C.J. Sorensen
651-773-6200
cjsore@wbl.whitebear.k12.mn.us
Page 1
AP English Language and Composition Semester
Schedule
Week
1-2
2-6
Topic
Course Expectations,
Getting To Know The
Class
Narration
Selections
Lively Art of Writing
Summer Reading
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7-11
Description
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12-13
Example
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Sorensen AP Language
Into the Wild by
John Krakauer
Champion of the
World by Maya
Angelou
Fish Cheeks by
Amy Tan
The Chase by
Annie Dillard
Shooting Dad by
Sarah Vowell
Silent Dancing by
Judith Ortiz Cofer
On Compassion by
Barbara Lazear
Ascher
Homeless by Anna
Quindlen
A Measure of
Restraint by Chet
Raymo
Signs by Scott
Russell Sanders
Assignments
Grammar Review, Daily
Sentences, Ice Breakers and
Games, Tests, Class Discussion
Lecture Notes, Class Discussion,
Response Writing,
Major Student Paper:
Personal Narrative
(Focus on the Writing Process)
Major Student Paper: Profile,
Literary Terms Project
Lecture Notes, Class Discussion,
Response Writing,
C.J. Sorensen
651-773-6200
cjsore@wbl.whitebear.k12.mn.us
14-18
Comparison/Contrast
Page 2
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19-23
Analysis
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Sorensen AP Language
Neat People vs.
Sloppy People by
Suzzane Britt
Batting Clean-Up
and Striking Out by
Dave Barry
Grant and Lee: A
Study in Contrasts
by Bruce Catton
Size 6: The
Western Women’s
Harem
Remembering My
Childhood on the
Continent of Africa
by David Sedaris
In Defense of Talk
Shows by Barabara
Ehrenreich
Our Barbies,
Ourselves by Emily
Prager
The Capricious
Camera by Laila
Ayad
Why I Went to the
Woods by Henry
David Thoreau
Blink by Malcolm
Gladwell
Major Student Paper:
Compare/Contrast
Timed Essay, Multiple Choice
Questions,
Major Student Paper:
Ethnography
C.J. Sorensen
651-773-6200
cjsore@wbl.whitebear.k12.mn.us
24-28
Argument/Persuasion
Page 3
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29
Themed Essays:
Ethics and Morals
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30
Race and Ethnicity
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31-34
History
Sorensen AP Language

Too Much Pressure
by Colleen Wenke
Why I Stopped
Being a Vegetarian
by Laura Fraser
A Vegetarian
Philosophy by Peter
Singer
Why Don’t We
Complain by
William F.
Buckley, Jr.
Live Free and
Starve by Chitra
Divakaruni
The FBI is Reading
over Your Shoulder
by Zara Gelsey
How the USA
Patriot Act Defends
Democracy by Viet
D. Dinh
A Modest Proposal
by Jonathan Swift
Shooting an
Elephant by George
Orwell
The Discovery of
What it Means to
Be an American by
James Baldwin
How it Feels to Be
Colored Me by
Zora Neale Hurston
The Autobiography
of Benjamin
Franklin
Response Writing, Lecture
Notes, Class Discussion,
Research Practice,
Documentation
Major Student Paper:
Research Argument
Response Writing, Class
Discussion, Timed Essay, Test
Prep, Rhetorical Analysis
C.J. Sorensen
651-773-6200
cjsore@wbl.whitebear.k12.mn.us
35-38
Women and Men
Test Review
Page 4
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Sorensen AP Language
What are Men
Good For by Jared
Diamond
I Want a Wife by
Judy Brady
Not all Men are Sly
Foxes by Armin A.
Brott
Wonder Woman by
Gloria Steinem
A Vindication of
the Rights of
Woman by Mary
Wollstoncraft
C.J. Sorensen
651-773-6200
cjsore@wbl.whitebear.k12.mn.us
Page 5
Reading List and Rationale
Since White Bear Lake students potentially take this course as their only Language Arts
credit, the focus of the course will be on a wide range of materials, exploring a variety of
topics and time periods. The College Board notes that, “Reading in an AP course should
be both wide and deep.” These selections offer a range of issues, and also the rigor and
depth to challenge even advanced students. It is my hope that these works will allow
students to learn the following key skills:
 How to analyze and interpret samples of good writing, identifying and explaining
an author’s use of rhetorical strategies and techniques
 How to apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writing
 How to move effectively through the stages of the writing process, with careful
attention to inquiry and research, drafting, editing, and review
I am confident that this course will offer a rich, meaningful experience for all dedicated
Language Arts students.
