| AP English FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) |
| Grading Scale: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, etc. If I want to drop AP, can I go into Honors English 4? You are not guaranteed a spot in Honors English 4 once you sign up for AP. Switching is based on class occupancy. In the 2002-2003 school year, most of those wishing to switch out of AP (who decided this in September) were placed in College Prep English 4. How often do we have tests/assessments? There will be an objective test over every text we read this year. Please note that if you fail the objective test, you automatically fail the RJ for said text. We will have many "pop-quizzes," both written and oral.If you have trouble with tests, this is the class to get over that! What's the reading load like compared to my other English classes? In your previous English courses, you've read between 2-4 "large texts" per year, many short stories, poems and auxiliary materials. The pacing of this material has been based on the teacher, but usuallys you've been spending 3-6 weeks on each large text-- reading most of it in class. In AP, you will be reading about 15 "large texts," between 12-20 short stories, many poems, about 15 essays, and auxiliary materials. Most of this reading is done outside of class, up to 50 pages a night. What's the writing load like? You will be completing "classic- style" Response Journals (including handwritten chapter notes) 1st semester and annotated RJ's for 2nd. You will produce at least one fully-processed document each semester. You will be writing countless short essays and assignments, including (almost) weekly timed writing activities. For some, this means "writing until my hand falls off." Do we do anything besides write essays and read books? Multigenre presentations, including technology-based assignments. Test preps. Debates and discussions. Acitivities. Art-focused assignments. You name it, we do it! What if I'm shy and I have a hard time speaking out in class? Will it affect my grade? We'll work on it. AP is not the class to be timid-- it is the class to hone your discussion skills. We are a team, and as such, no more "hiding"! Positive risks are encouraged. Positive, active participation is up to 25% of your grade. I've earned an "A" every year of Honors English. Will I be getting an "A" in this class, too? Maybe. Maybe not. Every student's AP experience is different/ Usually, people who are truly invested in the class will earn A's, while people who are "just taking it because it looks good on the transcript" don't do that well. Those who "skip" the summer work but do really well first semester get C's. (Please also see above note regarding tests.) Do I have to take the AP test? You don't HAVE to but you definitely SHOULD. There are many important reasons to do so, which will be discussed in class. And you can get partial or full financial assistance to pay for it. I advise everyone to take this exam! I don't have a computer/the internet at home... I hear we'll be doing lots of computer work. Will it affect my grade? Pacifica has over 100 computers on campus at your disposal. We can always work something out. What if I have other AP questions? See Mrs. Potts or send email to: [email protected]. Be sure to include your full name and "AP QUESTION" in the subject line, or your email will be ignored. |
| Sample Syllabus: this lists some of what's done in class and how the class is paced. Note that when it says, "RJs due," this reading and work was done mostly out of class! OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER: 9/30-10/4: read selected works of Aeschylus and Sophocles. RJs for The Oedipus Cycle (3 plays) due 10/3; writing exam 10/3. 10/7-10/11: THE EPIC: Beowulf. College Essay Writing; summer-based research presentations due. 10/15-10/18: essay writing & presentations 10/21-10/25: essay writing, test prep & finish presentations 10/28-11/1: essays & test prep; The Epic of Gilgamesh and religious texts RJS due 11/1. 11/4-11/8: Literary Terms, including first poetry. Discuss Gilgamesh & religious texts. 11/11-11/15" Merchant of Venice RJ due 11/11; Writing exam on Merchant 11/11. Discusson and film analysis; Shakespeare notes. 11/18: literary analysis & essays 11/21-break: Salinger/ Americans; literary analysis, etc. Thanksgiving Break: read the Catcher in the Rye & complete RJs-- writng exam & RJ due Tues after you come back! 12/2-6: Catcher RJ due; Shakespeare notes; begin Hamlet 12/9-12/13: Issue Papers due (5-15 pages); finish Hamlet; do RJs. Begin reading Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are DEad 12.16-20: theater of the absurd; watch film (& film analyssis); essay test over Ham. & R&G Winter break: read Jane Austen's Pride and PRejudice/ complete RJ 1/6-10: RJ for P&P due 1/7; history notes & poetry. Begin Frankenstein (RJ due 1/24) 1/13-1/17: paper rewrites; history & poetry analysis |
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