April 22 - 26

We have three full weeks until the AP exam! This week, we'll work on the Sustainable Foods synthesis essay and read excerpts from Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Next week, you'll complete a full practice exam, and the following week we'll go over it in detail. (One essay will be graded by me, one will be graded by peers, and one will be self-graded.)

There will be quite a bit of writing and discussion, but not as much homework the last couple of week, so you can be rested and ready for the exam.

No quiz this week!

Here's the agenda:


MONDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over articles that go with Sustainable Foods prompt. Write a rough thesis; whiparound. Intro: Walden. Listen to Walden excerpts while working on optional extra credit coloring. (Yes, coloring.)

Due: Please read and annotate Source D (challenging) and H for Monday. Make sure you're thinking about the prompt itself and gathering possible quotes and opinions from each source to use either as support for your position, or in your counterargument. 

Homework: Write or type a rough outline response to the Sustainable Foods prompt, adding in which sources you'll refer to in your response. (Must have at least 3.) Be able to access it on Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Walden reading. View sample outline. Embedding quotes mini-lesson. Time to type out rough drafts on Chromebooks.

Due: Complete a rough outline response to the Sustainable Foods prompt, including the placement of at least 3 sources. 

Turn in any Walden extra credit coloring.

Homework:

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up - correct a sample quote in a paragraph.  Time on laptops to begin revising process on Food essays. Final essay due Monday night, April 29 by 11:59 p.m. PST to Turnitin.com. More Walden listening and optional extra credit coloring page at the end of the class period.

Due: Aim to have a rough draft of the Food Essay typed for class.

Homework: Final essay due Monday night, April 29 by 11:59 p.m. PST to Turnitin.com. 

Finish the Walden excerpt in the Science and Nature Packet. 

Read over "AP Language & Composition: Overview/Tips for Each Section" before Tuesday's class.

April 15 - 19

It's CAASPP week. The online test is good practice, and shouldn't be a problem for the class. It can also eliminate the requirement of an entrance placement test for certain schools. As we complete the test this week, we'll continue reading the Sustainable Food articles in the Science and Nature packet, and then discuss them and begin drafting that essay next week.

TUESDAY: CAASPP English.

Due: Read and annotating sustainable food source articles B, C, and E from the Science and Nature Packet (see Class Handouts on the right-hand sidebar for an electronic copy of these articles). Make sure you're thinking about the prompt itself and gathering possible quotes and opinions from each source.

Homework: Please read and annotate Source F and Source G from the Science and Nature Packet (see Class Handouts on the right-hand sidebar for an electronic copy of these articles). Make sure you're thinking about the prompt itself and gathering possible quotes and opinions from each source.

THURSDAY: CAASPP English.

Due: Please read and annotate Source F and Source G from the Science and Nature Packet (see Class Handouts on the right-hand sidebar for an electronic copy of these articles). Make sure you're thinking about the prompt itself and gathering possible quotes and opinions from each source.

Homework: Please read and annotate Source D (challenging) and H for Monday. Make sure you're thinking about the prompt itself and gathering possible quotes and opinions from each source.

April 8 - 12

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a spectacular Spring Break. I ate many good meals, caught up with friends and family, and read a couple of books for pleasure. Blue Zima, one of the Love + Death + Robots five-minute episodes on Netflix, was my favorite show I got to see over the past week.

I am really excited about our final (!) weeks together because the material is interesting (if I do say so myself) and I know this class will have many different ideas and opinions about it.

We have about five weeks before the AP exam. This class is in pretty good shape overall. I will go over the "plan of attack" and how we'll spend the next week making the most out of the time we have to prep.  Before the AP exam, we'll complete an entire practice exam and then go through each part together.

Here's what's on the agenda for the week:

MONDAY: (All periods, 58 minute-long class) Go over the calendar and game plan for the 5 weeks leading up to the AP exam. Journal warm-up - outline a prompt. Receive new vocabulary sheet for a a vocabulary/grammar/reading quiz on Friday (see class handouts). The Great Gatsby check-in and discussion. Gatsby nomination forms.

Due: Please read Chapter 8 of The Great Gatsby.

Homework: Please finish Chapter 9 of The Great Gatsby, (finish the book).

WEDNESDAY: (No late start due to CAASP.) Journal warm-up. 10:20 a.m.- 10:50 a.m. play preview. Gatsby - modern character creative assignment in groups. Complete an outline for a Gatsby-themed argument prompt. Gatsby casting for period 5.

Due: Please finish The Great Gatsby and be ready to discuss.

Homework: 1. Study for vocabulary, grammar, reading quiz. (Note: I removed the original outline assignment because I did not explain it in class. If you completed it anyway, please come and see me.)

FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz: vocabulary, grammar, Gatsby reading. Intro: Science and Nature Unit. Introduce sustainable food policy synthesis prompt and sources. View Source A: photo essay together as a class. Read Source B and discuss as a class.

Due: Study for quiz.

Homework: Read and annotating sustainable food source articles B, C, and E from the Science and Nature Packet (see Class Handouts on the right-hand sidebar for an electronic copy of these articles). Make sure you're thinking about the prompt itself and gathering possible quotes and opinions from each source.

March 25 - 29

It's the week before Spring Break! We'll continue with Gatsby, synthesis, and multiple choice practice. There is no quiz this week.

MONDAY: Journal warm-up (multiple choice practice). Induction vs. deduction. The Declaration of Independence as an argument. Gatsby comparison exercise. Gatsby song assignments - anonymous sharing.

Due: Finish Gatsby, Chapters Two and Three. Please bring the Gatsby Song Assignment with you for next class.

Homework: Please read Gatsby, Chapters 4 and 5 for Wednesday. Why do you think Fitzgerald included the character Meyer Wolfshiem?

