AP English News

January 12, 2006

Semester final

The semester final will be the equivalent of 2/3 of an actual AP test. You'll answer multiple choice questions on three passages and will write one or two essays.

How can you do well on the multiple choice part?

• Look over over old AP objective tests. We've done four passages so far
• Look up any unfamiliar terms found in the questions or answers. They tend to reappear on other tests.
• Look up any unfamiliar terms on the opening day handouts I gave you in August.
• Read with a pencil in your hand. Annotate the passage after you preview the questions.

How can you do well on the one-draft essays?

• Look over the checklist (notes that I write on the board after I hand back your one-draft essays).
• Reread the AP essay rubric.
• Read the passage with a pencil in your hand. Annotate.
• Organize your thoughts before you begin writing. Remember that Trimble in Writing with Style said that good writers spend as much as a third of their time planning their essay.
• Title your essay when you're done. It functions as another thesis statement.

Posted by System Administrator at 8:58pm | Link

January 1, 2006

two weeks before semester ends

With the two weeks that we have remaining, here are the major assignments.

1/5 - 1984 reading test

Due 1/10 (period 3) or 1/11 (period 6), Portfolio and conferences. Look back at the opening day handout. It mentions a binder that I've been refering to all semester. Organize your binder so that I can see (1) your best piece of writing so far, (2) a comparison of assignments that shows your growth as a one-draft writer, (3) your latest essay where you've engaged the text 1984, and (4) notes and handouts from this semester. On the due date you and I will conference during the block.

Distopia reading groups. You and a group of your choosing will form book clubs and read another Distopian novel, then compare it to 1984. Get the book ASAP. You must have this book with you in class on Monday, 1/9.

AP test preparation. We'll look at the test in a little more detail than we have so far.

Posted by Chris Sloan at 2:37pm | Link