1. Diane Shires AP Language
Back To School Night!
Diane Shires
AP Language

2. Background BA - Comparative American / British Literature, UCSC
MA - Liberal Arts/ Rhetoric, St. John’s College
CLAD / Clear Teaching Credential, San Jose State University, Secondary Ed. English Language Arts, CLAD certified
Collegeboard AP Language and Composition training
SPHS alumni (Go Tigers!)
SPMS alumni (Go Tiger cubs!)
Marengo Elementary Alumni (Go Lions!)

3. Background
Last

4. What do we learn? First Semester - Writing Intensive Writing Scores-
3- Basic college level writing (Freshman Composition English Course)
4 - Mastery of techniques, formula, format
5- Voice and style
Second Semester - Reading Comprehension and Analysis
Reading Comprehension
Close Analysis
Rhetorical techniques
Argument
Synthesis
AP exam- Our goal in AP Language is to take each student to the next level.

5. Assessments Rhetorical Terms Approximately every 2 weeks
30 to 50 points
Mid Term On The Informed Argument
October 28
200 points
Essays
Approximately every 2 to 3 weeks
APCD
Software diagnostic on reading comprehension and essay writing
Close Analysis Quizzes
Soapstone Reader Unit Quizzes (tone, diction, figurative language)

6. APCD Assessments

7. APCD Assessments
The answer is… E!

8. A typical day... Power Sentences - Syntax practice Soapstone Reader-
Daily writing and analysis activities
Rhetorical Terms Powerpoint Presentations-
Identification of rhetorical terms
Informed Argument Review -
Argument and Rhetoric
Essay Writing-
College level research, argument, synthesis and analysis
Creative writing-
fiction, short stories, novels, memoirs, poetry, flash fiction,

9. NaNoWriMo for November
Write every night!
30 to 45 minutes per night.
Pre- plan in October:
Dramatic Script
Flash Fiction
Humor
Journalism
Personal Essay/Memoir
Persuasive Writing
Poetry
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Short Story
Novel

10. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
SPHS Western Regional Writing Winners
2014/15 SPHS National Writing Winner- Persuasive Writing
Out of over 220,000 submissions nationally, the following 26 students earned either Honorable Mention, Silver Key, or Gold Key recognition:
1. Kelly Xing HM, Stanley Wu S
3. Meagan Wong S, HM, Katherine Uriarte S
5. Marcus Tjajadi HM, Elise Takahama HM
7. Andrew Shults HM, Timothy Shin HM
9. Karina Safaoui G, Sydney Rusch HM
11. Katherine Rosenberg G, 12. Ethan Ng S
13. Megan Mellon S, Mikkel Lopez HM
15. Jasmine Lee HM, Raj Jain HM
17. Stephen Hamme HM, Lena Gavenas S, G
19. Ben Feldmann G, Mehek Desai S, HM
21. Hanna Crowley HM, HM, Sunshine Cho G
23. Bruno Cavelier HM, Ava Bozem HM
25. Petra Barbu G, HM, Sharon Bae HM
Lena Gavenas / Somi Jun
researched persuasive essay
Scholastic Scholarship Opportunities
Western Regional and National Recognition
College application achievement

11. Wish Night... 1. Teacher Journal Composition Notebooks
Writing Journals for student composition
and writing portfolios
2. NaNoWriMo 2015 Classroom Kits
Writing Curriculum and Student Composition tools
Donations of tissue boxes and hand sanitizer are happily accepted...

12. Homework / Major Projects
September
Read The Informed Argument , 7th edition / SOAPSTONE Reader
October
Read The Informed Argument ,7th edition and Prep for NaNoWriMo
October 30
Midterm on The Informed Argument, 7th edition (Chapters 1 to 8)
November
NaNoWriMo (write half an hour every night!)
December
Edit NaNoWriMo and submit to Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
January /February
Finals / Othello
March
SOAPSTONE Reader (written analysis)
April
Writing practice / Close analysis
May
Prep for AP Exams
June
Poetry Unit and The Great American Novel

13. E-mail- dshires@spusd.net
Contact Information -
Checked daily Monday through Friday
Teacher Web page
sphs.spusd.net
Click on “faculty”
Click on “Diane Shires”
Office Hours
6th period (even days)
7th period (every day)
After 3 p.m. (Monday through Friday)