Derek Thomas -- PHS AP English Blog

AP Scores ARE IN -- Spring 2009

AP Lang Does Well; AP Lit Does Great

While the national averages for 2009 are not yet known, they don't usually vary too much from year to year, so using 2008 averages, here's how we stand up:

AP Lang:  59% of my students received a 3 or above.  Well done.  The national average last year was 56%.

AP Lit:  66% of my students received a 3 or above.  Excellent.  The national average last year was 58%.

Great scores.  Even better is the news that we had very few 1s this year -- which means that everyone put forth a solid effort.  Remember that PHS encourages all students to attempt AP level courses and that nearly 1/2 of all Juniors and Seniors take AP English at Plant.  This is higher than most all public schools in the nation. 

Well done students.  I'm proud of you.  Room for improvement next year?  Absolutely.  We are just going to have to work harder in 2009-2010.

2009 AP Scores Released

Available by Phone Now; Coming in the Mail Soon

The College Board has completed scoring of the 2009 AP tests.  You may place a call to College Board to receive your results for $8 or you may wait until the paper results are mailed to you in about a week or two.  Good Luck !!  I know you all did well.

AP Lang: Summer Reading

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

             

These are three wonderful books; two memoirs and one novel.  Each is full of rhetorical brilliance and together they are a fine example of the type of works you will read in this class.  All three books must be completed by the first day of school on August 25, 2009.

AP Lit: Summer Reading

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

      

Both these novels are fantastic reads and will prepare you for the kind of in-depth, detailed novels, plays, and poems we will be reading in this class.  Both novels should be completed before you return to school on August 25th.

Welcome

Welcome to AP English at Plant High School

This blog will keep you updated on all that you need to know for AP English Language and AP English Literature in my class.  Posts for the two classes will be distinguised in the title so you can easily note which ones are for your class.  Be sure to keep up with your assignments and check this blog regularly, especially if you miss a day of school.  I really  look forward to having you in my class this year and making the journey to success on the AP exam with you.