J. Angert
AP Literature Syllabus
AP Senior English Literature/Composition Syllabus
FALL Semester 2016
General Course Description:
Advanced Placement Literature and Composition is a college-level course that focuses on the reading and analysis of literary works and the writing of critical essays. This semester course is designed as an accelerated, enriching, and rigorous experience in analytical and critical thinking, and follows the curricular requirements in the AP English CourseDescription. It is geared toward higher-achieving students who are proficient in reading and writing. It is also expected that students enrolled in this course will take the AP exam in May.
Because this is an AP Literature course, it is imperative that you and your parents agree that you will return to review for the AP exam with me in April and May. On a contract, I will ask for your contact information and signatures.
Course Outcomes:
- To give students knowledge and skills necessary to score a 3 or higher on The AP English Literature and Composition Exam. It is expected that all students enrolled in the course will take the AP exam in May.
- To activate students’ schema in order to achieve higher-level, critical thinking skills as applied to literature.
- To help students find and explain (through discussion and writing) the value of literature.
- To guide students’ understanding of literature in its artistic and historical context through exploration and research.
- To develop skills and strategies in rhetoric through class discussion, small-group discussion, and Socratic Seminars.
- To increase students’ knowledge and understanding of college-level vocabulary as it applies to the context of literature.
Skills Taught: The course teaches students to write an interpretation of a piece of literature that is based on a careful observation of textual details, considering
- structure, style, and themes
- social and historical values it reflects and embodies
- the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone
The course includes frequent opportunities for students to write and rewrite formal, extended analyses and timed in-class responses. The course requires
- writing to understand: informal, exploratory writing activities that enable students to discover what they think in the process of writing about their reading (such assignments could include annotation, free writing, keeping a reading journal, and response/reaction papers)
- writing to explain: expository, analytical essays in which students draw upon textual details to develop an extended explanation/interpretation of the meanings of a literary text
- writing to evaluate: Analytical, argumentative essays in which students draw upon textual details to make and explain judgments about a work's artistry and quality, and its social and cultural values
- The teacher willprovide instruction and feedback on students' writing assignments, both before and after the students revise their work, that help the students develop:
- A wide-ranging vocabulary used appropriately and effectively
- A variety of sentence structures, including appropriate use of subordination and coordination
- Logical organization, enhanced by specific techniques to increase coherence, such as repetition, transitions, and emphasis
- A balance of generalization and specific, illustrative detail
- An effective use of rhetoric, including controlling tone, establishing and maintaining voice, and achieving appropriate emphasis through diction and sentence structure
Senior Research Project: This is a semester-long project involving research and community involvement.Because of the rigor of the AP Literature course, you will be expected to do much of the senior project work as homework, with help and guidance from your teacher along the way. You will receive comprehensive instructions at the beginning of the semester. Late work may not be accepted; you will receive a checklist of due dates and assignments at the beginning of the semester. Judging of the project takes place in November and April, and Senior Project counts 25% of your overall grade.
The research paper will be submitted via and must include a works cited page in order for it to be graded. You will receive information concerning due dates at the beginning of the semester. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR PAPER BY THE TIME AND DATE POSTED, OR YOU MAY EARN A ZERO ON THE ASSIGNMENT. I WILL NOT ACCEPT HARD COPIES OR EMAILED PAPERS. This is in preparation for college courses and the real world.
Texts/ Resources:
Our literature textbooks:
Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. 8th Edition.
DiYanni, Robert. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 6th Edition.
Foster, Thomas. How To Read Literature Like a Professor.
Possible ancillary texts:
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. Chronicle of a Death Foretold.
Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye
Sophocles. Oedipus Rex
Sophocles. Antigone
Short stories from authors such as O’Connor, Hemingway, Chopin, Tan and more.