Reading List
What We’re Reading Why We’re Reading It
The Lively Art of
We’ll use this text to brush up on Grammar and Style issues.
Writing
The Autobiography
of Benjamin
Franklin
Into The Wild by
John Krakauer
One of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures in American
History, Ben Franklin is the perfect subject to explore in your
journey of Non-Fiction prose.
Krakauer is a master of blending journalistic, detached prose with
powerful insights and dramatic storytelling.
The Bedford Reader
I’ve selected most of the readings from this anthology because it
does an excellent job of isolating key rhetorical modes. Your
writing and reading will focus on one mode of development at a
time until you can look at the thematic pieces on a more holistic
level.
You will read selected pieces from this anthology. You will be
looking at readings both rhetorically and thematically.
William Zinnser’s classic text on non-fiction writing is especially
useful for exploring the trickier style issues and also has an
excellent chapter on conducting an interview.
The Conscious
Reader
On Writing Well
Sorensen AP Language
C.J. Sorensen
651-773-6200
cjsore@wbl.whitebear.k12.mn.us
Writing Arguments:
A Rhetoric with
Readings
6th Edition(or most
recent edition)
Blink: The Power of
Thinking Without
Thinking
Sorensen AP Language
Page 6
A thorough look at both the theoretical and practical elements, this
text will serve as a reference for your look at argument and
persuasion. Its unique use of Toulmin’s system for describing
arguments creates a wonderful anchor for planning and describing
your own arguments.
An amazing analysis of research and information to make startling
conclusion about the way people make snap judgments. We will
use the book as an example of excellent non-fiction writing and
the technique of careful analysis.
C.J. Sorensen
651-773-6200
cjsore@wbl.whitebear.k12.mn.us
Page 7
English Language and Composition Major Writing
Assignments
Personal Narrative
Tell a true story of your early or recent school days, either humorous or serious, relating a
struggle you experienced (or still experience) in school.
Profile
Interview a figure from the local area and write a profile.
Comparison and Contrast
Choose an element of popular culture and write a comparison and contrast essay in which
you explain why you prefer one thing to the other.
Possible subjects:
Macs and PC’s
Two Sports
Two TV sitcoms
Two Horror Movies
Games from when you were a child and games today
Two Sports teams
Two cities
Ethnography
Observe and analyze an “alien” culture and write about it. You must observe this culture
first hand. Consider the meaning of “alien.” What is alien to you? If you are on the
football team, this subculture is not alien to you, but to someone who has no interest or
expertise in athletics, it may very well be alien. Likewise, the punk subculture may or
may not be alien to you. Select an observable group, but foreign to you
Argument/Persuasion
Choose a controversial topic from current events. (Stay away from the “standard” topics)
Write an essay in which you argue for one side using evidence from you research.
Sorensen AP Language
C.J. Sorensen
651-773-6200
cjsore@wbl.whitebear.k12.mn.us
Page 8
English Language and Composition Major Writing
Assignments
Trait
Ideas/Content
Perfect
Addresses the
task with
insight and
depth,
Essay has
complexity
and support
Ideas move
creatively and
easily from
one to the next
Good
Addresses the
task and
contains
adequate
support
Okay
Might not
address the
task in full and
might be
missing some
support
Needs Work
Contains little
support and
might
misunderstand
or not address
the task
Ideas move
clearly from
one to the
next
Ideas are all
present but
may not move
easily from
one to the next
Sentence Fluency
Varied,
Complex
sentences
Sentences are
varied and
somewhat
complex
Sentences are
clear but lack
variety and
complexity
Word Choice
Accurate,
innovative
word choice,
Strong Verb
choice
Good word
choice, but is
missing those
one or two
“great” words
Uses the
typical
vocabulary of
high school
students
Adequate
Control of
Language, A
few lapses in
style
A few
mistakes
Several lapses
in control of
language
Organization
hinders
meaning,
Ideas may not
be organized at
all
Sentence are
too simple or
flawed and
often obscure
meaning
Vague or
incorrect word
choice at times,
Uses words
that are too
simple or plain
No creativity
Prose has no
life
Organization
Voice/Creativity
Superb
Control of
Language,
Interesting,
Exciting Prose
Conventions/Format Virtually error
free
Sorensen AP Language
Several
mistakes per
page
Mistakes make
it difficult to
decipher
meaning