AP English
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AP English Literature and Composition:
Syllabus- 2013/2014
Text:
Arp, T.R., Johnson, G. Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. 9th Ed. New
York. Wadsworth, 2006.
Note: A number of supplementary paperbacks will be provided. However, students
should be prepared to obtain copies of two outside reading books.
Approach:
This course will devote equal time to the literary genres of fiction, poetry, and drama.
Course Description:
This course will teach students to read, analyze, and write about fiction, drama, and
poetry. We will read literature from the 16th century through the 21st Century. These
activities will prepare students for the AP Exam administered in May. AP English
Literature and Composition requires students to complete college-level work with the
goal of training students in the study of literature to increase the students’ ability to
understand texts through literary analysis. This course is also designed to improve
students’ understanding of basic techniques of composition. Students must learn to write
clear, coherent papers to be successful at the college level. All assigned readings need to
be read by the due date. Students cannot contribute to a discussion if they have not read
the work; therefore, tests will be given to ensure that all students are doing their fair share
of the work.
Academic Honesty Policy Statement:
I take academic dishonesty very seriously, and I will deal strongly and without
compromise with any student who attempts to cheat in this course.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student who violates this rule will receive a “0” for
that assignment. A “0” on a major assignment will make it very difficult for any student
to pass this course. A second violation of this policy will result in immediate removal
from the course, and the student will receive a failing grade.
Information taken from any source must be acknowledged through citations. All citations
will be in Modern Language Association (MLA) format, which we will cover in detail.
Please sign here to indicate that you will abide by the academic honesty policy for
this course.
Parent Signature _________________________________
Student Signature ________________________________
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Absences: You are expected to attend all classes and turn in assigned homework on
time.
 If have a history of missing more than six days in a semester, you will have a
hard time passing this course.
 If you know you are going to be absent, talk to me in advance so we can make
appropriate arrangements.
 If you miss class the day an assignment is due, please make every effort to have
someone else turn it in for you. I expect you to do this as a courtesy to your
classmates.
 If you are absent on the day an assignment is given, you are responsible for
getting that assignment on the day you return.
 Students with extended absences will have the opportunity to complete missed
work. See me to make arrangements. However, this will make life difficult for
you.
Format:
Turning in assignments: Points will be deducted from your grade if this format is not
followed.
Guidelines for turning in assignments
 MLA format will be used in this course.
 All assignments must be turned in on time.
 Typed papers should be in 12 point Times New Roman font, double spaced, with
1 inch margins
 All assignments will have a heading in the upper left hand corner. The heading
will include the following information:
o Name
o Class
o Date
o Please center the title for each assignment below the heading.
 All major papers must be computer generated. Handwritten assignments need to
be legible and in blue or black ink. If I cannot read your paper, I cannot grade it.
Evaluation Procedures:
Your grade for this course will be comprised of the following four major categories:
1. Class Participation, Quizzes, Poetry Responses, Summer Reading Response, Daily
Exercises- 40%
2. Major Papers-30%
3. Tests, Major Work Data Sheets- 30%
Grading Scale: I will provide scoring rubrics for your major writing assignments.
A
93-100
B
92-85
C
84-77
D
76-70
F
Below 70
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Communication:
Every student will be given every opportunity to succeed. I can be available before and
after school for student meetings or parent conferences. If you have any questions or
concerns at any time, please let me know. I am more than happy to meet with you, and
you can reach me at 488-2152 (work) or 399-1078 (home).
Major Writing Assignments:
Students can expect to write four long papers (750-1000 words on short fiction, the novel,
a poem, and outside reading of drama), numerous in-class writing exercises (weekly), and
several short (one page) responses to some of the works we read. Students will complete
a Major Work Data sheet on one work (short fiction, novel, poetry [book by one poet] or
drama that we have read as a group and present the work to the rest of the class. Your
final exam will consist of an annotated bibliography using all of the novels and dramas
covered in this course.
Individual Reading Assignments:
The AP Exam format requires students to have an in depth knowledge of at least four
novels, four plays, and a variety of poems. Therefore, students will be required to read
two works in addition to our class reading schedule (one novel and one drama). This
presentation should include a technology-based presentation on an analytical reading of
the work. This will allow all class members to become familiar with more works than
we can cover in this class together. The first work will be due right before
Christmas Break, and the second will be due in the final weeks of class. (Tentative
dates are included in the course schedule.) I will provide a list of works from which to
choose. Students should choose their works early in the semester and reserve them.
Books will be assigned on a first come- first served basis. Most of these books can be
obtained from the library or bookbub, a free online -book service. However, students may
wish to purchase their own copies of their chosen works.
