AP

Literature & Composition Dr. Preston

The Treachery of Images by Ren Magritte (1928-29)

AP English Summer Contract Dr. Preston 2013-2014

AP Literature & Composition

David Preston, Instructor, Righetti High School

Course Description
AP English 4 provides a college-equivalent learning experience in literature & composition. Participation in this course is purely voluntary. For these reasons, seniors who enroll in this course are expected to do a great deal of independent reading and writing, and every student who takes this course is expected to takeand passthe AP Literature & Composition exam. Success will require initiative, responsibility and discipline. Enrolling in AP English 4 signifies your commitment to meet the course requirements, beginning with the summer reading assignment and concluding with the AP Exam in May 2014.

Summer Reading
During the first week of school we will have an essay exam and Socratic seminars that focus on the themes and techniques demonstrated in the summer reading. In order to prepare, students are required to read and take notes on the following three works: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen Essays of Michel de Montaigne by Michel de Montaigne Students are expected to take active reading notes. This means writing as you read. Your notes should support your understanding of the following: 1) elements of literature (plot, characters, theme, e.g.); 2) writing tools and techniques (diction, syntax, foreshadowing, indirect characterization, e.g.); and 3) major themes and ideas from the books. In addition to these three categories, you may also take notes on any vocabulary, concepts, writing styles/strategies that you have questions about, or ideas in the text with which you strongly agree/disagree. This last category will be especially important in reading Montaigne, the inventor of the essay.

More Information
There will be a peer-to-peer lunchtime orientation in May. For more specific information about the course, or to arrange a class visit, please see Dr. Preston in Room 608 or email him directly at dpreston.learning@gmail.com.

 2013-2014 INTRODUCTORY MEMO AP English 4 TO: FROM: RE: As different as world cultures and heritages are, they all share one story in common. This story involves a call to adventure. A young protagonist is captivated by a question or a challenge and leaves safety behind to explore a new land or idea. Along the way he or she is confronted with obstacles, helped by a mentor, and confused by issues of learning and faith. Ultimately he or she becomes knowledgeable and returns home from the journey transformed, as a hero. Today is the day you begin to become a hero. This document serves the following three purposes: 1) To introduce myself to you, 2) To welcome you to my class, and 3) To ensure you understand what it will take to be successful. YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE A HERO Dr. Preston Righetti H.S. Students in Dr. Prestons Classes

Education has been a big part of my life. After graduating from high school in Los Angeles I attended UCLA, where I earned a Bachelors Degree in Communication Studies, a Masters Degree in Teacher Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Educational Policy and Management. I first taught at the Venice Alternative Education & Work Center in 1992, and at many other schools since. For ten years I taught at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and in the Business & Management Extension programs at UCLA. In 1996 I started a management consulting practice and I advised companies about how to train and lead their employees to achieve challenging goals. Several years ago I decided to return to teaching full-time. I taught at the fourth largest high school in the country for two years in Los Angeles, and came to Righetti in the fall of 2006. My class and my approach to teaching are designed for one goal: your success. I believe that as students we learn best when we are challenged, when we are encouraged, and when we are given an opportunity to think about complex ideas in a place where we can concentrate and expand our minds. The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. - Vince Lombardi

In teaching thousands of students over the years I have learned that there are four practices that make everyones learning easier and more effective. To support the goal of your success, I ask for your commitment to the following four practices in addition to Righettis general standards of conduct. You can remember these as Prestons Four Ps: Students will be PROMPT Students will come to class PREPARED Students will be POLITE Students will be PRODUCTIVE

Each day you come to class youthe heromust make choices. I strongly believe that individuals have the right and the obligation to choose their own paths in life,

and that high school students are old enough to begin making informed choices. Each choice we make has a consequence. If you are a driver who runs a red light, you risk getting a ticket or getting hit by another car. I strongly encourage students in my classes to understand and follow the path to success. Those who do will become more knowledgeable and experience the pride and satisfaction of a job well done. Those who choose not to will suffer the usual horribleswarnings, poorer grades, less interesting work, and, if necessary, conferences with parents/guardians and/or administrators. In my class you will choose your own path and your choices will be visible to everyone else in the network. In fact, I will never give you a gradeyour scores and evaluations will be mere reflections of the understanding and skill you demonstrate. I expect a very successful experience for us and I am excited about being your teacher. The students Ive met so far have been intelligent, friendly people who seem enthusiastic about learning. I will go over classroom procedures with you verbally so that you can take your own notes about how to organize yourself for success. In the meantime, please sign one copy of this documentand ask your parent/guardian to sign it as welland return it to me in class on the first day of school. (*You may hack the assignment by signing, scanning, and sending as a .pdf attached to an email.) This will be your first graded assignment. Please keep a copy for easy reference. I will share a copy and a list of my students on the course blog so that everyone has the same information and understands each others choices. Understanding language and literature has never been more exciting or important. Not only can a story unlock your imagination and take you to different times and places, it can help you comprehend the world around us right now. Everywhere you turn there are messages that use language and tools from literature to influence you, from television commercials to politicians to shopping center signs. As you begin to perceive the strategies that people use in their communication, you will become more skilled and you will look at the world in a brand new way. This is your opportunity to become the hero in your own education and your own life story. Let the journey begin!

