Welcome to Frankish Anglo SaxonLevel III

The King’s English?

English III AP – Language & Composition

Mrs. Amy SefcikRoom 2636asefcik@springisd.orghttp://wiki-cik.wikispaces.com

Conference: 8th period

First, a little information about the crazy person at the front of the room.

Two things about my name:

1. It’s pronounced Sef-chick

2. It’s Mrs., not Miss. I’m

married. Yes, that matters.

That’s my husband.

And my kids.

Course Goals

Read closely Question intensely Think critically Write appropriately

Oh yeah, and get a great score on the AP exam.

What to Expect

A Very rigorous course designed to enhance your understanding of the elements of composition and style.

Readings from various contemporary and classical works to analyze style and the formalities of good prose writing and insightful non-fiction writing.

A college-level working vocabulary of terms related to writing and literary analysis, as well as an appreciation for those elements.

By the end of this course, you will have the necessary tools to present yourself as a citizen orator.

Supplies Writing Utensil (pen/pencil) Highlighters Paper Memo book (small 3x4 spiral bound steno book) Pocket/brads folder or small binder (1/2 in.) Pack of 3x5 note cards (spiral bound is fine) Pad of Yellow paper (will be left with me)

A Laptop… EVERY DAY. This is ABSOLUTELY non-negotiable. No, I don’t care if it’s yours or one from the school. Yes, a tablet will do just fine.

Books & Media

Textbook: Riverside Reader Support texts: Writing about Literature in the Media Age (WLMA);

online texts

Vocabulary: Rhetorical Terms and Literary Devices

Novels: Novel Seminar: your choice from list; Outside Reading: choice from assigned lists; Idlewild by Nick Sagan

Film: Documentary film unit, Presidential speeches, highlights from classical books translated into film.

Writing—Why is there so much of it?! Because you have the potential to earn

college credit for this course, you are expected to write “at a college level.”

In plain English, this means: Various modes and styles Varied structures and techniques Few to no errors in grammar, punctuation, or

spelling We will train you to write this way, you don’t have

to have these skills today!

Vocabulary

Vocabulary can make a bad writer sound good, and a good writer sound like a poet. Mastery of college-level vocabulary is the key to being able to discuss your ideas, research, and opinions in a way that will instantly enhance your ethos.

I will help you build your vocabulary via a daily “Word of the Day”

Grading Daily assignments, projects, class

participation, quizzes, tests, essays 80% Major (tests & projects), 20% Minor

(participation, etc.) In-class writings are generally major grades. Peer-editing will count as a minor grade. Vocabulary quizzes are combined to create a

major grade. Expect homework. Be worried if you don’t

think there is any.

When is it due? Please know that unless I specifically

state otherwise, all work is due at the BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD. No, I will not send you to print unless I tell

you that’s my plan the day before.

If you’re worried about it… tell me you’re having trouble a day or two before it’s due. I am likely to ask others and adjust the due date for the entire class or give you an extension.

Late Policy

I do not accept late daily work for credit, no exceptions. I do not accept late work for full credit. Ever. Major grade

assignments will be docked 10 points per day. Saturday and Sunday count as two days. The first deduction occurs after the end of your class period on the day the assignment is due. If a five-day window has been given for a long-term, major

assignment (ex. Outside Reading) it will not be accepted after the last day of the window.

What if… aliens abduct my sister, and I miss my aunt’s wedding trying to save her, getting to campus only five minutes ago and suddenly realizing I left my assignment sitting on the stove, so now it’s bound to be a pile of ashes, but I stayed up until four o’clock working on it! Consider a career in screenwriting. It’s still late.

What if… I need extra help with the assignment. Talk to me at least 24 hours in advance of the due time (i.e., the day

before, during your class) and we’ll talk about an extension.

Make-up Work

When you are absent, the district policy states that you have one day plus the number of days you were absent to turn in any missed daily work. However, if you are absent on the day an assignment is due, it is due the day you return.

For long-term, major projects, you receive a five-day window in which to turn in the project whether you are at school or not. *THIS APPLIES TO THE OUTSIDE READING PROJECT*

If you are absent YOU are responsible for getting your make-up work from our online classroom. If you do not understand any part of the assignment, please ask me.

If you are on campus the day an assignment is due, and are not sent home due to illness, the standard late work policy applies.

Timed writings and Multiple/Choice Sample Section Tests must be made up during tutorials within one week of the absence.

How to Keep Up with All of This Wiki space is your best resource for keeping up with the class. Due dates will be posted for major grades three weeks out on the

board. They will also be posted for the month, on the calendar in the back of the room.

Tutorials and extended day: use them! Schedule:

Thursdays, other days by appointment only. Appointments require a REQUEST, at least 24 hours in advance. I am taking courses in a Master’s Program and getting my

certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor, I have two children, two dogs, a cat, and a husband… all of which own my time outside of work the way you do here. So, I am Not physically available at certain times, but can always be reached via email.

asefcik@springisd.org PLEASE email me if you have any questions!

Discipline & Plagiarism: If it’s not yours, don’t turn it in!!The nature of the Carl Wunsche Sr. High School is

professional. Students are expected to act professionally and appropriately in all classroom situations.

Plagiarism will result in a loss of credit for the assignment and may result in a referral to the Assistant Principal’s office. You can also forget about me trusting you again… I

take this very, very seriously.

Questions?

Current Events Assignment

You will be expected to do a three-part analysis of a currently “hot” topic. The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize you with real world uses of rhetoric, and prepare you for the synthesis and argumentative essays. (i.e., it’s important )

You will receive more information about this on Friday.

Outside Reading: The Books

You are expected to read one book every three weeks, and complete a book report for each book. Each six weeks you will be given a themed list of nonfiction

and fiction books to choose from. Nonfiction for 1st 3 weeks, Fiction for 2nd 3 weeks.

Themes: 1. Pop Culture (NF: Biography; F: Pop Culture List)

2. Community

3. Ethics (NF only, Novel Seminar replaces 1st 3-weeks OR)

4. Gender

5. Environment

6. Heroes

Outside Reading: The Book Report This is complicated if you don’t ‘get it’ before you try to do one,

SO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION!! Your first book report will be a 54321 Poster on the Biography you

read over the summer. After that: Each six weeks you will turn in two book reports.

A: one Major Works Data Sheet (MWDS); B: one project from online list, which we will vote on.

You decide when you do each book report. Ex: It’s the 2nd six weeks, you read Civil Disobedience for your Nonfiction

selection, and do a MWDS for your book report. You then choose A Clockwork Orange for your Fiction selection. Because you’ve already done the MWDS, you would choose one of the “Choice” book report projects.

Ex: The next six weeks, you decide to do a Book to Film project for A Hand to Guide Me, your Nonfiction selection. You would do a MWDS for your Fiction selection since you already completed a “Choice” project.

Confused? Just Ask!

I will also revisit this after your 54321 Poster is turned in, and provide more detail.

“Get to know us” Pictionary

1. Grab an index card.

2. Write down something unusual about yourself. (Don’t show anyone else)

1. How are you different from your peers?

2. Ex: you secretly love Looney Tunes; you can’t stand high heels; you often get mistaken for Edward; you went rock climbing in the Grand Canyon; you wish you could have played with Beethoven

3. Fold up your card and bring it to the front.

4. Don’t tell us if it’s your card!