AP Exam Practice Exercises:
We will conduct weekly timed writing exercises throughout the year to prepare for the
AP Exam in May. These exercises will be counted as part of your class participation
grade. You will receive credit for completing them, and you will learn to score your own
practice essays to help determine your strengths and weaknesses. Be sure to talk to me if
you are having a problem in any area, so we can schedule some out of class tutoring
sessions. We will also have several practice tests, including one that is full length. During
the week just before the AP exam, we will have student led reviews for two evenings.
Materials:
 A three- ring binder.
 A flash drive
 Pens and No. 2 pencils.- All Tests Should Be Taken In Pen.
 6 Dividers with plastic tabs. Conventions/ Short Fiction/ Novel/ Poetry/ Drama/
Writing/ Literary Analysis Terms and -isms.
Rule:
1. Be nice or leave.
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Course Schedule
First Writing Assignment- Due- August 26, 2013 Response to Arundhati Roy’s
The God of Small Things
I. Introduction, Essay Scoring and the College Essay, and Summer Reading: August
26 to September 3
Focus- Student response to the novel, Diction, Syntax, Tone, Point of View
Activities- Class discussions and introduction to the Major Work Data Sheet
II. The Elements of Short Fiction
Reading Assignment- Due: Sept 9
 “Reading the Story” pg. 61
 “Plot and Structure” pg. 103
 Richard Connell- “The Most Dangerous Game”
 Tobias Wolff- “Hunters in the Snow”
Focus- Plot, Suspense, Conflict
Reading Assignment- Due: Sept. 13
 “Characterization” pp. 161
 Alice Walker- “Everyday Use”
Reading Assignment- Due: Sept 18
 “Theme” pp. 188
 Eudora Welty- “A Worn Path”
 Graham Greene- “The Destructors”
Reading Assignment- Due: Sept. 23
 William Faulkner- “A Rose for Emily”
 Alice Munro- “How I Met My Husband”
Focus- Point of view
Reading Assignment- Due: Sept. 26
 “Symbol, Allegory, and Fantasy” pp. 274
 Gabriel Garcia Marquez- “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”
Focus- Symbolism and Irony
Reading Assignment- Due: Sept. 30
 “Humor and Irony” pp. 334
 Frank O’Connor- “The Drunkard”
 Albert Camus- “The Guest”
Focus- Humor and Irony
Reading Assignment- Due: Oct. 2
 “Evaluating Fiction” pp. 371
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
Susan Glaspell- “ A Jury of Her Peers”
Short Story Paper Conferences October 3 & 4. Have solid draft ready.
Reading Assignment- Due: Oct. 7
 Flannery O’Connor- “A Good Man is Hard to Find”
Reading Assignment- Due: Oct. 9
 Flannery O’Connor- “Good Country People”
 Zora Neale Hurston- “The Gilded Six-bits”
Short Story Paper Due: Oct. 14
Topic- Evaluating a short story. I will give you the prompt in advance.
III. Elements of the Novel: Introduction to understanding and finding meaning in long
fiction
We will spend about two weeks discussing each novel and working with the literary
techniques the authors used.
Reading Assignment- Due: Oct. 16
 Charlotte Bronte- Jane Eyre or Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Supplementary
Paperback
Focus: Elements of the novel, Plot, Setting, Theme, Social Roles, Point of View,
Bildungsroman, Race
Reading Assignment- Due: November 4
 William Golding Lord of the Flies
Focus- Setting, Theme, Characterization, Symbolism, Relationships
Reading Assignment- Due: Nov. 11
 Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, Supplementary Paperback
Focus- Setting, Characterization, Bildungsroman, Social Roles, Symbols
Reading Assignment- Due November 20th (Wednesday)
 Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, Supplementary Paperback
Focus- Finding meaning on multiple levels of a text. Application of literary devices.
First Outside Reading Presentations will be due December 2nd. Work in class on
November 25th to 27th (half day). Present on Monday after Thanksgiving.
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Reading Assignment- Due to be completed by December 13th
 Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Focus- Setting, Characterization, Bildungsroman, Social Roles, Conflict, Suspense
Novel Paper Conferences Dec. 16th to 19th. Have a solid draft. Novel paper is due
January 2nd. See class website for prompt and description.