English 4(AP)
2011-2012 Course Syllabus
Instructor's Name: Dr. Preston Phone Number: 937-2051 ext. 2608 E-mail address: dpreston@smjuhsd.org; dpreston.learning@gmail.com

COURSE MATERIALS: Selected novels, short stories, poems, articles & graffiti 1 binder with dividers/white, college-rule paper (used for English only!) Spiral notebook or composition book Black or blue pens Highlighter (optional) Students are required to bring the materials listed on this syllabus everyday to class. Textbooks must be covered. Textbook and materials checks will occur during the week. These checks will be reflected in the student's homework grades.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides university-equivalent instruction in preparation for the Advanced Placement Literature & Composition Exam. Students should expect daily homework. Students will be keeping a journal, expanding their vocabularies, reading literature, taking notes on lectures, writing papers, presenting to the class and participating in groups. There will be multiple assessments during each six-week grading period. A comprehensive final will be administered at the end of each semester. In addition to our study of world literature, students will also explore goalsetting and career opportunities. GRADING POLICIES: Homework assignments, in-class assignments, projects, quizzes, exams, and class participation will be the basis for the final grade. Each six-week grade will be calculated independently of the others. For the twelve-week progress report, the first six-week grade and the second six-week grades

will be averaged together. For the final semester grade, all of the three six-week grades will be averaged. Grades are calculated using both letter grades and test scores. Students will have individual grade conferences in which they will participate in evaluating their performance and set goals for the future. Extra credit opportunities will be announced periodically in class. CHEATING POLICY:
Any type of cheating, either on tests/quizzes or plagiarism in papers, is unacceptable. ANY cheating will result in a grade of F for the entire semester.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: All daily work, homework, quizzes, tests, and standards assignments should be maintained in the binder and organized according to type of assignment. Any graded work that is not returned to the student will be kept in a portfolio in class, maintained by the teacher. Notes and information in the binder will be used throughout the semester and will be tested on the final exam. HOMEWORK & DAILY ASSIGNMENTS Homework assignments will be posted on the board in class and discussed with students. Daily assignments: Each day students will begin class by writing in their journals on a topic posted on the board. Students must have a spiral notebook or composition book for this purpose. In addition, students are required to choose outside reading novels, which they must bring to class each day. Students are encouraged to spend a minimum of 30 minutes each night reading. CLASSROOM GUIDELINES/RULES: Respect the ideas and feelings of others. Respect is shown through the use of appropriate language, positive attitude, and use of good manners. Come to class on time and be prepared with all the required materials. Listen attentively and follow the teacher's directions the first time. Keep our classroom free of food, gum, garbage and unsanctioned graffiti. Do not disrupt the learning process by speaking at inappropriate times, eating, playing, fighting, putting on make-up, getting up during a lesson, etc. Assignments are not accepted late. If a student cannot turn in an assignment due to an excused absence, the assignment is due upon

return. It is the students responsibility to get make-up work before or after class - NOT during instructional time. If a student is absent the day prior to a posted test (as opposed to a pop quiz), the student is expected to take the test as scheduled. If a student is absent on the day of a quiz or posted test, that student will be expected to take the test or quiz immediately upon return to class. Cell phones and other electronic devices are prohibited in class. Cell phone use will be considered cheating. If a cell phone is brought out during class for any reason it will be confiscated and returned at the discretion of the teacher. If a student violates the policy a second time, the cell phone will not be returned until a conference can be arranged with a parent and an assistant principal. SCHOOL RULES: Attendance/Tardy Policy - A student is tardy if he/she is not in his/her desk when the tardy bell BEGINS. If a student is walking into class as the bell rings, he/she is tardy. Please refer to the Parent Handbook for consequences and the school attendance policy. Major Discipline - Please refer to the 2011-2012 RHS Handbook. STANDARDS This course incorporates the California State Content Standards in English/Language Arts, which may be found online at the California Department of Education website www.cde.gov/ci/reading.html Standards assignments are graded on a pass/fail basis. The skills and knowledge demonstrated in the final product are the only criteria for proficiency. Student effort is NOT part of the assessment criteria. This puts a great deal of responsibility on the individual student to take time to learn and study course materials.

I have read Dr. Prestons YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE A HERO memo and the course syllabus. I hereby understand and agree to the terms of both the memo and the syllabus. I understand grading policies, the role of standards, and student responsibilities for this course; I further understand and agree to school and classroom policies and I accept full responsibility for the consequences of my actions. I hereby commit to the four practices: I will be Prompt, Prepared, Polite and Productive, and I will be successful in Dr. Prestons class. ________________________________________________________________________ Date ________________________________________________________________________ Date I have not discussed this class with someone important to me. I have discussed this class with someone important to me. Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian Signature Student Name Student Signature