Snell 2014

 “A TYPICAL INTRODUCTORY COLLEGE COURSE”  – College Board

 Read and carefully analyze a broad and challenging range of nonfiction prose selections, deepening their awareness of rhetoric and how language works.  Through close reading and frequent writing, students develop their ability to work with language and text with a greater awareness of purpose, strategy, while strengthening their composing abilities.

 Expository  Analytical  Personal  Argumentative ….all from a variety of authors and historical contexts. There will be an emphasis of American Literature.

 Essays  Letters  Speeches  Images  Imaginative literature

 I WILL DRILL, POLISH, AND PREPARE YOU TO GET A PASSING SCORE ON THE AP TEST.  -Ms. Katrina Ann Snell September 4, 2014

What does the test look like?

 On average, 58% of students, NATION WIDE, pass.

  Score:  # Students:  109 Students took the test  On average, 15 students attended the 12 study sessions offered (can you guess what those 15 received? )  Average: 3.131

 Part 1: Objective Test 60 Minutes 55 Multiple Choice Questions 4-5 Reading Passages No punishment for guessing

 10 MINUTE BREAK

 Part 2: Writing-FRQ’s (aka Free Response Questions)  First 15 minutes after break: Look at all 3 prompts: read/annotate/make a plan Then you have 2 HOURS to write 3 essays.

 1. Argument with Sources  You will be given a number of sources (usually 6) that deal with a central topic.  Then it is your job to synthesize the sources as you read them and write a well developed response citing you position on the topic while also citing the sources you read.

 2. Rhetorical Analysis  Read a passage and analyze the rhetorical devices/author’s purpose.

 3. Build Your Own Argument  Take a stance on the issue being posed, and use both primary sources and personal knowledge to defend your answer.

 0-9  5=PASSING  ***See scoring rubric in your syllabus

 1-5  3=passing  ***See last page in Syllabus

 As this is a college-level course, performance expectations are appropriately high, and the workload is challenging.  Effective time management is important…don’t let yourself fall behind.  I expect everyone to read on their own, and come to class READY to discuss. Your grade will suffer if you aren’t prepared.  Nothing’s a problem until it becomes a problem…don’t let it become a problem, make an appointment to see me as soon as you become disgruntled or concerned.

 I WILL give you “MILLIONS” of samples tests to practice with so that you are comfortable with the format and expectations.  I WILL score your work you do in this class, with the same amount of difficulty that the AP Readers/Scorers will in May. This means that your grade in this class WILL/SHOULD reflect your score on the AP Exam.  I WILL teach to the test. I won’t waste your time with “other” stuff.  I WILL take your personal concerns to heart, so be open and honest with me.

 AND WE’VE GOT A LOT OF PREPARING TO DO