AP English Literature and Composition Syllabus2014-2015

Instructor: Miss Analisa FalconRoom: S222Email: afalcon1@houstonisd.orgConference Period: 5thTutorials: Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 7:25-7:55; M-F 3:15-4:15

“The goal of the AP English Literature and Composition course is to encourage students to read, write, and discuss works critically and with energy and imagination. As they become familiar with the different literary approaches, students can develop and mold their own styles that reflect personal values and preferences. If students’ knowledge and love of literature grows, you can leave them thinking, feeling, and inspired to read more.”(AP English Literature and Composition Teacher’s Guide, Page 3)

In addition to the our AP goals, this course will also prepare you for writing and reading at the college or career level. You will practice revision, editing, creativity, and Socratic discussion. With these skills, you will be able to make a smoother transition out of high school, regardless of which path you choose.

While you may not like writing or reading at times, it is important to respect how crucial it is to take ownership of your ideas, analysis, and support of those ideas. In doing so, you will be able to think critically and offer unique perspectives.

Materials:You must bring the required materials everyday. If you do not, I will assume you are not prepared for class and I will take off points from your participation grade. The classroom has a set of textbooks to use, so you may leave your textbook at home for outside reading. I have some materials you can borrow, but do not make it a habit of borrowing, or I will take off points from your grade. If you borrow something, you must give me your ID as collateral. Do not forget your ID!

• A binder• A composition book• Pens, Number 2 pencils, highlighters• Other assigned books

Exam Scoring:45% -- MC (55 questions, 4 passages: 2 poems, 2 prose)55% -- Essay (Poetry Analysis, Prose Analysis, Open-Ended)

**Between the MC questions and the Poetry Analysis essay, 43% of the exam assesses your knowledge and ability to analyze and interpret poetry. We will be reading and analyzing poetry FREQUENTLY.

Course Grading:50% --Major gradesEvery six weeks, there will be the same standardized major grades:

• A poetry analysis essay• A prose analysis essay• An open-ended essay

These essays will be timed writings conducted in class. All that will vary is the topic/prompt.

30% Minor grades• Reading quizzes • MC quizzes• Written assignments completed outside of class

20% Daily grades• MC practice/games• Socratic seminars• In-class group work/activities

Course Organization (Assignments and calendar subject to change):First six weeks: We LOVE the Brontes!Foci: theme of love, literary movement of Romanticism

• Jane Eyre**• Wuthering Heights• Critical excerpts from Madwoman in the Attic• Short stories (“Miss Brill”, “Hills Like White Elephants”)

These skills will be introduced during the first six weeks and will continue the entire year:• Intro to AP Multiple Choice practice/quizzes• Intro to the Open-Ended response• Intro to Poetry Analysis

o How to Vendler modelo Romantic poets: Blake, Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, Byrono Contemporary confessional poets: Plath, etc.

• Intro to Prose Analysiso Close reading, text renderingo Found poemso Signposts as annotations (Wuthering Heights)

Second six weeks: It’s always drama, drama, drama with Billy Shakespeare.Foci: elements of tragedy, elements of drama, tragic heroes, archetypes

• Macbeth• Hamlet• Shakespearean sonnets• The dramatic monologue• Archetypes (Jung/ Christopher Booker’s seven basic plot structures: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to

Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth)

Third six weeks: Existence is so absurd.Foci: Existentialism, Absurdism, Allusions

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead• The Stranger

o Different translations—different POV • “The Myth of Sisyphus”

o Allusions• Postmodern poetry• Fall Final review

Fourth six weeks: Men and the Search for IdentityFoci: Theme of power; Modernism

• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof**• King Lear Excerpts• The Catcher in the Rye• Things Fall Apart• Excerpts of Heart of Darkness• Modernist poetry

Fifth six weeks: Women and the Search for IdentityFoci: Theme of power; feminist lens of analysis

• The Awakening**• A Doll's House • Pygmalion• Emily Dickinson• Allusions, Round 2

Sixth six weeks: Our resolutionFocus: Kicking the AP Exam’s butt, of course.

• AP Exam review• “Last Lecture” project

**Students will be responsible for acquiring those books or plays that are flagged with a double asterisk. Failure to do so will be catastrophic to one’s grade as these works will be discussed in class, analyzed in class, synthesized in class, and assessed in class.

