Course Overview
AP English Literature and Composition
Amy BreedingAlicia Eichhorn
Conference Period 2Conference Period 7
Room T12 (Fall Semester)Room 222 (Fall Semester)
Course Philosophy:
To be a well rounded, educated person in today’s world is to have some knowledge of the culture of sundry people in varying times and locales and to be skilled in communicating one’s understanding of the written word. English IV AP is a course designed as a college/university level course that challenges students intellectually and prepares students for the workload consistent with a typical university English Literature course. This AP Literature and Composition course is a rigorous college level course of reading (novels, short stories, dramas, and poetry), literary analysis, and other academic writing and oral presentation, designed to inspire the high school student to stretch beyond current levels of skill to better meet the challenges of the AP Literature and Composition Exam and the standards of universities across the nation. Each student will become more fluent, natural, and proficient in the ability to write essays on literature, and vocabulary choices will grow accordingly. Students are expected to prepare for and take the English Literature and Composition exam in May. The skills developed through this class and through preparing for the exam will benefit student performance across the college curriculum, offering invaluable assistance in college classes of all disciplines and preparing the student for communication job skills after graduation.
Course Description:
The class focuses on analyzing literature through reading, re-reading, discussing, and writing. We will follow a course of study recommended for maximum results on the exam, and the requirements may seem rigorous at times. Close reading of the texts assigned is crucial to the student’s success in the class and on the AP Literature and Composition Exam. Class discussions will be evaluated and graded on the number and the quality of the responses given by the student as well as on the textual support offered. Tests and writing assignments will serve as practice for the writing section of the AP Examination as well as preparation for a variety of college writing. Interpretation and discussion of literature will be emphasized. In-class writing assignments will provide the student with practice in testing situations with limited response time. Students will participate in peer and self-revision as well as student/teacher conferences on both daily and major writing assignments. We are evaluating papers for effective word choice, inventive sentence structure, effective organization, clear emphasis, and excellence of argument, including supportive evidence and clear, persuasive connection of the evidence to the argument.
The following skills will be at a premium: to budget your time, to read and reread the assignments carefully, to contribute in a meaningful way to the discussions, to interpret literature in timed situations, and to support your ideas with specific textual references and quotations.
Grading:
Grading will often be holistic, based on the criteria used for AP essays. You will receive the AP grading rubric early in the year, and additional copies of the scoring guide may be downloaded from the teacher website. Major grades account for 70% of the six weeks grade. Many of these grades will be timed in-class essays. Minor grades count 30 % of the six-week average. Objective, non-AP test days for English will be Wednesdays and Fridays.
Class Procedures:
Study Groups:
Students will be placed in a study group each 6 week grading period. Guidelines for group study will be available on the teacher website.
Absence/Makeup policy:
If a studentis present at school for any part of the due date, assignments should be turned in on that day. If a student will be absent for a school activity, work should be turned in prior to departure, or arrangements should be made with the teacher prior to the departure. Those students ill and/or absent for the entire school day may turn in work the day they return at the beginning of the period.
Make up work: Students should check the makeup calendar on theteacher website. It is best to check beforeyou return to school. Please see your teacher for any handouts, quizzes, or tests. Assignments should be turned in directly to your teacher and/or to turnitin.com if applicable.
Late Work: is unacceptable in an AP class. Students are expected to turn in work on time. Major grades will be penalized the deduction of ten points per day up through 3 days. Daily work will be deducted 30% the first day late. After that it will be recorded as a zero.It is a good idea for students to email the teacher about any problems with turning in assignments. If your teacher knowsabout an issue prior to the due date, it is most likely that you can work out some arrangement.Presentation materials must be in class on the day a group is scheduled. Students should exchange phone numbers, emails, Facebooks so that the group can go on even when someone is unexpectedly absent.
Electronic Devices:
Students will not use electronic devices in class. This includes MP3 players, E-Readers, Laptops, and Telephones. If a student chooses to use such a device, it will be collected and turned in to the nearest Assistant Principal’s office. (Certain projects may justify the use of such devices. In those cases, the teacher will inform the class that it would be appropriate.)
Course Expectations:
Students should be prepared for class by reading the assignments and preparing the written material. Listening and discussion skills are imperative. Not only should students be prepared to contribute to class discussion, but theyalso must consider what classmates offer in terms of literary interpretations. Multiple interpretations are encouraged in this literary classroom, but textual support of one’s ideas is crucial. Listening and note taking are essential, and students are expected to have a notebook devoted exclusively to English notes and handouts. Notes and papers from all year are relevant even after the AP exam.
Reading Assignments:
Students must have a personal copy of each major novel/play that we read. The reading schedule is always given in advance, and reading should be completed and reviewed prior to the class time for which it was assigned.Literary analysis often involves several readings of the material under consideration, and students should expect to go back into the text for intensive analysis of the work. Marking a text systematically, using note tabs and note taking within the text will help the student to retrieve information quickly during discussions and writing assignments. Suggestions for notations include references to settings, plot elements, characters, themes, style, and repeated images or motifs.
Plagiarism: Students will submit original work that is not enhanced or embellished by outside sources such as parents, peers, internet sources, critical analyses, etc. Students should not collaborate on any assignment unless the teacher designates the assignment as group work. Consequences for plagiarism/cheating/unapproved collaboration are outlined in the student handbook and will be enforced. All written work outside of class will be submitted to turnitin.com. The Class ID and Password may be found on your teacher’s website.
Major Works:
Please obtain a copy of the following by September 9th. We will begin using these works on September 10th. We have placed an order with Barnes and Noble (Champions). They will be available the week of September 4th.
5 Steps to a 52012-2013 edition
The Life of PiYann Martel
The following may be purchased at the Book Fair in early September:
Crime and PunishmentFyodor Dostoevsky
HamletWilliam Shakespeare
The Importance of Being EarnestOscar Wilde
The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver
**Please note that in the first few weeks of school, we will be helping you prepare your college essays. You will bring 4 clean drafts of a required admissions or scholarship essay September 13th. At that time, you will receive feedback and editing so that your essay is polished and free of errors before submission.
Vocabulary:
We will use the website for development of mature vocabulary in your writing. Instructions for vocabulary assignments may be accessed on your teacher’s website.