May 20 - 24

You did it! I know there was widespread hand cramping afterwards, but it sounds like everyone felt pretty good about the AP exam. No matter what the scores are, you guys wrote like crazy, and worked very hard this year! I'm proud of all of you.

I'm also grateful that during the difficult issues that came up last week, this class had constructive discussions and handled the two-hour lockdown with patience, even when it looked like we'd be using the makeshift classroom toilet (!)  I'm excited about the prospect of a much more boring and uneventful week next week. :-)

On Monday, we're beginning the last unit of the year: the college essay. The final assignment (which is the Final with a capital "F") is a good draft of the college essay. If you already have a draft going, consider using the time to write other prompts and get a jump on the summer/fall semester of senior year.  

NOTE: Last day to turn in make-up work for partial credit: Friday, May 31!

MONDAY: Journal warm-up - compare answers for free response questions (which are now published online). Fill out questionnaire about plans for after high school. "Speed-dating" activity to fill out brainstorming sheet. Go over your own sheet and answer questions in notebook.

Due: n/a

Homework: Think about your answers and how they might match up with your own unique strengths and personality, as well as any "holes" in your overall application.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over UC prompts, Common Application prompts, Coalition prompts, and the alternate assignment. Hear actual college essay samples and critique them. Choose the prompt(s) you will write for the final assignment. 

Due: Think about your answers and how they might match up with your own unique strengths and personality, as well as any "holes" in your overall application.

Homework: Choose the prompt(s) you'll write for the final assignment.

FRIDAY (minimum day): Journal warm-up. Hear actual college essay samples and critique them. Time on Chromebooks to begin typing.

Due: Complete at least a paragraph of the college essay draft in class.

Homework: Think about the unique, vivid details you can add to your draft in progress. Keep track of your ideas for next class. 

No school on Monday for 

Memorial Day Weekend.

Enjoy the three-day holiday!

May 13 - 17

It's finally here! I am confident that you are ready to go in and tackle any passages and prompts you encounter on the exam, and I'm excited for you to have a chance to show off all of your knowledge and writing skills.

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up: deconstruct prompts, discuss College Board guidelines prohibiting posting any information about the exam, pass out index cards. Brief review/tips for each section of the exam. Evidence and example worksheets in groups, then as a whole class. Baseball-style AP trivia/knowledge West vs. East.

Due: N/A - get plenty of rest, review exam tips on website in short sessions. Keep up with current events.

Optional Albert i.o. practice is available, but don't overdo this if you decide to log on. 

Homework: Get plenty of rest!

WEDNESDAY:

o   Bring several pencils

o   Bring several black or blue pens (black ink is easier on the eyes than blue).

o   No highlighters

o   A watch (no beeps, alarms, or iWatches)

o   Something to drink (water helps the brain think).

o   A quiet snack (peppermints help stimulate the brain) for the break between the multiple choice and essay (fruit, energy bar, juice, water).

o   Tissues

o   Allow plenty of time to get school.

o   Wear comfortable clothing and dress in layers to adjust to the temperature.

o   Rub your ears when you become brain dead. It stimulates blood to your brain.

o   Don’t freak out. Take a deep breath. Do a quick mediation/prayer if you find yourself having anxiety.

o   Eat a breakfast that will sustain you (protein, whole grains, fruit, NOT high sugar cereals, pop tarts, or soda). 

7:30 a.m. in the classroom (optional) - Healthy snacks and coffee, wake-up/prep time with classmates.

(7:45 head over) 8:00 - 12:00 p.m. - AP English Language and Composition Exam

THURSDAY: Decompress, discuss, celebrate.

Due: n/a

Homework: Come to next week's class with a few names of colleges/universities you're interested in, OR one to three job titles that interest you.

May 6 - 10

It's May and the week before the AP exam. This week, we'll go over the different sections of the practice exam you took last week. One of the essays will be self-graded, one peer-graded, and one will be graded by me.


MONDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over the multiple choice section in detail and discuss strategies. After a break, we'll go through the rhetorical analysis prompt in general, and then take a look at actual student samples of the Carson prompt you read.

Due: n/a - get plenty of rest, read over the AP Exam Tips link.

Homework:N/A

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over the "Ownership" argument prompt together as a class. Go through the steps of writing an argument prompt, view samples.

Due: N/A

Homework: N/A

FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Read the "Monuments" synthesis prompt and go through actual student samples and College Board scores.

Due: N/A

Homework: N/A

April 29 - May 3

This week, we'll take a full practice exam. Next week, we'll go over it in detail. I'll grade one of the three essays, one will be self-graded, and the other will be peer-graded.

TUESDAY: Take an hour-long multiple choice exam. Brief break. Rhetorical analysis essay prompt.

Due: 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.

Homework: n/a

THURSDAY: Write a synthesis and an argument prompt.

Due: n/a

Homework: Reflect on your experience over the week and be ready to discuss next week. Which section was the easiest for you, and which the most challenging? What can be improved for the May 15 exam?