Advanced Placement Literature
Semester I: 2008
“Built on the Rock.”
Course Description:
This semester course provides a college-level, college-format course involving in-depth reading of various genres of literature. The texts are studied in their cultural, historical, and sociological contexts, with emphasis on theme, tone, structure, style, and methods of character development. Students are encouraged to form and share their own opinions and to support them with viable evidence from the texts, considering the social and historical values it reflects and embodies. Through experiencing, interpreting, and evaluating the literature, students will fully grasp the literary merit of the text. The goal of this class is to prepare students to both succeed on the AP Exam and to write effective, college-level essays.
We will function as a community of learners. If you are committed to the work as well as listening and learning from each other, this class will ultimately become one in which we are all teachers and students. Each member of the class will have a voice. We will learn from each other, read our writing aloud, work collaboratively on revisions, and share our thoughts, ideas, and observations with one another.
Required Materials For Class:
· 2-inch (minimal) 3-ring binder with pockets and loose leaf paper inside
o must have division tabs to separate sections:
- Literary Terms
- Literature Notes
- Practice AP Tests & Study Aids
- Writing Selections
· The particular piece of literature being read
· Blue or black ink pen (pencil may be used for note-taking)
Grade Composition: Percentage Basis
Grading for this class will rely heavily on students’ abilities to articulate and demonstrate knowledge of course subject material; therefore, students must be diligent in their completion of the course work.
Participation………………………………………………………………..10%
Graded homework assignments, Mini-Presentations……………………………20%
Quizzes ………….…...……..…………………………………………….. 30%
Papers, Projects, and Tests.………………………………………………….40%
_____
Total……………………………………………………………………..100%
Grade Scale:
A (95-100) C (79-82)
A- (93,94) C- (77,78)
B+(91,92) D+(75,76)
B (87-90) D (72-74)
B- (85,86) D- (70,71)
C+(83,84) F (0-69)
Class Activities:
· Practice in answering mock AP exam style questions
· Discussion of literature, poetry, plays
· Writing in response to literature: essays, stories, and reports
· Individual and group presentations
· Reading Journal
· Independent Reading and Essay
Homework:
Worksheets, writing assignments, vocabulary assignments, etc. will be recorded as homework grades.
Quiz:
Quizzes will be given throughout every six-week grading period. They will consist of vocabulary, essays, etc. Quizzes may be planned, or they may be surprise.
Test:
Tests will be given at various times throughout the year, at least once per six-week grading period to help assess student knowledge. There is ample review in the forms of review sheets and class discussion prior to any test. These tests could also appear in the form of essays or projects.
Summer Reading:
The Great Gatsby
Jane Eyre
Old Man and the Sea
Areas of Study Throughout Semester (subject to change)
Close Reading and Analytical Writing
- Various worksheets will be assigned throughout the course of the semester, taken from the
book, AP/Honors- English Literature, Close Reading and Analytical Writing by Barbara Bloy, Ph.D
Novels
- Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
- The Awakening by Kate Chopin
- Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Plays
- “Mid Summer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare
- “Love’s Labour’s Lost” by William Shakespeare
- “Death of a Salesmen” by Arthur Miller
- “Six Character’s in Search of an Author” by Luigi Pirandello
Poetry
- an anthology of poetry from such author’s as Whitman, Emerson, Frost, Whitman, Plathe,
Sundberg, Dickinson, Shelley, Donne, etc
Essays
- taken from The book, The Contemporary Essay, 3rd Edition by Donald Hall
Writing
- careful attention will be given to the craft of writing. For most written assignments (early on especially) resubmissions will be allowed so that the writer can learn how to best improve his/her writing and will be allowed so that added credit can be attained.
- In regards to adding points to a percentage grade, certain circumstances would keep the student from reaching an “A” for an assignment; they would include some of the following: late work, failure to fully answer the question, and the inability to put forth 100% effort towards an assignment: a paper falling well-short of desired length.
When Does Class Begin?
The moment a student walks into class, he/she should look to the board for vocabulary words. These words should be written down/inserted into the vocabulary section of the binder. Once initial class business is finished, the class will pray and begin class. Once the second bell (tardy bell) rings, every student should be through the door and on his/her way to his/her desk and finishing any conversation. If there is any violation of these guidelines, a tardy will be given. In regards to the vocabulary words, they will be collected at various times throughout each six-week period and checked for definitions, sentences, and part of speech.
