Syllabus & Guidelines
Wantagh High School
Ms. Grange – 12 AP Language & Composition – Room 130
grangea@wantaghschools.org
(516) 679-6490 ext. 687
Welcome to AP English Language and Composition!
Because you are enrolled in a college-level English course as a high school senior, it is already evident
that you are a hard working student, have a genuine interest in learning and expanding your knowledge, and
love reading, writing, and language. Therefore, I know we are going to have a successful and effective year
exploring language and its many purposes and intricacies together. I am looking forward to getting to know
and work with each of you during the final chapter of your high school careers!
Course Overview:
In AP Language and Composition, we examine the techniques and approaches people use to
communicate beautifully, meaningfully, and effectively. This requires intensive reading of prose written in a
variety of periods, on a variety of subjects, and extensive writing for a variety of purposes. Though the course
does include a few works of fiction, non-fiction (narrative, journalism, speeches, essays, memoirs, creative nonfiction, visual and multi-media) is our primary focus. Our writing assignments range from informal, reflective
journals to formal, critical papers that emphasize analysis, argumentation, research, and synthesis.
This course is also designed to aid in your preparation for the AP English Language and Composition
Exam in May, where a score of 3 or higher may exempt you from your college’s English Composition course
requirement.
Most importantly, your ability to read, write, and think critically will improve with considerable effort.
Course Text(s): The Language of Composition (First Edition), other selected readings
*Please keep and bring all texts to class each day. We will use many of the handouts throughout the year.
Required Materials:
*Three-ring binder (preferred) or notebook and AP Lang. exclusive folder,
*At least 2 blue or black pens for graded assignments
I suggest also purchasing different colored pens, highlighters, and sticky notes for annotating texts.
Classroom Atmosphere:
In this class we will be reading and discussing sensitive topics that may include strong language,
provoke different opinions, and explore unfamiliar ideas. Thus, it is vital for our classroom to be a safe and
open space that welcomes collaborative thinking and a sharing/respecting of everybody’s personal views. The
purpose of the course is to enlighten each other and open our minds to new ways of thinking and deeper
understanding of the world we live in, NOT to debate forcefully and bitterly. Any form of disrespect,
discrimination, or any other negative behavior or attitude will not be tolerated in this classroom.
Class Participation:
As this course is considered a college-level course, class discussion is of paramount importance.
You are in an Advanced Placement course because you have shown yourself to be advanced in some way.
Please share that with us. What you have to say is truly valuable for everyone.
Your participation –talking in large and small class discussions, beginning your warm-up when the bell
rings, responding to journals or Do Now activities when asked, coming to class prepared – is also a part of your
grade. Everyone begins with a participation quiz grade of 100. Each time you fail or choose not to “participate,”
two points will be deducted from that grade.
Grading Policy:
 Major Papers/Projects/Tests: 50%
 Vocabulary/Reading/Timed AP Practice Quizzes and Homework: 35%
*Homework begins as a quiz grade of 100. 5 points is deducted for each missed assignment.
 Participation: 15 %
*Mid-Term Examination: you will complete an exam based on the full AP English Language and Composition
model (Multiple Choice, 3 essays – analysis, argumentative, synthesis)
*Unannounced Quizzes: Quizzes will periodically be given unannounced, based on reading assignments and
skills learned
Extra Help:
Please do not hesitate to come speak with me if you are having trouble understanding any aspect of this course.
Extra help hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 2:18 – 2:49.
*Please note that I will not be available Tuesday afternoons in September. See me if you’d like to come before
school on those days instead.
Writing Center:
You may visit the English Department Writing Center anytime during your Study Hall or Lunch period (with a
pass) for assistance with your writing for any class. I will be in the Writing Lab each day during 8th period.
Academic Integrity (Plagiarism):
“Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person’s work, in the form of original ideas,
strategies, and research, or another person’s writing, in the form of sentences, phrases, and innovative
terminology.”
