AP English Literature and Composition 2015 - 2016

I. Instructor: Erin King Room #D-213

II. School Email: kinge@fultonschools.org Tutorials: Monday-Thursday
ms.kingofenglish@gmail.com 7:45-8:20 Must get a
Pass
After-school by
appointment
III. Course Description

This course is reading and writing intensive and intellectually challenging. It will
take steady commitment on the part of students to complete assignments at the
high level expected.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition conforms to the College Board

recommendations for the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition
Examination. The class covers the study and practice of writing as well as the study
of literature. The class stresses modes of discourse, assumptions, underlying
rhetorical strategies, connotation, metaphor, irony, syntax, and tone. The class
emphasizes writing critical analyses of literature and includes essays in exposition
and argument, poetry, drama, prose, fiction, and expository literature.

At its conclusion, students should be able to do the following at a level that meets
state and College Board standards:
Recognize analogies
Construct logical sequences and understand the conclusions to which they
lead
Recognize that how to think is different from what to think; recognize multiple
valid interpretations; develop and defend individual interpretations
Read independently and respond critically
Evaluate and synthesize a variety of written materials
Read critically, ask pertinent questions, recognize assumptions and
implications, and evaluate ideas within time constraints
Conceive and develop ideas about topics for the purpose of speaking to a
group, choose and organize related ideas, present them clearly in Standard
American English, and evaluate similar presentations by others
Present arguments in orderly and convincing ways
Refine all areas of the writing process including pre-writing, drafting, revising,
editing, proofreading, and publishing
Use a variety of writing modes, including description, narration, exposition,
and persuasion, with emphasis on expository writing
Refine the research process. Cite sources according to a standard style sheet
Be precise in punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and other elements of
manuscript form
Synthesize an idea from a text or an abstract concept and write a response
under time constraints
 AP English Literature and Composition 2015 - 2016

IV. Grading Scale and Distribution (AP Literature will be weighted by the county)
Approximate Category Values:
Assessments: Timed Writings/Multiple Choice Assessments/Final Exam
65%
Participation: Projects/Group Activities/Discussions/Daily Activities
20%
Quizzes: Reading Checks/Quizzes/Notes (Novel Sheets)
15%
Grading scale: A= 90-100, B= 80-89, C= 70-79, F= 0-69

V. Cheating and Plagiarism will result in a 0 for all involved parties.

Students will share in the review and critique of their own and each others work often.
Copying the work of another student or copying the writing of someone else is
dishonest and not allowed. It is considered cheating and credit cannot be given for
work that is not your own. ____

VI. Late Work Policy

As AP students and graduates of North Springs honor courses, students are expected
to submit work on the date that it is due. Students will be expected to make up
quizzes and in class assessments missed due to absence the day they return to class.
Exceptions must be pre-arranged.
It is more important to do the work, than not at all. Therefore, if you have a legitimate
reason for missing a deadline, ask for submission to submit the work late. Late work
will be accepted for 50% credit only. It is expected that students understand that 50%
credit is not a passing grade for that particular assignment, for that reason; other
grades need to be high enough to offset grades of 50 if a student wishes to pass the
class, gain credit, and graduate from high school. ____

VII. Recovery
The North Springs AP recovery policy will be followed.
IMPORTANT You will have opportunities to receive additional instruction and feedback
on your writing assignments from your teacher via conferences, tutoring and written
comments.

VIII. Course Materials

A LARGE 3-Ring Binder
Divider Inserts are recommended but not required
PLENTY of College-Ruled Paper
Pen, Pencil, Highlighter
Post-its
Digital watch is required for timed writings and multiple choice practice
Primary Text will be provided in class, but we highly recommend you
purchase books!
 AP English Literature and Composition 2015 - 2016

Perrine, L. Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. 12th ed. New Jersey: Cengage
Learning, 2015. Print.

IX. Course Outline

Texts selected for this course are primarily from British and American writers from the
Renaissance to the twenty-first century. Texts have been chosen to cover a broad
range of themes and a variety of genres. Readings will fall under three general
themes: The Individual within the Family, The Individual within Society, and The Effects
on the Individual of Government Policies/Societal Realities. Students will be challenged
to consider their own realities within their family, their society, their government, and
world.

The Individual within the Family

Introduction- Literary Analysis (Terms, Elements, and Interpretations of Meaning)
Syllabus, Course expectations
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Crossing the Swamp by Mary Oliver
Works written in several genres-Historical References to Literary Time
Period: Hurstons letters to Cullen, World War II, And Articles from The
New York Times: Richard Wright: A Native Son in Exile
Exploration of movements: Modernism, Expressionism, Surrealism
Analysis on style with emphasis on Imagery, Symbolism, Characterization, Style,
Allusion, and Theme
Focus on language: observe syntax in Hurstons novel followed by an activity to
improve sentence structure in student writing. (voice and tone)
Assessments:
- Summer Reading Journals due
- Essays analyzing theme and style
- Timed essays using AP prompts (open question & textual analysis)
- Writing workshops for the purpose of re-writing essays, both timed and
untimed
- Multiple choice questions modeled on AP style questions; practice annotating
the prose passage and poetry passage
- Debrief Multiple-Choice Diagnostic
- Critical Reading notes to be filled out on your Novel Sheets: This will include
developing a wide-range of vocabulary knowledge, analysis, and recognition
of critical theories. ALL supported with textual evidence.

