ADVANCED COLLEGE PLACEMENT

College credit will be determined by the student’s performance on the National College Board’s Advanced Placement Test that will be administered in May.  Policies differ from one university to another.  It is the student’s responsibility to secure in writing the policy of the college of his choice.  Each student must make arrangements to pay a registration fee in order to take the AP Language Exam.  Students make these arrangements with the counselor.

NOTE:  The time and money saved by testing out of a college course far exceeds the expense of the test.

         

OBJECTIVES

 Students will be expected to read and write critically and analytically.  Upon completing this course, students should be able to:

            *  analyze and interpret samples of good writing, identifying and explaining an

 author’s use of rhetorical strategies and techniques;

            *  apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writing;

            *  create and sustain arguments based on readings, research, and/or personal

experience;

            *  demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English as well as

 stylistic maturity in their own writings;

            *  write in a variety of genres and contexts, both formal and informal, employing

appropriate conventions;

            *  produce expository and argumentative compositions that introduce a complex

central idea and develop it with appropriate, specific evidence, cogent

explanations, and clear transitions; and

            *  move effectively through the stages of the writing process, with careful

attention to inquiry and research, synthesizing, drafting, revising, editing,

and review.

Books:

            The Language of Composition

            The Bedford Reader

            Readings for Writers

            Frames of Mind

            Glencoe:  American Literature

            Glencoe:  Grammar and Composition

Materials:

            Blue or black pen for writing assignments, taking notes and taking tests.

            Pencil (#2 lead) for taking tests and quizzes on Scantron answer sheets.

            Notebook paper for writing assignments.

            Editing pen(s) or pencil(s) in color(s) other than blue or black.

            Looseleaf binder for organizing assignments

            Composition notebook (100 pages) for note taking

            Index cards (3”x5”) for research

            Highlighter for taking notes on given text

            Self-Stick note pad (Post-it-notes) for taking note in text books

            Six Blue Books (size 6”X8”; 8 pages each) for in-class essays

                        DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME ON THESE    

                        You will be turning these in for class use (the way you turn in a box of                                                             tissue).  These are available at any college book store

 

Grading System

            60% Major Grades                                                                          40% Daily Grades                                     

           Essays                                                                                          Quizzes                                                    

Tests                                                                                              Daily work  

Projects     

                                                           

                                                                 

NOTE:  This is a demanding and challenging course.  However, the student is compensated by the honors points included in calculating his GPA.

 

Assignments

            The pace will be fast and demanding.  Students can expect a specific concentration on critical analysis and composition techniques.  Students will be assigned practice in vocabulary and reading comprehension in preparation for the TAKS Exit exam as well as for College entrance and placement exams.  Students will examine a wide variety of sources and will write a research paper.  They will participate in discussion, debates, and oral presentations.

 

Classwork and Make-up Work

            Work is due at the beginning of the period on the due date.

            Students are responsible for keeping track of their assignments by using their

             calendars as a source of information.  See also www.jbhs.org.

            If a student is absent, he should turn in his assignment the day after returning to class.

            Late work is penalized 20 points per day.  If an assignment is not turned in  within 5 school     

            days, a  zero will be given for that task.