AP Language and Composition
Meet Your Teacher
Dear students,
Welcome to your Junior year English class!! AP Language and Composition is a class designed to encourage students to “read and write effectively and confidently in their college courses across the curriculum and in their professional and personal lives”. The course is patterned after the requirements and guidelines of the AP English Course Description. Students are evaluated on their ability to read, think, write, and communicate critically and analytically.
This class is devoted to the intense study and application of writing styles and modes along with an overview of American Literature in order to ascertain and evaluate our identities as Americans and in society. The study of writing involves examining the work of published authors of non-fiction as models for students. Students write in an online writing journal (notes, dialectical journal entries), out-of-class essay assignments, and in-class essays. In addition, students study rhetorical devices, examine vocabulary and use them in their own writing and speaking, and take quizzes on the readings patterned after the questions on the AP Exam.
My goal is to offer you the opportunity to succeed academically and personally in an environment that is warm, friendly, engaging, challenging, meaningful, safe, and interactive. My sincere hope is that you will become more of an enthusiastic and insightful reader, keen analyzer of the written word, effective oral and written communicator, precise editor, critical thinker, and active participant in the learning process.
The culminating activity for the Advanced Placement class is taking the AP English Language and Composition Exam in May. All students are expected to participate in this challenging activity.
Best wishes,
-Mrs. Santosusso
How to Use Your Online "Notebook"
1. Log in to your Belleville Google Account.
2. Go to your Google Drive.
3. Click on 'Shared with Me'
4. When sorted by 'Share Date' your class folder (think of it as your online notebook) should be near the top of all your stuff. It has your first and last name on it. If you do not see a folder contact me IMMEDIATELY at: danielle.santosusso@belleville.k12.nj.us. (FYI: Stay organized in your "Shared with Me" folder!!! It can get out of control-take the time NOW to delete unnecessary Docs, Forms, Sheets, Slides, etc. Or, if you *really* need to keep them, organize them in folders. Organization is key to success in life!!!)
5. Now, open the folder with your name on it. It should be empty as it is your job to fill it this year!!! Create 14 folders and call them as follows:
-Summer Assignment
-Vocabulary
-Unit 1: Intro to Rhetoric
-Unit 2: Education
-Unit 3: Pop Culture
-Unit 4: Language
-Unit 5: Community
-Unit 6: Gender
-Unit 7: Work and Economy
-Unit 8: Nature and the Environment
-Unit 9: Sports
-Unit 10: AP Boot Camp
-Unit 11: Dystopian Literature
6. Now you can hover over the "Home" tab, click on the arrow next to 'Daily Lessons', and select "September" and begin your year!!!