AP English 12
Culpepper
Name_______________________________
AP English 12 Syllabus
1st Semester 2014
So much great literature, so little time! I have spent many hours this summer trying to come up with a
manageable plan for the year. We will scratch the surface of some of the world’s greatest works and write about
them in a variety of ways. The literary choices should both help us to define ourselves and force us to question our
assumptions about ourselves. They should be broad enough to allow us to see our place in the world and limited
enough to afford us focus. They should provide us with vicarious experiences appropriate enough that when we are
faced with the questions that people have always faced, we can say, “This has happened before. Oedipus, also,
reached too high; he, too, found painful truth.” And they should teach the joy of a well-spoken word.
Besides all this, we will learn the language of criticism, discover ways to talk about literature, and prepare
for a national exam. I’ll do all I can to get you ready without your even knowing it!
Here are some things you need to do: Read the material. Class discussion will be richer for you if you
know what we are talking about. The material should be read before you come to class. When, for example, I write
“Oedipus Rex due,” I mean that you should have the entire play read (carefully) when you come to class that day.
The reading is spaced so that there is time to get through it if you plan ahead and use your time wisely. Don’t just
turn the pages; read for understanding. You will be tested before discussion, and you will write an essay after
discussion. I may also give homework assignments that are not listed on the syllabus. Always be prepared. Follow
the syllabus. You may miss days, but class will go on even when you are not here. The syllabus will tell you what
we are doing. More than likely I will have to make some changes in the syllabus to tailor it to our needs. These
changes may include additions to the /or subtractions from it. Participate in class. Many discussions will be
student-led, but daily participation is also required. The more you put into this class, the more you will get out of it.
Come to class, come to class ON TIME, and come to class prepared (with necessary book(s), charged
computer, paper, pencil, pen). I want you to realize how important your attendance is to the success of this class.
Many days you will be in charge. Not showing up on these days is not an option. Much of our study will require
close reading of passages; therefore, having your book on the days of presentations and/ or discussion is crucial. Do
everything in your power to be present on the day of a test; make-up tests are much more difficult than the original
tests.
I’m really excited about our year together. Know that I am glad to help you any way that I can.
Each of you will receive the following textbook, but you will also have access to most works via the etext on
MyLitLab.
Text:
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana
Goia. 5th Compact Edition. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009.
Major Works:
Yann Martel Life of Pi*
Sophocles Oedipus Rex (textbook, pp. 887-924 + in etext)
Toni Morrison Song of Solomon
Albert Camus The Stranger
Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire
Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre
*This was a summer reading book, so you should already have a copy. In a few weeks, I’ll order copies of Song of
Solomon, The Stranger, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Jane Eyre for those who need them. In early January, I’ll
order books for 2nd semester.
August 5
August 6
First-day-of-school chaos. Handouts: Syllabus, Class Guidelines, and PC passes. Summer
reading project on Ender’s Shadow, A Farewell to Arms, Cinder OR Beneath a Meth Moon due
August 29th. Very specific reading test on Life of Pi on August 27th will precede our study of the
novel. Handouts: Advice from former students, AP Vocabulary for 1 st nine weeks.
TED talk—the importance of showing up. Explanation of one-page writing assignment—due
Monday, August 11th.
August 7
August 8
Visual images: moving from observation to analysis.
Handouts: “What is Poetry?”/ “The Secret,” “This Is Just to Say,” TP-FASTT, SOAPSTone,
Small group work on poems. Connecting devices to meaning: clip from Wit.
August 11
One-page assignment due. Handouts: Sample responses, AP Poetry Assignment, “The Red
Wheelbarrow.” We’ll work through “The Red Wheelbarrow” together.
More on “The Red Wheelbarrow.” First official poetry response assignment: “The Writer”/ “The
Lanyard”--due by Friday at beginning of class.
*IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
No outside sources (except a dictionary) are allowed—this includes input from classmates,
siblings, parents, former students, etc. Place responses in the basket on my desk or turn in via
Edmodo NO LATER than the beginning of class on Friday. I will always accept them early
but never late(unless you turn in the very next day with a PC pass).
