Unit 2
Argumentation, Synthesis, and Philosophy

Week Breakdown

• Monday the 18th

  • Take notes on the Argumentative essay, the third essay in the AP Lang exam.

  • Write down Lexicon #12: Argumentative.

  • Unpack the Argumentative prompt and rubric.

  • Do a quickfire brainstorm of what ideas you can come up to answer the prompt.

  • Grade the three student samples provided with the rubric.

• Tuesday the 19th

  • Finish grading the last two student samples with Argumentative grading rubric.

  • Write down Lexicon #13: Line of Reasoning.

  • Take notes on questions to ask yourself and overall structure of an essay.

  • Unpack the selfie prompt from 2024.

  • Quickfire brainstorm what you could write about.

  • We'll have an opportunity to write this one tomorrow for practice!

• Wednesday the 20th

  • Write a practice argumentative essay on selfies (check prompt first!).

  • After finishing your practice essay, email or share it with Mr. Roberts at Droberts@Bostonpublicschools.org.

• Thursday the 21st

  • Grade Mr. Roberts' argumentative essay.

  • Self-assess your own essay with the argumentative rubric.

  • Peer grade 2-3 classmates to receive and give feedback.

• Friday the 22nd

  • Revise and edit your practice argumentative essay on selfies!

  • Take notes on the tips that help you score a 3/6, 4/6, and 5/6 on the argumentative essay.

  • When you are finished email or share it with Mr. Roberts at Droberts@Bostonpublicschools.org. Make sure you note that it is your final draft in the title!

Week Breakdown

• Monday the 2nd

  • Take notes on the Synthesis essay, the first essay in the AP Lang exam.

  • Write down lexicon #14: Synthesis in your notebook.

  • Make sure to write down the five criteria that matter in this particular essay.

  • Unpack the practice prompt from the 2019 Ap Language and Composition exam. 

  • Practice reading and annotating sources within two minutes or less time.

  • Identify strengths and weaknesses for this particular essay.

• Tuesday the 3rd

  • Finish reading and annotating the sources.

  • Collaborative writing assignment (in pairs or groups of three).

  • Practice crafting a strong thesis statement and two compelling body paragraphs.

• Wednesday the 4th

  • Take notes and familiarize yourself with the AP Synthesis rubric and how to score at least a 3/6. 

  • Group grade our collaborative essays from Tuesday.

• Thursday the 5th

  • Head to the library to take our practice synthesis essay! 

  • Note, if you missed this day, this practice must be done in-person. 

• Friday the 6th

  • Write down lexicon #15: Paragraph unity.

  • Group grade Mr. Roberts' synthesis essay.

  • Self-assess your practice synthesis essay.

  • Peer grade and edit time.

  • Submit your essay on Google Classroom for feedback and grade. Alternatively, you can share it with Mr. Roberts at Droberts@Bostonpublicschools.org. Make sure you note that it is your final draft in the title!

Week Breakdown

• Monday the 16th

  • Take notes on the Rhetorical Analysis essay, the first essay in the AP Lang exam.

  • Write down lexicon #16: Rhetorical Analysis in your notebook.

  • Make sure to write down what to look for in this particular essay.

  • Unpack the practice prompt from the 2021 Ap Language and Composition exam about Rita Dove. 

  • Practice reading and annotating sources within 10 minutes or less.

  • Identify and share what strategies and choices you found and would hypothetically use in an essay.

• Tuesday the 17th

  • Take notes on the importance of delving into an author's intentions.

  • Review the Rhetorical Analysis rubric and understand the clear expectations.

  • Study "Rhetorical Analysis: Unpacking Persuasion" to improve on paragraph structure and expectations of evidence and analysis.

  • Guided practice of the 2023 Rita Dove Rhetorical Analysis prompt, utilizing the strategies in "Rhetorical Analysis: Unpacking Persuasion."

• Wednesday the 18th

  • Finish guided practice, making sure to reach for the broader implications of Dove's argument.

  • Group grade three student examples with the Rhetorical Analysis rubric. 

• Thursday the 19th

  • Complete practice Rhetorical Analysis essay in the library. 

• Friday the 20th

  • Revise and edit your practice Rhetorical Analysis essay and submit it on Google classroom.

Week Breakdown

• Monday the 13th

  • Take notes on the structure of the multiple choice section of the exam, the components of a question, and note helpful tips and tricks to doing your best.

  • After we go over what to expect, we'll do a few sets of practice multiple choice reading passage, their questions, and their answers. 

• Tuesday the 14th

  • Mock exam day! Head to the library for first through fourth period. 

• Wednesday the 15th - Thursday the 16th

  • Reflect on the mock exam!

  • Take notes on difference between moral and ethics. 

  • Watch the short video on the Trolley Problem. 

  • Write down the definition of Lexicon 17: Utilitarian.

  • Answer the four preliminary questions and the scenarios.

  • Read, annotate, and discuss pages 1-4 of "The Trolley Problem" by Judith Jarvis Thomson.

• Friday the 17th

  • Watch video on the current state of abortion rights in the United States.

  • Write down the definition of Lexicon 18: Analogy.

  • Read, annotate, and discuss "A Defense of Abortion" by Judith Jarvis Thomson.

Week Breakdown

• Monday the 27th - Tuesday the 28th

  • Finish reading and discussing Judith Jarvis Thomson's "A Defense of Abortion." 

  • Begin reading, annotating rhetorical choices, and discussing David Foster Wallace's "This is Water." 

  • Write down Lexicon #19: Didactic story in your notebook.

  • Write down Lexicon #20: Default setting in your notebook.

• Wednesday 29th - Thursday the 30th

  • Read, annotate for rhetorical choices, and discuss David Foster Wallace's "Consider the Lobster."

  • Write down Lexicon #21: Footnotes in your notebook.

• Friday the 31st

  • Write a rhetorical analysis essay on one of David Foster Wallace's texts (either "This is Water" or "Consider the Lobster").