Finally

Through the course of this year's AP English Language journey, we have read about, discussed, written about, and debated many different topics, all of which have some impact on and relevance to our experience as human beings.  For your final, you will choose one of these topics to consider in more depth. You will be responsible for creating a multi-media presentation, the foundation of which will be a carefully crafted speech that posits an argument on some component of the topic you have chosen.  The speech will be accompanied by a well-designed pecha-kucha.  You may work alone on this project or collaborate with a partner. 

PECHA KUCHA REQUIREMENTS

• 3 to 5-minute speech (3 to 4 for a single presenter; 4 to 5 for a pair) identifying and supporting a thesis

• slide show (Powerpoint, Prezi, etc.) timed to work automatically with the speech

• information derived from at least three sources, at least one of which is drawn from material we have addressed in class

• at least one direct quotation, appropriately credited, from this year's readings

• credits slide with correct MLA citations for all sources used

The completed presentation will be worth 150 points:

• speech presentation (scored on the Oregon Common Core State Standards for speaking)  50
• speech construction (scored on the Oregon Common Core State Standards for writing)    50
• slide content (engaging, effective, clear)  25
• slide coordination (well-timed to speech, effective pace) 15
• citation slide (complete, correct, clear) 10

Students who choose to work with a partner will be graded the same on speech construction, slide content, citation, and coordination.  Each student will be responsible for half of the presentation, and will be graded individually for their portion.  

SCHEDULE

5/16-17    Choose topic, commit to partner or individual presentation
5/20-24    Research and construction (library)
5/27         Memorial Day Holiday
5/28-29    Research and construction (library)
6/3-7        Presentations (Sign up HERE)

Here Comes the Sun

Wow!  Congratulations!  You are among an elite group of students nationwide who have survived the AP English Language and Composition Exam.  I am SOOOO proud of you.  Although scores won't be determined until late June or early July, you're all winners in my book.  Now, let's finish off the year without the pressure of the test.  This week, we'll have some fun with poetry and video, then we'll start on the final for the class.  More info later this week.  Wheee!

MONDAY, 5/13
Poetry:  Hayden, Dove, Kunitz
• reading a poem
• sound and sense
• experimenting:  the first draft

TUESDAY, 5/14
Poetry:  Workshop
• abstract to concrete
• lying to tell the truth

WEDNESDAY, 5/15
Poetry:  Sharing the results!
WORDS ON WORDS ESSAY DUE

Thursday, 5/16
The final
• details
• topic selection

FRIDAY, 5/17
Exit Through the Gift Shop

Time Melts?

Oh, man.  Remember September when May and the AP test and the end of the year seemed impossibly far away?  Yeah.  Here we are.  Before you know it, you'll be floating down the river, basking in the summer sun and the glory of your AP test scores, and thinking ahead to an impossibly far away next school year.  Time = weird; am I right?  Anywho, this week we'll tick off the days with exercises and readings and discussions--all of which should put the final touches on your test readiness.  Who needs The Hammer when you have this kind of thrill ride?

MONDAY, 5/6
AP Test #Last
• finish
• review
Style Matters
• information
• exercise

TUESDAY, 5/7
Humor in Writing
• selected readings
• discussion

WEDNESDAY, 5/8
Cultural Literacy!

THURSDAY, 5/9
AP Test Eve
• final tips
• practice

FRIDAY, 5/10
AP Test!!
Gatsby!!!
Bears!!!!
(minus the bears)

Watch Your Language

Hey!  More words!  This week's adventure in AP Lang brings the LAST AP Prompt response--lucky #13!  We'll take some more time sharpening those skills for next week's official exam, writing a final personal essay (about words, of course), and discussing some language-specific ideas and issues.  Keep track of your grades in Student Assistant; everything should be in now.  Let's go APers!

MONDAY, 4/30
AP Prompt #12
• returned
• reviewed
Mother Tongue
• reading check
• response
READ How Much Wallop Can a Simple Word Pack? for TUESDAY

TUESDAY, 4/31
How Much Wallop?
• discussion
• response
Words on Words
• directions and expectations

WEDNESDAY, 5/1
Cultural Literacy!
TED

THURSDAY, 5/2
In Plain English:  Let's Make It Official
• read
• analyze
• respond:  discussion

FRIDAY, 5/3
AP Prompt #LAST! (Synthesis)

Words and Testing and Writing and Fun!

Well, this should be fun.  We're brewing up a STORM of a week with ACT and the Mr. Thunder pageant, but we still need to keep plowing toward that AP Test (and glory, duh).  So, you'll want to eat your Wheaties, get a good night's sleep, and be all that you can be.  Later you can sit on the couch, eat Cheetos, and wait for the lightning.  We have just one reading this week, but lots of writing and, of course, fun.  Ready?

MONDAY, 4/22
AP Prompt #11
• general discussion
• writing groups:  revise
Read Mother Tongue

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, 4/23-24
**NB:  Because of Tuesday's ACT, periods 1&2 will meet Tuesday
and periods 3-7 will meet Wednesday.  The schedule is for both days.
Politics and the English Language
• identifying Orwell's ideas
• applying Orwell's ideas

THURSDAY, 4/25
AP Prompt #12

FRIDAY, 4/26
Mother Tongue
• reading check
• response