Syllabus for Advanced Placement Literature North High School Instructor: V. Gerk, M.A. This is an AP course. You may find it more difficult in terms of the reading required and the analysis taught than in previous English Honors courses. Learning to do analysis and reading college level texts can be an extremely rewarding experience and can better prepare you for college. If you are ready to commit to this class and do the work, I will welcome your presence and participation. About the Instructor/Contact Info/Home: 459-9614/email: vgerk@sheboygan.k12.wi.us SAT Essay Scorer 2006-2007 AP Literature Reader 2003-2004 M.A. in English Literature UWEC 1978 Post Graduate Credits English Literature UW Madison Ph.D Program English Literature UW Milwaukee Ph.D. Program AP Lit Instructor 1995-2005 South High School 1984-1995 Sheboygan Falls High School CAPP Composition 1984-1994 UW Green Bay at Sheboygan Falls High Literary Works The Japanese Quince by John Galsworthy A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O Connor The Jockey by Carson McCullers Oedipus Rex by Sophocles The Trojan Women by Euripides The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner by Henry James Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger or Tartuffe by Moliere Poetry Selections Nonfiction Selections Evaluation Note: I do not average the quarter grades. You will have a running semester grade. This is to your advantage. 20% 20% Daily Work (Handouts, presentations, discussion, participation, AP practice tests) Please Note -- unexcused absences/and/or unexcused tardies will result in loss of points in this category. Other off task behaviors which may impact your Daily Work grade include working on other homework during literary discussion or presentation time, sleeping, chatting, cell phone texting, etc.) 25% Objective Tests 25% Essays (Both in class and prepared) 10% Final Exam Creative Project and Presentation
Grading Scale 93-100 A 90-92 A- 88 89 B+ 83-87 B 80-82 B- 78-79 C+ 73-77 C 70-72 C- 68-69 D+ 63-67 D 60-62 D- Presentation and Essay Policy In class essays are due at end of the hour. Take home essays should be turned in on the day due, with some exceptions. Post graded rewrites for a higher score are always available. If you have an unexcused absence when your group presents, you cannot earn the points for that assignment. If your absence is excused, you may make up your presentation after school or before school in order to earn those points.(room 251) Plagiarism/Cheating Policy Do your own work. Write your own papers. Everyone can rewrite and revise his/her in class essays within a certain time frame. This is how you will learn. Any assignments plagiarized will result in a 0 for that assignment in accordance with North High policy in your planner. Subsequent papers will be suspect. One small notecard, front and back, is allowed for objective tests. Each student must use own notecard.
AP LIT SCHEDULE Week 1 Activity Handout 1 Handout 2 Handout 3 Week 2 Handout 4 Handout 5 Handout 6 Handout 7 AP Practice Test and Short Story Analysis Turning in/turning Out Deconstruction /New Historicism Elements of Fiction and the Short Story The Japanese Quince/Analyzing Conflict for Theme The Jockey Short Story Analysis Writing the Analytical Examples of Analysis Symbolism in A Good Man is Hard to Find 2-3 pages typed Elements of Fiction and Short Stories Week 3 Handout 28 Week 4 Handout 28 Objective Test Week 5 Handouts 35, 36 Handouts 37, 38 Handout 39 Dramatic Analysis Embodiment of Greek Thought and the Tragic Hero in Oedipus Rex/Read Oedipus Rex Tragic hero elements Dramatic Analysis The Trojan Women Reading and Video Embodiment of Greek Thought in The Trojan Women In class essay on Greek Tragedy Greek Thought/Hero/Structure/Both Plays History of the Novel Types of Novels Point of View Sound and the Fury: Appendix plus Benji s Section
Week 6 Handout 39 Week 7 Handout 42 Test Week 8 Week 9 Handouts 74, 75, 76 Week 10 Essay Point of View and Stream of Consciousness Technique The Sound and the Fury: Quentin s Section The Sound and the Fury: Jason s Section In class essay on selected Quentin passage. The Sound and the Fury: Jason s Section The Sound and the Fury: Dilsey s Section The Sound and the Fury More Practice on AP Lit Practice Major Works/Prep for Open Essay Purposeful Ambiguity Reading schedules Major Works/Prep for Open Essay In class essay on Illusion/Reality in Turn of the Screw Week 11 11/13-11/17 Major Works/Prep for Open Essay Handouts 49, 50 Human Aspirations in Literature Heart of Darkness Week 12 11/20-11/22 Major Works/Prep for Open Essay Essay In class essay on human aspiration and Heart of Darkness Week 13 11/27-12/1 Poetry Analysis Handout 8 Handout 9 Handout 10 Four Poems Identifying Tools of Poetic Analysis Poetic Terminology Unlocking a Poem Autumn Refrain
Week 14 12/4-12/8 Poetry Analysis Handouts 11, 12 Handout 14 Experiencing the Analytic Process Group/Individual Poetic Analysis Sonnet 146 Shakespeare Developing an analytical paper on a poem Week 15 12/11-12/15 Poetry Analysis Handouts 15, 16 Analytical paper on a poem Due 12/15 1-2 pages Week 16 12/17-12/22 Nonfiction Analysis Handouts 17, 18 Handout 19 Handout 20 Handout 21 Handout 22 Prose Analysis Stylistic Analysis The Crack Up Multiple Choice Excerpt Ideals as Goals Multiple Choice Week 17 1/2-1/5 Major Works/Prep for Open Essay Illusion and Reality Catcher in the Rye Week 18 1/8-1/12 Major Works/Prep for Open Essay Illusion and Reality Symbolism Catcher in the Rye Week 19 1/15-1/19 Review of Major Works Major Works Sheet Final Exam Projects Spring AP Test Prepare worksheets for each major work. Performance Project during Exam Time April Workshop /Review