I think that English is "slawesome."

Curricular Design

Links to materials, as well as short explanations:

AP-style synthesis essay grading rubric and terminology (pre-assessment, but is applied as a "sample AP score" for first 3 essays):
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzChdz6CxM6oZzRXaTFBLTVPRXc/edit?usp=sharing

Pre-assessment:
Higher order thinking questions 1-12; for pre-assessment of writing, I have them do essay prompt #2. I have them do their first 3 essays in the following manner: if they write the complete essay, they receive full credit; in addition, they get a "sample AP score" that says what they theoretically would've gotten if theirs was submitted as an AP essay. This method takes the pressure off of the first essays while they learn the expectations and conventions of this writing style.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzChdz6CxM6oUnF5bk9Ha185YjA/edit?usp=sharing

Formative assessment:
This is the first essay on which they are graded according to the AP scale (I'll attach my curve, which is in accordance with the AP grading system, as well). As a pre-writing warm up, they must answer and discuss as a class the higher order thinking questions; then, using said sources, they must write a full-on synthesis essay that will be graded according to AP conventions. It is a more valuable essay than their previous ones, but not as valuable as the summative assessment.
Link to the packet:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzChdz6CxM6oa0hBMzBQeHBNR3c/edit?usp=sharing

Link to the curves (on the bottom row, labeled):
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzChdz6CxM6oS0dRaFNrdDNMOEE/edit?usp=sharing

Summative assessment:
This is an AP-style essay in that it combines multiple resources and critical essays (literary theories of multiple varieties) to take a position on and issue in The Grapes of Wrath. It synthesizes them into a cohesive whole, and is the largest of the AP-style synthesis essays they write (as well as the most valuable). Here is the assignment containing the prompts:
https://docs.google.com/a/isd110.org/file/d/0BzChdz6CxM6oamprYnFoRUtxWFU/edit?usp=sharing