IV. The Elements of Poetry: Introduction to Poetic Devices
Reading Assignment 1- Due: January 10
 “The Elements of Poetry” p. 645
 “What is Poetry?” p. 647-655
 William Shakespeare- “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day”
 Emily Dickinson- “The last Night that She lived”
Reading Assignment 2- Due: Jan. 13
 Gwendowlyn Brooks- “Kitchenette Building”
 William Carlos Williams- “The Red Wheelbarrow”
 Langston Hughes- Suicide Note”
Reading Assignment 3- Due: Jan. 14
 “Reading the Poem” pp. 668- 677
 John Donne- “Break of Day”
 William Blake- “The Clod and the Pebble”
Reading Assignment 4 - Due: Jan. 15
 “Denotation and Connotation” pp. 686-692
 Henry Reed- “Naming the Parts”
 William Wordsworth- “The world is too much with us”
 Langston Hughes- “Cross”
Reading Assignment 5- Due: Jan. 16
 Adrienne Rich- “I Am in Danger—Sir—“
 Robert Frost- “Desert Places”
 Elizabeth Bishop- “One Art”
Focus- Denotation, Connotation, Imagery, Lyric Poetry, The Ballad
Reading Assignment 6- Due Jan. 21
 “Imagery”- p. 700- 703
 Seamus Heaney- “The Forge”
 William Carlos Williams- “The Widow’s Lament in Springtime”
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 Robert Frost- “After Apple-Picking”
 John Keats- “To Autumn”
Focus- Imagery
Reading Assignment 7- Due: Jan. 24
 “Figurative Language: Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Apostrophe,
Metonymy” p. 714-724
 Robert Frost- “Bereft”
 Emily Dickinson- “It sifts from Leaden Sieves”
 John Keats- “Bright Star”
Focus- Figurative Language
Reading Assignment 8- Due: Jan 27
 Sylvia Plath- “Metaphors”
 John Donne- “A Valediction: Forbidden Mourning”
 Andrew Marvell- “To His Coy Mistress”
 Langston Hughes- “Dream Deferred”
Focus- Figurative Language
Reading Assignment 9- Due: Jan. 31
 “Figurative Language 2: Symbol, Allegory” p.734-745
 Robert Frost- “Fire and Ice”
 Emily Dickinson- “Because I could not stop for death”
 John Donne- “Hymn to God My God, in My Sickness”
Focus- Symbol, Allegory
Reading Assignment 10- Due: Feb. 4
 “Figurative Language 3: Paradox, Overstatement, Understatement, Irony” p. 756766
 John Donne- “Batter my heart, three-personed God”
 Billy Collins- “The History Teacher”
 Adrienne Rich- “Afterward”
Focus- Paradox, Overstatement, Understatement, Hyperbole, and Irony
Reading Assignment 11- Due: Feb. 7
 “Allusion” p. 778-781
 e.e. cummings- “in just”
 John Milton- “On His Blindness”
 T.S. Eliot “Journey of the Magi”
Focus- Paradox, Overstatement, Understatement, Irony
Reading Assignment 12- Due: Feb. 11
 “Meaning and Idea” p. 791-795
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 A.E. Housman- “Loveliest of Trees”
 Robert Frost- “Design”
 Emily Dickinson “I never saw a Moor”
Focus- Meaning and Idea
Reading Assignment 13- Due: Feb. 13
 Tone p. 804-809
 Adrienne Rich- “Miracle Ice Cream”
 William Shakespeare- “My mistress’ eyes
 John Donne- “The Flea”
 Matthew Arnold- “Dover Beach”
Reading Assignment 14- Due: Feb. 18
 “Musical Devices”- 822-830
 Gwendolyn Brooks- “We Real Cool”
 Maya Angelou- “Woman Work”
 Robert Frost- “Nothing Gold Can Stay”
Focus- Musical Devices- Assonance, Consonance, Alliteration, and More
Reading Assignment 15 - Due: Feb. 20
 “Rhythm and Meter” pp. 838-853
 William Blake- “Introduction” to Songs of Innocence”
 Walt Whitman- “Had I Choice”
Focus- Importance of rhythm and meter
Reading Assignment 16- Due: Feb. 24
 “Pattern” pp. 883-891
 John Donne- “Death, be not proud”
 Adrienne Rich- “Final Notations”
 Robert Herrick- “Delight in Disorder”
Focus- Finding meaning in pattern and shift
Reading Assignment 17- Due: Feb. 27
 “Evaluating Poetry 1”- pp. 903- 906
 “Evaluating Poetry 2”- 915- 920
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AP English
Reading Assignment 18- Due: March 3 All
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poems in this section must be read. Choose one
on which to write your poetry essay.
