AP Lit and Comp Syllabus (download full version)

 

British Literature Circle choices: A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, Gulliver’s Travels, Jane Eyre, Sense and Sensibility,  Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights and more…

Contemporary Literature Circle Choices: Their Eyes are Watching God, Black Boy, The Little Chinese Seamstress, Invisible Man, As I Lay Dying, The Kite Runner, All the King’s Men, Beloved, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, The Cherry Orchard, Cry, the Beloved Country, A Passage to India, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and more….

Learning Targets:

 

By the end of this literature and composition course, AP students will:

Ø  Use writing and reading to communicate, describe, analyze, and persuade

Ø  Read critically in their own voice to analyze and/or evaluate through the use of critical lenses and close reading.

Ø  Approach writing as a series of tasks that need collaboration with others and multiple drafts

Ø  Make appropriate choices about content, rhetoric, structure, vocabulary, style, and format

Ø  Develop strategies for generating and organizing ideas and arguments, revising, editing, and proofreading

Ø  Locate and evaluate secondary sources; integrate sources with one’s own ideas; document sources appropriately

Ø  Write comfortably using the conventions of standard written American English and MLA.

 

Requirements/Expectations:

 

Required Materials:

Ø  three-ring binder in which you will keep all notes, written assignments, notebook responses, vocabulary, and all required course work. In other words, I essentially want an organized notebook that includes virtually all that we do.

Ø  a good black pen and another colored pen (other than blue or black or red) for editing each other’s work

Attendance Policy: A student who is present and actively participates is more likely to be successful; however, if a student is absent, he/she has 2 school days to make up work assigned on days missed and 5 days to make up seminars and tests taken on days missed. After five days, a zero will be given for the missed work. You are still responsible for meeting due dates for major papers. You can turn in work by submitting them to turnitin.com. This is a college level course and instruction during class cannot be made up with a simple worksheet, handout, or reading. It is important that you are here.

Make-up Tests and Extra Help: Eligible students may make up work or obtain extra help before or after school by appointment. Make arrangements one day ahead of time so that I can make arrangements to be available.

Late Work: If submitted after the due date and time but before the deadline, the assessment will receive a 10% penalty. If submitted after the deadline but before the end of the trimester, the assessment will receive a 50% reduction.

 

Turn in policy: All papers must be submitted at the beginning of the class period or emailed by the start of class if you are absent on that day (both planned, i.e. field trips, and unplanned, i.e. illness). I do not allow printing during class. Most major writing assignments will be submitted via turnitin.com.

 

Academic Integrity:  Students are expected to demonstrate integrity by accepting responsibility for their learning and for providing honest and accurate evidence of their learning. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) copying, unsanctioned collaboration, plagiarism, and dual submission. (See the full Academic Integrity policy on pages 22-23 of the student planner.)

 

Grading: 

A         Outstanding work which far exceeds the basic requirements of the course

B          Work which significantly exceeds the basic requirements of the course

C          Work which satisfies the course requirements in all aspects

D         Substandard work but worthy of credit

F          Failure to meet the basic course requirements

 

Andover HS Grading Scale
A A-	93.00 - 100% 90.00 – 92.99%
B+	87.00 – 89.99%
B	83.00 - 86.99%
B-	80.00 – 82.99%
C+	77.00 – 79.99%
C	73.00 – 76.99%
C-	70.00 – 72.99%
D+	67.00 – 69.99%
D	63.00 - 66.99%
D-	60.00 – 62.99%
F	0 – 59.99%

20%: Formative Assessments (revisions, introductory FRQs, daily assignments, quick writes)         

80%: Summative Assessments (mastery FRQs, tests, quizzes, essays, projects, presentations)         

Daily Homework: Reading assignments will always be completed at home while we are completing the previous assignment in class. It is imperative that you come to class prepared. Critical reading and analysis cannot take place without engaging in the text.

 

Sample of Semester work -

Ø  In Search of Authority as applicable

Ø  Vocabulary – contextual

Ø  Allusion Research – Biblical and Mythological Research – Present findings to the class – discussion of allusions in literature –

Ø  Poetry Workshops – weekly or biweekly – interpretation/discussion – writing – practice tests

Ø  Drama – read in class –discussion - writing – practice tests

Ø  Prose – numerous pieces – discussion – writing –practice tests

Ø  Novels –whole and part – annotation – journals – interpretation/discussions –written analysis – practice tests – small and large group work

 

 

AP Literature and Composition Enrichment Seminar (Trimester Three)

Ø  Practice Tests and review discussion for each portion of the test

Ø  Review of literature and application literary terminology

Ø  Additional texts that may appear on the AP test

Ø  Teacher/student meet to go over individual concerns or questions

 

 

Communication:

 

Ø It is extremely important that you are always in communication with your instructor.

Ø Communicate about absences, tardiness, missing or late work, falling behind or feeling over whelmed with your studies. An honest approach is important for your success in this class.

Ø Every individual is unique. Every circumstance is unique. Please DO NOT assume that what applies to one person applies to another. Please have open communication with your instructor!

 

 

Class Rules

1. If you’re out of class (bathroom, locker, career center, counselor…) I expect you to be responsible for missed information.
2. Listen the first time; procedural directions are not repeated.
3. I expect you to come prepared with materials and out of class work completed. Please don’t try to fake it.
4. We will talk about a variety of issues. I expect you to be open minded and sensitive to the backgrounds, ideas, and values of others. I don’t expect you to agree with others, but I do require tolerance and kindness.
5. Students are expected to be engaged in class during the entire class and contributing class members.
6. I do not debate deadlines or assignments during class time.
7. I do not discuss grades and missing work during class time. Please see me before or after school or check A-H-Connect at home.
8. I expect you to take ownership over your learning. There are many concepts I expect you to know and many skills I expect you to have.
9. I am always open to communicating with your parents; however, I expect you to take the initiative when questions arise, and be responsible for relaying information to your parents.