Unit Plan for AP Literature and Composition
October 21 – December 20
We will be completing a poetry unit which will incorporate a variety of thematic references to the play Othello. This play
has been chosen for its continued cultural relevance, but particularly for its poetic elements. This unit will discuss the play
thematically, with poetry and music studies to support these themes. You will have a final writing task to complete which
will incorporate our discussion on the themes covered, poetry elements, and language. The unit will begin with an
introduction to necessary literary terms, poetry elements, and the play. Below, you will find a weekly breakdown of
themes and a sampling of the texts we will cover. Also, reference the weeks for any tasks which may be due. At the end
of each thematic unit, you will have an AP style quiz. Remember: every Friday will be a vocabulary quiz, with
receipt of new words via Edmodo each Monday! This unit plan is not completely inclusive. There will be additional
tasks to complete and additional texts covered, so pay attention to announcements in class as well as posts on Edmodo.
Your culminating task will be a 5+ page research driven response to the prompt:
How and why have the themes discussed in poetry remained historically consistent over hundreds of years? In what ways
has poetry changed and evolved over these same hundreds of years? Your response will address theme, poetic literary
elements, types of poetry, syntax, language development. You must incorporate Othello as a reference. Remember you are
looking at the play through the lens of poetic literary elements and themes, not necessarily as a drama.
The weekly activities and discussion will drive the completion of your research paper.
October 21 – 25:
Unit Introduction: Introduction of Poetry Terms, Discussion of Meter, Discussion of Final Task, Introduction to
Othello
Theme #1: Parent-Child Relationships – How are these relationships foundational to every other relationship in
our lives?
Text Samples: “Inventing My Parents”, “My Mom”, “Dear Mama”
Reading in Othello
October 25:
Vocabulary Quiz; AP style assessment
October 28 – November 8:
Theme #2: Love and Sexuality – What are we willing to do for each of these?
Text Samples: “Savior”, “Song of Myself”, “Lost Ones”, “You All Know the Story of the
Other Woman”, “Champagne High”
Reading in Othello; complete by November 1
Viewing of play adaptation of Othello (Film to be determined)
November 1:
Vocabulary Quiz; Othello reading completed
November 8:
Vocabulary Quiz; Viewing of play adaptation completed; AP style assessment
November 11 – 15:
Theme #3: Jealousy and Revenge – How does our envy for or against others drive our behaviors?
Text Samples: “Not my Best Side”, “Stan”, “Fire and Ice”
Viewing of modern adaptation of Othello - O
November 15:
Vocabulary Quiz; Viewing of O completed; Outline check for development of research paper; AP style
assessment
November 18 – 26:
Theme #4: Prejudice as it relates to both Gender and Race – How does “who we are” affect who we become
internally and externally?
Text Samples: “Dance with The Devil”, “Comin’ From Where I’m From”, “Dinner Guest: Me”, “I, too”
November 22:
Vocabulary Quiz; AP style assessment
November 26:
Rough Draft of Paper Due
December 2 – 13:
Theme #5: Grief as it relates to homicide and suicide – How does grief affect us after death? How does death
drive us to be homicidal and/or suicidal?
Text Samples: “When in Disgrace with Fortune”, “Death Be Not Proud”, “Yesterday”, “To The Mercy Killers”
December 6: Vocabulary Quiz; Rough drafts returned
December 13:
Vocabulary Quiz; AP style assessment
December 16 – 20:
Review topics discussed in class; preparation for Mid-Term Exam
December 18:
Final draft of Paper Due