Satirical selections from authors such as Twain and Swift
Various persuasive, informative, and argumentative texts
Poetry including but not limited to the works of Auden, Poe, Hughes, Cofer, Brooks, Frost, and Eliot
Units of Study:
AP LITERATURE UNITS
ICEBREAKER GROUPWORK: ORDEAL BY CHEQUE
SUMMER READING: DISCUSSION/STUDY/ESSAY OVER MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN; NOTES FOR HOW TO READ LITERATURE LIKE A PROFESSOR
WEEKLY VOCABULARY QUIZZES
1.GOOD VS. EVIL: BEGINNINGS
A.THE BOOK OF GENESIS-OLD TESTAMENT
B.FLANNERY O’CONNOR-SHORT STORIES
C.POE-THE BLACK CAT-SHORT STORIES
2.HUMAN NATURE: MAN’S DUALITY
A.HEMINGWAY-HILLS LIKE WHITE ELEPHANTS
B.KAFKA-THE METAMORPHOSIS-SHORT STORY
C.GARCIA-MARQUEZ-CHRONICLE OF A DEATH FORETOLD-THE NOVEL
3.POETRY UNIT
- EXPLICATIONS/TPPCAST/SOAPSTONE THROUGHOUT SEMESTER
4.DRAMA: THE GREEK PLAYS
A.OEDIPUS-SOPHOCLES
B.ANTIGONE-SOPHOCLES
5.DRAMA: SHAKESPEARE AND OTHER
A.HAMLET
B.TWELFTH NIGHT (TENTATIVE)
C.A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE-TENNESSEE WILLIAMS (TENTATIVE)
6.POETRY: THE MOVEMENTS
A.POETS, TIME PERIODS, LITERARY ELEMENTS
B.POETRY TERMS
C.PROJECT
7.SENIOR PROJECT ONGOING THROUGHOUT SEMESTER
A.CAPSTONE/RESEARCH PAPER
B.PRESENTATION/LISTENING AND SPEAKING
Assessment and Evaluation:
Assessment will be aligned with Common Core Standards as reflected in the Synergy grade book.
The Senior Project 25%
Reading
*Comprehension25%
*Literary
*Informational
Writing 20%
*Argumentative
*Expository/Informational
*Persuasive
Language (conventions) 15%
*Academic Vocabulary
*Grammar/Usage
Listening and Speaking 5%
Final Exam 10%
Assignments and assessments will consist of written essays, tests, quizzes, and reading comprehension checks. You will accrue fewer grades in this class than most others, but your assignments will be weighted heavily. For instance, the research paper will come out at about 400 points, and it will be graded toward the end of the semester; therefore, prepare accordingly as you may experience an increase or drop in your overall grade average. This happens as a result of the chronology of the senior project during the semester.
Rules, Responsibilities, and Procedures:
- Respect yourself and others the minute you cross the threshold of this classroom
- No visible cell phones or laptops or other electronic devices unless given special permission by teacher for class use. This is county policy and we will adhere to it- see the handbook if you have any questions.
- Always be prepared for class with all materials necessary.
- I dismiss the class; therefore you will NOT stand by the door waiting for the bell. You will stay seated until the bell rings unless I have given you special permission to be away from your desk.
- All purses, bookbags, etc. are to be kept ON THE FLOOR OR UNDER THE DESK during class.
- Work is due on the day assigned. Please do not come to class with a flash drive or story about your broken computer/printer. You will have plenty of opportunities to visit the media center or writing lab to complete your work BEFORE it is due. If you choose not to take advantage of these opportunities your grade will be negatively affected.
*CHEATING, INCLUDING PLAGIARISM, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF ZERO ON THE ASSIGNMENT IN QUESTION, AS WELL AS DISCIPLINARY ACTION AS LISTED IN THE WHEELER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK.
*THE GRADE YOU EARN IN THE SYNERGY GRADEBOOK CANNOT BE CHANGED OR ALTERED; THEREFORE, SHOULD YOU EARN A 69, 79, 89, ETC., THAT WILL BE THE GRADE REFLECTED ON YOUR REPORT CARD. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME TO “BUMP”YOUR GRADE FOR YOU.
*ABSENCES FROM CLASS INSTRUCTION WILL AFFECT YOUR GRADE. IF YOU MUST MISS CLASS, BE CERTAIN YOU HAVE SOME WAY TO GET THE MATERIAL YOU MISSED, AND SOME WAY TO TURN IN ASSIGNMENTS THAT ARE DUE THE DAY OF YOUR ABSENCE. LATE WORK IS RARELY ACCEPTED. BE SURE TO CHECK MY BLOG UNDER THE WHS WEBSITE FOR ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES.