How Can Parents/Guardians Check-up on a child’s status?
Every six-week grading period a progress report will come home with the student. On the progress report, the parent(s) will see assignments and the culminating six-week average. The following is a list of those days that progress reports will be going home:
1st = October 15th
2nd = December 3 rd
When progress reports go home, it is important that a parent/guardian sign the report and return it with the child. A 100% will be given for a homework grade. After the grade is recorded, the child can bring the report back home so as to post it on the refrigerator for all to see!
It is understandable that parents/guardians have busy lives and that they may want to be more aware of their child’s grades. Calling me or e-mailing me is a great way to stay abreast of all that is going on. Actually, the e-mail option is preferred, but phone calls are welcomed, too.
Classroom Management: Consequences For Being Disruptive:
*Know the handbook *Talk with teacher
*Respect all fellow classmates *Phone call /Meeting with parents
*Respect all school personnel *Referral to office
*Come to class prepared, on time,
and ready to learn
Specific Policies
Absences:
o A student who is absent from class has the responsibility of finding out the assignments, handouts, notes, etc from the teacher or from another student.
o Assignments due the day of the absence, which were previously understood as being assigned, are due when the student returns to class.
o All students who participate in a school-sanctioned field trip will be responsible for all work in the classes for that day. The student is also responsible for the requirements of work given on that day and any other deadlines for projects, quizzes, and tests as established by the teacher in this class.
o Assignments given during the days of absence will be allowed a days extension per each day of absence.
Late Work:
o Late work is given a ten-percentage point reduction for every day that it is late (on a 100% scale).
o Late work is defined as that work NOT submitted when specifically collected during the class period.
Academic Support Program—School Policy:
o “A student who has not completed his/her assignment within a week’s time will receive notice that he/she must meet with the teacher before school on the following day and show the completed assignment in order to gain admittance to class for that day. If the student fails to show up for the meeting or has not made sufficient progress on the missing assignment(s), he/she will be given an “Academic Referral” to the guidance office to meet with his/her counselor. Upon meeting with the counselor, parents will be notified as how to best remedy the situation. If the assignment(s) still are not completed within a certain amount of time or if another assignment fails to be turned in, the student may be withdrawn from the class and placed in a study hall.”
Tardiness:
o This class adheres to the school policy stating that 3 unexcused tardies during a six-week period will result in a tardy referral and Saturday morning detention.
o Tardiness is defined as late entry into the classroom after the sounding of the 2nd bell and/or any action inside of the classroom that disrupts the class from starting on time.
School Cheating Policy:
o “Cheating is the deliberate or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, technology, study aids, or unauthorized group work on assignments, projects, tests, or other academic exercises during class or outside of class. The student is responsible for consulting with the teacher concerning whether group work may be permissible. Any attempt to give or receive improper assistance is cheating. Also, Representing or attempting to represent oneself as another or having or attempting to have oneself represented by another in the taking of a test, preparation of an assignment, or any other similar activity is deemed as cheating.
o Examples include the following:
§ Forging a signature for the purpose of credit in a class;
§ Providing access to materials or information so that credit may be dishonestly claimed by others;
§ Creating and distributing copies of one’s own work so that credit may be dishonestly claimed by others;
§ Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance on an assessment (homework, quizzes, tests.);
§ And Falsifying or altering grade related documents, programs, or information.
o Disciplinary measures will be taken as noted in the school policy handbook.
Free Periods:
1st, 2nd , and 6th hour
Expectations:
· Be here every day. If you feel that all of your extra-curriculars will get in the way, then drop this class ASAP!
· Before you do that – let me remind you that were accepted for this class because I knew you had the potential to complete the work. I believe in you, so I think you belong here.
· Dig deeper; don’t just skim the surface – pick , poke, and gouge at everything that I throw at you.
· Do your work-don’t give me excuses about what prevented you from completing an assignment.
· Never let me hear you whine, complain, moan, or sigh about assignments.
· Be open with me on how I can help you more!