course info

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AP Eng Lit course outline
JMHS Gifted, Highly Gifted, High Ability Magnet
Fall 2008
Instructor O’Connell

This course leads students to meet and exceed the California State
Standards in English Language Arts, Grades 11/12 (http://
www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/enggrades11-12.asp) and LAUSD guidelines
(http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/offices/instruct/
instruction_guidelines) for instruction. Designated AP, this course is
designed as for advanced placement into a college-level introduction
to literature course (English 102 at many colleges) and prepares
students for the AP exam in the spring. In addition, the advanced
curriculum for the gifted, highly gifted, high ability magnet program
emphasizes college prep study, advanced reading, writing and research,
with development of techniques toward achieving students’ further
academic goals.

Grades are prepared quarterly throughout the semester and cumulatively
averaged across quarters. Each quarter’s grade is an average of three
categories of scores: 1) essay scores, 2) test scores, and 3) journal
scores. Essay scores are earned through projects researched, planned,
and revised partially in class but completed mostly as homework. Test
scores are earned during in-class tests, often essay tests based on
class readings and conducted during one class period. Occasionally,
test scores will result from in-class presentations or other
assessments. Journal scores are based on an ongoing assignment of one
page (200 words) of notes, research, and drafts for each school day,
collected in a separate notebook for this purpose. Students should
take class notes daily to fulfill the journal assignment but may also
supplement class notes with original reflective or creative writing.
Journals will usually be checked on alternate Thursdays.

Assignments for this course will be scored on a four-point scale.
Rubrics will be provided with assignments that students may use in
preparing work. The four-point scale may be read in the following
fashion:
4 = advanced, exceeds standards of assignment and rubric
3 = proficient, meets most criteria and standards, with minor errors
2 = partially proficient, meets some criteria and standards with
significant shortcomings
1 = not proficient, incomplete, off-topic, severely lacking or error
marked

The four-point scale is converted into letter grades in the following
fashion:
A = 3.5—4.0
B = 3.0—3.49
C = 2.5—3.0
D = 2.0—2.49

Late work may suffer a one-letter grade penalty (-0.5 on 4-point
scale) when late for any reason, even after excused absences. Students
absent from class may submit assignments early or send work to school
with others to avoid late penalties.

All major assignments as well as many class activities and student
work samples will be available through the class online info found
through http://www.snorko.org/jmhs online. To protect privacy, please
use only initials online in the following fashion: Kermit The Frog,
period3, uses KTF3.

Students are welcome to meet with me to discuss assignments, grades,
and questions with the course. All students should meet with all
instructors regularly to ensure success and avoid minor problems’
building into disasters. If parents call and leave messages, without
my first hearing from the student, the initial step I take is asking
the student to come talk with me about the parents’ concerns. If
parents and students would like to meet together, after students meet
with me, most any day directly after school at 3:15 would be a fine
time, but students should check with me a day or two in advance to
make sure. Thank you for your patient understanding.