Miss Rooney
AP Literature and Composition
Room 115
Course Description
Advanced Placement Literature and Composition emphasizes the development of skills in critical reading of imaginative literature and in analytical writing. Through a close chronological study of British poetry, drama, short stories, and novels, supplemented by additional non-British works, students will practice identifying and interpreting how stylistic patterns contribute to and construct meaning within a text. Students will examine texts within their historical and cultural context, aided by an introduction to various critical theories. As this is a college-level course, students are expected to come to class with the level of preparation required for a seminar course and to continue to develop their academic voice and university-level writing through vocabulary work, a refined understanding of literary terms, and various timed and process papers.
Course Reading List
Students will read and hold discussions (Socratic Seminars) to further their understanding of the texts. Students will be asked to use critical thinking skills and collaboration techniques. Students will at times be asked to creatively respond to the novel they are reading. The reading curriculum includes the following:
Fall Course of Study: Spring Course of Study:
*To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
*Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Hamlet by William Shakespeare
*The Awakening by Kate Chopin Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Poetry: An Introduction 7th Edition by Michael Meyer Poetry: An Introduction 7th Edition by Michael Meyer
Macbeth by William Shakespeare The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Beloved by Toni Morrison
*Students who receive 60% or below on their Summer Reading Exam, will be dropped from the class. The exam features a scantron-based exam as well as a written-based exam (essay).
Required Supplies
Students are to come to class prepared, that means students should have the textbook(s) that will be used in class that day, as well as a pen and paper. I am also requiring that students bring a spiral notebook every day to class, which will be used for journaling and will occasionally be turned in for classwork points.
· 3- ring binder with section labels for organizing papers (binder sections: Notes, Supplemental Texts, Essays)
· 1 spiral notebook per semester
· current novel or text
· pen, highlighter, post-its
Your grade:
10% Participation
15% Final exam of the semester
20% Classwork (includes journals) and homework
30% Writing Assignments (includes essays, and other major writing assignments/projects)
25% Tests, quizzes
Attendance Policy
It is important to attend class and participate in class discussions and activities. Students will not be allowed to go to their lockers if they forgot their book or any other materials. Students who are not prepared with their class materials, will be deducted class participation points.
Bathroom Policy
Students may only use the bathroom when it is an emergency. Students should use the time they have during passing period and lunch to go to the bathroom. Students may not leave during reading.
Top 5 Behavioral Expectations
1. Students should in all ways represent the local community (school), their families and themselves in a respectful, culturally sensitive, and honorable way.
2. Students are expected to be contributing members of the class, which includes participation in class discussions.
3. Students are to arrive on time, be in their seats when the bell rings, and copy down their homework assignments.
4. Students are to be quiet and listen when I am talking as well as being courteous, respectful, and quiet when their peers are speaking.
5. Students are to be proactive in their own learning, which means asking questions when directions or material is unclear and giving 100% effort on all assignments.
Advanced Placement English Academic Policies
In order to uphold the accelerated pace and rigorous academic standards of an AP course, students who earn below a 60% on their summer reading exam will automatically be dropped to Honors British Literature. Furthermore, students must earn an 83% or higher in the class to be eligible to remain in AP Literature and Composition second semester. It is the responsibility of students to actively monitor their grades on Aeries.
Assignment/Make-Up Policy
Late work:
1. Your work should always be in on time. I do not accept late homework. Quality homework is either there the day it is due, or it’s a 0. Students must have their homework completed by the start of class, when it is collected. Students may not go to their lockers to retrieve their work.
Absences:
1. If you are absent, you must be caught up with reading assignments prior to your return. If you are absent, check Aeries for all other journal, classwork, homework assignments. All assignment descriptions, directions, and handouts can be found on Aeries. You are responsible for making up work, I will not remind you. If you missed one day of class and it is excused, you are expected to complete the absent HW assignment for the next class along with the regular homework.
2. All major assignments (projects, essays) are still due on their due dates, regardless of an absence. You should give all major assignments to a friend to turn in or fax it to the school if you are absent on the due date.
3. If you miss a test/essay because of an excused absence, you must make it up the day you return (either before school, at lunch, or after school), unless we have discussed an alternate day. If you forget/fail to take the test/essay during the day you return, you will receive a zero. All essays will be due to turnitin.com by a designated time. Students who fail to submit by the designated time with receive the highest “F” grade (3/9, based on the AP Scoring Guide), so long as a hard copy is turned in the next day.
4. If you are absent due to sports or any other extra-curricular activity, you do not have extra time to complete an assignment. All missed homework and classwork assignments are still due when you return.
AP Exam Policies
1. If you are late to the AP exam you will not be allowed to enter the exam and we will not order a new exam nor allow students to start late.
2. Students who decide not to sit for the exam must notify both the teacher and AP Coordinator prior to the day of the exam. No refunds or changes will be made to any exam.
3. College Board does not allow for students to take a make-up exam based on having two AP exams in one day.
4. College Board will allow for students to take a make-up exam if 2 or more exams are to be taken at the same exact time and day.
Plagiarism/Cheating
This includes using or copying your friend’s homework, sharing your work or taking others’ work off of the Internet, having your parents or others write for you, plagiarism (using any words that are not your own without properly citing them) from anything on the Internet or any other source that is not your own. This applies to writing assignments and homework. During a test, it means any talking during testing, copying answers, or getting questions or answers from someone. A student who plagiarizes/cheats will receive an “F” on the assignment and possible “U” in class work habits for the incident. The students' family will be called, and the student will receive a disciplinary referral.
Please return the portion below signed by the student and parent to the classroom teacher to be placed on file and keep this document in your binder for reference.
I have read and understand the curriculum/behavioral rules and agree to abide by these rules and standards.
Student Name Parent Name and Signature
Student e-mail Parent e-mail