The Individual within Society/Community

Native Son by Richard Wright
Othello by William Shakespeare
Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka
How to Write about Africa by Binyavanga Wainain
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

An exploration of Theme, Structure, Style, Character, Symbol, Rhetorical Style, and

Satire
Post-Colonialism
 AP English Literature and Composition 2015 - 2016

Historical context: Existentialism and Modernism in literature, excerpts from Black

Boy by Richard Wright, Huey Long and 1930-1940 politics, Who was Richard III and
why did Shakespeare write a play about him?, Austen: British Social Classes

Poetry Study: William Shakespeare, the sonnet tradition, Shakespeares rhetorical

style and use of figurative language, Poetic Form: Elegy, Ode, Terza Rima, Ottava
Rima.
Further focus will be on Hardy, Keats, Gray, Bishop, Larkin, Marvell, Blake, Heaney,
Herrick, Herbert, Tennyson, Dickinson, Shelley and Frost.

Elements of Drama
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard
Some Common Themes and Ideas within the Field of Postmodern Thought: A
Handout for HIS 389 Prepared by Dr. Clayton Whisnant
The Theatre of the Absurd by Martin Esslin
Assessments:
- Essays analyzing rhetorical style, symbolism, and satire
- Poetry Explications
- Timed essays utilizing close reading of text (fiction, non-fiction, and poetry)
- Multiple choice questions modeled on AP style questions
- Writing revisions of times essays
- Full length AP exam (released)

Effects on the Individual of Government Policies/Societal Realities

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Study of irony and satire
Historical context: World War II, McCarthyism, America 1950s-1960s: Vietnam War,

Poetry Study: Poetic Forms-Pastoral, Epithalamion, Ballad, Aubade

Further focus will be on Arnold, Nash, Roethke, Hopkins, Stafford, Whitman, Pope,
Kumin, Atwood, Giovanni, Hughes, Larkin, Rich.
Assessments:
- Timed in class essays on poetry, textual passages, and
thematic topics
- Poetry Explications
- Multiple choice questions modeled on AP style questions
- Two full-length AP exams

The teacher reserves the right to change or adjust any section of this course
syllabus at any time during the semester to more adequately meet the needs,
interests, and abilities of the students.

X. Expectations
Advanced Placement Literature is a college level course. Concurrent with college
level content and requirements students are expected to develop and maintain
academic disciplines consistent with college level work. For example:
Discussion forms a major part of this course, so students must come
prepared to participate energetically. It is the students responsibility to
complete readings (and other assignments) by the time classroom discussion
AP English Literature and Composition 2015 - 2016

is scheduled. Students will not be issued segmented reading schedules for

novels or plays. Discussion schedules will be published in advance so that
students may develop individual reading plans.
Students are expected to report to class prepared to discuss the assigned
reading. Contributions to class discussion include: ideas/observations about
the reading with page references to back up the ideas, questions to ask that
would stimulate discussion. Planned contributions should be backed up by
notes. Be prepared to have annotations collected and graded at any time.
All students are expected to participate in the discussion. Points may be
deducted from novel grades for poor class participation.

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.
-John Milton
Come to class prepared with questions and topics for discussion.
We will make your senior year a GREAT ONE!

I have reviewed the syllabus. I understand the standards and expectations in this
classroom and for this course. I realize the work for which I am responsible in order
to meet requirements of this course.

V. Cheating and Plagiarism will result in a 0 for all involved parties.

Students will share in the review and critique of their own and each others work
often. Copying the work of another student or copying the writing of someone else
is dishonest and not allowed. It is considered cheating and credit cannot be given
for work that is not your own.

VI. Late Work Policy

As AP students and graduates of North Springs honor courses, students are
expected to submit work on the date that it is due. Students will be expected to
make up quizzes and in class assessments missed due to absence the day they
return to class. Exceptions must be pre-arranged.
It is more important to do the work, than not at all. Therefore, if you have a
legitimate reason for missing a deadline, ask for submission to submit the work late.
Late work will be accepted for 50% credit only. It is expected that students
understand that 50% credit is not a passing grade for that particular assignment, for
that reason; other grades need to be high enough to offset grades of 50 if a student
wishes to pass the class, gain credit, and graduate from high school.

______________________________ ______________________________
Student Signature Parent/Guardian
Signature

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Printed Student Name Printed Parent/Guardian
Name
AP English Literature and Composition 2015 - 2016

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*Please clip, sign and return NO LATER than August 28, 2015.