Welcome to
Frankish Anglo Saxon
Level III
The King’s English?
English III AP –
Language & Composition
Mrs. Amy Sefcik
Room 2636
asefcik@springisd.org
http://wiki-cik.wikispaces.com
Conference: 8th period
First, a little information about the
crazy person at the front of the room.
Course Goals
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Read closely
Question intensely
Think critically
Write appropriately
Oh yeah, and get a great score on the AP
exam.
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
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 left with me)
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A Laptop… EVERY DAY.
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This is ABSOLUTELY non-negotiable.
No, I don’t care if it’s yours or one from the school.
Yes, a tablet will do just fine.
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”
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. Be worried if you don’t
think there is any.
When is it due?
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Please know that unless I specifically
state otherwise, all work is due at the
BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD.
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No, I will not send you to print unless I tell
you that’s my plan the day before.
If you’re worried about it… tell me you’re
having trouble a day or two before it’s
due. I am likely to ask others and adjust
the due date for the entire class or give
you an extension.
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.
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.
How to Keep Up with All of This
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Wiki space is your best resource for keeping up with the class.
Due dates will be posted for major grades three weeks out on the
board. They will also be posted for the month, on the calendar in the
back of the room.
Tutorials and extended day: use them!
 Schedule:
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Thursdays, other days by appointment only.
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Appointments require a REQUEST, at least 24 hours in advance.
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I am taking courses in a Master’s Program and getting my
certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor, I have two
children, two dogs, a cat, and a husband… all of which own my time
outside of work the way you do here. So, I am Not physically
available at certain times, but can always be reached via email.
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asefcik@springisd.org PLEASE email me if you have any questions!
Discipline & Plagiarism: If it’s not
yours, don’t turn it in!!
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.
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You can also forget about me trusting you again… I
take this very, very seriously.
Questions?
Current Events Assignment
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You will be expected to do a three-part
analysis of a currently “hot” topic. The
purpose of this assignment is to familiarize
you with real world uses of rhetoric, and
prepare you for the synthesis and
argumentative essays. (i.e., it’s important )
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You will receive more information about this
on Friday.
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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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,
SO 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, which we will vote on.
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!
I will also revisit this after your 54321 Poster is turned in,
and provide more detail.
“Get to know us” Pictionary
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Grab an index card.
Write down something unusual about yourself.
(Don’t show anyone else)
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How are you different from your peers?
Ex: you secretly love Looney Tunes; you can’t stand
high heels; you often get mistaken for Edward; you
went rock climbing in the Grand Canyon; you wish
you could have played with Beethoven
Fold up your card and bring it to the front.
Don’t tell us if it’s your card!