CLASSROOM MATERIALS:
1.ENGLISH BINDER
2.LOOSE LEAF NOTEBOOK PAPER
3.WRITING UTENSILS (BLUE OR BLACK INK AND PENCILS)
4.SENIOR PROJECT BINDER
5.HIGHLIGHTERS
6.VARIOUS SENIOR PROJECT MATERIALS
My Contact Information: Juliann Angert
678-643-7896 (cell)
Wheeler AP Lit Facebook Page
AngertBlog on the school website under Faculty tab
At the beginning of the semester I will invite you to enroll in Remind 101, a texting service, where I can send you important reminders about class assignments. If you are not able to access texting, please find a classmate who can get important information to you. My Wheeler AP Literature Facebook page is being renovated; I will let you know when it is ready for you to join.
You may email me, text, or call me with legitimate questions and concerns at any reasonable time.
ABOUT ME:
I have been teaching for twenty-three years, beginning at Camp Creek Middle School in Fulton County for two years, at Berkmar High School in Gwinnett County for eight years, and the rest at Wheeler High School. I have been the English Department Chair for seven years before taking time to complete my Doctorate, and am also Senior Class Sponsor and I serve on the Senior Project Executive Board. I proudly established Wheeler’s National English Honor Society. I have taught every grade and level of English from eighth grade through twelfth. I have taught Honors British Literature for over ten years, and AP Literature for twelve years.
Qualifications: I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and am currently pursuing a Doctorate in English Education through Kennesaw State and Northcentral University. I hold a Clear and Renewable Teaching Certificate in the state of Georgia, with Gifted Education Certification and AP Certification add-ons.
My Teaching Philosophy:
I believe every child is entitled to an excellent education. I believe that teaching is my calling and therefore my responsibility; I make it my priority to try and instill the tools necessary for learning into each child who comes into my classroom. It is my expectation and my hope that parents and/or guardians make their child’s education a priority as well, and emphasize the importance of good study habits and excellent attendance.
I strongly endorse student self-advocacy; therefore, I expect students to ask questions and communicate with me before or after school or during appropriate class times with any and all concerns or issues. Because this is a college-level class, students must learn to have a voice and to speak for themselves whenever possible. I have listed several ways to contact me if face-time will not suffice.
Good Communication is Absolutely Essential!!!
PARENT INFORMATION PAGE
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY
YOUR STUDENT’S NAME:
YOUR NAME:
YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE STUDENT:
YOUR PREFERRED PHONE NUMBER(S):
PARENT EMAIL ADDRESS:
CRUCIAL INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHILD, AS IN ALLERGIES, ILLNESSES, ETC.
DOES YOUR STUDENT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER AND PRINTER AT HOME?
PLEASE HAVE YOUR STUDENT RETURN THIS PORTION OF THE SYLLABUS TO ME WITH YOUR SIGNATURE:
Advanced Placement courses offer students intense, high-quality instruction that prepares them to meet standards for college-level learning. AP course completion and exam results provide students a significant advantage in the college admissions process by indicating a student’s ability to succeed in a rigorous curriculum.
AP Course: AP Literature
Student Name (please print)______
Parent/Guardian Name (please print)______
This contract identifies conditions that typically provide for student success in Advanced Placement courses.
Participation in an Advanced Placement course indicates a student’s willingness to:
Maintain good attendance
Assume responsibility for learning
Prepare for class daily
Participate fully in instructional activities
Make-up missed assignments and tests promptly
Seek all available tutorial help when necessary
Exhibit academic integrity in the classroom**
Take the AP exam in May
Advanced Placement teachers support student learning through:
High instructional standards
Student-focused instruction
Regular review of work and assignments
Learner support beyond regular class meetings
Timely disclosure of make-up work
The Advanced Placement courses are developed by the College Board in partnership with colleges and universities; course content cannot be modified. While the above conditions create a favorable environment for student success in an AP course, they do not provide a guarantee of any particular grade. *Please review the WHS AP page in order to learn about the alternate exam policy*
**Please review the CobbCounty Cheating Policy, which is outlined in the student handbook. Cheating comes in many forms. Students are expected to follow a strict honor code which includes the avoidance of any cheating whatsoever. The consequences of such behavior include a zero grade on the assignment in question and a written referral to be placed in the student’s permanent folder, as well as possible removal from the Magnet program. In addition, National Honor Society and other organizations do not allow membership by students who have cheated.
I, the undersigned, accept the Advanced Placement course conditions described in this contract:
______
(Student Signature)(Date)
______
(Parent Signature)(Date)
______
(Teacher Signature)(Date)