AP Language: Nov.2-6

We are beginning our work with argumentative writing and thinking this week. I'm going to apologize in advance to all parents because my main goal is to make your students question everything. That might really become annoying at home, but--hopefully--it will make them more critical consumers of text.  That's a key concept in this course.  
In the last unit, we picked texts apart and looked at the strategies writers use to relay their messages to their audiences.  How does their word choice or tone or sentence structure help convince readers/listeners of their point of view? Students are getting the hang of this type of analysis...now it's time to focus on how to respond.
Here's what you should be seeing at home:

• Our unit question is about Work.  How does work shape and impact who we are? We've been talking a lot about your jobs and the jobs they hope to have some day.  Our readings for this unit are all related to this question. I've encouraged the students to talk to you about your jobs.
• Lots of work with the They Say/I Say text from the summer reading. We are using the strategies in this book to look at how to develop an argument and express it.  If you'd like to test your students a little, check out the website They Say/I blog. We have been working on the American Dream editorials in the They Say/I Say text. The website has additional editorials related to the American Dream.  It might be interesting to read one with your student and discuss the argument. Ask them to play the Doubting and Believing Game with the editorial (they can explain it!). 

Assignments:

• Students received their scores from the first big Unit Test. It is a challenging reading assessment that measures their ability to read, annotate and answer multiple choice questions.  Students will have two more opportunities this semester to show mastery of those skills and replace this score.  If their score on this first one was not what they had hoped, they have lots of time to continue to work on those skills and improve.  
• Rhetorical Analysis Essays were submitted last week Friday, and I hope to have those graded by this Friday. Next week, we'll begin work on the Argumentative Essay for this unit.  
• Due to the strange schedule this week (no school Tuesday and Career Cruising Thursday), I gave students a large chunk of homework today in class that will be due Friday. Please encourage them to spread that work out over the course of the week!

Have a great week! Please let me know if you have any questions.