1. understanding the course more fully
All Things AP Lit. & Comp.
understanding the course more fully

2. What’s up with the scoring?
Grading 101
What’s up with the scoring?

3. The Basics Letter Grades Weighted Gradebook A = 90-100% B = 80-89.9%
F = %
Weighted Gradebook
40%: Daily work
30%: Read. Journal
Details tomorrow
30%: Process Paper
Details next week

4. Essay Scores A 9 pt. scale 20 pts. an essay
The 9 point rubric (see your survival guide*) is what the College Board uses to score essays on the AP Exam
*Note: the rubric changes with each essay—the one in the guide is an example that reflects typical expectations.
20 pts. an essay
Essays are recorded in the Daily Work section of the gradebook.
All essays scores are converted to be out of 20 points: this is done on a bell curve.
Take a moment to really dig in to the 9 point rubric.
Have students think about the essay they wrote yesterday: how would it score?
Explain how the rubric is created AFTER the essays have been normed.

5. Bell Curve? Bs
C-Fs As

6. Multiple Choice
Choosing A, B, C, D, or E

7. The Basics
The AP exam has a multiple choice section and an essay section
Details on Thursday or Friday
The MC questions are application based
You will be expected to read a section of text (poetry or prose), analyze it, and then answer questions about said text: there are 4-5 sections of text in total
Each question will have 5 answer choices
These questions and answers tend to be term and vocabulary intensive

8. Poetry Examples
Give students a moment to talk in groups about these questions: Where are the concerns? Then, talk together as a class.

9. Prose Examples
The grammar question here may be a good time to talk about grammar expectations and using the book room if they struggle with grammar basics
Give students a moment to talk in groups about these questions: Where are the concerns? Then, talk together as a class.

10. Impact on Grade
Like with the essays, these are often scored on a curve (at least for first semester)
These too go in the Daily Work section of the gradebook
Last week was the first multiple choice set with the questions focused on Beowulf

11. Few activities are as delightful as learning new vocabulary. —Tim Gunn

12. Words Matter On essays:
A well-used, extensive lexicon can nudge an essay score up by 1-2 points.
Do know that littering your essay with big words can have the reverse effect. Choose words wisely.
On multiple choice tests:
If you do not understand the words in the excerpt or the words in the questions/answers, then you significantly reduce your ability to do well.

13. How to build it The best way to build your vocabulary: READ.
Reading at a level slightly above your current one is the best way to expand your understanding of the English language
This includes works read for class and outside of class.
When a word is new to you, or being used in a new way, LOOK IT UP.
Use vocabulary workbooks.
Use vocabulary websites and quizzes.