Quiz on words 1-10. Handout: Literary Terms (many will be familiar to you; start learning terms
that are not familiar—you’ll have a major test on Sept. 15th, but more importantly, your ability to
talk/write about literature requires your understanding of these terms). Close reading: “The
Chaser.” Levels of questions. SS assignment on “The Prodigal Son” (p. 197) due Wednesday,
August 20th.
For Thursday, August 21st choose either TP-FASTT or SOAPSTone and apply to Anne
Bradstreet’s poem.
Poetry response #1 (“The Writer”/ “The Lanyard”) due. New poems: “Acquainted with the
Night”/”Cambridge Ladies.” Notes on sonnets.
August 12
August 13
August 14
August 15
August 18
August 19
August 20
August 21
August 22
August 25
August 26
August 27
August 28
August 29
Information on writing resumes, filling out college applications, asking for recommendations, and
writing application essays. Discuss one-page “self” papers. For Monday, August 25th, choose a
college application essay topic from a school of your choice (or use one of the common app
topics) and answer it in a well-written essay. Include the essay topic/ question at the top of page.
Submit via Edmodo.
STAR Reading test. Poetry presentation assignments.
SS assignment on “The Prodigal Son” due. Xword on 1-10. Discussion of “The Writer” and
“The Lanyard.”
Homework on “The Author to her Book” due. Discussion of “The Prodigal Son” (the importance
of close reading, seeing familiar stories with fresh eyes).
Poetry response #2 (“Acquainted with the Night”/ “My First Poem for You”) due. New poems:
“Bright Star”/ “What Lips My Lips Have Kissed.” Discussion of “The Author to her Book.”
Mapping out the poetry essay.
College essay due. More on how to approach the poetry essay.
In-class poetry essay.
Quiz on 11-20. Test on Life of Pi. TED talk—think about different ways it relates to Martel’s
novel.
Intro to novel. Assign discussion questions—due Tuesday, 9/2 by beginning of class.
Poetry response #3 (“Bright Star”/ “What Lips”) due. New poems: “Leda and the Swan”/ “The
Cambridge Ladies.” Summer Reading Project on Ender’s Shadow, A Farewell to Arms, Cinder
OR Beneath a Meth Moon due. Poetry presentations on “Acquainted with the Night” and “My
First Poem for You.”
September 1
September 2
September 3
September 4
September 5
Labor Day Holiday—No School
Life of Pi
X-word quiz on words 11-20. Life of Pi
SS assignment on “The Story of an Hour” (p. 326) due Wednesday, Sept. 10 th. Life of Pi
Poetry response #4 (“Leda”/ “The Cambridge Ladies”) due. New poems: “Gretel in Darkness”/
“Mirror.” In-class essay on Life of Pi.
September 8
September 9
Video: Life of Pi
Video: Life of Pi
September 10
September 11
September 12
Video: Life of Pi . SS assignment on “The Story of an Hour”due. Quiz on words 21-30.
Discussion of “The Story of an Hour.”
Poetry response #5 (“Gretel”/ “Mirror”) due. New poems: “Icarus”/ “Musee des Beaux Arts”.
More on “The Story of an Hour.” Theme/ The Literary 3 x 3.
September 15
September 16
September 17
September 18
September 19
Poetry presentations on “Bright Star” and “What Lips.”
Test on literary terms.
X-word quiz on words 21-30. AP Multiple choice: poetry + hints
Notes on the origin of drama and Aristotle’s ideas about tragedy.
Poetry response #6 (“Icarus”/ “Musee des Beaux Arts”) due. New poems: “One Art”/ “Lonely
Hearts.” Oedipus the King (pp.887-924) due. Test.
September 22
September 23
September 24
September 25
September 26
Oedipus the King
Sonnet assignment—due October 1st. Oedipus the King
Vocabulary test on words 1-30. Multiple choice: poetry
Oedipus the King
½ day for students. Poetry response #7 ((“One Art”/ “Lonely Hearts”)) due. New poems:
“Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star”/ “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning.”
September 29
September 30
October 1
Poetry presentations on “Leda and the Swan” and “Cambridge Ladies.”
In-class essay on Oedipus.
Sonnet (including scansion + self-evaluation) due. Assign vocab. words for 2nd 9 weeks.
Multiple choice: prose + hints
PC pass expires today—be sure to turn it in if you haven’t already used it! Poetry
presentations on “Gretel” and “Mirror.”
