The first summer session will be held at eight antemeridian (8:00 am) on Thursday, July 7 in room 2207. (We'll finish between ten and eleven am.)
Bring your responses to ten passages from All Souls by Michael Patrick MacDonald to class on Thursday, July 7. (Bring the book, too, if you have a copy. If you're looking for a copy currently there is one copy not taken out at Sawyer Free Library but there are also copies elsewhere in the NOBLE system that will be sent to Sawyer Free Library if you ask the librarians there.)
If you cannot attend the session send an email letting me know why you won't be there and then make sure you email your passage responses by midnight Thursday, July 6. If you are going to be away and do not have access to email where you are going make sure you contact me before leaving.)
Here is a link to a passage response form that I recommend using.
Notice that sixty words is a minimum and not a recommendation. Responses that short will likely score in the lower half of the grading rubric (needs improvement/warning status) whereas typical AP level responses vary are most of in the 100 to 300 word range.
Here is a link to the grading rubric for passage responses.
Click on the link if you want to understand how you will be evaluated. I recommend reading this. Email me with questions.
Here is a link to AP-level passage responses by two former students. I recommend taking a look at these so you are familiar with the level of work that AP students produce.
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Also, don't forget to comment on the previous blog post and to respond to the email I sent last week. (I asked you to reply to the email with your favorite word. Today I might have responded with the word perspicacious.)
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Finally, for long term planning:
The second summer session discussing Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan will be held on Tuesday, July 26. (Passage responses for Omnivore's Dilemma will be due in person or by email.)
The third summer session discussing Century of the Wind by Eduardo Galeano will be held on Tuesday, August 16. (Passage responses for Century of the Wind will be due in person or by email.)
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...
Respond to these prompts in the comment box.
1. What is your full name?
2. What would you like your classmates and teachers to call you?
3. What sources do you use to get news?
4. What period of history -- or aspect of history (or what country's/region's history) -- are you most interested in? (Or, if you prefer, what aspect of psychology or sociology are you most interested in?)
5. What is your favorite science experiment? (Or, what is your favorite scientific discovery?)
6. What is your favorite mathematical equation, rule, or property?
7. What book would you most like to re-read when you get older?
8. What is the best piece of non-fiction (literature of fact) that you have ever read or heard? (Think about speeches, memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, letters, lab reports, newspaper article, newspaper column, newspaper editorial, magazine feature, book about history or science, etc.)
9. Translate one of your responses into a foreign language you are studying or have studied.
1. What is your full name?
2. What would you like your classmates and teachers to call you?
3. What sources do you use to get news?
4. What period of history -- or aspect of history (or what country's/region's history) -- are you most interested in? (Or, if you prefer, what aspect of psychology or sociology are you most interested in?)
5. What is your favorite science experiment? (Or, what is your favorite scientific discovery?)
6. What is your favorite mathematical equation, rule, or property?
7. What book would you most like to re-read when you get older?
8. What is the best piece of non-fiction (literature of fact) that you have ever read or heard? (Think about speeches, memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, letters, lab reports, newspaper article, newspaper column, newspaper editorial, magazine feature, book about history or science, etc.)
9. Translate one of your responses into a foreign language you are studying or have studied.
Commitment Letter
During the 2011-2012 school year Gloucester High School will offer AP English Language and Composition for the first time. In preparation for the course I attended an intensive week-long seminar at Fitchburg State University led by John Brassil, who has taught AP English Language and Composition for many years and is currently involved with designing and evaluating AP English Language and Composition exams for College Board. Since then I have written the curriculum for the course, and I have had the opportunity to practice some of course’s lessons with this year’s juniors. Then, late in the winter of 2011 you chose to take this course and now you have been accepted.
During the summer you are expected to read All Souls by Michael Patrick MacDonald, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, Century of the Wind by Eduardo Galeano, and a book of your choice. You will also be expected to keep a passage response journal for each work, participate in three AP English Language summer sessions at Gloucester High School, post comments on the AP English Language blog (apenglangghs2013.blogspot.com), and create an argument web. (You will find out more about the web in during the summer.) This litany of work is not intended to scare you off. However, I want to be honest and upfront about the expectations. If you are seriously committed to reading, analyzing, writing, researching, talking, debating, and thinking at a college level, I promise that you will find the summer experience – and the course as a whole – to be fulfilling and rewarding.
During the school year you will read several hundred pages, write a couple dozen pages, and participate in several graded discussions each term. You are expected to be self-motivated and genuinely engaged; and, since the goal of the class is for every student to do well on the AP exam, it is important that you are willing to work with classmates in small groups to analyze text and evaluate peer work. You will learn from the texts, your teacher, and each other. To achieve this goal the class atmosphere must be collegial rather than competitive, and you must do your share of the work.
Please consider this description of the course and make a decision about whether or not you are committed to fulfilling the requirements of AP English Literature and Composition. Please complete the "commitment form" (on the back of this letter) and return it to me, Mr. James Cook, in room 2207 by Friday, June 10. If you have questions about any of the expectations please stop by 2207. I am looking forward to getting to know you.
Sincerely,
Mr. James Cook
English Teacher
Gloucester High School
Commitment Form for AP English Language and Composition
Circle one:
Yes, I am committed to AP English Language. No, I will take another junior English.
______________________________ ______________________________
student signature parent signature
During the summer you are expected to read All Souls by Michael Patrick MacDonald, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, Century of the Wind by Eduardo Galeano, and a book of your choice. You will also be expected to keep a passage response journal for each work, participate in three AP English Language summer sessions at Gloucester High School, post comments on the AP English Language blog (apenglangghs2013.blogspot.com), and create an argument web. (You will find out more about the web in during the summer.) This litany of work is not intended to scare you off. However, I want to be honest and upfront about the expectations. If you are seriously committed to reading, analyzing, writing, researching, talking, debating, and thinking at a college level, I promise that you will find the summer experience – and the course as a whole – to be fulfilling and rewarding.
During the school year you will read several hundred pages, write a couple dozen pages, and participate in several graded discussions each term. You are expected to be self-motivated and genuinely engaged; and, since the goal of the class is for every student to do well on the AP exam, it is important that you are willing to work with classmates in small groups to analyze text and evaluate peer work. You will learn from the texts, your teacher, and each other. To achieve this goal the class atmosphere must be collegial rather than competitive, and you must do your share of the work.
Please consider this description of the course and make a decision about whether or not you are committed to fulfilling the requirements of AP English Literature and Composition. Please complete the "commitment form" (on the back of this letter) and return it to me, Mr. James Cook, in room 2207 by Friday, June 10. If you have questions about any of the expectations please stop by 2207. I am looking forward to getting to know you.
Sincerely,
Mr. James Cook
English Teacher
Gloucester High School
Commitment Form for AP English Language and Composition
Circle one:
Yes, I am committed to AP English Language. No, I will take another junior English.
______________________________ ______________________________
student signature parent signature
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