Blog Posts - AP English Literature & Composition

(S1C1) How and Why We Read

8/21/2015

Today in class: Summer Reading quiz

Before we get into discussing our summer reading, we're going to begin this year by asking some fundamental questions about reading:

    1. Why do we read?
    2. Why do we read old books?
    3. Why study literature?
    4. How should we read literature?
    5. Why don't we just watch movies instead?

In order to get you thinking about some intelligent answers to those questions, watch the seven minute video above, "How and Why We Read: Crash Course in English Literature" when you are not within Moeller's Youtube.com ban zone. And then -- your first assignment -- read the two articles below:

    "Why Read Old Books?" by Mitchell Kalpakgian (PDF)
    "Why Study Literature? The Top 25 Reasons" (PDF)

In order to get into the habit of annotation, be sure to read these article in PDF Annotator -- or, better yet, print them off and annotate them with real pen on paper. You will be responsible for this material on Friday, August 22 (A) / Monday, August 25 (B).

For next class - Aug. 25 (B3) /26 (A2)
     - Quiz on Intro to Reading articles (see above)
     - Sign syllabus and turn in to me at beginning of next class

(Intro) Welcome to A.P. English Lit & Comp

8/19/2015

You've discovered the class blog. Well done!

This space will be used for a variety of purposes, including class announcements, assignment reminders and clarifications, topics related to what we're reading, and step-by-step instructions when necessary.

Have a good look through this website. It will function -- more or less as your textbook, along with the books we'll be reading in the course.

First Assessment -- Summer Reading: Next Class
You will have an extended response quiz on the summer reading. See previous blog entry for links.

Also, you will most definitely find this handout helpful:
Rubric for grading extended response questions - with sample responses (PDF)

Welcome to A.P. English Literature & Composition

6/19/2015

Summer Reading
Before you come to the first class you should have completed the summer reading for this course. Two novels and two short articles:

     1. Dracula by Bram Stoker
     2. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
     3. "How and Why to Read Dickens" by Norrie Epstein
     4. "How to Mark a Book" by Mortimer

Refer to the [ Summer Reading Packet ] (PDF) for full details.

Note: Each of the books we study in this course has its own webpage chock-o-block full of resources. Here are the two for the summer reading:

     - Great Expectations page (link)
     - Dracula (link)

(S2C35) The Influence of Shakespeare

5/7/2015

Now that the heavy lifting is out of the way, we'll be finishing out the year with a more relaxed look at the influence of Shakespeare on modern story-telling.

House of Cards (BBC/1990)
We will primarily be looking at the influences of three plays -- Macbeth, Richard III, and Othello -- on the TV series "The House of Cards." Many are already familiar with the Netflix remake with Kevin Spacey (a former Shakespearean actor), but will be looking at the BBC original from the early 1990's with Ian Richardson.

     DOWNLOAD: Shakespeare & the House of Cards (PDF)
     DOWNLOAD: Richard III info packet (PDF)
     DOWNLOAD: Othello info packet (PDF)

(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.

(S2C31) Macbeth -- Acts 4-5

4/27/2015

Today in Class
Seminar discussion over Acts 4 and 5 followed by review for the Macbeth exam.

Unit Exam -- Wed-B1/Thu-A3
You will have your Macbeth exam next class. In order to prepare for the exam, you should do two things:

1. Download the following unit exam study sheet and review it carefully.

DOWNLOAD: Macbeth A.P. Exam Study Sheet (DOCX)

2. Complete a literary analysis data sheet. You may either complete this in Word and then print it out, or you may turn in the one you completed by hand during the seminar discussions -- your choice. Important: Although you will turn your data sheet in to me next class, you will NOT be allowed to use either your data sheet or the textof the play on the exam!

LRJ's due: As always, I will be collecting your LRJ's to grade. You have five due for the Macbeth unit: four passage analyses and one on "Why Read Shakespeare?"

REMINDER: IRP due on or before May 6 at 3:30 p.m. See previous blog entry for more details.

IRP Refresher - Due May 6 at 3:30 p.m.

4/23/2015

Preparing the IRPs
Continue working on your Independent Reading Project, which is due on Wednesday May 6 at 3:30 p.m. You will notice this due date coincides with the A.P. exam in English Literature & Composition. This is purposeful: the IRP is designed to help prepare you to take the exam.

All materials are due at 3:30 that day so that you need not worry about this on the morning of the exam.

If you would like a sample of what a finished IRP looks like, please download and carefully peruse the following two sample projects from former students:

     DOWNLOAD: IRP on To the Lighthouse (J. Geyer) -- PDF
     DOWNLOAD: IRP on The Loved One (T. Schumacher) -- PDF

In case you need a refresher on the various aspects of the IRP:

     DOWNLOAD: IRP Assignment Packet -- full details (PDF)
     DOWNLOAD: IRP Rubric -- learned how you'll be graded (PDF)

(S2C30) Macbeth - Act III Seminar

4/21/2015

Today in class
Seminar discussion of Act III of Macbeth

For next Mon-B1/Tues-A3
- Seminar discussion over Acts 4 and 5
- Act 4/5 LRJ passage analysis is due.
- Seminar 4/5 leaders should be prepared with a seminar sheet on Acts 4/5.

VIEW ACTS 4-5: Macbeth -- RSC production (88:55-end is Acts 4/5)

     Act One: 3:00-33:10
     Act Two: 33:11-58:20
     Act Three: 58:21-88:54
     Act Four: 88:55-120:39
     Act Five: 120:40-143:50

Macbeth Unit Exam
Your unit exam for Macbeth will be next Wed-B1/Thu-A3. In order to begin preparing for this exam, you will complete a data sheet. This will not only be helpful for you in preparing for the unit exam, but it will help you prepare for the A.P. exam.

You are required to print out the data sheet and bring it to the exam. You will turn this in for credit, but you will not be allowed to use a data sheet or the play itself on the exam. This exam will be similar in many ways to your A.P. exam

     DOWNLOAD: Data sheet for Macbeth (DOCX) -- complete in full and print out.
     DOWNLOAD: Macbeth AP exam study guide (PDF)