Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Objectives:
After this class, students will be able to:
1. understand the AP writing rubric.
2. make a selection for independent reading.
3. analyze and score personal and others' essays.

Agenda:
1. Warm-Up: Students should answer the following questions in their notebooks: After two days of diagnostic AP exams, how do you feel about your skills, abilities, and knowledge? Are you confident in yourself? Did you find that there was alot that you didn't know? How much time do you think you will have to commit to studying for this class and the AP exam each week? Ms. Kingsbury will solicit students for their answers to these questions.

2. Students will receive their textbooks today - The Bedford Introduction to Literature.

3. Review of Independent Reading Assignment for the First Marking Period:
Below is the list of approved titles for independent reading this marking period:
Beowulf
Tumbling by Diane McKinney-Whetstone
Bone by Fae Myenne Ng
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The paper topic for this marking period is: Critic Roland Barthes has said “Literature is the question minus the answer.” Choose a novel or play and, considering Barthes’ observation, write an essay in which you analyze a central question the work raises and the extent to which it offers any answers. Explain how the author’s treatment of this question affects your understanding of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

Please note that this is an actual question from the AP exam given in 2004. Your independent reading task is to select a reading (it's better to challenge yourself with a more difficult work, but shorter works are available) and then type a one-page essay in response to this paper topic. Your independent reading for the first marking period is due on Friday, October 31, 2008. It will be graded based on the 9 point AP rubric. A copy of the rubric will be distributed in class today. It can also be downloaded from:

http://staff.esuhsd.org/danielle/English%20Department%20LVillage/AP%20English/Generic%20Scoring%20Guide.pdf

You may also reach this link by clicking on the title of this post.

4. Self and Peer Diagnostic Essay Evaluation: Students will read exemplars of the diagnostic essay. Then they will score their own essays, as well as they essays of each other. They are encouraged to be completely honest and candid with themselves and each other. It is only by acknowledging where they are now that they can strive for improvement and achievement.

Homework: Decide on your independent reading tonight. Do brief research on each selection. Write a paragraph in your notebook explaining why you have made this selection.