AP literature and Composition Course Syllabus Description: This 40 week course is designed to both hone students reading, writing, critical thinking, speaking, and researching skills for college classes while preparing them continuously for the AP exam. Students will engage in a variety of scholarship: reading independently, literature circles, seminar style class discussion, group projects, writing groups, personal essay writing, research writing, and test preparation for both the multiple choice sections and timed essay section of the AP exam. There will be many opportunities for personal growth and choice through outside reading decisions. All assignments are grounded in the ability to closely analyze literature: there will be instruction and exposure to literature from Ancient Greece through the present day. The class will be studying 6-8 full length texts (including dramas and novels), many short stories, and a separate unit of study for poetry. Students will be expected to write extensively for this class. The expectation is that students will demonstrate their ability to write pieces which explain, evaluate, compare, and analyze texts. Their assignments will be varied: short paragraphs, free-responses, reader response journals, in-class timed essays, a poetry analysis research paper, and a 5-8 page research-based literature paper. Research papers will utilize MLA citations. In addition, students will be expected to do re-writes, to share pieces in class, peer edit, and use the AP rubric to assess their own writing. Grammar instruction will be student driven through their own writing needs. Obviously, through reading students will be expected to engage in continuous direct vocabulary instruction. As it is always a weakness, students applying sophisticated vocabulary to their own writing will be highly encouraged. Any student enrolled in AP literature must take the AP exam in May to receive credit for the course. College credit is determined by individual higher learning institutions based on student performance on the AP Literature Exam. Students do not have the option to purchase credit through any community college/university accelerated learning program. Prerequisite: ELA 11 Honors Textbooks: Roberts, Edgar V. and Henry E. Jacobs. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 5 th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Prentice Hall 1998. Summer Reading Assignment: Students are required to read three different texts during the summer: mythology, a novella, and a novel. They have a choice in both their novella and novel. From the novel, they are expected to complete a writing assignment, given previously, wherein they have a choice of essay topics.
Grading: Grades are weighted Writing: 40% Quizzes and tests: 30% Classwork/participation/homework: 30% Formal writing assignments will use the 9 point AP writing rubric unless another rubric is provided Any concerns about grades should be raised with the instructor, she will be glad to discuss the issue Re-writes are a viable option for most writing assignments, in fact they will be required for some; yet, caveats will apply at times Units of study Please note that while I have tried to lay out a basic outline of the course, this is not meant to be a complete listing of all assignments or activities. In addition, this listing is subject to change due to timing or any other conceivable issue we may run into as a class. Unit of Study One: Greek Tragedies Aristotle, mythology review, Oedipus Rex and parts of the Iliad In class reading, translation, study of syntax, diction, and literary elements Writing: AP practices using Greek Tragedy and college essays Research Project: Begin work on novella research paper Begin poetry presentations Unit of Study Two: Hamlet Active Reading, translation, study of syntax, diction, and literary elements Group work: research and put on the play Writing: AP practice Possible outside reading assignment Unit of Study Three: Romanticism Active reading, poetics review, study of English versus American Romanticism, short story study, prose review Group work: short story presentation Writing: continuing work on research paper, AP practices using Romanticism Outside reading assignment : The Scarlet Letter Unit of Study Four: Death of a Salesman
In class study, active reading,, study of syntax, diction and literary elements Comparison of dramatic tragedy through time Study of character Literature circles Unit of Study Five: American Novels (The Great Gatsby and Their Eyes Were Watching God) Active outside reading of texts Study of prose, author, and American fiction Study groups, Socratic seminars, and student guided questions of the texts Creation of arguments for writing AP practices Unit of Study Six: Poetry Project and Paper Literary study of a poetry text Possible group presentation on poetry text Field trip to college library for research Analyzing and composing a question of study for a piece of poetry, research of said question, writing a research paper as the formal assessment of that question and study Other outside readings Literature of War: You will choose one of the following texts: Farwell to Arms, Cold Mountain, or Regeneration to read as a literary circle text Twenty-first Century Literature: You will read The Road or possibly another text depending on your instructor s choice. A note on class structure In an attempt to prepare you for the AP exam, you will be called on many times during the course of this class to present on poetry or on prose pieces. This is a requirement of the class; your ability to analyze, produce ideas, and instruct your fellow students will be the hallmarks of your growth in this class. As such, any plagiarism from student-help sites will have severe and lasting consequences. Further, you will also be expected to meet with the instructor at various intervals to discuss your writing, this is to aid you in your writing and is NOT a PUNISHMENT!!!! A note on texts
Parents, although all of the books/works on the list above have literary merit, some may be suitable for more mature students. We urge you, therefore, to carefully review the list of works when there is a choice and help your son or daughter make a selection that is appropriate for his or her interests, age, reading level, and maturity. AP English Literature and Composition Mrs. Zuniga 2016-2017 Parents: Please read and complete the following section. I read and understand the expectations and requirements of this course. Printed Parent Name Parent Signature and Date The best time to contact me is The best method in which to contact me is (circle one): Phone Email Students: Please read and complete the following section. I read and understand the expectations and requirements of this course.
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