AP English Literature & Composition Syllabus Spring 2021 .

AP English Literature & Composition Syllabus Spring 2021Mrs. Kimberly PatrickCourse Description:The AP English course in Literature and Composition challenges students to become close readers andcritical analysts of selected texts. During the course, students study novels, dramas, short stories,essays, and poetry. These genres are interspersed throughout the course, but will be defined in thissyllabus as units to provide an overview of the concepts and content covered. Texts are chosen based onliterary merit selected from multiple genres, periods, and cultures such as those cited in the AP EnglishCourse Description.The course includes a variety of writing assignments both formal and informal, based on in-depthreading of texts. Writing assignments are designed to help students develop a wide-ranging vocabulary,a variety of sentence structures, logical and coherent organization, appropriate detail elaboration, andeffective use of analysis. Additionally, students advance their writing craft as they develop oral andwritten reflections which demonstrate their improved comprehension of texts.Required Texts and Materials:Kennedy, X. J. and Dana Gioia, Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 8th Ed. NewYork/Longman Press, 2009. Print.Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide toReading Between the Lines. New York: Quill, 2003. Print.Essential Questions addressed through the study of the literature: How does conflict affect the individual and society?In what ways are individuals and society transformed through conflict or unchanged despiteconflict?How does culture and heritage contribute to a strong sense of identity?How do we form our sense of self, and how does this develop our relationships with others?What is the relationship between fiction and truth?How does perspective shape or alter truth?How do literary techniques, structure, and style contribute to the meaning of a work as awhole?What qualities make a text a work of “literary merit”?What are the universal questions in a text that speak to the reader?Course Goals & ActivitiesStudents will master the following work by completing the Advance Placement English Literature andComposition course: Use annotation to complete close reading of textual details and consider the structure, style,and theme(s) of the selected works Interpret a selection of literature based on careful observation of textual details as well as itssocial, cultural and/or historical value1

Demonstrate critical thinking and construct meanings based on the reading and writing on awide range of literature of literary merit.Write formal, extended analysis; write timed, in-class essays and write short, informalresponses. In-class, timed writing assignments are based on AP style prompts and evaluatedwith the AP rubric.Write to understand, to evaluate, and to explain. Students have many opportunities to prewrite, draft, evaluate, revise, and rewrite based on personal review, peer review, and teacherevaluation.Participate as active learners in insightful discussion on literary topics that address the readingsand essential questions.Build word knowledge of vocabulary for high-achieving, college-bound students.Analyze and evaluate writing for wide-ranging vocabulary, a variety of sentence structures,logical and coherent organization, appropriate detail elaboration, and effective use of rhetoricincluding tone and voice.Research contextual information for texts including author biographies, historical time periods,and cultural traditions.Read, analyze, and evaluate published, critical essays about short stories and/or authors.Use online and other digital tools for collaboration, discussion, and peer review of class writingand assignments.Manage time and responsibilities effectively for learning in a fast-paced college level course.NOVEL STUDYSnow Falling on Cedars by David GutersonThe Awakening by Kate ChopinThe Things They Carried by Tim O’BrienExcerpt Poisonwood Bible by Barbara KingsolverExcerpt Frankenstein by Mary ShelleyExcerpt Song of Solomon by Toni MorrisonIndependent Reading: Students will read self-selected novels of literary merit.DRAMA STUDYA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine HansberryExcerpt A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William ShakespeareSHORT STORY STUDY“The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson“The War Prayer” by Mark Twain“The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury“The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty“A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell“Battle Royale” by Ralph Ellison“The Birthmark” by Nathaniel HawthorneAdditional short stories and short fiction excerpts will be included with the ones listed above. Otherpieces of prose will come from AP resource materials.2

