AP Language & Composition

2009-2010
Mrs. Paige Lahaise
e-mail: plahaise@lahaiseslair.com class website: http://www.lahaiseslair.com

Course Overview

Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition is a college level course that will
equip students to succeed on the AP English Language exam and to thrive in college and beyond,
to become critical thinkers, analytical readers, strong writers, skilled communicators, and apt
technology users. The course focuses on nonfiction and rhetoric, the art of wielding language to
achieve one’s persuasive purpose. Students will hone their skills in close, analytical reading,
learning to examine an author’s rhetorical purpose and to analyze how the author achieves that
purpose through rhetorical and stylistic devices. Ultimately, students will translate the same
devices to their own writing, learning to write succinctly, powerfully, and with stylistic flair.
Additionally, students will learn research skills including how to search for and evaluate sources,
how to synthesize information from multiple sources into one’s own argument, and how to cite
sources using MLA format. Though students will use MLA format for their own writing throughout
the course, they will also become familiar with a variety of citation formats they may encounter in
college and beyond.

Though nonfiction reading and argumentative and persuasive writing are the core elements of the
class, students will read a wide-range of texts including prose fiction, poetry, drama, and technical
and practical texts. Students will also write for a variety of purposes and audiences, sometimes in
timed writings and sometimes in process writings undertaking the various stages of writing from
inquiry and research to drafting, revising and editing, and publishing.

This course satisfies the requirements for both English 11 as outlined by the California English
Language Arts Frameworks and for Advanced Placement English Language and Composition as
outlined by the College Board.

1
Basic Classroom Rules

Show respect.
Show responsibility.
Show self-control.
Show honesty.

Following the rules and expending effort in this class will result in a successful learning experience.

However, the negative consequences of breaking the rules are listed, but not limited to:
1. Student/teacher conference,
2. Phone call to parent/legal guardian,
3. Referral to the administration.

Needed Supplies

3-ring binder with tab dividers and loose leaf paper

Pen or pencil
Highlighters (green, yellow, pink)
Sticky notes
Flash drive (This is not required but will be very helpful in saving all your computer work and
transporting between school and home. We will be doing several multi-media projects,
which can be difficult to save on disks because of their large file sizes.)
If you have a laptop or netbook computer, feel free to bring it. You may leave it in my
locked cabinet during the day and pick it up at the end of school.
A small daily planner would also be helpful.

Classroom Procedures

Bring everything you need for class, and be prepared to learn. You need your Independent
Reading material and three-ring binder with you EVERY day.
Enter the room quietly and on time.
Begin working immediately on the daily journal assignment.
Daily, write assignments in planner.
Follow directions and participate in class.
When working in groups, work quietly and productively.
When transitioning from one activity to another, do so quickly and quietly without disrupting
other learners.
Remain in seat until dismissed by teacher.
Leave room in the same condition (or better) you found it!

2
Homework Policy

Completing assignments is crucial not only for students to master learning objectives but also for
students to experience academic success and score a passing grade; therefore, I maintain a ZERO
TOLERANCE homework policy, which requires students to complete ALL work assigned. If a
student fails to complete a homework assignment, the student will have an opportunity to turn in
the assignment within one week of the due date for a 50% grade reduction. I will not accept late
assignments after one week. If a student repeatedly fails to complete assignments, I will request a
conference with the parent to discuss ways we can work together to help the student succeed in
completing assignments.

Make-Up Work/Tests

I adhere to LAUSD policy on make-up work. After an excused absence, it is the student’s
responsibility to make up all work missed. Students may access all homework and missed
assignments on the class website. Homework must be completed and turned in within two class
days following the student’s return to school.
School policy states that students will not receive credit for unexcused absences. Note, however,
that because I have a zero tolerance homework policy, I still require students to complete the
work, even though they will not receive credit for doing so.
A missed vocabulary test may only be made-up Wednesday’s during nutrition. This prevents
students from missing valuable instruction in class and getting further behind.

Plagiarism

Every year I am amazed at how many students try getting around the Turnitin.com system of
catching plagiarism. Is it really worth getting a zero on the assignment, possibly failing the class,
losing ALL my trust, and your parents getting a phone call from me? The bottom line is this: I know
there are a few cheaters that fall through the cracks and get away with it; the vast majority though
are caught and the repercussions can be devastating.
I HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO PLAGIARISM OR CHEATING.
EVEN ONE LINE IN AN ESSAY THAT ISN’T YOURS, OR TAKING ANOTHER’S IDEA AND PRETENDING IT
IS YOUR OWN, AND ISN’T QUOTED AND CITED MEANS THE ENTIRE ESSAY RECIEVES A ZERO!

3
Assessment

The course uses a system of assessment that evaluates students throughout the learning--
throughout a variety of activities and projects—and encourages students to revise and polish their
work. Grades will be calculated as follows:

Major Tests & Essays – 20%

• Each five weeks students will write timed essays in response to AP style prompts.
• For each prompt, students will write the first draft in class in forty minutes, emulating the
AP exam conditions. Using the 9-point AP rubric, Mrs. Lahaise will grade the essay as a
rough draft, assigning a grade as follows:

Rubric Score First Grading Second Grading

(replaces first grade)

8-9 90-100 90-100

7 85 80

6 80 75

5 75 70

4 70 65

3 65 60

1-2 55 or below n/a

• If students earn a minimum score of “3” on the first draft, they earn the opportunity to
revise/rewrite the essay to earn a higher score, which will replace the first grade. Note,
the scores for the second draft are lower since students have extensive time to revise
essays.
• Students must turn in a typed second draft to Turnitin.com no later than three days after
receiving the graded first draft. I will accept NO LATE assignments on these second
drafts.
• I will grade the second draft as a finished, revised writing using the 9-point AP scale and
will replace the first grade.

4
Assessment

The course uses a system of assessment that evaluates students throughout the learning--
throughout a variety of activities and projects—and encourages students to revise and polish their
work. Grades will be calculated as follows:

20% Reading/Writing & Reading journals

Classwork Daily journals
SSR Fat Paragraph
Active Participation in Literature Circles

10% SSR Your participation in daily SSR

10% Quizzes & Weekly vocabulary test

Homework Daily Homework
AP Multiple Choice Quizzes
10% Class contribution Do you make the class better?

30% Special Projects Essays

Blogs (columnist; connective reading/writing; application review)
Research Project

A in the class = 90-100%

B in the class = 80-89%

C in the class = 70-79%

D in the class = 60-69%

Anything under 60% will receive a Fail in the class.