AP Language and Composition

2015-2016

Ms. Y. Mrquez

Room: J 282

ymarquez@maldenps.org

Students in this introductory, college-level course

read and carefully analyze a broad and challenging
range of nonfiction prose selections, deepening their
awareness of rhetoric and how language works. The
goals of an AP course in Language and Composition
are diverse because the college composition course is
one of the most varied in the curriculum. Through
close reading and frequent writing, students develop
their ability to work with language and text with a
greater awareness of purpose and strategy, while
strengthening their own composing abilities. Course
readings feature expository, analytical, personal, and
argumentative texts from a variety of authors and
historical contexts. Also, the course allows the
students to write in several formsnarrative,
expository, argumentative, personalon many
different subjects, from public policies to personal
experiences. Ultimately, all AP Composition and
Language students will be taking the AP Test in May,
which offers the possibility of college credit.
Course reading and writing should help students gain
textual power, making them more alert to an authors
purpose, the needs of an audience, the demands of a
subject, and the resources of language in connection
to persuasive appeals (ethos, logos, pathos): syntax,
word choice, and tone. By early May, the students
will have nearly completed a course in close reading
and purposeful writing. The skills students learn
(close reading, analysis of various texts, etc) will

be used in their own writing as they gain an

increased awareness of these strategies.
This is a college-level course that demands a high
performance by the students both in and outside the
classroom setting. The workload is challenging. The
discussion is meaningful. The writing is lengthy and
revised. Because of these factors, not only is effective
time management important, but students must bring
to the class a willingness to try, a sufficient command
of mechanical conventions, and an ability to read and
discuss prose.

Class Wiki: www.marquezaplc.wikispaces.com

My Teaching Philosophy:
I hope to help foster and develop my
students confidence levels when it comes to their abilities as readers
and writers, reinforcing the fact that everyone has room for
improvement. As an Advanced Placement Language and Composition
teacher, I want to provide my students with a variety of literature,
with a primary focus on non-fiction, as a way to broaden their reading
and writing experiences to then sharpen their analytical and
rhetorical skills and help them understand the importance of
language. My ultimate goal through our rhetorical study of nonfiction (real-life texts) is to have my students become more
informed, well-rounded, critical citizens of their society,
understanding that their voices (both verbal and non-verbal) are to be
valued as much as anyone elses.

Supplies:

LARGE 3-ring binder

with appropriate
sections: (Reading
Critically, Rhetoric,
Argument,
Vocabulary, Writing
Practice, IR DJs)

Pen (blue/black ink)

Post-Its
Highlighters
Chat Book*
Google Account
(professional)

Course Texts:

Course Description

Welcome to
a new year!

Major Rules for

Success:
Be PREPARED to
work hard.
Be PRESENT.
Be RESPONSIBLE.
Be RESPECTFUL of
all people and class
resources!

Supplied: * Everyday Use: Rhetoric at Work in Reading and

Writing *50 Great Essays: A Portable Anthology
*Everythings an Argument * In Cold Blood *The Scarlet Letter
*The Great Gatsby *Into the Wild *The Things They Carried*
Selected Chapters/Passages: *The Norton Sampler: Short
Essays for Composition *Picturing Texts *One Hundred Great
Essays
Student Selected: Independent Reading Novels (in conjunction
with class topics of study)
Other: There will also be a number of articles, passages,
visual arguments, etc. that have not been listed here.

AP Lang & Comp Syllabus

Y. Mrquez

Page 2

Absences:

Tardies:
Prompt arrival and readiness are essential to
success (lunch block returns are included in
this). Any lateness must be accompanied by
a pass; if you do not have a pass, you are to
immediately leave your agenda book on my
desk and be prepared to make up any
missed time with me after school.
Additional consequences for tardies will be
followed as per school rules (see agenda).

Whenever possible, let me know of an absence in advance. Also, try

to get your absences marked as excused with the office. You will
know assignment due dates well in advance, thus it is expected that
you will return from your absence having completed the missed
homework. There may be exceptions to this rule given extenuating
circumstances. If you are to be absent for a school event (e.g.: field
trip), you are to turn in work BEFORE you leave. *It is your
responsibility to find out what you missed and make up the work!*
Familiarize yourself with the Extra Handouts basket for materials.
Do not interrupt class time to determine make-up assignments.

3 Major Components to Course Overview

Close Reading
This helps one become an active,
reflective reader.
Tactics Include:

Rhetorical Analysis
What is Rhetorical Analysis?
1.

