Welcome to
Frankish Anglo Saxon
Level III
English III AP –
Language & Composition
Mrs. Amy Sefcik
Room 2636
asefcik@springisd.org
http://wiki-cik.wikispaces.com
Conference: 4th period
Note Card
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Please write your name (last name first), your
parent’s name(s), phone numbers, and email
address on the note card.
In the top right hand corner, write your
birthday (mm/dd)!
Course Goals
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Read closely
Question intensely
Think critically
Write appropriately
What to Expect
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A Very rigorous course designed to enhance your
understanding of the elements of composition and style.
Readings from various contemporary and classical
works to analyze style and the formalities of good prose
writing and insightful non-fiction writing.
A college-level working vocabulary of terms related to
writing and literary analysis, as well as an appreciation
for those elements.
By the end of this course, you will have the necessary
tools to present yourself as a citizen orator.
Supplies
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Writing Utensil (pen/pencil)
Highlighters
Paper
Post-it notes
Memo book (small 3x4 spiral bound steno book)
Pocket/brads folder or small binder (1/2 in.)
Pack of 3x5 note cards (spiral bound is fine)
Pad of Yellow paper (will be shared)
Your Laptop
Books & Media
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Textbook: Riverside Reader
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Support texts: Writing about Literature in the Media Age
(WLMA); online texts
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Vocabulary: Rhetorical Terms and Literary Devices
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Novels: Novel Seminar: your choice from list; Outside
Reading: choice from assigned lists; Idlewild by Nick
Sagan
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Film: Documentary film unit, Presidential speeches,
highlights from classical books translated into film.
Writing—Why is there so much of it?!
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Because you have the potential to earn
college credit for this course, you are
expected to write “at a college level.”
In plain English, this means:
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Various modes and styles
Varied structures and techniques
Few to no errors in grammar, punctuation, or
spelling
We will train you to write this way, you don’t have
to have these skills today!
Vocabulary
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Vocabulary can make a bad writer sound
good, and a good writer sound like a poet.
Mastery of college-level vocabulary is the key
to being able to discuss your ideas, research,
and opinions in a way that will instantly
enhance your ethos.
I will help you build your vocabulary via a
daily “Word of the Day” and a “Living Word
Wall”
Grading
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Daily assignments, projects, class
participation, quizzes, tests, essays
80% Major (tests & projects), 20% Minor
(participation, etc.)
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In-class writings are generally major grades.
Peer-editing will count as a minor grade.
Vocabulary quizzes are combined to create a
major grade.
Expect homework.
Make-up Work
When you are absent, the district policy states that you have one
day plus the number of days you were absent to turn in any
missed daily work. However, if you are absent on the day an
assignment is due, it is due the day you return.
For long-term, major projects, you receive a five-day window in
which to turn in the project whether you are at school or not.
*THIS APPLIES TO THE OUTSIDE READING PROJECT*
If you are absent YOU are responsible for getting your make-up
work from our online classroom. If you do not understand any
part of the assignment, please ask me.
If you are on campus the day an assignment is due, and are not
sent home due to illness, the standard late work policy applies.
Timed writings and Multiple/Choice Sample Section Tests must be
made up during tutorials within one week of the absence.
Late Policy
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I do not accept late daily work for credit, no exceptions.
I do not accept late work for full credit. Ever. Major grade
assignments will be docked 10 points per day. Saturday and
Sunday count as two days. The first deduction occurs after the
end of your class period on the day the assignment is due.
 If a five-day window has been given for a long-term, major
assignment (ex. Outside Reading) it will not be accepted after the
last day of the window.
 What if… aliens abduct my sister, and I miss my aunt’s wedding
trying to save her, getting to campus only five minutes ago and
suddenly realizing I left my assignment sitting on the stove, so
now it’s bound to be a pile of ashes, but I stayed up until four
o’clock working on it!
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Consider a career in screenwriting. It’s still late.
What if… I need extra help with the assignment.
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Talk to me at least 24 hours in advance of the due time (i.e., the day
before, during your class) and we’ll talk about an extension.
Transfer Students
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Wiki space is your best resource for keeping up with the
class.
Higher level of difficulty because of lack of time, but not
impossible.
Tutorials and extended day: use them!
 Schedule:
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Tuesdays and Thursdays, other days by appointment only.
 Appointment means a REQUEST, at least 24 hours in
advance.
 I teach night class at ITT, and am taking courses in a Master’s
Program. I am Not physically available at certain times, but
can always be reached via email.
Discipline & Plagiarism
The nature of the Carl Wunsche Sr. High
School is professional. Students are
expected to act professionally and
appropriately in all classroom situations.
Plagiarism will result in a loss of credit for the
assignment and may result in a referral to the
Assistant Principal’s office.
Questions?
Current Events Friday
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Every Friday you will be expected to turn in
an article from the week’s news, which you
have analyzed for rhetorical and grammatical
devices.
You will receive more information about this
on Thursday.
So… start looking at news sites, watching the
news, etc. Most stories you see on the
evening news are reproduced on the
channel’s website. (ex. Cnn.com, khou.com)
Outside Reading: The Books
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You are expected to read one book every three
weeks, and complete a book report for each book.
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Each six weeks you will be given a themed list of nonfiction
and fiction books to choose from. Nonfiction for 1st 3
weeks, Fiction for 2nd 3 weeks.
Themes:
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6.
Pop Culture (NF: Biography; F: Pop Culture List)
Community
Ethics (NF only, Novel Seminar replaces 1st 3-weeks OR)
Gender
Environment
Heroes
Outside Reading: The Book Report
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This is complicated if you don’t ‘get it’ before you try to do one,
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION!!
Your first book report will be a 54321 Poster on the Biography you
read over the summer.
After that: Each six weeks you will turn in two book reports.
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A: one Major Works Data Sheet (MWDS);
B: one project from online list.
You decide when you do each book report.
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Ex: It’s the 2nd six weeks, you read Civil Disobedience for your Nonfiction
selection, and do a MWDS for your book report. You then choose A Clockwork
Orange for your Fiction selection. Because you’ve already done the MWDS, you
would choose one of the “Choice” book report projects.
Ex: The next six weeks, you decide to do a Book to Film project for A Hand to
Guide Me, your Nonfiction selection. You would do a MWDS for your Fiction
selection since you already completed a “Choice” project.
Confused?
Just Ask!