COURSE OVERVIEW Rationale: The AP Language and Composition course trains students to become skilled readers and writers

in diverse genres and modes of composition. As stated in the Advanced Placement Course Description for the English exams, the AP Language and Composition courses purpose is to enable students to read complex texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers. As the course progresses, students will become aware of their own composition process through self-assessment and evaluations by peers and the instructor. These skills will allow the student to read critically and write effectively in different modes in the college classroom and beyond. Objectives: Through the process of reading, writing, and discussing texts, students will become skilled in composing for different audiences and purposes. Students will learn to understand and appreciate the diverse ways that authors make meaning in both oral and written texts. Students will identify literary structures and conventions and effectively use them in their own writing. They will learn to identify and evaluate the choices that they and their peers have made in the composition process and increase their revision skills. By placing texts on a particular topic into conversation with one another, students will judge the validity and persuasiveness of different works. Art, music, and other humanities will be integrated to support the reading and writing in this course. Readings: Readings will reflect a multicultural approach. Emphasis on the genres of non-fiction prose will include letters, autobiography, persuasion, critical review, scientific writing, political language and discourse, and setting fiction. In addition, students will be reading poetry, short stories, and longer works of fiction. An emphasis on American Literature for the first semester and on American non-fiction for the second semester will support the objectives of the 11th CCGPS curriculum for Georgia and the American emphasis for the AP exam. During the first nine weeks period, each unit moves chronologically through American Literature with emphasis on themes, writings, and literary devices. Supplemental novels will allow further exploration into themes and advanced writing practices. After midterm, the units are genre related, emphasizing the qualities of each type of literature that will be tested on the AP exam in May. The rhetorical devices, style, and literary devices will be carefully examined. Grading Procedures: Major Assignments (Essays, projects, tests, research papers) 50% Minor Assignments (Daily, homework, quizzes, journals) 35% EOCT First Semester 20% Final Exam Second Semester 20% Materials: Students will need a 3 ring 1 -2 binder; blue or black ink pens, #2 pencils, and highlighters, and post it notes. Texts and Secondary Materials: Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes, The American Tradition. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2004. Jacobus, Lee. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers, 8th edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010 Lundsford, Andrea A., et al. everythings an argument. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2007.

Advanced Placement Language and Composition Instructor: C. Brazelton Email: cbrazelton@walton.k12.ga.us Website: C. Brazelton on walnutgrovehigh.org

Required Parallel Reading: Students will be assigned parallel reading in addition to reading from the texts above. For this course, students will read from the following: The Crucible Arthur Miller The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald Nickel and Dimed Barbara Ehrenreich Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning Semester One: Overview of American Literature / A Study of Rhetoric and Rhetorical Approaches Semester Two: Continued study of rhetoric with a focus on Argumentative and Synthesis Essays MAJOR AMERICAN LITERATURE UNITS OF STUDY Early American Literature Explores the journals, sermons, poetry, speeches, and autobiographies of those men and women who founded our country. American Romanticism / Transcendentalism Early American poets struggle to develop an American voice distinct from the English. Realism The Civil War gives rise to this movement as the short story genre grows. The Moderns Poets, short story writers, and novelists abandon traditional values as they struggle to make meaning in post WW1 America. In addition to these major units of study, we will be reading novels and a variety of other texts. Keeping up with in-class work and homework assignments is crucial for success in this class. Video clips that support classroom standards G, PG, PG-13 Evaluation of these selected works of literature may include discussion, journal response, practice advanced placement tests, projects, essay tests, creative interpretation, and/or essay assignments. Plagiarism/Academic Integrity: Plagiarism is the use of exact words, whole passages, whole papers, or ANY ideas that are not originally your own without giving credit to the original source. Even if you reword, omit, or change a few words, it is still plagiarism. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. ANY form of cheating in this class will result in a zero on the assignment. There will be no retakes or rewrites allowed for any assignment that receives a zero due to cheating of any kind. Student Expectations: Students will follow the rules of the school as outlined in the handbook. Students will be expected to respect all members of the class at all times. Punctuality, attendance, and appropriate materials in class are expected each day. Students who do not comply with the above rules will be subject to discipline. Commitment: The student has signed up for a rigorous course of study that involves the entire year. Sometime in May, the national AP Exam will be administered. Students making a score of 3, 4, or 5 may have freshman credit for composition at some colleges. Attendance is an important part of the students success since class discussion serves to benefit critical thinking skills and analysis of literature. Responsibility: It is your responsibility to be proactive with your AP studies. Search College Board and/or an AP book to learn more words, new strategies, and writing tips. Come prepared each day to class, but more importantly, come to class. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Signature: By the indication of the signatures below, both student and parent acknowledge an understanding of the basic intent and outline of this course. All classroom rules and regulations are subject to school policy. I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus as necessary. Signature of Student: __________________________________________ Signature of Parent/Guardian: ___________________________________ Parent/Guardian Email contact please: __________________________________________