1. Syllabus: AP Language and Composition
Lake Weir High School
Mr. Cahill

2. Course Description:
The AP English Language and Composition course aligns to an introductory college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum, which requires students to develop evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays that proceed through several stages and drafts.
Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments.
Throughout the course, students develop a personal style by making appropriate grammatical choices.
Additionally, students read and analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects in non-fiction texts, including graphic images as form of text, from many disciplines and historical periods.
Through the application, analysis, evaluation and creation of complex ideas that are often abstract and multi-faceted, students are challenged to think and collaborate critically on the content they are learning.
The AP English Language and Composition exam will be given on May 3rd at 8am.

3. Course Overview:
The AP English Language and Composition course is designed to help students become skilled readers and writers through engagement with the following course requirements:
Composing essays in several forms narrative, expository, analytical, and argumentative essays) about a variety of subjects.
Reading nonfiction (essays, journalism, science writing, autobiographies, criticism) selected to give students opportunities to identify and explain an author’s use of rhetorical strategies and techniques.
Analyzing graphics and visual images both in relation to written texts and as alternative forms of text themselves.
Writing that proceeds through several stages or drafts, with revision aided by teacher and peers.
Developing research skills and the ability to evaluate, use and cite primary and secondary sources.
Writing informally (e.g., imitation exercises, journal keeping, collaborative writing), which helps students become aware of themselves as writers and the techniques employed by other writers.
Conducting research and writing argument papers in which students present an argument of their own that includes the analysis and synthesis of ideas from an array of sources.
Writing expository, analytical, and argumentative compositions based on readings representing a variety of prose styles and genres.
Citing sources using a recognized editorial style (e.g., Modern Language Association, The Chicago Manual of Style).

4. Exam Overview:
AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION EXAM: 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES
The AP English Language and Composition Exam is composed of multiple-choice questions to test student’s skills in rhetorical analysis of prose passages. Students are also required to write three essays that demonstrate their skill in rhetorical analysis, argumentation, and synthesis of information from multiple sources to support the student’s own argument. Although the skills tested on the exam remain essentially the same from year to year, there may be some variation in format of the free-response (essay) questions.
If you earn an AP Exam score of 3 or higher, chances are you can receive credit, advanced placement or both from your college. Nearly all colleges and universities in the United States, as well as many institutions in more than 60 other countries grant credit and placement for AP scores or acknowledge AP scores in the admission process.

5. Format of Assessment:
Section I: Multiple Choice: Questions | 60 Minutes | 45% of Exam Score
Includes excerpts from several non-fiction texts
Each excerpt is accompanied by several multiple- choice questions
Section II: Free Response: 3 Free-Response Questions | 2 Hours 15 Minutes | 55% of Exam Score
15 minutes for reading source materials for the synthesis prompt (in the free-response section)
120 minutes to write essay responses to the 3 free-response questions
Prompt Types
Synthesis: Students read several texts about a topic and create an argument that synthesizes at least three of the sources to support their thesis.
Rhetorical Analysis: Students read a non-fiction text and analyze how the writer’s language choices contribute to his or her purpose and intended meaning for the text.
Argument: Students create an evidence-based argument that responds to a given topic.

6. Necessary Supplies:
(Subject to change, notice will be given well in advance)
Binder
Composition notebook
Pens (blue or black)
Pencils
Highlighters
Loose-leaf paper (college ruled ONLY)

7. Texts: Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
The Thief and the Dogs – Naguib Mahfouz
The Visit - Friedrich Durrenmatt
The Stranger - Albert Camus

8. Grading and Percentages
Grades will be calculated from a variety of sources including daily grades, vocabulary tests, grammar tests, essays, speeches, projects, and quizzes and tests on novels and other reading selections.
Percentages:
Tests & Quizzes – 45%
Essays, speeches, projects - 45%
Homework - 10%
*Essays and projects will require a longer time to grade and post.

9. Rubrics and Scale
Formal writing assignments will be graded using a Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) and AP rubrics. FSA rubrics will be gone over in class and can be found on
Assignments will be written in MLA style and will be required to be typed and formatted according to MLA specifications.
Grading Scale:
90 – 100 = A
= B
= C
60 – 69 = D

10. Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.
Any act plagiarism on a project, paper or test will result in zero for the assignment and is an Honor Code violation.
Be aware that there are websites such as turnitin.com that can and will be used to check for plagiarism.
This is a zero tolerance policy.

11. Late Work/Absences:
Students will have the ability to turn in work, however 10 points per day will be deducted from the grade for the assignment.
If a student is absent on the due date, he or she will have 3 days to turn in the missing assignment before incurring deductions on the grade.
Appointments can be made if the missing work is a project, quiz or test before or after school.

12. Classroom Behavior:
Good manners and polite behavior are required. Students will show respect to the teacher and each other at all times. 
Every tardy will be recorded and referrals will be written on the third tardy. 
Students must do their own work.
Copying, cheating, and plagiarism will result in a zero and referrals will be written. 
Cell phones must remain on silent and in the backpack during class unless they are required for the assignment.   
Students must focus and stay on task so they can turn in high quality, complete classwork on time.
Late classwork, homework, and projects will be penalized 10 points a day to be subtracted from the actual grade the assignment received.

13. Food and Drink:
Water and Gatorade will be the only beverages allowed in the classroom.

14. Communication Devices:
Cell phones, smart phones and other forms of mobile communication devices are prohibited during class.