AP Literature and Composition
Syllabus for Fall 2015/ Spring 2016
Mrs. RoseBrown
I.PRIMARY TEXT
Arp, Thomas R. Perrine's Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. HarcourtBraceCollege Publishers: Fort Worth, 1998.
II.COURSE OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this course is to explore literature from multiple genres, cultures and periods in order to become more competent writers, thinkers and speakers of English. A secondary goal is to explore the following themes:
- Where am I from?
- Who am I?
- Why am I here?
- Where am I going?
We will encounter these themes and various answers to these questions through literature but more importantly through class discussion and personal reflection. In addition to these two objectives, this course is designed to give you extensive guidance and practice for the AP Literature and Composition exam. All students in this course are required to take the exam in May 2014..
III.GOALS
1. Generate writing appropriate to narrative, expository, and persuasive prompts demonstrating competence in the use of language.
2. Demonstrate appropriate oral communication skills.
3. Complete both brief and extended discourse demonstrating skills in research and documentation.
4. Write to evaluate selected literary works by making and explaining judgments about their artistry.
5. Write to evaluate selected literary works with reference totheir social and cultural context.
6. Draw inferences leading to scholarly interpretive conclusions from careful observation and analysis of textual detail.
7. Demonstrate reasonable ability to write effectively under time constraints. Demonstrate personal voice in writing.
8. Write informal creative or exploratory compositions to gain additional insight about how literature is written.
9. Demonstrate stylistic maturity in diction, sentence structure, cohesion, tone, and consistency of voice.
10. Intensively read and study works of literary merit form various genres, periods, and cultures.
IV.ATTENDANCE
A. Good attendance is essential for the successful completion of this course.
B. You are responsible for your make-up work upon returning from an absence. You must take any missed quiz or test within the number of days absent following the absence. If you are absent two days, you have two days to complete the missed assignments. Failure to do so will result in a zero for the assignment. Regularly given assignments or previously scheduled tests are still your responsibility upon return from an absence. For example, say you miss school onMonday and a test is scheduled for Tuesday. If you return to school Tuesday you are required to take the test on Tuesday. The same applies for papers or projects. Late work submitted beyond these parameters will be docked one letter grade per day.
C. Use of Schoolpointe is REQUIRED for this class. I post daily assignments, monthly calendars, and files and links on this site. You are expected to use it. If you are absent, you are still responsible for the reading and assignments posted to Schoolpointe.
D. Use of Google Classroom is REQUIRED for this class. Iwill post daily or weekly assignments and you are expected to participate and use the Classroom. If you are absent, you are still responsible for the reading and assignments posted to Google Classroom.
E. Upon return from an absence, YOU need to check with me about make up work. Choose an appropriate time to consult with me. Before school or after school are generally the best times. Then turn in assignments in the appropriate tray next to my desk. You will not be reminded to obtain make up work or to turn it in. This is your responsibility.
F. Tardiness is not acceptable; excessive tardiness will result in detention.
V.CLASSROOM RULES: Be Respectful
A. Please be seated and ready to go when the bell rings. If you forget your book or something
else of paramount importance, you may ask to procure those items.Excessive forgetfulness will not be tolerated and these will be counted as tardies, so just don't forget your stuff.
B. No food or drinks in the room. It's school policy. It's in your handbook.
C. You are allowed bathroom passes if needed. Use them appropriately. However, if I say, "No you may not go to the bathroom," don't whine or pout or give me a face, just ask me later in the period.
D. All other school rules stated in the student handbook apply and will be enforced.
E. Electronic devices are used at the teacher’s direction. We will use Aurora City School’s BYOD policy. Use of electronics for personal (not educational) use will result in confiscation of the device per school policy.
VI.DISCIPLINE
You are expected to comply with the school's official code of conduct outlined in the student handbook.
VII.SUPPLIES / MATERIALS (recommended)
- You are expected to save all work on googledocs or on a Flash Drive, zip drive, thumb drive, whatever you want to call it. You need a way to work with files both at home and at school, even when the internet is not available.
- A binder with dividers according class directions.
- An AP Practice Book. This may be purchased in the bookstore, or online. Any brand will suffice.
C. MLA / APA style manual. This will be invaluable for literary research papers. You will also use it in college and even as an adult. Many versions of these style manuals can be found on the internet. It's up to you to locate them. The Purdue OWL site is a great resource for this information.
VIII. HOMEWORK
Homework is to be completed and ready to turn in or to be checked at the beginning of the period the day it is due. I'm not into late work. Not all homework is graded. The benefit is in the practice or thought that went into it. Formative assignments are not accepted late. For summative assignments, points will be taken off for one day late and only half credit will be given for more than one day up to one week. Half credit will be given for summative assignments more than a week late.
