This document outlines the guidelines and policies for an AP English Language and Composition course. The course focuses on developing skills in reading prose from various time periods, disciplines, and contexts, as well as becoming skilled writers for different purposes. Students will write in various modes such as narrative, exploratory, expository, and argumentative using personal experiences and research. The course also emphasizes synthesis of texts, including written, oral, and visual materials from different genres and historical periods. Classroom policies address assignments, grading, attendance, and supplies required for the course.

1. Robinson
Room 509-House 3
209-8458
srobinson@cfsd16.org
hh.cfsd.k12.az.us/srobinson
AP English Language and Composition
2008-2009 Course Guidelines
“The first rule . . . for a good style is that the author should have something to say . . .”
~T. Bailey Saunders
The Course
Excerpt from the 2006 AP English Course Description
An AP course in English Language and Composition engages students in becoming skilled
readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts, and in
becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their writing and their
reading should make students aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience
expectations, and subjects as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language
contribute to effectiveness in writing.
Goals of the Course
The goals of this AP course reflect the expectations of college composition courses.
We will write in the following modes: narrative, exploratory, expository, and argumentative.
We will write using personal experience as evidence, as well as researched information about
local, national, and global issues.
The goal of this course is to prepare you for academic as well as professional writing.
Therefore, the focus of this course is not on imaginative writing. However, we will do a
considerable amount of reflective writing in journals to help you sort through your own views
about the readings and your classmates’ opinions. This writing will provide the foundation for a
number of papers that you will produce in the course.
A strong focus of the year will be training in synthesis of personal as well as complex texts.
These texts will be written, oral, and visual (photographs, ads, graphs, paintings, political
cartoons, etc.). Texts will comprise a variety of genres from various historical periods. Analysis
of these texts for author’s purpose, audience, and strategies will comprise the core focus of this
course.
We will also practice in-class timed writes and multiple-choice questions for the AP English
Language and Composition exam in May.

2. Primary Texts:
Reading and Writing Essays: The Imaginative Tasks by Pat C. Hoy II
The Language of Composition by Shea, Scanlon, and Dissin Aufses
Writing Analytically by Rosenwasser and Stephen
Signs of Life in the USA by Maasik and Solomon
Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace by Williams
Novels:
TBA: Highly recommended that you obtain your own copy for annotation. Be sure to check out
used bookstores or online sources.
Classroom Policies:
Semester grades will be evaluated in the following way:
35 % major writing assignments*
25 % shorter writing tasks (short essays, reflective writing, timed writes)
20 % group presentations
20 % participation (includes punctuality, attendance, and participation in both large and small
groups)
*Major writing assignments have passed through the full writing process: prewriting, drafting,
peer and/or teacher feedback, and revising. The Writer’s Notebook and the Portfolio
Presentation in the spring also fall in this major category.
Late Work
• All work is due at the beginning of class.
• Do not ask if the assignment can be turned in later in the day.
• Please do not ask to use my computer to print off your assignments.
Major Assignments
• Major assignments are due on the posted date—whether you are in class or not. It is
your responsibility to have someone drop off the major assignment on the due date. If
that is not possible, e-mail it to me as an attachment before 2:00 p.m. on the date it is due.
• A major assignment will be marked down one full letter grade (10%) for each day it is
late (weekends count as one school day).
• No major assignments will be accepted after three school days.
• Weekends count as one day.
Minor Assignments: Minor assignments and homework are not accepted late for partial credit.
Work assigned before an absence is due by attachment on the due date.
All homework will be posted on the Homework Hotlyn and recorded in the WYWO binder.

3. Absences: Please follow university classroom protocol and send an e-mail letting me know of a
pre-planned absence. Provide dates and the purpose of the absence. Also, if you are out sick, it is
customary to send an instructor a note to confirm why you are absent from class. I would
appreciate your following the same courtesy for me. Attendance is of utmost importance in an
AP class.
Excessive absences (over 3 each semester) require a personal conference with me to make
up “seat time” so you do not lose participation points. THIS INCLUDES EXCUSED
ABSENCES.
Please note the school policy on attendance: “Students will lose credit for a class upon the 10th
absence whether excused or unexcused. The principal/assistant principal may grant waivers
(very few) in case of medical situations. Doctor’s notes do not automatically generate a waiver.
Students must apply for a waiver with their House Leader.”
Supplies:
• Writer’s Notebook –mandatory college-ruled paper. A plastic cover is highly
recommended. The notebook should have at least 100 pages.
• Black or blue pens-- Writing done in other colors will not be graded; pencil is
prohibited.
• Highlighters—at least three different colors for annotating
• Small package of colored pencils for drawing and analysis of visual texts
• (optional) USB drive for easy transportation of documents between school and home
“Nobody should suppose that good writing—the kind that says what it means while being
pleasant to read—has ever been easy . . .” ~ Jacques Barzun
Welcome to AP English Language and Composition