APLiterature and Composition
Michelle Krause Edgewater High School
Room 3-305 407-835-4900 Ext. 6062701
Email:
Website: http://teacherpress.ocps.net/MichelleKrause
http://moodlehs.ocps.net/course/view.php?id=825
o Poetry and prose resources & assignments
o You will submit many assignments through Moodle
Texts: Perrine’s Sound and Sense, Tenth Edition
Writing about Literature
Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing (Class-set)
Supplies: Binder with tabs, loose-leaf paper, colored pens, post-it-notes, pencil sharpener or mechanical pencils.
Primary Novels: This list is subject to change
Chronicle of a Death Foretold, 1984, Brave New World, The Canterbury Tales, The Collector, White Noise, The Stranger, Heart of Darkness, Death of a Salesman, The Great Gatsby, Macbeth, Select Shakespeare passages and films, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Siddartha, The Awakening, A Doll’s House, A Raisin in the Sun, Victorian Literature excerpts
** This course requires the extensive study of varied texts. You may be asked to buy some novels for this class. I always recommend purchasing used copies at a used bookstore or online. (If you purchase a copy and wish to donate it to my class library, I will award you extra credit upon completion of the novel)
The primary objectives of this course are to increase your skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, using technology, thinking critically, managing vocabulary, working cooperatively, expressing yourself creatively, researching, and thinking; AND to prepare you, primarily through the analysis of literature and the practice of writing, for the AP examination.
I am extremely excited about this course and will work hard to make this a meaningful, challenging, enriching and inspiring course. I need your help to make this mission successful. You are a dynamic and unique human being. Work to develop yourself during this course. Seek to “know thyself”! Please have an open mind, embrace positivity, think critically, listen to others and seek to truly learn! I am here for you and will assist you throughout your personal and academic journey, but you need to help yourself first!
This year, your test will be Wednesday, May 6th
Everybody will take this test.
This is a college-level class. Please read this entire syllabus carefully to be fully aware what will be expected of you.
The Main Books
The core of this AP class is the literature. These are the primary works we’ll be reading. These will be paired with various ancillary materials--short stories, poetry, biographical and critical texts, and excerpts from other works. You will need to own some of these works.
The following are potential novels for study. This list is subject to slight changes.
1st semester:
Understanding close reading, literary analysis and annotation through Art, Poetry & Prose passages
The Picture of Dorian Gray, A Doll’s House, The Awakening, Victorian Novel excerpts
Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Poetry
2nd semester:
The Great Gatsby excerpts, Death of a Salesman, A Raisin in the Sun, Siddhartha, Macbeth, 1984, Brave New World
Poetry
Always bring the book to class when you are reading or have just read it.
Some of this material you will need to print yourself.
The Sort of Assignments You Can Expect in Krause’s class
1. AP Practice: These activities will simulate the timed writings and/or multiple choice items like those you will see on the actual test and will be graded in the same manner as the test. These tests will not cover the texts we are reading in class. You can expect these tests a few times per month. The tests may be administered in two day sessions. All timed essays tests will be administered during class time. NOTE: You will be required to type your essay AS WRITTEN into Moodle for peer review and teacher review! You will also print your typed essay and retain the essay in your binder.
2. Daily assignments: This category will include notes or other activities associated with literature, definitions of terms, presentations, close reading activities, editing, acting, writing tips, quotations, annotated ancillary material, small group activities, annotations, discussion and so on. These assignments may or may not be collected. Keep them if/when I give them back!
3. Essays: Some of you are already fantastic writers and some of you will need help focusing your writing and developing an authentic voice. Please be humble in this class. Do we ever reach our full capacity? Even if you are great, you can always be greater! You will write interpretive, analytical, expository, evaluative, argumentative and exploratory (both formal and informal) essays in class and at home. Your essays are teaching tools designed not only to allow you to express your thoughts and understandings of literature but to learn to write as well. Expect to use them to learn, not just from my feedback but from self-evaluation and peer evaluation as well. Please also expect for your essay to be reviewed during class workshops. Your name may not be shared but we will constructively analyze your writing. You will need to embrace the power of the pre-write.
4. Socratic Seminar/Class discussions: You are expected to make contributions to class discussions & to listen to and interact with your peers. Your contributions should be the product of your original thinking and insight. This is a daily assignment. Your annotations should assist you with this expectation. You will receive discussion grades.
5. Group projects/interactions: You are expected to cooperate and contribute in group projects/discussions/activities. You will need to work self reliantly in group settings. Be responsible and curious. Learn to communicate with group members. Develop a sense of respect and pride in your work. Wow us with your brilliance and humility!! J
6. Reading tests: You will be tested on some of the novels or plays and occasionally on the short stories, articles, and poems that you are assigned to read outside class. You will take pretests (did you read it?) and posttests (did you get the discussions?). The pretests will be conducted on the day that reading is concluded. These tests will comprised of multiple choice questions. The posttests will 1-2 days AP style tests. You can expect multiple choice questions and 1-3 essays. AP exam language will be emulated. We will often review the tests after you test.
