Category: IRP - AP English Literature & Composition

(S2C34) Independent Reading Projects

5/4/2015

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.

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

5/1/2015

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,

(S2C32) Preparing for AP / IRP

4/29/2015

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.

(S2C22) Faustus -- Act IV

3/18/2015

Today we will go over the specific IRP project requirements. In case you need to access any of the downloads for the IRP, visit the IRP web page.

     LINK: IRP Webpage

IN CLASS: Othello passage
Now that you have completed an explication and analysis of the Othello excerpt, we will be discussing your findings in class.

Yeats and Wordsworth poetry explication worksheet
This worksheet is the prelude to writing LRJ Assignment #3. See downloads for details. Drop-box the eWorksheet before the beginning of class on Fri (B1) /Mon (A3).

    DOWNLOAD: eWorksheet for Yeats & Wordsworth poems (DOC)

For Friday/Monday
Read Act 5 of Doctor Faustus. Be prepared for a quiz.
Complete LRJ #3 prompt on the poems from Yeats & Wordsworth.

REMINDER: Your synopsis fact sheet for the Faustian bargain project is due on Monday. Each group will be presenting their synopsis to the class. Only one per group is necessary. Final project is due on April 2.

     DOWNLOAD: Faustian bargain assignment packet (PDF)

N.B. You are expected to have finished LRJ #3 by the beginning of class on Friday/Monday.

(S2C18) Up next: Intro to Drama & Doctor Faustus

3/6/2015

First, a reminder that you are required to purchase your own copy of Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (the Signet Classics edition edited by Sylvan Barnet) by Tuesday/Wednesday. I still have a dozen or so used copies in near perfect condition available for $5. If you are interested, see me. Bring to class on Tuesday/Wednesday.

For Tuesday/Wednesday: Intro to Drama
We will begin our study of drama as literature with The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus. followed by Shakespeare's Macbeth. Be sure to check out all the resources and materials at the Dr. Faustus page on this website. You have a brief reading assignment for Wednesday on the following download:

Introduction to Drama as Literature + Intro to Marlowe & the Faustian Bargain (DOCX)

You will need to know the answers to the following questions:
1. What are Aristotle's elements of drama? Be able to identify and explain them.
2. What are the modern "elements of drama"? Ditto
3. What are the three types of dramatic monologues?
4. In what ways do Shakespeare's tragedies differ from Greek tragedy?
5. Identify and explain the seven tips on how to read a play
6. What is a Faustian bargain? Be sure you can identify all three parts of it.

IRP Book Choices -- due Thursday/Friday
Remember to come to class on Thursday or Friday with the title and author of three books you would like to read for your IRP project. I will do my best to assign you one of those -- so be ready to rank them according to your interest.

(S2C39) -- IRP Group C

5/19/2014

Please put your PowerPoint on the X-drive before 9:30 a.m. on the day you're assigned to present. X://Teacher Folders/Rose/A2 or A4 Powerpoints. Be sure your last name appears in the file name.

(S2C38) IRP Group B + Holmesian Deduction

5/14/2014

Please put your PowerPoint on the X-drive before 9:30 a.m. on the day you're assigned to present. X://Teacher Folders/Rose/A2 or A4 Powerpoints. Be sure your last name appears in the file name.

Actually "Holmesian Deduction" is inductive reasoning (rather than deductive reasoning). See chart below

During class today (Monday), you will be completing the Holmes & Watson puzzler worksheet that corresponds to a Powerpoint presentation I am giving in class.

DOWNLOAD: Holmes Puzzler Worksheet (DOC)

For Class 40: British terms & Curious vocabulary quiz

(S2C37) Group A - IRP Presentations + Curious Incident

5/12/2014

Please put your PowerPoint on the X-drive before 9:30 a.m. on the day you're assigned to present. X://Teacher Folders/Rose/A2 or A4 Powerpoints. Be sure your last name appears in the file name.

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
To we'll begin reading our final book of the year -- a short novel by contemporary English author Mark Haddon from 2003. In conjunction with this short novel, we'll also be reading the Sherlock Holmes story "Silver Blaze," which features some of Arthur Conan Doyle's most effective plotting, hinging on the "curious incident of the dog in the night-time."

We'll be discussing the short story and the novel over the next two classes, after our IRP presentations each day. Check out the Curious incident resources page below

LINK: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (WEB)

Semester Exam
Your semester exam will focus exclusively on "Silver Blaze" and Curious Incident.

For Next Class
Read "Silver Blaze." You will have a one-question quiz on this short story!

(S2C36) Preparing for the IRP Presentation

5/8/2014

IRP Note: All written materials for the IRP are due today. See the previous post for details. I will be accepting assignments until 3:30 this afternoon in room 331.

You are being divided up into three groups. Group A will present on May 8, Group B on May 12, and Group C on May 14. See below for group assignments.

IRP Presentation Requirements
You will be giving a 5-7 minute presentation on your IRP novel. This should be accompanied by a 5-7-slide PowerPoint. You should address the following points in your presentation and PowerPoint slides:

     One: Brief introduction and background of the author
     Two: Introduction to the novel, its characters, and major conflicts (brief synopsis)
     Three: Overview of major themes, motifs, and symbols in the novel
     Four:  Overview of your analytical essay: explain your thesis and how you supported it.

A note on length: You will be given a maximum of seven minutes for the presentation. Plan it out so that you do not go over.

Very important point: Please put your PowerPoint on the X-drive before 8:00 on the day you're assigned to present. X://Teacher Folders/Rose/A2 or A4 Powerpoints. Be sure your last name appears in the file name.

Group A -- May 8

Group B -- May 12

Group C -- May 14

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

5/7/2014

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