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Current event day, synthesis-style: DACA.

Due: Gatsby, Chapter 4 and 5.

Homework: Gatsby, Chapters 6 and 7.

FRIDAY: (Minimum day.) Vocabulary story rounds.

Due: Please leave journals in the classroom bin before the end of the period.

Homework:  Please read Chapter 8 of The Great Gatsby. If you've chosen to rewrite any old essays, please upload them to Turnitin.com.

Enjoy Spring Break - have fun and get plenty of rest! We'll march into battle about a month after you get back. :-)

March 18 - 22

We're now within two months of the AP exam, and the class is doing really well. This week, we'll begin reading The Great Gatsby, and learn about the last of the three types of essays you'll write the day of the exam: synthesis. 

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Receive "Why Johnny Won't Read" outlines back with feedback. Notes: synthesis essay description and how-to. Discuss the "Is College Worth It" synthesis prompt you read for homework. Incorporate the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions cheating scandal current event into possible answers. Intro to The Great Gatsby. Pick up Gatsby from the library, begin reading Chapter One.

Due: Carefully read the provided sample synthesis prompt and responses. This is the third (and final) type of essay we'll learn before the AP exam in May, and we'll get started on it next week.

Homework: Finish reading Gatsby, Chapter One. 

Study for Current Events Quiz. 

Bring the "Is College Worth It?" synthesis prompt with you for Thursday. 

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering current events covering e-mails from Sunday, March 17 - Wednesday, March 20 and reading. Intro Gatsby Song Assignment. Provide one additional source for the "Is College Worth It" prompt and outline your own, original synthesis response. Continue with Gatsby, Chapter 2. View different interpretations of the introduction of Myrtle based on the text.

Due: Read The Great Gatsby, Chapter One.

Homework: Finish Gatsby, Chapters Two and Three. Please bring the Gatsby Song Assignment with you for next class.

March 11 - 15: Supreme Court Case Week!

This week, we'll practice reading and interpreting legal documents and language (per the 11th/12th grade standards), and get familiar with landmark cases that affect many areas of American life. These cases make high-quality examples for argument and synthesis essays as well.

NOTE: There won't be a current events quiz this week. The open-note Supreme Court Case quiz on Friday will take its place. Next week, there will be a current events quiz.

MONDAY: Journal warm-up. Wrap up last items in the Gender Unit. Discuss "Professions for Women" and "There is No Unmarked Woman." Current events and national discussions pertaining to transgender people. Last portion of class: begin work on the Supreme Court cases in groups.

Due:
1. Read and annotate "How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender," pages 23-29 from National Geographic. 

2. Write a one-page reflection about the debate covering the questions below. If you were absent, write about your current opinion based on your research about whether or not women should register for the draft.
1. What were the most effective/convincing pieces of evidence?  What types of evidence were presented?

2. Where do you stand on this issue?  List the two best, most logical reasons why you believe the way you do.

3. Did you hear any fallacies during the debate? 

4. What was the tone of the speaker or speakers who made the most persuasive arguments? 

5. What did you do well? What could you have improved? 

Homework: Complete the written portion of your chosen section of the group work for your Supreme Court case and print a hard copy to turn in at the beginning of Friday's class. Be sure to cite your sources.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Supreme Court Case Group check-in. Go over the results of the last argument essay. View actual student samples and evaluate them with the scoring guide. 

Due: n/a

Homework: (Same as Monday.) Complete the written portion of your chosen section of the group work for your Supreme Court case and print a hard copy to turn in at the beginning of Friday's class. Be sure to cite your sources.

FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Supreme Court Case group presentations. No need to dress up, and each person shares their own portion of the group work in under one minute while the class takes notes. Open note quiz immediately following.

Due: The written portion of your chosen section of the group work for your Supreme Court case and print a hard copy to turn in at the beginning of Friday's class. Be sure to cite your sources.

Homework: Carefully read the provided sample synthesis prompt and responses. This is the third (and final) type of essay we'll learn before the AP exam in May, and we'll get started on it next week.

Read the e-mails from TheWeek.com beginning on Sunday. Next week, we'll have a current events quiz on Thursday, March 21 covering the emails from Sunday, March 16 - Wednesday, March 20.

March 4 - 8

 No quiz this week - instead, we'll have a formal debate on Thursday as a part of the Gender Unit. The topic will be whether or not women should be required to register for the draft, like men are.

TUESDAY: At 10:10, write an in-class argument prompt in a timed, one-hour session. You may have the index card written in pen with basic instructions and notes about how to write an argument essay; this is optional. Break. AP Debate Preparation Worksheet for next class on laptops.

Due: Read and annotate "A Challenge for Girls Today: Moving Beyond 'How do I look?'", page 17 of the Gender Unit packet, and take your time completing "The Gettysburg Address" passage and questions in Albert i.o. For full credit, your accuracy should be at least "passing" or 50%.

Homework: Please complete "AP Debate Preparation Worksheet" and have examples and articles ready to bring in for next class. 

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Formal debate (see Debate Prep Worksheet for exact format).

Due: Complete "AP Debate Preparation Worksheet" and have examples and articles with you to turn in.

Homework: Please read and annotate "How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender," pages 23-27 from National Geographic. We will look at related current events this coming Wednesday. 

Please write a one-page reflection about the debate.
1. What were the most effective/convincing pieces of evidence?  What types of evidence were presented?

2. Where do you stand on this issue?  List the two best, most logical reasons why you believe the way you do.

3. Did you hear any fallacies during the debate? 

4. What was the tone of the speaker or speakers who made the most persuasive arguments? 

5. What did you do well? What could you have improved?