7. Vocabulary/Lit Terms: A look at the vocabulary of each text and ancillary as well as a constant barrage of reminders of the importance of vocabulary in improving your writing and reading skills. I encourage you to demonstrate the mastery of your lexis on the AP exam. We will not have regular vocabulary tests, but vocabulary questions might be included on the pretests. Lit Terms are essential to scoring well on the AP Lit exam. Lit Terms will be included as part of bellwork or will be assigned to you. See Moodle for the AP Lit Terms. Partner quizzes will be administered every few weeks.
8. Creative Projects: You will have a few creative projects assigned to you each quarter. These projects will support creative expression, original thought and critical thinking. They will also allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the literary techniques and devices we study. You will always have a list of choices from which to choose.
10. Final Exams: The class will have a final exam each semester. It will be an AP style exam. You can expect AP style multiple choice and 1-2 AP style analysis essays.
Expectations and Policies
These expectations are derived from my belief in your ability to prosper in this course. Please embrace a positive attitude toward everything we do in this classroom. You are capable of marvelous achievement.
1. You should like and/or appreciate literature. If you do not, you should work to develop an appreciation and interest in literature. If you expect to skim, use summaries of novel and not participate in activities, you may be misplaced in this class. Please see me. I also expect students to be self reliant. J You are in charge of your life, your education and the way in way you manage and use your time. Please don’t blame others for your lack of efforts. Accept the idea that you can learn from almost all people and all situations. Taking an AP class is a choice. It’s a lot of work. If you don’t want to do the work, you may be better suited in a different class. (No hats, no food, no TEXTING. I have a severe allergy to text addictions. I will take away your phone. Don’t complain or blame me. Accept this and put away your phone J J)
2. Papers and other assignments are due on the assigned due dates. I will NEVER give you big chunks of homework at the last minute. I may give you small assignments some nights. Please be aware of this and accept it without complaint. I expect you to get your assignments done, keep up with them, and turn them in on time. If you do not, blame no one but yourself. J Reading is an ongoing homework assignment. Be self reliant and keep up with the reading. You will have to learn to manage your time. Please do not blame me or anyone else for your inability to manage time and follow expectations. This is a life skill. Remember, this is a college level course.
3. Your reading must be done on time. You must plan to take book tests on the announced test day unless you have an excused absence. You have to do the reading in order to make a contribution to the class or to gain anything from it. This will be very important for the semester exams and for the AP exam.
5. ALL class assignments and handouts must be in your notebook in your possession all the time. Period. Krause might randomly check your notebook but you are required to keep all graded assignments.
6. Plagiarism is a serious offense, enough, in fact, to mandate expulsion from any reputable university. Do your own work. I care about your improvements. This is a class in which you will learn and enhance your current skill level. I will reward your efforts and improvement. Be careful how you use research; do NOT present others’ ideas or words as your own. Don’t be scared to use quotation marks. Also, learn to discern between casual and reputable sources. Wikipedia is great but it’s not a reputable source. We’ll review this.
7. Senioritis is a serious, potentially academically fatal disease to which some of you may be prone. Please protect yourself by consuming a healthy diet of AP homework. Daily attendance will also serve as a preventative measure. Warning: the disease IS highly contagious; avoid others who are infected, especially in the morning before school!
8. Your AP writings will be made available for other students to use as learning tools. Expect this! Need I say, you must NEVER belittle another student’s efforts or ideas. You will each learn how to provide constructive feedback to your peers. At times, our classroom will transform into a workshop. Evaluating other’s work is crucial to improving your own thinking and writing.
9. You are required to take the AP examination at the end of the year.
10. Understand that you will need to purchase several books during the year. You will also need to print required material. If this is problematic, you need to speak with me or have a parent contact me. See the statement of understanding which is at the end of this syllabus.
10. You and your parents MUST sign the AP English letter which you will receive the first week of school.
11. Keep this syllabus handy! What it says, I mean. Everything is subject to change at my discretion. J
Grading Policy:
Grades should reflect the growth and mastery of a student’s skill/knowledge set over time.
Categories and respective weights are: Practice-30%; Progress-10% Performance-60%
30% Practice- These grades are based on classwork, homework and/or other small assignments
(Formative).
10% Progress- This is an over-time slideshow of student’s skills and/or content knowledge. This could be a reflection where students address their development with evidence from their body of work.
· This could be standards-based.
· This could include a personal (student-based) goal that students would set for themselves- re: responsibility, time-management, cooperative skills, attendance, conduct.
· This could include teacher/student observation
· Focuses on student growth and awareness of growth
60%Performance- This is a portrait/snap-shot of mastery of a student’s skills and/or content knowledge (declarative or procedural). Summative assessments include tests, quizzes, projects, and essays.
Absences: Your absence must be excused in order to submit an assignment late with no point deduction!
*Following the official county policy: every day a student is absent plus one.
*Make up assignments/assessments are accessible on Moodle or by emailing/texting Krause.
* Please put your makeup work in the Absent basket. At the top of the assignment, please write the date(s) and reason you were absent. Example: Absent 3 days due to flu (August 21-23)
Late/ Missing Work Policy: If you turn in an assignment late, you will lose points!
Assignments are due on the assigned due date!
-If you were absent and you miss an assignment, it is your responsibility to schedule time with the teacher to makeup an assignment.