English 12 – AP English Literature & Composition (US 270)
Course Description & Syllabus 2013-2014
S. Hylton, Room 114
Course Description
This course exposes students to a broad cross section of respected literature from across the globe.
Working to develop a respect for complexity and a tolerance for ambiguity, students engage in the
careful reading and analysis of imaginative, sophisticated literature of recognized literary merit. Students
deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for
their readers. As they read, students consider how smaller scale elements such as diction, syntax,
grammar, imagery, and figurative language contribute to the development of a work’s structure, style,
tone, and themes. Students learn to ask hard questions of challenging texts and then seek their own
answers to these questions. To this end, they engage in scholarly conversation with the texts, with
academics, and with each other. Writing is intended to inform the student’s understanding and insightful
interpretation of literature and includes informal reaction/response essays as well as formal analysis,
interpretation, argument, and research. All students in this course take the AP English Literature and
Composition exam in May.
Course Goals
 to develop cognitive and analytical abilities through exposure to challenging texts
 to discuss, interpret, analyze, and evaluate works of fiction and non-fiction
 to generate and explore questions
 to write to understand, explore, and reflect
 to clarify and defend a position
 to edit, revise, and critique their writing and the writing of others
 to engage in conversation with scholars through research
 to interpret, evaluate, and synthesize information from sources
 to write cogently and precisely
 to continue to develop an enhanced vocabulary
A Note about the AP Exam
The AP English Literature and Composition Examination consists of two sections: multiple choice and
writing. The first section lasts one hour and has a series of multiple choice questions that assess the
accuracy of the student’s reading and interpretation of both prose and poetry passages. Three essays
make up the second portion of the examination which lasts two hours. For the first two essays, students
must read unfamiliar passages, one prose and the other poetry, and write responses. The third question is
an open essay, usually based on a novel or play that the student chooses as appropriate for the question
(a list of applicable works is provided). Students are given suggested times for each of these three
prompts, usually 40 minutes each, but they are in control of the amount of time they spend on each
question. The English Literature and Composition AP Exam will take place on Thursday, May 8, 2014.
Expectations
I expect my students to…










do their best on every assignment.
do their own work so that I will never have to question their honesty and integrity.
be open to the ideas in literature, have a sense of humor, and embrace the spirit of any
assignment.
be involved and attentive during class activities.
be courteous to me and to each other at all times.
budget their time well both in and out of class so that assignments are completed and arrive on
time.
be responsible for obtaining makeup work.
be present and punctual.
abide by all rules and regulations in the Student Code of Conduct.
communicate any concerns, problems, or difficulties with me. Office hours are after school on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:45 until 3:30 in my classroom. I can be reached via e-mail at
shylton@walsingham.org or by phone at (757)229-6026.
My students can expect me to…






be respectful and courteous.
be prepared.
plan thoughtful, challenging assignments.
be willing to help when asked.
be open-minded and responsive to their ideas.
communicate any concerns, problems, or difficulties with them.
Materials
Please come to class daily with the following materials unless otherwise notified.






A commendable work ethic and intellectual curiosity
The text with which we are working (novel/book or handouts)
Large three ring binder with dividers
Notebook paper
Blue or black pens
iPad and charger
Students will need to purchase novels and plays throughout the year (see attached Course Outline), and I
will provide handouts of short stories, poems, and essays.
Grading
Your grades will be based on the school’s grading scale.
A
B
C
D
F
93-100
85-92
77-84
70-76
69 and below
Your grades will be averaged using the following percentages:
Vocabulary
Literature and Writing
20%
80%
Grades are weighted within each of the categories. Vocabulary grades include quizzes (counted twice)
and weekly preparation (counted once). In the Literature and Writing category, tests, prepared essays,
and Socratic seminars will count three times; quizzes, timed writings, and analysis work will count
twice, and classwork and homework will count once. Late homework is not accepted. Late projects and
essays will be accepted but will be penalized ten points for each day they are late.
AP holistic grading standards will apply when grading most essays, so essays will receive a rating of 19, just as they will on the AP exam. I will make samples of the AP testing grading rubrics available so
that the national standards and their descriptors are clear and familiar. A numerical grade equivalent
(given below for first quarter only) will appear in my grade book.
9=100, 8=97, 7=92, 6=85, 5=80, 4=75, 3=70, 2=65, 1=50
Please allow at least two weeks for the grading of major essays and tests. Reading and evaluating essays
and tests is no small task. I will report/record grades as quickly as possible. Do not rely on SPA for an
up to date list of assignments that are due.
Vocabulary
You will find the vocabulary lists for the entire year attached to the back of this syllabus and posted on
SPA. The list is composed of words that commonly appear on the SAT and that enhance discussion of
tone. Handwritten definitions and sentences are due on Mondays; questions about the use of the words
will be fielded at that time. Quizzes will be on Fridays and are cumulative. That is, each quiz will
involve not only the current week’s words but any of the others that we have already covered as well.
English 12 – AP English Literature & Composition (US270)
Tentative Course Outline 2013-14
Changes, additions, and substitutions are possible. You will be notified of any changes.
First Semester
The Walsingham Bookshelf
Summer Reading: William Shakespeare’s Macbeth*
Sonnet Study
Summer Reading: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein* and John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis* and T. S. Eliot’s “Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock”
Reread Presentations
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness* and T. S. Eliot’s “The Hollow Men”
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart* and W.B. Yeats’s “The Second Coming”
Second Semester
Independent Novel Research
Poetry Pairs
Voltaire’s Candide*, Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal,” & Russell Baker’s “Distortion & Wit”
George Orwell’s 1984* and W. H. Auden’s “The Unknown Citizen”
Modern Poetry and Beyond
Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God* and the poetry of Langston Hughes
Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House*, Marge Piercy’s “A Work of Artifice,” and George Meredith’s sonnets
*Indicates books that will need to be purchased by the student. ISBN numbers will be provided so that
all students will be reading the same edition of the text.