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(S1C2b) The Importance of Literary Terms

8/24/2015

Performance by most students on the literary terms part of the first quiz was less than stellar. (I'm using the literary technique of "understatement" here.). The understanding of literary terms and their proper applications is integral to this course. You should review the following PowerPoint because:

    1. I reserve the right to quiz you on this material at any time
    2. Many of the essay prompts for your upcoming in-class essays refer to these terms.
    3. It's difficult to talk about literature without knowing the basic vocabulary of literature.

    DOWNLOAD: Review of Basic Literary Terms (PowerPoint)

If you're not a fan of PowerPoints and just want a simple study sheet to print out, you should download the following study sheet;

    DOWNLOAD: Overview of Basic Literary Terms (DOC)

If you learn best by the use of mnemonic devices and video/audio gimmicks, check out these two rap videos on Literary devices:

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(S2C34) Independent Reading Projects

5/4/2015

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Important Reminder
This is an important reminder that your IRP materials are due to me (printed out, in my hands only) on Wednesday, May 6. You may do this before school, during class, or after school up until 3:30 p.m. I will not be accepting any late materials.

Let me state this another way: I will not be accepting any materials for the IRP project after 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6. If you only have the project partially completed at
that time, you should turn in what you have for partial credit.

Turning in the project
1. You should have all materials printed, stapled, and paper-clipped to turn in to me.
2. You should deposit all files on the X-drive at:

    Teacher Folders/Rose/A3-IRP (or B1-IRP)

You must name your five files as follows:
    last name-1-EIE essay
    last name-2-SIFT
    last name-3-Passage Analysis
    last name-4-AP Exam
    last name-5-Analytical Essay

So, if your name is Justin Scales, for example, your files would be:
    Scales-1-EIE essay
    Scales-2-SIFT
    Scales-3-Passage Analysis
    Scales-4-AP Exam
    Scales-5-Analytical Essay

Preparing the A.P.-style Exam
Here are some links on this website that may be helpful to you:

A.P. Multiple-Choice Stems -- types of multiple-choice questions you can expect
A.P. Open-Ended Prompts 1970-2012 -- all"open" essay questions from the past 42 years
A.P. Prose Prompts 1970-2012 -- all the prose essay questions from the past 42 years
Sample A.P. English Literature Exam -- this is an actual exam - use for practice!

Note on Answer Keys for A.P.-style Exam
The answer key should provide the answers/responses to all of the questions you compose.

The answers to the 12 passage analysis multiple choice questions must include a brief explanation of why each answer is correct.

The six A.P.-style writing prompts must include responses in the form of a well-crafted paragraph.

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(S2C33) A.P. Exam Prep - multiple choice

5/1/2015

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Preparing the IRPs
Meanwhile, continue working on your Independent Reading Project, which is due next Wednesday. If you would like a sample of what a finished IRP looks like, please download and peruse the following sample project from a former student:

     DOWNLOAD: Independent Reading Project on The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh (PDF)
     DOWNLOAD: IRP Rubric -- learned how you'll be graded (PDF)

Today and next class, we'll be reviewing some strategies for approaching the essay portion of the exam.

AP Prep Suggestions:

1. Read this short essay of tips from an A.P. reader/grader:
    An A.P. Exam Reader's Advice on Writing (DOCX)

2. Review the literary terms and language resources for poetry:
    Poetry Terms: A Quick Reference Guide (DOCX)

3. Have a look through poetry test-taking strategies and sample questions:
    A.P. Poetry multiple choice question strategies and practice questions (DOCX)

4. When you are reading all passages, keep in mind three things:
    Read carefully, annotate, and anticipate (all at once)

5. Be sure to review the sample exam I have on the website. This will be the format:
    Sample A.P. English Literature Exam (PDF)

My final tips on examining poetry

1. Who is the speaker and what is the occasion?
2. What is the central purpose of the poem?
3. By what means is this purpose achieved?
4. Identify "tone words" that will indicate the tone of the poem.
5. In responding to the prompt, be sure to remember all the language resources:
    -- literary devices
            such as similes, metaphors, symbols, allusions, paradox, overstatement, irony
    -- the different types of imagery, including organic and kinesthetic
    -- diction (word choice), syntax (word order)
    -- format and organization
    -- musical devices such as meter, rhythm, rhyme, repetition, consonance, alliteration,

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(S2C32) Preparing for AP / IRP

4/29/2015

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Today in class
LRJ's (5 total) and data sheet are due. Unit exam!