IX.ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Plagiarism of someone else's words or ideas will not be tolerated in my classroom. If I catch someone plagiarizing, I-will write up an office-referral and the main office typically issues a Saturday School Detention in addition to assigning grade consequences.
X.EVALUATION
Grades in this class are weighted: formative 20%, AP test practice 20%, and summatives 60%.
Evaluation will be based on the percentage of accumulated points. The percentage scale for assessing grades concurs with the school format listed below.
A / 90 - 100 / 4.0 / AP weight5.0
B / 80-89 / 3.0 / 4.0
C / 70-79 / 2.0 / 3.0
D / 60-69 / 1.0 / 1.0 (no weight)
F / <60 / 0.0 / 0.0 (no weight)
Note that AP grades of C or better are weighted. That means that if you earn a C in AP you will receive a C as a letter grade on your report card, but you will have 3.0 points instead of 2.0 points averaged into your G.P.A. However, a grade of D or F is not weighted and will receive the same amount of points as in a non-113 class. I do round up for percentages. For example, if you earn an 89.5%, the computer will round up to a 90%. 89.4% does not round up to a 90%.
All semester grades will be calculated using the following formula: 40% quarter one, 40% quarter two, 20% exam = semester average.
Understand that I will make little if any analytical markings on your papers graded on the AP rubric. You are AP seniors; I expect quality papers with few grammatical and spelling mistakes. My grading will focus on the quality of the content, structure, diction and syntax of your papers. A word to the wise: I will not grade crap. After reading the opening paragraph, if I find that the paper is a last minute, jumble of thoughts, I will read no further. I will draw a line where I stopped and expect you to revise the paper and turn it in for a reduced grade.
Grace Passes. Late or incomplete work is not acceptable in college or in real life. Therefore, in an attempt to get you college and career ready, it will not be accepted here either. The exception: You will be allowed (2) grace passes for the YEAR. This allows you to submit the assignment one week late with no penalty. You may use these at any time as long as there is one and one-half weeks left in the grade period. Please choose carefully when you use these; I recommend that you do not use them for formative assignments or for homework assignments. One your two passes have been used, late work will receive a maximum of 50% of the points. I reserve the right to exclude some assignments from the grace pass policy; the senior narrative my not be grace passed.
Essays: These papers will be graded using the AP rubric and are also practice for the May exam. The exam will contain one commentary on poetry, one commentary on prose and one essay on a work of the student’s choice. An essay is a response toa prompt, a question. The writer is required to take a stand.
Writing Practice Grades: If I check at all, you will earn a few completion points for some of the writing practice we do. However, don't expect a ton of padding points from these exercises. Writing practice is just that: practice. I expect that you have the intrinsic motivation to do what's necessary to grow as a writer regardless if there is a possibility to earn points.
Senior Narrative Grades: This year-long project will have various rubrics that I will give to you prior to the due dates. All of the writing practice exercises are designed to help you develop this project.
XI.STAMPED ESSAY
At intervals throughout the year, I will assign “stamped essays”. In order to earn a grade on these essays, you must schedule a conference with me to review your paper. Together we will look at your paper to determine what can be done to make the paper better. We continue to meet until the paper earns an A. I will give you a date by which you must earn the stamp. Papers not stamped by this date earn 50% credit, but all of those stamped on time will earn full credit. These conferences are intended to look at the quality of your response; they are not proof-reading appointments. You should come to your scheduled meeting with a completed essay that has been proofread expecting and ready for a stamp. If you are not able to keep a scheduled meeting, be courteous and the appointment.
XII. VOCABULARY
Part of growing as a writer involves increasing one's vocabulary. Thus, for each written essay or paper, you are expected to include high level vocabulary form the list given in class. These words come from your Word Within A Word stem study from the past years. Five words are to be correctly used and highlighted; an annotation should be attached that includes the definitions, stems, and parts of speech of the words you used. This assignment replaces the Friday Quizzes.
XIII. THE SENIOR NARRATIVE
This is a year-long project that allows you to tell your story. It is a multiple-genre collection of vignettes that expresses who you are. The structure and the focus are completely up to you. I will provide numerous models from former AHS seniors as examples and inspiration. Most students find this to be a rewarding and exciting project, one that they display at graduation parties and store with their other treasures from high school. A separate handout will further explain this assignment.
VIV. TURNITIN.COM
All written work must be successfully submitted to turnitin.com. This should be completed by the date that the assignment is due; on the due date you must submit a printed copy of the assignment in order to count as being in on time. The school policy for not meeting these expectations will be enforced. Papers exhibiting plagiarism will be submitted to the office for disciplinary action.The expectation is for the student to submit to turnitin.com on the day that the assignment is due in class; however, a grace period of one week after the assignment due date is given for submission to turnitin.com. This grace period should cover any technology difficulties that may arise. The grade for the assignment will be withheld until submission. An office referral (Saturday School) will be made after the week grace period. Non-submission of assignments will result in a “0”.
