Junior AP English 2013-14

• Annotated novels due tomorrow

• Discussion of expectations and requirements of Junior AP English

Ms. Jane Sasser

• English teacher at ORHS since 1986

• M. A. in English literature & writing

• Senior English

• Junior AP English

• Creative Writing

• Published (and working) writer

Supplies• Notebook for class

notes by tomorrow• Journal by Wednesday• Level F Vocabulary

Workshop by Wednesday, August 21

• Composition folder by Thursday, August 22

Advanced Placement

• Rigorous reading content

• Massive reading• Major research• Higher level thinking

and discussions• English is two-year

program

American literature

• Not the same thing as pulp fiction

• Often depressing in mood

• A “living” literature

Major Author project

• Choosing authors by September 3

• 5-page assignment coming

• 10-page paper

• 20-25 minute oral presentation

Plagiarism

• Copying another student’s work, current or former

• Copying from Internet

• Copying from books• Buying/ lifting

“professional” papers

Grades

I operate on a points scale. Every assignment you do will be given a grade that shows the points you earned out of the points possible. You can estimate your grade by recording individual scores and dividing the total points you’ve earned by the total number possible.

A = 88 to 100B = 80 to 87C = 70 to 79D = 65 to 69F = 0 to 64

Grades1) What you score on an individual test, essay, or quiz is not

nearly as important as your final average. Therefore, the person who makes a C+ on a test is not at a significant disadvantage to the person who makes a B-. I do not look at individual scores, only the overall total. Obviously if you always make a C+, though, you will have a C+ average.

2) You cannot afford to miss grades. A 0 score will wreck your average. It is especially important for you to write all the essays and promptly make up any missed tests.

Grades

3) I do round up scores from .5 and above. (In other words, if you have a 79.5% grade, you will get a B rather than a C.)

4) Some of you are going to end up with a B+ or a C+. You will be disappointed because you wanted the higher letter grade, and I understand that disappointment. I’ve been there. But the line between grades does have to be drawn, and it has to be applied consistently for all my students in order for it to be fair.

Grades

5) I ask that you keep up with your own grades except for midterm and final grades. Write down your scores as you receive them; I regularly post grades on Skyward. I cannot honor constant requests to look at the grade book or the computer; this just wastes too much valuable class time. However, you will have scores returned to you regularly and you can do your own average. I encourage you to do so; check and make sure your midterm and final grades agree with mine.

First essay

• Rough draft due Monday, August 19

• Final paper due, in composition folder, on Thursday, August 22

Web Page

1. http://highschool.ortn.edu2. Left menu: School Staff3. Scroll down list; click on Sasser,

Jane4. Click on Teacher Web Page5. Click on period you take this class

Web page

6. Click on Assignments

7. Click on Poisonwood Bible

8. Click on sasser writing essay 2013.doc

9. See also MLA essay formatting.doc (not in PB folder)