Upcoming Deadlines!

There's LOTS of stuff to be working on.  If you're one of those students who has only been doing Lang work in class or on Wednesday Workday, it's time for you to change your strategy or you'll be in a world of hurt at the end of the quarter.  You MUST spend some homework time on AP Lang--writing, reading, probably both.  Here are the big deadlines coming up:

• Thursday, Nov. 21--We will go over Nabokov/ind rdg paper details in class
• Friday, Nov. 22--Your LAST opportunity for feedback on writing for your portfolio. Something is due in Turnitin for peer and teacher review--make it something worth getting feedback on... You can begin reading the peer reviews assigned to you anytime AFTER midnight.
• Tuesday, Nov. 26--You will have completed and we will have scored examples of all THREE in-class essay in class by now.  You will need to choose YOUR BEST of the three to hand in for a grade.
• Wednesday, Nov. 27--Peer reviews need to be done by midnight AND your FINAL DRAFT of your definition argument is due.  At the end of your final draft, be sure to include a one-page reflection on the process you went through to get to your final draft:  What kind of feedback was helpful?  What parts of the assignment were difficult? What aspects of writing frustrated or challenged you?  Which aspects were fun, easy, or felt successful?  How do you feel about your finished product?  What did you learn about yourself as a writer as you went through this drawn-out process of revision and more revision?  This self-reflection is a MAJOR part of your grade.  After that many drafts and opportunities for feedback, all of you should have A's for quality.  Roughly half of your grade, then, is based on HOW you got there and what you learned about writing. The reflection is your opportunity to show YOUR side of the story (beyond meeting deadlines, incorporating feedback into your drafts, etc.)
• After Thanksgiving--We begin 2-a-week lab days.
• Monday, Dec 9--Journals due for quarter grade.
• Wednesday, Dec 11--Portfolios due.  This is an electronic portfolio, submitted to Turnitin. You do not need a 3-ring binder or crazy document covers or anything of the sort.  This is an almost-paperless class--we won't change that for the portfolio either.  A portfolio is a collection of work that documents your writing over time, growth, and achievement of particular skills and concepts.  You will put all of your pieces into one document which can then be uploaded to Turnitin.  Very clear logistical instructions are coming your way after Thanksgiving. For now, work on getting the writing done!
• Friday, Dec 13--2nd quarter exam
• Semester Exam--You have to come.  There are no exemptions.  During that testing period you will complete a persuasive argument in which you self-assess your learning so far in the course and argue what grade you deserve for your progress in both writing and critical reading.  More info to come, but it will be big and time-consuming, though not something you have to study for.