Collaboration+Corner

Why Do We Do It?
I have often heard AP students say that they learned as much from their classmates as they did from their teachers. That means they had great classes with teachers that utilized discussions, preparing them for college and the workforce in the 21st century! Yay!!! The whole point of AP English Language and Composition is to learn to express your ideas and to understand how others are expressing theirs. Group discussions play a VITAL role!

In an online class such as this, it becomes impossible to sit us all down together to discuss ideas. Even if we all planned to jump on Google Hangouts at the same time, everyone is working at a different pace through the course. We need to make use of the technology at our fingertips by having discussions ONLINE. That's where Collaboration Corner comes in.

Link to Common Core State Standards:
CCSS SL11.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 11-12 topics texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

What Do We Do?
As you work through your course, you will frequently come to an assignment titled "Collaboration Corner." This will direct you to go to Collaboration Corner and make one original post and reply to the posts of two other students. You probably have ignored that up until now and hit "submit." Ignore it no longer! Do ignore the directions, though... I have my own instructions for you!

Collaboration Corner- Unit 2: Argument

 * For this unit, I have included a thread that simply introduces you to your classmates. DO THIS ONE FIRST! Say "hi" to each other so that we can build some community. :)**

After the INTRODUCTION post, you will see that there are 4 threads that ask you to brainstorm about your arguments in your timed writes. The idea here is to build some ideas to help you for this unit's REVISION essay. Talking with each other will help you build solid reasons and evidence and also consider counterarguments. For these threads:
 * Post in 2 of the 4 topic threads with your own original ideas. Make sure to fully address the prompt.
 * Reply to 2 of your classmates' posts to continue the conversation. Make sure to use @ and the student's name to indicate who you are replying to in your posts so that we can all follow the conversation!


 * YOU MUST DO THIS BEFORE YOUR REVISION ESSAY FOR THE UNIT! **

Collaboration Corner- Into the Wild Ch.1-7
For this first section of the novel, you will see 3 topic threads with questions about the novel up to this point. Let's digest what we have read and hone our analytical minds together. For these threads:
 * Post in 2 of the topic threads with your own original ideas. Make sure to fully address the prompt.
 * Reply to 2 of your classmates' posts to continue the conversation. Make sure to use @ and the student's name to indicate who you are replying to in your posts so that we can all follow the conversation!

Collaboration Corner- Into the Wild Ch. 8- Epilogue
For this last section of the novel, you will see 4 topic threads with questions about the novel. Now, we need to consider what we have read and think about the implications. For these threads:
 * Post in 2 of the topic threads with your own original ideas. Make sure to fully address the prompt.
 * Reply to 2 of your classmates' posts to continue the conversation. Make sure to use @ and the student's name to indicate who you are replying to in your posts so that we can all follow the conversation!


 * YOU MUST DO BOTH SECTIONS OF INTO THE WILD POSTS BEFORE YOUR EXAM FOR THE UNIT! **

Collaboration Corner- Topic 3: The Exam: Writing the Synthesis Essay and Preparing for Multiple Choice
For this section, you are once again asked to do a series of TIMED synthesis essays and then a REVISION essay. There are 3 threads that ask you to brainstorm about your arguments in your timed writes. Use this opportunity to talk with each other about your claims, reasons, and your use of the resources as evidence. You can also consider using some of the opposing viewpoints in your counterclaim as you work on your revision essay! For these threads:
 * Post in 2 of the topic threads with your own original ideas. Make sure to fully address the prompt.
 * Reply to 2 of your classmates' posts to continue the conversation. Make sure to use @ and the student's name to indicate who you are replying to in your posts so that we can all follow the conversation!


 * YOU MUST DO THIS BEFORE YOUR REVISION ESSAY FOR THE SECTION! **

Check out these tips for online discussions!

Watch the videos about online discussions! media type="youtube" key="tVqWcrMPxfY" width="560" height="315" media type="youtube" key="DwdqQjCfWSc" width="560" height="315"

Grading
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