Writers always use language

with PURPOSE
2. When asked to do a rhetorical
analysis, one is to examine how
a writer achieves his/her
purpose

1. Multiple readings (once is

NEVER enough!)
2. Focus on purpose and
strategy, then annotate
3. Thinking notes in connection Students need to
with reading aloud in class
4. Questioning: literal,
1. Appreciate purpose and
interpretative, experiencedaudience
based
2. Recognize assertion and claims
5. Reading Journals
3. Examine their validity and
6. Reading Sheets
evaluate associated support
7. Annotating Texts
4. Recognize types of appeals and
8. Elaboration: the act of
their combined use in
marking a page while
arguments
reading helps you read more
5. Recognize the strategic use of
attentively and with better
rhetoric by becoming familiar
understanding
with rhetorical modes used by
writing in their efforts to
inform, persuade, or entertain.
Students will be marking up the
texts while they read.
Students will be asked Whats
remarkable? while reading, and jot
down ideas, observations, and
questions.

Argument
Purpose: to reach, articulate, and
support a reasons position on a
debatable matter or questions of
importance
1.

2.

3.
4.
5.

6.

What we commonly call

argument embraces ideas
associated with persuasion,
logic, and even propaganda
Form: inductive (requires
careful use of collected data)
vs. deductive (requires
building logical order)
Applies the promptfollows
directions for writing
Position can be clearly, readily
discerned, and is often stated
Present carefully selected
evidence in support of key
points
Offers discussion that deepens
understand and appreciation
of the issue and its
complexities as well as the
rhetors positions; may
concede and refute points
associate with other views

AP Lang & Comp Syllabus

Y. Mrquez

Grading Criteria
Participation

Quizzes/Tests & IR
Journals
Homework & RRs
Writing Assignments

Quizzes/Tests & IR Journals: 10%

AP practice tests, skills quizzes, and periodic reading checks (may be
unannounced). AP practice tests will account for more weight as the
year progresses and will be scored on the AP scale.
Make-up Work (quizzes, tests): will only be granted if absence is
accompanied with an appropriate note. Teacher and student will
arrange a suitable make-up time w/in 2 days of returning; failure to do
so will result in a zero.

Writing Assignments: 40%

ALL formal writing assignments are to be typed according to MLA
format (double-spaced, Times New Roman, font 12, 1 margins). Late
essays will be heavily penalized (and there is a cut off for these*). All
drafts and work leading up the essay are to be turned in with the final
draft, unless otherwise stated. This class is about process and not
solely product, so your drafting process is heavily weighted.

All other hand-written work is to be neat, legible, and must

include a heading (your name, date, class, assignment # and
title). Any work that is illegible will NOT be graded.
Writing assignments/major projects will be marked down an
entire grade for each day it is late (2 day cut off).
*Cheating or Plagiarism results in an automatic zero!

Page 3
Participation: 25%
Since this class heavily focuses on class discussion and
participation, coming to class prepared is crucial. Class time
will focus on discussion of readings making your
participation a key element to learning. However,
participation also includes positively contributing to the
class through ones focused writing, answering/asking
questions, showing of an effort, actively listening to others
when speaking, engaging with other students when
appropriate, and maintaining ones class notebook (clearly
written notes, handouts, etc).
** Always label the tops of your pages with your name,
class, and date. Copy each days Objectives, and be sure to
immediately begin and complete the Do Now. [Note: NO
other business is to be conducted during the Do Now portion
of class]

Homework: 25%
Students will be given homework agendas periodically
throughout the year, which will delineate each homework
assignment for the given time period. Be aware that
homework assigned in this class is not about quantity but
quality. Assignments may include response sheets, blog
entries, outlines, etc. Assignments may not be long in
length, but require careful and thorough thought. Rushed
homework assignments will not be conducive to class
discussions, nor to your overall understanding and growth
as a reader and writer.
Late homework assignments will not be accepted

Label all assignments with the appropriate heading

and HW#
+ = 100

= 85

- = 75

n/c = no credit/55*

Questions you may still have.

Can I get in contact with you outside of class? Yes, there are a number of ways to get in contact with me outside of our class time. The best way is

to schedule time with me before or after school to guarantee that Ill set aside time for you; however, know that you can always feel free to
stop by without a scheduled appointment. Also, we may be able to schedule time during a mutually convenient free block. Finally, you can
always send me an email, but know that you should be conscious of the time at which you are sending the email, as I do not stay up all hours of
the night waiting for students to email me. Also, when emailing, please write formallyno text talk or fragmented writing.
Are there any extra credit assignments? Yes, I sporadically provide extra credit assignments to the class as a whole. They are

optional. However, I will not be granting individual extra credit assignments, so please do not ask.
What if I have to go to the restroom? You are allowed 2 OUTS per quarter with your agenda book (that means for water,

locker, or bathroom). Use them wisely. But since we have a rotating schedule, this has rarely proven to be an issue.
Are we allowed to eat in class? No. I dont want to start seeing additional small, dirty, 4-legged guests in my room.