In preparation for next week...

Please remember to complete the "How to Read like a Writer" application activity, due Monday.

Also, continue reading in your social issues book.  We will have more in-class time for this reading next week, and you are invited to a special Saturday morning reading time on Oct. 6, 8-11am to get into your reading book more.

Assertion Essay due Wednesday, 9/26

Choose ONE of the prompt options below.  
Consider the statement and its meaning carefully.  Then, plan and write an essay in which you develop a position on the claim set forth within this statement.  Use appropriate, specific evidence from your reading, observations, and/or experiences to develop your position.

Please create a writing plan (on paper) for this assertion essay prompt before writing the essay.
This plan will be graded, taking into consideration what you learned about approaching this type of essay last week.  Be sure to include your intended thesis statement, which begins with "Although...," or "If..."

This essay and essay plan are due on Wed., 9/26.

1.  "Ethos is the most important of the three appeals.  If the audience trusts you, then they expect that what you are telling them is true." --Andrew Dlugan, current, award-winning public speaker and speech strategist

2.  In his book You've Got to be Believed to be Heard, Robert Decker says that people buy on emotion and justify with fact.

3.  "Storytelling is about patience, about making sense of the moments of pathos and beauty that you find, and about carrying those moments back into your own life." -- well-known, contemporary author Michael Paterniti 

4.  Aristotle, a famous Greek teacher of logic and rhetoric, said that logos should be the most important of the three persuasive appeals.  As a philosopher and a master of logical reasoning, he believed that logos should be the only required persuasive appeal.  That is, if you demonstrated logos, you should not need ethos or pathos.

*Please spend no more than 45 minutes on this essay... set a timer and see how you do! :)

Assertion Essay Writing (Q3)

Today in class, we will be talking about how to interpret, plan, and draft the assertion essay.

Please read through the linked presentation and use this to help you with planning this essay, and then writing the essay.  This handwritten essay plan and draft will be due on Monday,  9/17.

9/11 Article readings

Welcome to class!  In my absence today, please read the following articles:
"A Time of Gifts" by Stephen Gould (2001)
and
"Teaching my Child about the 9/11 Attacks" by Rose Arce (2013)

1. In a pair or trio, discuss the various stylistic techniques you noticed the author using in his/her writing, including metaphors, symbolism, sophisticated word choice, etc.
2. Then, examine how the three appeals might apply to this particular article.
3. Finally, discuss what you believe to be the main purpose of this person's writing and how it informs you about the context surrounding 9/11.

Repeat the above steps for the other article as well.
*Be prepared to show brief notes from your discussion tomorrow in class.

Please use any remaining time to work on the chapter one study guide extension activities (due tomorrow), and looking for a social issues book that you might like to read.

Welcome to AP Lang!

Welcome to AP Lang! 

Here is the the course syllabus which outlines basic elements of the course.

This year, textbooks will remain in the classroom and time will be given in class for reading and taking notes.  Please use this study guide as you read and take notes on Chapter One.