AP Language
and
Composition
Syllabus for 2015/2016 -- Mlakar
CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact me before or after school or during my planning periods: Blue Block 3 and White Block 2.
You may also contact me by emailing me at lmlakar@twinsburg.k12.oh.us or calling me at x2452.
OBJECTIVES
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Maturing as a critical writer/reader/thinker
Contributing to ongoing conversations about a variety of topics
Developing and sustaining arguments
Exploring ways that organization, syntax, and diction contribute to purpose
Learning to balance specific details with generalizations
Becoming familiar with a variety of nonfiction genres
Preparing for college level writing
READINGS
Classroom Text (This text will be assigned to you):
The Norton Reader: An Anthology of Nonfiction
Supplemental Texts:
Mercury Reader (a self-compiled course text)
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
MATERIALS
 Blue or black pen (must be used on all in-class essays)
 Highlighter (will be used while analyzing course readings and student writing)
 Notebook paper
 3 ring binder divided into the following sections:
Course handouts
will include notes, unit goals and other lesson handouts
AP Practice
will include handouts regarding the multiple choice and essay portions of the AP exam as well as
practice tests and reflections
 Spiral Notebook or other Writing Journal
This will be used for formative assessment and pre-writing assignments
GRADING SYSTEM
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS will constitute 80% of your grade.
Major Compositions
You will write at least one major composition out of class per quarter. A major composition requires multiple
drafts that will be reviewed by your peers and me. You will be required to think about your own work as
something worthy of a critical reading just like the professional/published writings that we will be reading
together as a class. An average of the best in-class essays from the quarter will also count as a major
composition grade.
Unit Tests
These tests will include a combination of multiple choice and free response questions based on the rhetorical
concepts studied during that unit. Tests will also include multiple choice questions modeled after the passages
and questions on the AP Language and Composition exam.
Vocabulary Quizzes
Three to four vocabulary quizzes will be given per quarter. Each quiz will include between 12 and 15 words that
could be used to describe tone or style. These are words that often appear on AP Lang and Comp tests as well as
the SAT and ACT.
Syntax Quizzes
Three to four syntax tests will be given per quarter. Each quiz will cover specific syntactic techniques such as
short sentences, coordination, tricolon, etc.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS will constitute 20% of each quarter grade.
In-Class Essays
Each unit, you will practice responding to AP essay prompts that will be reviewed by me and will be assigned a
grade based on completion.
Reflections of practice AP test
Practice tests will not be graded. However, you will be required at times to annotate these practice passages
and reflect on your responses.
Informal writing exercises
You will practice responding to a variety of prompts. These writing assignments will be kept in the writer’s
notebook. (These responses will be kept in the spiral notebook.)
Reader response and notes
You will be assigned comprehension and rhetorical analysis questions related to the short nonfiction works that
we read throughout the year.
Often you will be asked to do a “predatory” reading of a piece which will require you to identify writing
techniques used by the author and then reflect on how you could incorporate the technique in your own
writing. (“Predatory” reading responses will be kept in the spiral notebook.)
Syntax exercises
We will be learning a variety of syntax techniques. Lessons and exercises will be assigned that will help you
incorporate these techniques into informal and formal writing assignments.
Quarter 1: EXPLORING ANALYSIS
The importance of critical thinking
Quarter 3: EXPLORING ARGUMENT
The importance of thoughtful debate
This quarter begins with the summer reading test and a
book review of Outliers. We will learn how to read
literature with a rhetorical perspective. We will specifically
focus on the three rhetorical appeals and modes of
discourse while reviewing and practicing the rhetorical
analysis essay (Essay 2) for the AP exam and familiarizing
ourselves with the multiple choice section of the exam.
The importance of revision will be heavily emphasized.
This quarter we will continue to focus on how to argue a
position in order to persuade an audience effectively. We
will continue to use the techniques we’ve learned thus far
in order to develop strong arguments for any topic. We
will specifically focus on methods of persuasion and how
to avoid argumentative fallacies. This quarter will
especially prepare you for the argumentative essay (Essay
3) of the AP exam.
Summative Assessments: Outliers Test; Outliers Book
Review; Quarter 1 test; Vocab and Syntax Tests 1-3;
average of two in-class rhetorical analysis essays
Summative Assessments: Quarter 3 test; Vocab and Syntax
Tests 7-9; Average of two argumentative essays; revised
and extended argumentative essay
Quarter 2: EXPLORING SYNTHESIS
The importance of inquiry
Quarter 4: THE EXPLORATION NEVER ENDS
The importance of discovering ourselves as writers
This quarter we will focus on how to use primary and
secondary sources in order to enhance position papers
while preparing for the synthesis essay (Essay 1) of the AP
exam. We will learn about types of sources and how to
document them, types of supporting evidence, and the
purposes for footnotes. We will continue to refine our
ability to use syntax, organization, and vocabulary.
To start this quarter, we will review all three of the essays
on the AP Lang exam and continue to practice the multiple
choice section of the exam. We will also be working on a
final essay. You will propose a focus and organization for
your essay. In this final essay, you will need to
demonstrate the skills that you have improved and
developed over the course of this year.
Summative Assessments: Quarter 2 test; Vocab and Syntax
Tests 4-6; average of two in-class synthesis essays;
problem-solution research paper
Summative Assessments: Quarter 4 test; Vocab and Syntax
review tests 10-11; average of highest scoring synthesis,
rhetorical analysis, and argumentative essays; final paper
A NOTE ABOUT LATE WORK
Assignments that count as summative assessments will be penalized 10% if turned in the following school day,
20% if turned in two school days late. Work not turned in after two days will result in a zero.
***Please note that we do not meet every school day because of the blue/white schedule. That means that you
will need to come out of your way to see me in order to make sure that you are only penalized 10%. Of course
the best way to avoid that is to turn your work in the day it is due.
Assignments that count as formative assessments will not be accepted after the due date.
A NOTE ABOUT MAKE UP WORK
Because of the Blue/White schedule, it will be difficult to keep track if you do not make up your work in a timely
manner. Your first plan of action should be to refer to the lesson plans posted on our AP Lang and Comp
website: https://sites.google.com/site/twinsburglangandcomp/
E-mail me if you have questions or concerns about those assignments. If you are unable to reach me, contact
another member of the class. Do not wait until the day of your return to school to find out what you missed! If
you missed one day of school, you will need to turn in your work on the following class meeting date. Time to
make up your work after an extended absence will be determined on a case-by-case basis.