CENTERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
AP ENGLISH: LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
Course Syllabus 2011-2012 (Abridged)
Ms. Alison Kennedy, South 240
Email: alison.kennedy@centerville.k12.oh.us
Plan Period: Period 4/5
alisonrkennedy@gmail.com
Moodle site: AP Language & Composition (Kennedy)
Course Overview
The AP English Language and Composition course helps students to become skilled readers and
writers in diverse genres and modes of composition. As stated in the Advanced Placement
Course Description, the purpose of the Language and Composition course 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.” These skills will allow students to
read critically and write effectively in different modes in academic contexts and beyond.
Although this course will include a sampling of novels, stories, and plays that provide a unique
perspective on the issues we study, the English Language and Composition course takes a
different focus than AP Literature, opening up the world of nonfiction in all its varied forms –
essays, memoirs, biographies and autobiographies, letters, diaries, speeches, journalism, literary
criticism, etc. Nonfiction is a literature of fact, but it is also a literature of great variety and
creativity. This course will examine a wide range of short and long nonfiction writing, studying
what the writers say and, just as importantly, how they say it.
Required Texts
Shea, Renee H., Lawrence Scanlon, and Robin Dissin Autses. The Language of Composition.
Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. Print.
Orwell, George. 1984 (provided by teacher, but you are welcome to purchase your own copy)
Melville, Herman. Billy Budd and The Piazza Tales. New York: Barnes and Noble Classics,
2006. Print.
Materials
 three-ring binder with 5 divider tabs: Current Unit, Vocabulary, Grammar, Writing, and
Independent Reading
 notebook paper
 blue or black pens, pencils, highlighters, 4-color pen (recommended)
 all assigned readings and handouts in the current unit of study
Independent Reading
Each quarter, students will select and read at least one work of nonfiction. Students will
complete assignments while they read as well as select culminating assignments to develop and
reflect understanding.
Plagiarism/Cheating Policy
A student caught plagiarizing from the Internet, a study aid, or another student will be dealt with
harshly according to the school-wide cheating policy. Potential consequences include: an “F” in
the course, a mark on his/her transcript indicating plagiarism, and withdrawal from the honors
program/advanced placement course. Integrity is a key component of an honors program. If a
student feels unable to complete an assignment on his or her own, outside assistance is always
available upon request. Major writing assignments will be submitted to turnitin.com.
Student Evaluation / Grading Scale
Throughout the course, students are assessed in a variety of ways: short, informal assignments,
class presentations, in-class writing assignments, tests, and longer process writing pieces. As
befits an honors-level course, students must prepare for class by completing homework
assignments, and be ready to discuss the reading.
Quarter grades for the course will be computed in weighted categories, to reflect the importance
and emphasis of varying assignments and assessments. Categories and their weights are as
follows:
15% Tests and Quizzes (including vocabulary quizzes)
35% Classwork and Participation (homework is a form of/prerequisite for participation)
50% Writing (including in-class, on demand essays)
A note on assessment: As this is a composition course, the papers composed in and out of
class are the primary assessments. They reveal students’ understanding of the concepts taught.
These papers are assessed on the 0-9 AP scale, and the percentage value of the various scores
will change each quarter to reflect the growth that student should see. Students are
encouraged to periodically schedule an individual writing conference to discuss their writing
progress and determine areas for growth.
Each semester will culminate in a final exam that includes an on-demand writing component,
reading comprehension questions designed to measure close analysis, and cumulative grammar
and vocabulary components. Missing/uncompleted assignments will be marked with a “Z”
in Pinnacle; a blank may indicate that the assignment has been given but not yet entered. A
number of “Zs” indicate a problem. An “X” indicates that a student has been “excused” from that
assignment.
Students should contact Ms. Kennedy immediately or consult the course Moodle site, which is
updated daily, in the event of an illness or unforeseeable emergency to obtain makeup
assignments, and to receive an extension if needed. No penalty will be assessed if students ask
for extensions 48 or more hours before the assignment is due.
Because homework and process assignments (i.e., rough drafts) pertain to the lesson of the day,
students earn no credit if they do not submit those assignments on the due date.
Assignments of 50+ points will receive a 10% point deduction for each day late. All late work
is due by 7:45 am. If a student repeatedly abuses the late work or extension privilege, both the
student’s parents and his/her counselor will be notified so that we can help the student to manage
his/her time more effectively. Because each day’s agenda and handouts are available on the
course Moodle website, students are responsible for obtaining missing work. If students need to
speak to me about make-up work, they must do so before or after class, not during class time.
Daily Assignments and Portfolio:
Students should keep all work for the semester in a three-ring binder that they will use to create a
portfolio. This will include all unit journals (which will be provided), drafts, final products,
notes, handouts, tests/quizzes, timed writes, reading responses, etc. Periodically, students will be
asked to write reflections on their works, their growth as thinkers and writers, and their readings.
This portfolio binder should be with the student in class at all times so that we can quickly refer
back to previous discussions, writings, and texts.
Behavior Expectations: A description of classroom rules, consequences, and procedures will
be given in class.
Computer Issues:
Computer trouble is NOT a valid excuse for late work. The IMC has many computers
available from which students may complete and/or print work. Please print all assignments
before class; students may not use class time to print an assignment, as assignments are due at
the beginning of the period and printing work for students takes up valuable class time.
Additional Help:
Course updates, announcements, homework, and handouts may be reviewed and downloaded
from our course Moodle website, accessible from the Centerville district website. I am available
during 4th and 5th period lunch every day and after school upon request. I can be reached by
email anytime at alison.kennedy@centerville.k12.oh.us for questions and additional help. I
make my best effort to respond to emails sent by 9 pm. I will do all that I can to help each
student succeed in this course.
E-mail Etiquette:
Questions sent to me via email should follow appropriate email/correspondence etiquette,
otherwise I will not respond. Please include a salutation (Dear Ms. Kennedy), a detailed
explanation of your question or request that is phrased in grammatically correct, formal English,
and an appropriate closing that includes your name. Also, kindly acknowledge that you did
receive my response with a “thank you.”