Testing, Testing

Today you completed the rhetorical analysis prompt portion of your first full AP exam. On Monday we'll tackle the final portion of the test, the synthesis prompt. Meanwhile, I know you've been writing your kings and queens synthesis essay as homework. The first draft is due on Wednesday, April 3. We'll do some in-class peer response work on it that day. The final TYPED draft is due on Friday, April 5 by 3:30 p.m. Also next week we'll probably begin a review analysis of your test results.

First Full AP Test and Kings & Queens Essay

Yesterday you completed the multiple choice portion of your first full AP test. Then we reviewed the prompt for your kings and queens synthesis essay. This essay must be typed. The first full draft will be due on April 3 for peer analysis. (April 3 will be the only class period devoted to this essay. All other work on the essay is homework.) The final draft must be turned in by Friday, April 5 by 3:30 p.m.

Up tomorrow: The synthesis prompt portion of the AP test.

We finished reading about and discussing Elizabeth I today, including a look at one of her poems as well as one by Henry VIII. Your homework is to do a close read of the speeches by George III and Edward VIII.

On Monday we'll spend some time reviewing the components of the full AP exam as a way to prepare for your first full test beginning Tuesday. We'll take one part of the test at a time, finishing a week from Monday. While that takes up our class time, you'll be working on your kings and queens synthesis essay as homework beginning Tuesday.

Kings and Queens continues

ATTENTION: Tomorrow, March 22, is the LAST DAY to register to take the AP test. See Ms. McGill if you still need to register for it.

Today we talked a bit about George VI and listened to part of his speech at the beginning of WWII. It was almost painful to hear him fight his stutter. If you'd like to see the story of how he mastered it, check out the Colin Firth movie The King's Speech. Then we returned to our discussion of Henry VIII and compared/contrasted the two leaders. From there we broke into groups to discuss three of Elizabeth I's speeches. For homework please do a close read of the two poems in the packet, sources F and G. (Hour 1, you're a little behind, so the poems are not homework for you. I'll try to get you caught up tomorrow.)

Next week you'll be taking your first full practice AP test, and you'll be writing the synthesis essay as homework.

Tomorrow we'll review what we learned about Henry VIII from his speech to parliament and discuss your close read of Source J. Then we'll move into reading and analyzing more of the speeches by the kings and queens in preparation for a synthesis essay about whether or not kings and queens "look monstrous and ridiculous" in "their power and their pretensions." Next week you'll also be taking your first full practice AP exam, so exciting times ahead.

Synthesis Diagnostic

Today you completed the synthesis diagnostic essay. Tomorrow we'll evaluate some sample essays on the same topic and discuss the scores they earned. Following that, we'll begin close reading several speeches by kings and queens of England, which will lead to an essay next week.

The Time for Flawlessness Approaches

Today we spent some time on peer review of your essay on the greatest human flaw. Work will continue on the essay tomorrow during class. Remember, the final draft is due by 3:30 p.m. Friday. If you're here, that means a typed, hard copy; if you're absent, please share with Ms. Gianini by 3:30.

Reminder: If you plan to take the AP exam, please complete the registration as soon as possible.

Wrapping up the human flaw essay

Hi Folks, Mrs. Bubenik here. I'm new to blogging, so be patient please.

We've been celebrating Cora's arrival and sending Ms. Gianini our best wishes, but some work has been happening in class too. We completed the district multiple choice assessment and reviewed the answers, but our real focus has been on the greatest human flaw essay. We will peer review the essay tomorrow and turn it in by 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Remember, this one should be typed. If you're absent all day, share your essay with Ms. Gianini by 3:30. She will be grading this one, further evidence that her dedication to you knows no bounds.

The Flaws Begin

All the classes are in the same spot!

First, we finished our analysis of the MC test and its passages, tricks, and tips to scoring higher next time, which is appropriate since we have to take a post-test District assessment next week. Hopefully, all this practice and tests will help you with this one.

Second, we looked at the rangefinders for the Certainty/Doubt Philosophical Argumentative Prompt, which featured some lenient scoring due to the fact it was the first time this style of argument occurred on the test. After seven years of abstract nouns and exemplification, you have to assume that the standards are much higher now.

Third, you received the assignment for our next exemplification argument: What is humanity's greatest flaw? For homework, you need to brainstorm possible flaws, select a FLAW, figure out your 4 examples for the flaw, select a COUNTERFLAW with one example for it, and write a working claim for the essay. I highly recommend thinking of flaws hat may be surprising, original, or engaging to help bolster your overall score and keep your interest in writing the essay!

F.Y.I. We will have a very busy week in AP Lang, so make sure that you are in class and completing all of your work to end the quarter strongly. We saved the big assignments for last his quarter, so you need to finish strong and put all of that tone, allusion, exemplification, and argument knowledge to your best advantage.