XV. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
If you would like me to write you a letter of recommendation, follow the steps below:
1. Ask me in person if I would write you a letter of recommendation.
2. Obtain and complete the recommendation form, which is found in the homework box.
3. Return the completed form no less than 2 WEEKS before the application deadline. You must
personally submit this form to me. Do not place it on my desk, in my mailbox or in my
homework tray. I will not write the letter if you do not hand the form to me personally. Also,
I will not write the letter if I do not have at least 2 weeks in which to complete it.
4. Write a letter of thanks to me once I've given you the letter of recommendation. This is practice for life; please hand-write, in cursive, a thank you note to anyone who writes recommendations or helps you with specific tasks.
XVI.SchoolPointe
I will upload all documents, calendars and useful links to my SchoolPointe webpage. Please utilize it.
XVII. Facebook
There is a Facebook group I encourage you to join: Mrs. Brown Aurora High School. I will post articles and reminders, and it’s a way to easily communicate with me and your peers.
XVIII.Twitter
Twitter will be used to send out quick messages and information.
You may follow my school account @rbaurora
Detailed View
QUARTER ONE
Theme: Where am I from?
"We who are clay blended by the Master Potter, come from the kiln of Creation in manyhues." Polingaysi Qoyawayma, Hopi
“We are all related." Cherokee saying
Titles
- Selected Poetry and Prose from Perrine’s
- King Lear by Shakespeare
- Into the Beautiful North Urrea
- Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy*
- Oedipus and Antigone by Sophocles*
Major Assessments
- King Lear research and analysis papers
- Pieces for the senior narrative (could include college admission essay)
- College application essay
- NYT Book Review with high level vocabulary
- Literary Criticism
- AP practice essays
- Literary term application – master list of 250 literary terms
- Wordwright competition tests
QUARTER TWO
Theme: Who am I?
"If you could be anyone, would you choose to be yourself?" Naomi Shihab Nye "Know thyself." Plutarch
"He who knows others is wise; He who knows himself is enlightened." Lao-tzu
"The man who does not value himself, cannot value anything or anyone." Ayn Rand
"We do not know what we want and yet we are responsible for what we are - that is thefact." Jean Paul Sartre
"This above all: to thine own self be true." Shakespeare
Titles
- Oedipus and Antigone by Sophocles*
- The Glass Menagerieby Tennessee Williams*
- A Streetcar named Desire a film
- Short Stories
- Himalaya - a film
- Selected Poetry
Major Assessments
- Pieces for the senior narrative
- Comparative essay
- NYT Book Review with high level vocabulary
- AP practice essays
- Literary analysis/criticism
- Wordwright competition tests
QUARTER THREE
Theme: Why am I here?
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiasties 2:16
"The gods help them that help themselves." Aesop
"The superior man ... does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything;
what is right he will follow." Confucius
"Man-every man-is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live
for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to
himself." Ayn Rand
"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You
will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life." Albert Camus "Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth." Mahatma Gandhi "The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it." William James
Titles
- Siddhartha by Herman Hesse*
- Metamorphosis and other Storiesby Franz Kafka*
- One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn*
- Selected Poetry
- Short Stories
- Self-Selected literary works for research essay
Major Assessments
- Pieces for senior narrative
- Literary Research Paper
- Genre analysis essay
- Scholarly/Peer review Magazine article review
- NYT Book Review with high level vocabulary
- AP practice essays and multiple choice
- Wordwright competition tests
QUARTER FOUR
Theme: Where am I going?
"If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand."Confucius
"Nothing endures but change." Heraclitus
"All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost." J.R.R. Tolkein
Titles
- Henry IV, Part I by William Shakespeare *
- Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman * (possibly)
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood *
- Othello by William Shakespeare * (possibly)
Major Assessments
- Senior narrative
- Wordwright competition tests
- NYT Book review with high level vocabulary
- Poetry criticism essay
- AP practice exams
- AP style essay questions for works studied
AP Exam
*Supplemental text to be procured by student
A.P. WRITING RUBRIC
The following numbers assigned as scores are modeled on the system used by the College Board at Advanced Placement examination readings:
9-8:These scores are for essays in which excellent content and impressive writing reveal the
writer's ability to reason with perception and to express ideas clearly and skillfully with
stylistic maturity. They accomplish the following:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the assignment/question;
- Reveal depth of analysis supported by appropriate, specific references to the
text and the student's ability to apply knowledge of literary techniques to a