up for the exam or who sleep through the exam will be expected to reimburse the school $85 for the cost of the exam.

Whatarethe daily commitments Ms.LeeAnn expectsfrom students?

Goals
I want you to become avid readers and confident writers in a nurturing environment that is interactive and dynamic where we all can speak up and share our ideas and our writing. This requires daily commitment from each of usachieving nearly perfect attendance; arriving with all supplies and completed homework assignments, engaging in class discussion; taking risks with assignments to go beyond what you have always done, and accepting responsibility for your own learning and growth.

My goals are for students to

develop as critical thinkers capable of participating thoughtfully in learning communities and in our democratic society, read, understand, interpret and analyze texts from many genres, recognize and write in a variety of modes: narrative, expository and persuasive, discuss and write about a variety of texts, develop and sustain reading habits and personal reading preferences, employ the writing process, use technology responsibly, understand new vocabulary words both connotatively and denotatively, read and compose on demand (timed writings), employ strategies for answering test questions, and create a significant body of personal writings that demonstrate writing development and voice.

Texts: Life as We Knew It by Beth Pfeffer, On Writing by Stephen King, 40 Portable Essays
edited by Jane E. Aaron , a memoir of students choice, Fast Food Nation by Schlosser, Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald, In Cold Blood by Capote, and other texts from a variety of sources both print and nonprint.

Six Standards
1 Learn
Learn is our mission. Engage in the process. Cultivate curiosity. Use your interests to make school more relevant to your life. Learn.

2 Communicate
I cannot read your mind. When you have a problem with anything in this class, or in your life that affects your schoolwork, talk to me, and I will do my best to listen, and to help in any way I can. I am always here early in the morning, and after school on most days. I keep a mailbox on my desk for notes and grade questions.

3 Prepare
Participation is an integral part of this class and something that cannot always be made up. Be here. Be prepared. Always have your binder, journal, paper, pens, the appropriate books and a positive attitude. Lack of materials should never hinder your participation in this class! Extra paper, pens, handouts and such are located at the table by the door to our classroom.

4 Work
Late work happens. Planes are late. Taxes can be late. My expectation is that you will turn in your work on time at the beginning of the period or when called for, but late work is accepted with a point penalty of 1/3 of a letter grade per day including weekends and holidays. That means you can still earn an A for outstanding piece, even if it is late. If you are absent, you may email assignments to me at your own risk, or turn them in upon your return. Students absent unexcused may not receive credit for their work as per Orange County policy. Parent contact is expected if you are having difficulty turning in a major assignment on time.

5 Organize
Use a planner. Subscribe to the classs calendar online and twitter feed. Use the reminder feature to have the Google Calendar send you email and SMS reminders for assignments. Use the reminder feature on your cell phone. You need to develop a system to manage your time, and juggle all you want to accomplish both academically and socially.

6 Respect
Behaving respectfully also means follow the Code of Conduct and school rules. A student may receive a detention for tardies, and for inappropriate or disrespectful behavior in class. Detention forms must be signed by parents/ guardians and returned in order for students to serve their detention. Do your own work honestly and to do it to the best of your abilities. Presenting anothers work as your own is cheating even if you do not get caught. Cite your sources using MLA format when you use them and give credit where credit is due. Cheating may result in 3 in conduct, parent/teacher contact, an academic detention, loss of extra credit, an administrative referral and or removal from the class.

Internet Policy
All communication and information accessible via the OCPS network or the BearEnglish Ning which can be seen by all. You are expected to abide by general accepted rules of network etiquette. Highlights from the countys Internet Policy are noted below: Be polite. Do not write or send abusive messages to others.Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or other inappropriate language. Keep personal information private. (address, full name, phone numbers, etc) Maintain the integrity of the network (e.g. do not send mass emails, post irascible comments, download large files or spread viruses)

Please see the Internet Policy in you Student Code of Conduct to review all policies.

Class Web Spaces:

My web page: http://www.laspillane.org Social Network for English: http://bearenglish.ning.com Progress Book: http://parentaccess.ocps.net Google Tools Set up a Gmail account to subscribe to the calendar. Use first name, last initial, and

birthday for example: lees324@gmail.com

Once you subscribe, you can get SMS or email reminders about upcoming assignments. Calendars 9thgradecalendar:http://dft.ba/-eng1 11thgradecalendar:http://dft.ba/-aplang

Grading:
Grading Scale: A= 90-100, B = 80-89, C= 70-79, D= 60-69, F= 35-59 Assignments and activities are graded in weighted categories as follows: Class work: 40% Tests & Quizzes: 20% Homework: 10% Writing & Projects: 30%

Essay Scores by Quarter

AP Rubric Score 9 8+ 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Q1 25 pts 25 23.75 22.5 21.25 20 18.75 17.5 16.25 15 13.75 Q2 50 pts 50 47.5 45 42.5 40 37.5 35 32.5 30 27.5 Q3 75 pts 75 71.25 67.5 63.75 60 56.25 52.5 48.75 45 41.25 Q4 100 pts 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55

Extra Credit Students may earn extra credit by reading more on their reading log each week, completing additional independent study activities. Students who exceed 3 unexcused absences, 3 tardies or 3 academic detention are not eligible for extra credit.

Attendance Policy for Academic Credit for Grades 9-12

(1) No student shall be awarded a credit unless the student has been in attendance for instruction for a minimum of 135 hours. The 135 hours required for attendance for instruction corresponds to twenty (20) absences in a school year or ten (10) absences for each semester. The principal may provide a student who has been in attendance less than 135 hours an opportunity to receive credit by demonstrating mastery of the student performance standards in that course of study. All absences will be marked as unexcused until a written note is received from the parent within 48 hours of returning to school. Any questions regarding the attendance policy should be directed to the attendance office (407) 852-2283. See the Student Code of Conduct or the OCPS website for complete details.

Materials Needed:

composition notebook (no spirals) 3-ring binder (1- 1 inch); AVID students use AVID binder plastic dividers with pockets USB flash drive blue/black ink pens 1 pack of clear plastic sheet protectors (optional) post it notes for annotating school-owned books notebook paper

Other classroom supplies. If your last name begins with A-K: 1 large box of Kleenex, L-S: 1 pack of copier paper T-Z: 1 pack of paper towels

Mystudent,_______________________________________,hasreadandunderstandsthecoursesyllabus. Parentsignature:__________________________________________________________________date:____________ Cellphone:____________________________________email:__________________________________ Studentsignature:___________________________________________________________________________________ Cellphone:___________________________________email:______________@gmail.com