Revision Grades:

Writing is rewriting. Nobody, not even published writers, develop a perfect text with the first draft. As one of your major grades, you will be required to revise one of your three essays from the previous six weeks. I will choose which essay you will revise. Revision does not meant editing for grammar or punctuation; editing is part of revising the whole piece. You must use critiques from your peers and from me to guide your critiques. If you do not use the critiques, you will not receive notes on the next group of essays and will have to revise without guidance, and you will have to come to tutorials to earn your critiques back. The revision will take the place of one of your three major essay grades, but you will complete it outside of class.

Research Project:

In order to prepare for the research papers, Capstones, thesis papers, and career writing you will complete after high school, you will write a research paper this year. This research paper will be a culmination of your understanding of the literature and your developing skills as a writer and editor. The topic will be answer a research question that you create and I approve, and it will be supported by the primary text and five approved secondary sources. This means your research will also included an MLA-formatted bibliography. I encourage you to think about your topic early on. We will discuss the research project and bibliography later in the year.

Participation:

Everyone must participate in class discussions. This is to ensure that you are taking ownership of your own learning. If you do not feel comfortable speaking up in class, you must come talk to me at the beginning of the

semester. I know it is not easy to speak in front of your classmates or instructors. Sometimes it takes a few weeks to feel confident in yourself, and I will work with you as best I can. If you do not come to speak to me, I will assume you are not participating, and I will count off points from your grade. As we explore literature together, I expect you to be sensitive to the views of others. Please do voice your opinions, remembering that others may totally disagree (it’s all in the tone!). Respect and courtesy are the keys to successful class discussions. Obviously, you cannot participate if you are absent or tardy. Multiple absenses will be reported to the administration and will affect your grade. Tardies are disruptive and are reported to your deans. If you are tardy three times, that will equal one unexcused absence and will affect your grade. Tardy means you come in the class after I come in.

Deadlines:

All homework assignments are due before the start of class in the Homework tray. I will not accept homework after I come in the classroom. I only accept 3 late assignments each semester. If you use all three Late Passes before the semester is over, you may not submit any more late work and will receive a 0 for any late assignment. If you do not use your 3 Late Passes, you will earn a free quiz grade at the end of the semester. If there is an extreme circumstance, just come talk to me. If an assignment requires a typed copy, please plan ahead. If you are absent, please speak with me before class starts when you return and check the Absent box on the homework table. All major papers are due on or before the due date. You may not use a Late Pass for a major assignment. For each day (not school day, but day) your major assignment is late, I will deduct 5 points from the grade. If you know you are going to miss a due date, you must talk to me before, not after, the due date. If I can’t read your handwriting, you have to re-write it, but I will still give you credit if it is turned in on time. I return papers as soon as they are scored; therefore, do not ask me if an assignment is graded. I teach many students. I need and appreciate your patience.

Format:

Every assignment must follow MLA format. Assignments must include a proper MLA heading, a title, and page numbers. Typed assignments must have 1 inch margins, and the font must be Times, 12 point. I will deduct points if you do not follow this format.

Tutorials:

Writing is hard, even for experienced writers. Regardless of your grade, you should seek help. It’s always a good idea to have another set of eyes look over your work before you turn it in. I am also here to help you with your college application essays or job cover letters. If you fail a paper, it is a requirement that you come to an after-school tutorial. This is not an option. I will also use my discretion to determine if you are required to come to tutorials, even if you have not failed a paper.

Academic Preparedness:

The works we study were chosen for their classic nature, for the author’s recognized style, and for the work’s frequent appearance on the AP exam. Because this is a college course, students are expected to handle sophisticated material with maturity and grace. Cheating and papers with major plagiarism problems will receive a 0 and will be reported to administers. Papers with minor plagiarism and minor cheating problems will receive a 0 and a warning. This is a district policy

that all teachers follow. Please refer to the Westside Honor Code for more details. Come to class prepared. Bring the required materials and the materials you need to learn (binder, pens/pencils/highlighters, text, etc.). Unless otherwise instructed, do not use electronics in class. I will take it up. Please do not use perfumes or lotions in class. You are free to eat (snacks only) and drink in the class, but if the classroom as left in a mess, I will revoke this privilege. For student safety, please do not bring foods that contain nuts. Everybody has bad days. If you’re having a bad day, just let me know before class starts, and we’ll work together on the best classroom environment for you. The classroom is a safe place. Always, always be respectful and honest to everybody.