Here’s the plan we worked out in class today. Tuesday will give us a chance to take more time in discussing the articles on Monday, or provide me with more time to explain concepts and such. All of this is subject to change with prior notice.

Here’s a copy of the “Formatting Your Paper” handout I mentioned in class. If you notice anything that is misleading or incorrect, let me know.

It is the day before the AP exam and the teacher is nowhere to be found.

It’s kind of fitting, really. When I’m feeling better I’ll tell you the tale of my morning. It’s a grand adventure wherein I battle the evil forces of gravity in an attempt to make it to school and help my students cram for their big assessment.

But then I’m not one for cramming. (Or assessments.)

You all have been with me for nearly nine months, and I have seen you grow from hesitant writers bored with the tired writing equations you’ve been forced to follow, into energetic crafters of cogent arguments. You have learned to write with style, to take chances with your words, and to present your ideas with an air of credibility that most people never achieve.

Well done. You’ve made it. The test seems like an afterthought.

Really though, tomorrow is not your trial but a chance to show off what you can do; it’s a performance. You don’t need to cram, you don’t need to shuffle through your flash cards one last time. Writing is a skill that each of you has honed to a sharp (often acerbic) point. Write as you always have: with style, with authority, and with clarity.

You can’t cram for that.