International Preparatory School at Grover

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition

Freeman English

jfreeman@buffaloschools.org

716-816-4300 ext. 1207

Course Description

Welcome to Advanced Placement English Language and Composition.  We anticipate a challenging year.  Since this is a college-level course, there will naturally be a significant amount of work, both in and out of class.  This course is designed to provide college-level reading and writing skills and strategies that will help students not only now but also in other high school courses, and, of course, in college. 

This course is devoted to the study of what makes literature great and is not confined to borders or eras. By reading great works of literature from around the world, students will achieve a high sense of the power and universality of some works of written art. Through the course of a year students will read intensely and in depth in various genres, time periods, and ethnicities. Students will also write in various rhetorical modes. The purpose of this course is to develop independent critical competency in the study of literature and to foster a high level of achievement in writing, reading, and speaking appropriate for the college level.

Reading

There will be a tremendous amount of reading to be done in and outside of class.  It is important to keep up with the reading in order to move on and understand major concepts and ideas embedded within the text. The readings will examine textual details that address social, cultural, or historical values in which they are created to describe society as a whole.  Textual details include, but are not limited to the examination and analysis of knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, laws, customs, and social attitudes toward class, gender, race, religion, and sexuality. These components are often reflected directly or indirectly within the text.  I will be conducting reading checks from time to time to ensure accountability of your reading commitment. The text will include an intensive study of representative works of recognized literary merit. The works chosen should invite and gratify rereading for discussion and critical analysis.

Writing

Papers will be the main focus of this course. Rhetorical mode of papers will vary according to assignment but will primarily involve formal analysis. Students will write to interpret literature with the primary focus based on a careful observation on textual details, considering the works various elements including but not limited to: the evaluation of a work’s artistry and quality through the analysis of structure, style, and themes; the evaluation of social, and/or cultural values it reflects and embodies; and the analysis author’s use of literary devices and its impact on the text. Student writing will reflect the analysis of meaning, development, organization, and textual support which include the stages of planning, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading. Instruction and feedback from teacher and peers will be ongoing during the writing process.  Papers will show student’s effective use of rhetoric including controlling tone, establishing and maintaining voice, and achieving appropriate emphasis through elevated and varied diction and sentence structure. This section of the AP exam is 120 minutes long and contains response questions that measure your ability to read and interpret literature and to use other forms of discourse effectively and counts for about 55 percent of the total AP examination grade.

Comprehension

Reading comprehension with the concentration of textual analysis will also be a focus of this course.  The AP exam consists of 54-58 multiple choice questions that test your reading of selected passages and poems. You have 60 minutes to complete this section and it counts for about 45 percent of the total AP exam grade.  Although the major thrust of this class is writing, testing/quizzing is also a valuable tool in the preparation for the AP exam. When at all possible, quizzes and tests will be made in multiple choice format in order to mimic the AP test.  The purpose of such testing will be to guarantee student accountability with the literature, as well as to sharpen students’ analytical ability.

Grading Policy

The Honor Policy- Do not cheat on homework assignments, quizzes, tests, projects, essays, or any other assignment for this class.  If you are caught, it means an automatic zero and a call to your home.  Cheating can take many guises, but it generally consists of the following activities:  copying another student’s work, assisting another student by allowing him/her to copy your work, taking or providing assistance during a graded assignment, and plagiarism (copying another’s work without citation).  Do not plagiarize by “copying” segments of documents published from the Internet and “pasting” them into your work. You will only be cheating yourself. Grading includes, but not limited to:

• Advanced Placement Portfolio
• Literary Enrichment Packets
• Reading Assignments and Quizzes
• College Level Writing Assignments
• Practice A.P. Examinations
• Presentations and Projects
• Homework Assignments
• Class Participation and Discussion

Hard work, commitment, and improvement are also key indicators to determine a grade that a student will receive in class.

Attendance Policy

You need to be here every day.  Period.  In the event of an absence, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed.  You may make up work before or after school within five regular school days of your absence.

The Rules

1. Show respect-I highly disapprove of name-calling, being unprepared or tardy, sleeping, leaving trash on the floor or desks, invading each others’ space, side conversations at inappropriate times, and obvious negative attitudes towards others (physical or verbal).
2. Be punctual and prepared to participate.
3. Cell-phones, iPods, etc… are prohibited. They are NOT to be seen or heard.
4. Do not use vulgar or offensive language- Consider this class a time and place to broaden your language abilities and thoughts. Use this opportunity to think of new ways to APPROPRIATELY express frustrations and practice using good communication skills.
5. Pay attention.

Required Materials

Please make it a point to be consistently prepared for class.  Our time together is extremely valuable- once you enter the classroom you should be ready to begin.  I will provide you with your own Senior portfolio, various classroom supplies, and important worksheets. I will also purchase additional items for various classroom activities. Please bring to me:

• One box of Kleenex or Tissues for the classroom
• One package of Highlighters for the classroom (pink, green, or yellow)
• One package of College Ruled Paper for the classroom
• One package of Pens for the classroom (10 or more)

All items can be found at the Dollar Store for a total of $4.00 plus tax.

Required Text

Students are urged to acquire personal copies of the various text used in this course for reading and annotating.  Purchasing copies from a new or used bookstore, or an online book source is highly recommended. 

• Frankenstein, Mary Shelly
• Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
• Othello, William Shakespeare
• Black Boy, Richard Wright
• Dante’s Inferno, Dante Alighieri's
• The Color Purple, Alice Walker
• Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
• Rules for Writers, Sixth Edition, Diana Hacker
• Various Poetry- As Selected
• Various Short Stories- As Selected

Course Outline (TENTITIVE)

Miscellaneous

I enjoy helping students before or after school with assignments. Smart students take advantage of this opportunity in a timely manner. Do not come up to me the day of a test or major assignment and say that you do not understand or need help. Procrastination will not aid your cause.

You start each grading period with two free passes. These passes can be used as a free homework pass on minor assignments or a pass for taking an emergency trip to the restroom or locker during major lecture or group time. These cannot be used to skip major assignments or any tests. Unused passes are worth 5 bonus points each at the end of the quarter (up to 10 points total).

I have read and understood the guidelines outlined in the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition syllabus and will abide by and support these policies.

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Hello Students! Click below on the AP Literature and Composition Syllabus for valuable course information.

AP Literature Syllabus