GOOD LUCK ON THE AP TEST!!!

Hi everyone,

Just wishing you the best of luck tomorrow on the AP test. Don't forget to bring plenty of pencils and blue/black ink pens for the essays. Get a good night's rest tonight and eat a healthy breakfast tomorrow. It's a long, grueling exam, but you are ready and you will do well! I'm thinking of you. Best of luck, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dear AP students,

First, thanks for a rewarding, fun, and fabulous year. I have really enjoyed sharing what I know about good writing, and have loved discussing great books and challenging issues with you. You are a talented, dedicated bunch, and I wish you all the best of luck in the final month as you prepare for the AP test, and beyond that as you finish the school year and begin the college preparation process.

I entered some grades into Pinnacle on Saturday; I will finish entering the rest on Tuesday prior to Open House. It's really important that you check Pinnacle on Tuesday night or sometime Wednesday--please double-check that I've entered grades correctly (you'll receive the scored work back in class). I'd appreciate it if you could email any questions or corrections to me at jennifer.pust@smmusd.org by Thursday evening--if I need to make corrections I'll come back in sometime before next weekend. Since pustlet is due to arrive on Monday, 4/21, I really need to make sure I take care of everything at Samo as early this week as possible.

Please remember that you need to take one of the Final Exam dates--if you did not attend this past Saturday, 4/12, please make sure you are signed up for Tuesday, 4/22 from 3:30pm to 7pm or Sunday, 4/27 from 9:00am-12:30pm. This practice test is NOT optional. If you are absolutely unable to make it to any of the three test date sessions, you need to contact me ASAP so we can discuss options. (And a special shout-out of thanks to the period 2 "heater crew" for bringing cake to Saturday's test--that was awesome!)

I promise to send pictures along as soon as we have some of our new little bundle of joy. Don't forget to vote for your favorite name this week!

Lots of love and best wishes for the AP test and beyond,
pust

AGENDA 4/11

Pust's last official day!!!

Announcements: remember to report at 8:45am tomorrow in B200 (Kennedy's room) if you are taking tomorrow's final AP full-length exam. Bring paper, pencils, blue/black ink pens, snacks, and plenty of water. Get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast! (I know, I know...I'm already sounding like a mom...)

Grades will be updated throughout the weekend. Thanks so much for your patience!

Today's activity:
Review of satire and humor devices - article from The Onion, "U.S. Finishes 'A Strong Second' in Iraq War"

AGENDA 4/10

Timed essay: "Synthesis 2.0" on global warming

AGENDA 4/9

Vocabulary Quiz over Frederick Douglass and HF lists
Share sample introductory paragraph and thesis for "synthesis 2.0" prompt (importing a hardy but nonindigenous plant species)

HW: Bring blue or black pens for Synthesis 2.0 timed essay tomorrow! Review notes and stop by for extra help if needed (or email me). See notes below for extra help.

Introductions: Can still use introduction structure. Begin with a hook, then provide a little background or context. As you destabilize (flip), point out what is overlooked or often underestimated, or explain how in the past people have focused on the wrong criteria. When you assert your thesis, consider using an affirming transition like "ultimately" or "consequently" or "therefore," and then present what you think is the most appropriate course of action OR a list of things that must be considered and evaluated.

SAMPLE INTRODUCTION FOR SYNTHESIS 2.0

Body paragraphs: Open with claims! When you introduce evidence from the passages, remember to introduce quotations with meaningful half-sentences that help advance your argument. PROVIDE DIRECT QUOTATIONS whenever possible, and attribute them using parenthetical citations. When possible, make the sources interact with each other and point out how they contradict, reinforce, or further develop the issue.

SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH FOR SYNTHESIS 2.0

Conclusions: Recommend a solution, policy, or course of action. Weigh the costs/benefits of a particular course of action. If all else fails, address the ultimate "conclusion question": Why is this issue particularly relevant to us today?

AGENDA 4/8

Review answers to multiple-choice practice (Swift & Plessy passages)

Introduce "Synthesis 2.0": discuss differences between this and "Synthesis 1.0"

Synthesis 2.0: NOT a simple defend-challenge-qualify

Instead, you are asked to weigh all of the evidence and make an informed recommendation or establish & rank the criteria by which a decision should be made.

The important thing is to assert WHAT should be considered or examined--to provide a focus and recommend a policy or course of action.

Like synthesis 1.0 (argument synthesis), you MUST use 3+ sources well and attribute sources clearly in order to receive higher than a 4.

AGENDA 4/7

Review structure of AP Test and scoring of final exam--have you signed up for a final exam full-length AP Practice Test day yet???

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Make sure to turn in any missing or late assignments and to make up any missing tests/test corrections by Friday at the latest. Get in to see me for a writing conference this week if possible--Tuesday @ lunch or after school, Wednesday @ lunch or after school, or Friday @ lunch or after school. Friday will be my last day!! (yikes!) Consider purchasing a copy of The Great Gatsby this week. We'll head to the textbook room on Friday, and you'll need the book (one way or another) by Monday, 4/14.

Share excerpts from successful argument essays on "tacit codes" prompt

Multiple-choice practice: Swift and Postman passages

HW: Complete multiple-choice practice.