AP English Literature and Composition Semester Schedule
C.J. SorensenPage 1
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AP English Language and Composition Semester Schedule
Week / Topic / Selections / Assignments1-2 / Course Expectations, Getting To Know The Class / Lively Art of Writing
Summer Reading / Grammar Review, Daily Sentences, Ice Breakers and Games, Tests, Class Discussion
2-6 / Narration /
- Into the Wild by John Krakauer
- Champion of the World by Maya Angelou
- Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan
- The Chase by Annie Dillard
Major Student Paper:
Personal Narrative
(Focus on the Writing Process)
7-11 / Description /
- Shooting Dad by Sarah Vowell
- Silent Dancing by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Literary Terms Project
12-13 / Example /
- On Compassion by Barbara Lazear Ascher
- Homeless by Anna Quindlen
- A Measure of Restraint by Chet Raymo
- Signs by Scott Russell Sanders
14-18 / Comparison/Contrast /
- Neat People vs. Sloppy People by Suzzane Britt
- Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out by Dave Barry
- Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts by Bruce Catton
- Size 6: The Western Women’s Harem
- Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of Africa by David Sedaris
Compare/Contrast
19-23 / Analysis /
- In Defense of Talk Shows by Barabara Ehrenreich
- Our Barbies, Ourselves by Emily Prager
- The Capricious Camera by Laila Ayad
- Why I Went to the Woods by Henry David Thoreau
- Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Major Student Paper:
Ethnography
24-28 / Argument/Persuasion /
- Too Much Pressure by Colleen Wenke
- Why I Stopped Being a Vegetarian by Laura Fraser
- A Vegetarian Philosophy by Peter Singer
- Why Don’t We Complain by William F. Buckley, Jr.
- Live Free and Starve by Chitra Divakaruni
- The FBI is Reading over Your Shoulder by Zara Gelsey
- How the USA Patriot Act Defends Democracy by Viet D. Dinh
Major Student Paper:
Research Argument
29 / Themed Essays:
Ethics and Morals /
- A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
- Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell
30 / Race and Ethnicity /
- The Discovery of What it Means to Be an American by James Baldwin
- How it Feels to Be Colored Me by Zora Neale Hurston
31-34 / History /
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
35-38 / Women and Men
Test Review /
- What are Men Good For by Jared Diamond
- I Want a Wife by Judy Brady
- Not all Men are Sly Foxes by Armin A. Brott
- Wonder Woman by Gloria Steinem
- A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstoncraft
Reading List and Rationale
Since White Bear Lake students potentially take this course as their only Language Arts credit, the focus of the course will be on a wide range of materials, exploring a variety of topics and time periods. The College Board notes that, “Reading in an AP course should be both wide and deep.” These selections offer a range of issues, and also the rigor and depth to challenge even advanced students. It is my hope that these works will allow students to learn the following key skills:
- How to analyze and interpret samples of good writing, identifying and explaining an author’s use of rhetorical strategies and techniques
- How to apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writing
- How to move effectively through the stages of the writing process, with careful attention to inquiry and research, drafting, editing, and review
I am confident that this course will offer a rich, meaningful experience for all dedicated Language Arts students.
Reading List
What We’re Reading / Why We’re Reading ItThe Lively Art of Writing / We’ll use this text to brush up on Grammar and Style issues.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin / One of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures in American History, Ben Franklin is the perfect subject to explore in your journey of Non-Fiction prose.
Into The Wild by John Krakauer / Krakauer is a master of blending journalistic, detached prose with powerful insights and dramatic storytelling.
The Bedford Reader / I’ve selected most of the readings from this anthology because it does an excellent job of isolating key rhetorical modes. Your writing and reading will focus on one mode of development at a time until you can look at the thematic pieces on a more holistic level.
The Conscious Reader / You will read selected pieces from this anthology. You will be looking at readings both rhetorically and thematically.
On Writing Well / William Zinnser’s classic text on non-fiction writing is especially useful for exploring the trickier style issues and also has an excellent chapter on conducting an interview.
Writing Arguments:
A Rhetoric with Readings
6th Edition(or most recent edition) / A thorough look at both the theoretical and practical elements, this text will serve as a reference for your look at argument and persuasion. Its unique use of Toulmin’s system for describing arguments creates a wonderful anchor for planning and describing your own arguments.
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking / An amazing analysis of research and information to make startling conclusion about the way people make snap judgments. We will use the book as an example of excellent non-fiction writing and the technique of careful analysis.
English Language and Composition Major Writing Assignments
Personal Narrative
Tell a true story of your early or recent school days, either humorous or serious, relating a struggle you experienced (or still experience) in school.
Profile
Interview a figure from the local area and write a profile.
Comparison and Contrast
Choose an element of popular culture and write a comparison and contrast essay in which you explain why you prefer one thing to the other.
Possible subjects:
Macs and PC’s
Two Sports
Two TV sitcoms
Two Horror Movies
Games from when you were a child and games today
Two Sports teams
Two cities
Ethnography
Observe and analyze an “alien” culture and write about it. You must observe this culture first hand. Consider the meaning of “alien.” What is alien to you? If you are on the football team, this subculture is not alien to you, but to someone who has no interest or expertise in athletics, it may very well be alien. Likewise, the punk subculture may or may not be alien to you. Select an observable group, but foreign to you
Argument/Persuasion
Choose a controversial topic from current events. (Stay away from the “standard” topics) Write an essay in which you argue for one side using evidence from you research.
English Language and Composition Major Writing Assignments
Trait / Perfect / Good / Okay / Needs WorkIdeas/Content / Addresses the task with insight and depth,
Essay has complexity and support / Addresses the task and contains adequate support / Might not address the task in full and might be missing some support / Contains little support and might misunderstand or not address the task
Organization / Ideas move creatively and easily from one to the next / Ideas move clearly from one to the next / Ideas are all present but may not move easily from one to the next / Organization hinders meaning,
Ideas may not be organized at all
Sentence Fluency / Varied, Complex sentences / Sentences are varied and somewhat complex / Sentences are clear but lack variety and complexity / Sentence are too simple or flawed and often obscure meaning
Word Choice / Accurate, innovative word choice,
Strong Verb choice / Good word choice, but is missing those one or two “great” words / Uses the typical vocabulary of high school students / Vague or incorrect word choice at times,
Uses words that are too simple or plain
Voice/Creativity / Superb Control of Language, Interesting, Exciting Prose / Adequate Control of Language, A few lapses in style / Several lapses in control of language / No creativity
Prose has no life
Conventions/Format / Virtually error free / A few mistakes / Several mistakes per page / Mistakes make it difficult to decipher meaning
Sorensen AP Language