A.E Housman- “To an Athlete Dying Young”
John Keats- “Ode on a Grecian Urn”
T.S. Eliot- “The Love Song of J. Alfred
Prufock”
Randall Jarell- “Death of the Ball Turret
Gunner”
Joyce Carol Oates- “Loves of the Parrots”
WH Auden- “Musee des Beaux Arts”
Emily Dickinson- “A Narrow Fellow in the
Grass”
Robert Frost- “Birches”
Philip Larkin- “Aubade”
Theodore Roethke- “My Papa’s Waltz”
Anne Sexton- ‘The Abortion”
Dave Smith- “Little Ode to the Wheelchair
Boys”
Know what T.S. Eliot’s “Objective
Correlative” is.
Write draft of essay in class on March 4th.
Rough draft is due March 5th. Conferences will
take place March 6th, and 7th.
Focus- Eliot’s “Objective Correlative” and using
poetic devices to find meaning
Paper Due: * March 10th
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V. Drama- Elements of Drama
Reading Assignment- Due: March 11
 “Elements of Drama”- pp. 1025
 “The Nature of Drama”- pp. 1027-1030
Focus- Tragedy, Comedy, Classical Drama, Themes, Dramatic Irony
Reading Assignment- Due: March 12
 Edward Albee- The Sandbox or other one-act
Focus- Non-realistic drama
Reading Assignment- Due: March 14 and March 17
 “Realistic- Nonrealistic Drama 1074-1078
 Tennesee Williams- The Glass Menagerie
Focus- Mystery, Symbolism,
Reading Assignment- Due: March 19
Luis Valdez-“ Los Vendidos”
Reading Assignment-Due: March 21
August Wilson- Fences
Reading Assignment- Due: March 25th
 “Tragedy and Comedy” 1209-1216
 William Shakespeare- Othello
Focus- Shakespearean Drama, Elizabethan Culture, Themes, Good vs. Evil, Stock
Characters, Understanding the role of poetry in Shakespearean Drama
Reading Assignment- April 14
 Oscar Wilde- The Importance of Being Earnest
Focus- Comedy of Manners
Second Outside Reading Major Work Data Sheet Due: April 21
****Spring Break****
****Senior Trip***
VI. You made it to the review!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!
Focus- Bringing it all together, reviewing literature techniques in all genres, sharing
your Major Work Data Sheets.
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****** AP Exam date for 2014 is Thursday, May 8******
Outside Reading Novel Choices
See me if you would like to choose another title.
Austen, Jane Pride and Prejudice
Bronte, Emily Wuthering Heights
Dickens, Charles Great Expectations
Eliot, George Silas Marner
Eliot, George The Mill on the Floss
Erdrich, Louise Love Medicine
Faulkner, William As I Lay Dying
Faulkner, William Light in August
Frazier, Charles Cold Mountain
Hardy, Thomas Tess of the D’Urbervilles
Hemingway, Ernest For Whom the Bell Tolls
Hemingway, Ernest The Sun Also Rises
Heller, Joseph Catch 22
James, Henry The Turn of the Screw
Hurston, Zora Neale Their Eyes Were Watching God
Kafka, Franz The Trial
Marquez Gabriel Garcia One Hundred Years of Solitude
Marquez Gabriel Garcia Chronicle- of –a-Death Foretold
Morrison, Toni Sula
O’Brien, Tim In the Lake of the Woods
O’Brien, Tim If I die in a Combat Zone
Parton, Alan Cry, The Beloved Country
Shelley, Mary Frankenstein
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye
Steinbeck, John The Grapes of Wrath
Steinbeck, John East of Eden
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Steinbeck, John Cannery Row
Tolstoy, Leo Anna Karenina
Tolstoy, Leo War and Peace
Warren, Robert Penn All The King’s Men
Welty, Eudora Delta Wedding
Wright, Richard Native Son
Outside Reading Drama Choices
See me if you want to choose something else.
Albee, Edward Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Albee, Edward Three Tall Women
Beckett, Samuel Waiting for Godot
Hansberry, Lorraine A Raisin in the Sun
Jonson, Ben Volpone
Marlowe, Christopher Dr. Faustus
Marlowe, Christopher The Jew of Malta
Miller, Arthur Death of a Salesman
Miller, Arthur The Crucible
Miller, Arthur After the Fall: A Play in Two Acts
Shakespeare, William As You Like It
Shakespeare, William A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Shakespeare, William The Tempest
Shakespeare, William Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespeare, William Richard II
Shakespeare, William Richard III
Shakespeare, William King Lear
Shakespeare, William Hamlet
Sophocles Oedipus Rex
Wilde, Oscar Salome
Williams, Tennessee A Streetcar Named Desire
Williams, Tennessee Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Wilson, August, Two Trains Running