End of 1st nine weeks. Poetry response #8 (“Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star”/ “A Valediction:
Forbidding Mourning.”) due. New poems: “Museum Piece”/ “Early Purges.” New requirement
for poetry responses: poetry focus statements.
October 2
October 3
October 6-10
Fall Break
October 13
October 14
October 15
October 16
October 17
Poetry presentations on “Icarus” and “Musee des Beaux Arts.”
Test on Song of Solomon
Quiz on 1-10. Multiple choice: prose
Song of Solomon
Poetry response #9 (“Museum”/ “Early”) due. New poems: “Death of the Ball Turret Gunner”/
“Traveling through the Dark.” Song of Solomon
October 20
October 21
October 22
October 23
Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon
Xword on 1-10. Multiple choice: poetry
SS assignment on “Hills like White Elephants” due Wednesday, October 29th. Poetry presentations
on “One Art” and “Lonely Hearts.”
Poetry response #10 (“Death of the Ball Turret Gunner”/ “Traveling”) due. New poems:
“Channel Firing”/ “Dulce et Decorum Est.” Villanelle assignment—due November 4th.
October 24
October 27
October 28
October 29
October 30
October 31
In-class work on planning the open essay.
In-class essay on Song of Solomon.
SS assignment on “Hills” due. Quiz on words 11-20. Multiple choice: prose
Poetry presentations on “Song” and “A Valediction.”
½ day for students. Poetry response #11 (“Channel”/ “Dulce”) due. New poems: “Constantly
Risking Absurdity”/ “A Work of Artifice.” Poetry presentations on “Museum Piece” and “Early
Purges.”
November 3
Discussion of “Hills.”
November 4
November 5
November 6
November 7
Villanelle (including scansion + self-evaluation) due. Poetry presentations on “Death of the Ball
Turret Gunner” and “Traveling through the Dark.”
X-word quiz on words 11-20. Multiple choice: poetry
Poetry presentations on “Channel Firing” and “Dulce et Decorum Est.”
Poetry response #12 (“Constantly”/ “A Work”) due. New poem: “Porphyria’s Lover.” Notes on
Existentialism.
November 10
November 11
November 12
November 13
November 14
“The Myth of Sisyphus.”
Veterans’ Day Holiday—No School
Quiz on words 21-30. Multiple choice: prose
Poetry presentations on “Constantly Risking Absurdity” and “A Work of Artifice.”
½ day for students. Poetry response #13 (“Porphyria’s”) due. New poems: “For the
Sleepwalkers”/ Living in Sin.” Test on The Stranger. Video: “Justice: What’s the Right Thing to
Do?”
November 17
November 18
November 19
November 20
November 21
The Stranger. “Annotating a poem or prose passage” + assignment for Thursday.
The Stranger.
X-word quiz on words 21-30. Multiple choice: poetry
Poetry presentation on “Porphyria’s Lover” Annotations due. The Stranger.
Poetry response #14 (“For the Sleepwalkers”/ “Living”) due. New poems: “Mid-term Break”/
“Ethics.” The Stranger.
November 24-28 Thanksgiving Holiday
December 1
December 2
December 3
December 4
December 5
In-class work on planning the prose essay.
In-class essay on a prose passage. Poetry presentations on “For the Sleepwalkers” and “Living in
Sin.”
Vocabulary test on words 1-30. Introduction to A Streetcar Named Desire. Video
Video: A Streetcar Named Desire
Poetry response #15 (“Mid-term”/ “Ethics” ) due. Video: A Streetcar Named Desire
December 8
December 9
December 10
December 11
December 12
Test on A Streetcar Named Desire.
Streetcar
Streetcar
Streetcar
PC pass expires today—be sure to turn it in if you haven’t already used it! Poetry
presentations on “Ethics” and “Mid-term Break.”
December 15
December 16
December 17
December 18
December 19
In-class essay on A Streetcar Named Desire
1st and 2nd period exams.
3rd and 4th period exams.
5th and 6th period exams.
End of 1st semester. 7th period exam.
Try to read at least half of Jane Eyre during the break. We’ll have a test on Chapters I-X in early-January, chapters
XI-XVII about a week later, and chapters XVIII-end the following week.