Vista Murrieta High School AP Literature (12Th Grade)

Vista Murrieta High School AP Literature (12th Grade)

Ms. Lê Room EE15 951-894-5750 x6505 email:

*Students, please use formal communication skills when contacting me through email. Include pertinent information such as first and last name, class period, and your polite request.

*I am available before and after school most days. However, late start Monday mornings I have teacher meetings before school begins and will be unavailable. I also have National Honor Society meetings every Wednesday morning and will be unavailable.

*TIME MANAGEMENT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE*

The final goal for this course is to CRUSH the AP Lit Exam: First Wednesday in May!!

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is a unique class designed for students who desire a college-level English experience in their senior year and for those who truly appreciate and enjoy different literature genres.

Will this class be challenging and have a lot of work? Absolutely! I hope you are prepared to embrace the challenges of the course. A strong work ethic and impeccable attendance will be essential for success. AP Lit will be demanding, and you will be expected to function at a higher level; you must also become an independent reader, thinker, writer, and worker in many ways.

The curriculum is filled with college-level reading and writing assignments, and will be labor intensive. If you are taking this class just to be with friends or just to put on your academic résumé, please reconsider whether AP Literature is the right class for you. You will have reading, writing, vocabulary, and strategies for literary analysis (classwork and homework), almost every day; often at an accelerated pace. Additionally, you are required to participate in class discussion and will be responsible for adding positively to discussions. It is vitally important you attend class. Absences will affect your overall grade and your performance on the AP exam.

Keep in mind that as AP Literature students, I expect you to perform at the highest level. You should be turning in each and every assignment with the utmost quality, you should demonstrate critical thinking in both your discussion and in your written assignments, and you should have detailed responses to each and every assignment—please remember these expectations throughout the school year!

Be sure to complete all assignments, making sure to demonstrate critical thinking, and quality writing—this means I expect to see extremely detailed responses to each question, as well as appropriate grammar and punctuation for every response. Do not use any additional “shortcut” sources when completing your assignments (the internet, Spark notes, etc.) and be aware that any instances of plagiarism will be handled according to school guidelines. Also be aware that I utilize turnitin.com—the plagiarism checker website.

Oftentimes when students manage their time poorly (i.e.: procrastinate), students tend to reduce the quality of their work, hoping the teacher won’t notice or hoping the teacher will give a “completion” grade. I WILL NOT BE THAT TEACHER. Additionally, procrastination can encourage students to make poor decisions and take the “Spark notes (or each other) Shortcut”. DO NOT BE THAT TYPE OF STUDENT. Please do not wait until the last minute to complete your assignments!

HOMEWORK/ABSENCES

Homework will be assigned when it is necessary to hone skills taught in the classroom, or when course work is not completed during class time. Homework must be turned in on its due date, at the beginning of class.

If a student is absent for any reason, the student may ask for missing assignments before school or after school—PLEASE DO NOT ASK DURING BREAK OR LUNCH. Teachers need breaks throughout the day, too. ALSO, PLEASE DO NOT ASK DURING CLASS since the focus should be on the current day’s lesson. Students must have a documented excused absence when asking for make-up work; the student will have the same number of days to make up work as were missed. Extended (excused) absences and special circumstances may require new deadlines. Please keep in mind that valuable class discussions, lectures, and presentations may be missed learning opportunities that cannot be made up. Therefore, excessive absences will result in a lower grade. IF THERE IS A MAJOR ASSIGNMENT DUE, BE PRESENT OR HAVE SOMEONE DROP IT OFF ON ITS DUE DATE OR LOSE POINTS.

COURSE MATERIALS

Bring required materials to class every time we meet. Failure to bring required materials to class will result in the loss of points.

·  Binder designated for ENGLISH CLASS with 5 dividers; loose-leaf lined paper; blue/black/red pens; highlighters; sticky notes; colored pencils (optional); white out (optional).

·  The English notebook should be arranged as follows: Section (1): Grammar/Vocabulary; Section (2): Notes/Handouts; Section (3): Writing; Section (4): Syllabus/School policies/Etc.; Section (5): Returned Work.

COURSE TEXT AND CORE NOVELS

1.  How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster (revised edition) – strongly recommended to purchase on own

2.  Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, 9th Edition (sky blue and white cover) – VMHS Library

3.  Glencoe Literature: British Literature (green cover) – VMHS Library

4.  Independent Reading Novels (selected in groups) – strongly recommended to purchase on own

INDEPENDENT READING and ANNOTATIONS + DIALECTICAL JOURNALS

*TIME MANAGEMENT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF SUCCESS IN ANNOTATING*

In addition to reading core text and core novels, advanced students independently read three to four novels throughout the year. It is recommended that these literary works be purchased by the student, although copies are available in the library (see me if unavailable in the library). Reading and assignments related to the reading will be done PRIMARILY as homework. Independent reading and annotating is designed so students learn pacing and time management skills while also honing critical thinking and higher level thinking skills. Additionally, independent novels will be discussed in literature circle groups with the intention of producing high levels of critical thinking. PREPARATION IS KEY FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS! Dialectical journals will be typed and submitted on-line for each annotation check.

SSR GRADING: STUDENTS MUST BRING SSR BOOKS EVERY DAY. Each novel will be divided into sections and annotation checks/analysis assignments will be conducted in class approximately every few weeks for the designated section of the novel. Annotation/analysis grades are based on students keeping up with the designated reading portions, and the quality of annotations/analysis based on rubrics provided. Annotation/analysis checks are worth a SIGNIFICANT portion of the student’s homework grade.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

* If a student ever misses class, it is the student’s responsibility to get the missing notes/assignment from a classmate.

Students should come to me the day after their absence with their work stating “Here’s what I missed,” as opposed to “What did I miss?”

Students are always expected to follow school wide policies and regulations as stated in their Student Handbook. Depending on the severity of offense, the teacher reserves the right to issue immediate consequences, including confiscations, detentions and/or referrals, ETC.

Be polite: Respect your teacher, your classmates, and the learning environment.

Be prompt: Be in your seat when the bell rings.

Be prepared: Bring necessary materials every day.

Be productive: Use class time for working on assignments or SSR reading.

Be honest: Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and will be treated as such.

No food!

Keep electronics OFF and AWAY!

Please remove all hats/visors/etc. when entering the classroom.

No earbuds should be visible.

GRADES

All grades are based on a cumulative and weighted point system. Categories include the following:

Reading 25% 90 – 100 = A

Language & Writing 25% 80 – 89 = B

Listening & Speaking 20% 70 – 79 = C

Assessments 30% 60 – 69 = D

0 – 59 = F