Welcome!Greetings to all of my AMAZING students entering Advanced Placement Language or Literature & Compositon. Here are three things that I know about you already just because you are in my class.
1) You are willing to try: You may not love everything that we do in my class, and you may struggle through some of it, but, you will not quit. Why.... Because Ms. D does not breed quitters and she knows that you can do it even when you think you can't. 2) You have an opinion: While what we are reading and discussing in class may not be your cup of tea, the reality is you must do it, and are still able to form an opinion. In my class, I welcome your opinions and will even teach you how to express them in an academic setting. 3)You will gain an awareness: Because this a Literature class we will always be reading and writing about something. Some of the texts that we read will relate to you, while others may not. Regardless, you will gain an awareness of important topics and how all of these things make-up the world around you. As a matter of fact, not only will you gain an awareness, but you will learn how to form an informed position and make a decision based on your knowledge. Basically, you just need to know that because you are in my class you automatically rock! |
AP Language & Composition |
Course Description
Advanced Placement in English Language and Composition is intended to strengthen the reading and writing skills of students by focusing closely on language, context, and purpose. In this course, students will experience multiple forms of discourse where they will be asked to analyze, evaluate and synthesize arguments by looking at rhetoric and applying critical thinking and research skills in order to produce effective writing both in the Language classroom and in a real-world context. In the AP Language classroom students will learn skills that can be applied to other subjects allowing them to communicate ideas and produce informed opinions for diverse audiences. Students in the AP English Language classroom will look closely at both their writing and reading, the author’s intended purpose and audience, and how each of these resources contribute to effectiveness in writing. The AP English Language and Composition course is a research-intensive course where students are expected to question their own values, become aware of other viewpoints and gain an understanding that society and culture influence language. |
AP Literature & Composition |
Course Description
The AP English Literature and Composition course is designed with the goal of enhancing students’ abilities to explore, comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate complex literary texts. Upon completion of this course a student should be proficient in discussing literature of varied themes, historical contexts, and genres whether it be in an on-demand, timed writing prompt, an in-depth, scrutinized, and revised essay, or in class discussion. Students entering this course must have the initial expectation that they will read, contemplate, and write about literature extensively. We will write an essay every couple weeks (in analytical, argumentative, and expositional forms) and will read every day (novels, creative nonfiction, short stories, and poems). They must be willing to challenge and justify their understandings, attempt to see other perspectives, and discuss in a mature and lively manner. |