A.P. Exam Test Prep
I don't know if you've noticed, but all year I've had an 'AP Test Prep' tab on every page of the website. Now is the time to really explore this page and dig in to the resources. We'll be working on exam prep during the next two class periods.

EXPLORE: A.P. Test Prep Resource Page (link)

No new reading or new homework. Concentrate on preparing for the exam and on finishing your IRP.

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(S2C7) Group B Poetry Recitations

1/27/2015

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See previous blog post (S2C6) for information on multiple choice question strategies.

For next class:
After we discuss the multiple choice poetry question strategies, you will be constructing six multiple choice questions about both of your assigned poems. These MC questions each need to use one of the multiple choice stems listed in the download below (same thing you downloaded on Tuesday). This should be completed in a Word document, single-spaced, and follow the format of the A.P. questions with five possible, believable responses. After each question, provide the answer and a brief explanation of the answer. You must PRINT OUT and turn this in to me on Thursday (B1) / Friday (A3).

DOWNLOAD: A.P. Multiple-Choice Stems (DOCX)

Unit exam -- next week
Next class we will be reviewing for the unit exam and hearing from anyone who still needs to complete the poetry recitations.

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(S2C6) Poetry Multiple-Choice Practice Questions

1/23/2015

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Today and Friday, after poetry presentations, we'll be looking at strategies to approach the poetry multiple choice questions on the A.P. exam. You will have similar questions on your poetry unit exam next week.

You will receive a hardcopy packet of multiple-choice questions to complete in class, while working and discussing in groups. However, you should download the following two documents first:

1: A.P. Multiple-Choice Stems -- types of questions you can expect (DOCX)
2: A.P. Poetry multiple choice question strategies and practice questions (PDF)

1. Read through the poems given in your MC questions packet before reading the corresponding questions
2. Annotate key points -- use of imagery, figurative language, and other language resources.
3. Read the individual questions and apply the techniques given in the strategies download
4. Eliminate all answers you know to be incorrect
5. Choose the best answer -- and then be prepared to explain why it's the correct response.

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(S2C35) Review: A.P. Poetry Essay Prompts

5/7/2014

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Today, we'll be reviewing some strategies for approaching the poetry essay portion of the exam. For those of you who will miss my class because of an AP Psychology exam or AP Chemistry, good luck!

AP Prep Suggestions -- REDUX:

1. Read this short essay of tips from an A.P. reader/grader:
    An A.P. Exam Reader's Advice on Writing (DOCX)

2. Review the literary terms and language resources for poetry:
    Poetry Terms: A Quick Reference Guide (DOCX)

3. Have a look through poetry test-taking strategies and sample questions:
    A.P. Poetry multiple choice question strategies and practice questions (DOCX)

4. When you are reading all passages, keep in mind three things:
    Read carefully, annotate, and anticipate (all at once)

5. Be sure to review the sample exam I have on the website. This will be the format:
    Sample A.P. English Literature Exam (PDF)

My final tips on examining poetry -- REDUX
1. Who is the speaker and what is the occasion?
2. What is the central purpose of the poem?
3. By what means is this purpose achieved?
4. Identify "tone words" that will indicate the tone of the poem.
5. In responding to the prompt, be sure to remember all the language resources:
    -- literary devices
            such as similes, metaphors, symbols, allusions, paradox, overstatement, irony
    -- the different types of imagery, including organic and kinesthetic
    -- diction (word choice), syntax (word order)
    -- format and organization
    -- musical devices such as meter, rhythm, rhyme, repetition, consonance, alliteration

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(S1C2b) The Importance of Literary Terms

(S2C34) Independent Reading Projects

(S2C33) A.P. Exam Prep - multiple choice

(S2C32) Preparing for AP / IRP

(S2C7) Group B Poetry Recitations

(S2C6) Poetry Multiple-Choice Practice Questions

(S2C35) Review: A.P. Poetry Essay Prompts

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