“If you present another person’s ideas as your own, you are plagiarizing even if you use your own words”
(Spatt, Writing from Sources. 6th Ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2003).
It is perfectly acceptable to research a topic and learn from others, as long as you give credit to those
who have taught you. Present your own ideas as they are and credit those of others. In this course, plagiarized
work (homework, blogs, journals, essays, etc.) will result in a grade of zero for the assignment. In addition,
please review Wantagh’s Academic Integrity Policy for information about Wantagh’s procedures in the event of
plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offence, and can result in your expulsion from honor societies and, in
college, expulsion from the institution.
Attendance and Make-up/Late Work:
If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to make up any missed work and hand it in no
later than ONE day upon your return for full credit. You can check with me, a classmate, or the class website to
see what you missed.
Most major assignments are due on their respective dates regardless of absence. A letter grade will be
deducted for each day a major assignment is late.
Extra Credit: (adopted from Mrs. Lopera – I will honor this policy!)
An ongoing option for extra credit is something I read about called “Overlap.” In time, this will
hopefully begin to happen to you. An “overlap” is an “aha!” moment, when something in the outside world –
such as watching a television show or a movie, reading something, talking with someone, etc – collides, or
overlaps, with things we discuss in class. Challenge yourself to find examples of rhetorical devices or appeals or
the subjects we discuss in the world around you.
Overlaps can be anything – a concept, a topic, an example, a term, a reference – that causes you to think
of something we talked about in class. Write a paragraph explaining the “overlap” and share it with me and
possibly with the class. For each “overlap” you hand in, you will receive up to 5 numerical points on your
homework grade. You may do this up to 2 times per quarter.
Understanding and following these course guidelines, along with coming to class each day eager to
learn and participate should allow you to achieve great success both in this course and on the AP Language and
Composition exam. I am looking forward to a fantastic year with lots of learning and fun together!
All policies and guidelines are adapted from Mrs. Lopera’s syllabus. She has recently given birth to a beautiful baby boy!
12th Grade AP English Language and Composition
I.
Literature/Required Reading:
a. Essayists:
Selected essays from The Language of Composition
b. Poetry:
Interpretation and practice of various poetic styles
c. Literature*: Excerpts from the following:
The Color of Water, James McBride (Non-Fiction)
The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien (Fiction)
Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer (Non-Fiction)
The Stranger, Albert Camus (Fiction)
The Alchemist, Paolo Coelho (Fiction)
d. Drama*
Hamlet &/Or Macbeth, William Shakespeare
e. Non-Fiction: Various newspaper, journal, speech, memoir, biography selections and excerpts
f. Visual Medias:Print and televised advertising, radio broadcasts, classic paintings and photos,
and documentary
II.
Writing:
a. Expository, persuasive, and creative writing will be explored and assessed through the following
i. Researched Based Essays, both short and sustained
ii. Classic Argument/Persuasive Essays
iii. Rhetorical Analysis
iv. Creative Pieces: Narrative, Satire, Allegory, Stylistic Modeling
III.
Listening and Speaking:
a. Listening skills will be explored through the practice of various active listening and note-taking
skills
b. Speech skills will be explored through the practice of public speaking skills to demonstrate and
persuade
IV.
Grammar:
a. Basic grammar usage and patterns of sentence structure will be explored through various minilessons focused on review and practice. These skills will be assessed through the form of quizzes
and the writing process
V.
Vocabulary
a. Vocabulary will be taken from the reading selections to enrich technical vocabulary for
rhetorical analysis and enrichment vocabulary for elevated style. Vocabulary will be assessed
through the form of quizzes and the writing process
*Fictional works may be used, time permitting.
Please sign and return this page after you have reviewed the Course Overview and Guidelines
AP English Language and Composition
Course Overview & Guidelines Agreement
I, ____________________________ , as well as my parents or guardians, have read
the course overview and guidelines and agree to adhere to them.
_______________________________Print Name
_______________________________Signature
______________Date
_______________________________Parent Name
_______________________________Parent Signature
______________Date