POETRY STUDY“The Snow-Storm” by Ralph Waldo Emerson“The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy“Thai Bin Province” by Denise Levertov“Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen“We Are Many” by Pablo Neruda“My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning“Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by EmilyDickinson“The Writer” by Richard WilburSonnets by William Shakespeare“The Facebook Sonnet” by Sherman Alexie“For That He Looked Not Upon Her” by GeorgeCascoigne“Quarantine” by Eavan Boland“Ozymandias” by Percy Blythe Shelly“Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes“Barbie Doll” by Marge Pierce“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke“Mansplaining” by Jennifer Militello“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver“Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden“The Century Quilt” by Marilyn Nelson Waniek“We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar“Playground Elegy” by Clint SmithAdditional poems will be incorporated with the ones listed above including poems from AP resourcematerials. Students can expect to have frequent poetry assignments including the research, reading,analysis, and presentation of self-selected poems.RESEARCHStudents can anticipate research activities for common literary terms and allusions. Generally, theseresearch projects involve presenting information to classmates. Please be aware that even informalresearch activities require the use of reliable sources and must follow school plagiarism policies (seebelow). While it may be difficult to paraphrase unknown terms or provide unique examples, it isimperative that students do not copy and paste information from the internet.WRITINGInformal and formal writing assignments will be on-going and focus on preparation for the AP EnglishLiterature Exam. Students will learn to write a literary argument that includes a defendable thesis,specific textual evidence that supports a line of reasoning, and commentary that explains how evidenceconnects to the thesis and reasoning. Furthermore, students will strive to communicate sophisticationin their writing through the discussion of complex ideas and interpretations of the literature and/orproviding contextual information that better illuminates the interpretation of the text.EXPECTATIONS AND POLICIESAttendanceAP Literature is designed so that important material is covered in every class; therefore, missing evenone or two classes may be detrimental to your progress in the course. You are the person responsiblefor finding out what you may have missed and for keeping both your reading and writing assignmentscurrent.Absence is not an excuse for being unprepared for the next class. Regular attendance and participationare the best ways to ensure your success in this class. All timed tests must be made up within threedays of your return from an excused absence. Please note that because of the compact nature of thiscourse, you will be expected to continue your reading, discussion, and other assignments onweekends, holidays, and snow days.3

Classroom CivilityI expect you to show up to this class prepared, awake, courteous, and with an open mind. Treateveryone in the class with respect. Discourtesy— phone use, side conversations, consistently leavingearly or arriving late—will not be tolerated.ParticipationActive class participation is vital to learning. For a good participation grade, you need to do more thansimply show up; you must make quality contributions consistently. In order to make qualitycontributions, you must engage in a concentrated and careful reading of the texts before class begins. Ifyou never participate in class, I can’t know that you’ve done the reading.GradingEvaluation will be based on how well you meet their responsibilities toward completing objectives andincludes the following: homework, class work, tests/quizzes, vocabulary, and writing/projects. Gradingis determined by the total points earned divided by the total points possible. Midterm reports will besent home on designated dates. These reports inform you and your parents of individual studentprogress in class mid-quarter. Additionally, it is highly recommended that you and your parents accessPower School on a regular basis to monitor progress. You must have all assignments ready to turn in atthe beginning of class on the due date, unless excused absence is a factor. There is a penalty for latework that is not the result of an excused absence.CHEATING / ACADEMIC DISHONESTYThe offense of cheating is a serious breach of trust and is a form of theft. You will be considered ashaving cheated if you submit work that takes ideas from another person or source without givingproper credit (plagiarism). Taking information from another student OR GIVING INFORMATION TOANOTHER STUDENT is a violation of classroom procedures and considered plagiarism.Without explicit directions or permission from the teacher, you should not work together with anyoneon an assignment OR share your paper, notes, or ideas with anyone. Cases of cheating will be handledby the teacher, recording a grade of "0" on the assignment for all students involved and students may bereferred to the office for disciplinary action. In addition, information on students involved in cheatingwill be made available to the National Honor Society selection committee.Assignment ExpectationsYou are expected to complete your work neatly and legibly. Timed essays will often be handwritten inblack pen as this may be expected on the AP Literature Exam. Each assignment should have a correctMLA heading including your full name, date, course and class period, and assignment title.Class PreparationYou should be prepared to learn at the beginning of each class. In school, bring your iPad, charger,earbuds, books, and other required supplies to class each day. Furthermore, follow all Covid-19 safety4