AP Language and Composition Syllabus
AP Language and Composition - Course Syllabus
Course Offered: AP Language & Composition
Instructor: Kevin J. Kilgour (He/Him)
Room Number: 102
Email address: kkilgour@pps.net (You can also reach Mr. Kilgour via Canvas messages)
Flex Hours: Available during flex and by appointment.
Class Objectives
This course was designed according to the guidelines of the AP Language and Composition Course Description. By its completion, students are expected to “read critically, think analytically and communicate clearly both in writing and in speech.” In other words, students will read complex texts with understanding and write prose of sufficient quality and complexity in order to communicate effectively with a mature audience.
Previous high school English courses have included important works of fiction, drama, and poetry with an instructional emphasis on literary analysis. The AP Language and Composition course takes a different focus: rhetorical analysis—opening up the world of nonfiction in many forms—essays, memoirs, biographies and autobiographies, letters, diaries, speeches, and more. Most students have not studied non-fiction extensively, but many find that the texts we read offer surprising variety and creativity. We will look closely at a wide range of short and long non-fiction writing, studying what the writers have to say and how they say it.
One of our objectives is to prepare for success on the AP English Language and Composition exam held in May. Taking the AP exam is not required of students enrolled in this course, but it is heavily recommended. We will learn the expectations of the AP examiners and we will have many opportunities to practice writing and reading in the exam format (timed, in-class writing & timed writing as homework).
Electronic Tools
Grades for this course will be stored and regularly updated on Synergy. In addition, this course will use Canvas to distribute class materials, slides and assignments, including this course syllabus.
Needed Daily Supplies
(1) Composition notebook
Different color highlighters
Pencils
Blue or black pens
Pack of loose leaf lined paper
Folder/Binder (can be shared across classes)
Agenda (strongly recommended)
School-provided chromebook and charger
Tentative Year at a Glance:
Unit 1: What is an argument? An Introduction
Unit 2: Rhetorical Analysis
Unit 3: Argumentation
Unit 4: Synthesis
Unit 5 and beyond: Choice, themed units that build upon the core concepts. Possible topics include justice, sports, the environment, education, and more.
Class Norms
In alignment with the school wide effort to put the “BE” in Ida B. Wells High School, we will be following the four ways of being in this classroom space.
Be engaged: This is an AP class! The exam will challenge you - your best effort is required to find success in this course.
Be prepared: Be present and on time. Complete all required readings or prep work.
Be kind; No one is their best self every day. Be kind to your peers and yourself for the days that don’t go just right.
Be an advocate: This course will challenge you to evaluate, and occasionally take a stand, on complex problems. If we are informed and privileged with the right knowledge and skills, we should advocate for solutions to societal problems.
Grading
This course will be graded according to the school’s standard 4 point scale for grades. See below:
All assignments will fall under the following three categories: Summatives (ie: tests and projects); Formatives (ie: Exit tickets and other formal checks for understanding); Classwork (ie: kickoffs, class participation, small assignments). Unlike formative and summative grades, classwork grades will only be updated twice a quarter based on cumulative participation and adherence to classroom expectations. Each assignment type has the following weight in the gradebook:
Classwork Scoring rubric:
4: Student submits almost every classwork assignment with care, effort and attention to assignment requirements on time. Classroom expectations and procedures are always adhered to.
3: Student submits most classwork assignments with care, effort, and attention to assignment requirements. Classroom expectations are almost always adhered to, with minor hiccups.
2: Student submits only some of the classwork assignments with care, effort, and attention to assignment requirements. Others are occasionally incomplete or hastily done. Classroom expectations are usually met, but with some regular infractions (tech infraction, leaving class without permission, frequent tardies, etc.)
1: More classwork assignments are incomplete or ignored than are completed according to assignment standards. Work is often neglected and class time is often wasted. Classroom expectations are often not met, and conversations with Mr. Kilgour about classroom expectations occur on a weekly or daily basis.
Sample student: Timmy is almost always present and communicates with Mr. Kilgour when he will miss class. He regularly follows classroom expectations (tech use is always appropriate, uses hall pass correctly, in assigned seat). Timmy is a chatty student, but does not disrupt instruction or his peers from their work. Timmy turns in almost all assignments, but there were two classwork assignments that he forgot to turn in. Timmy is also late to class once a week. Timmy would score a 3 on the rubric above for his classwork grade. Although two missing assignments is good enough for a 4, his regular tardies qualify as more than a minor hiccup and will significantly inhibit his ability to complete the daily kickoff tasks, landing him in the middle ground at a 3.
Resubmission policy
Formative and summative assignments scoring lower than a 3.00 can be resubmitted for a higher grade. Speak with Mr. Kilgour about your intent to resubmit. You may resubmit once per assignment.
Submission Expectations & Late Work
Incomplete formative and summative assignments will automatically earn a 1.50, while incomplete classwork grades will score a 0. For students that do not demonstrate mastery of assigned standards, attendance at class office hours is mandatory. If at any time you anticipate needing additional time or support for an assignment, please communicate with Mr. Kilgour about possible deadline flexibility at no penalty. Late classwork assignments will earn half credit and must be submitted during flex hours or tutoring. Late formative and summative assignments submitted past the stated deadline will take the following deductions:
Absences
If you are absent (excused absence only) it is your responsibility to ask for any missed class work or assignments. You have the number of class periods that you were absent to submit the assignments.
Academic Integrity
All of your written work must either be your original words and ideas or cited evidence from credible sources. Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating, will not be tolerated. Mr. Kilgour will provide instruction on what does and does not constitute academic dishonesty, but it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand what does and does not fall within the limits of academic integrity. If you are not sure whether an action constitutes academic dishonesty, please ask! For security purposes, Mr. Kilgour recommends using software that tracks version history (such as Google Docs) to compose all summative writing tasks, and at times will require students to compose their writing in Writeable to track edits and changes. For this purpose, you may not paste large sections of uncited text. (ie: text in excess of 60 words that appears in your document in under one minute). In the event of an instance of academic dishonesty (whether through dual submission or TurnItIn checks) the student will be referred to the School Director and the Dean of Instruction for academic review and disciplinary action. If a scholar is found to have violated the academic honesty policy, no credit will be awarded for the assignment in question.
Notable School Policies
Personal technology:
Each student will receive a personally assigned Yondr pouch for their phone, smartwatch, and AirPods.
Pouches stay locked during the day and are unlocked at dismissal stations. Medical exemptions available.
If a student chooses to use a personal computer rather than the school-issued Chromebook, no technological assistance can be provided by school personnel.
Flex time:
Flex is mandatory, and students must stay on campus