Syllabus for Advanced Placement Literature
North High School
Instructor: V. Gerk, M.A.
This is an AP course. You may find it more difficult in terms of the reading required and
the analysis taught than in previous English Honors courses. Learning to do analysis and
reading college level texts can be an extremely rewarding experience and can better
prepare you for college. If you are ready to commit to this class and do the work, I will
welcome your presence and participation.
About the Instructor/Contact Info/Home: 459-9614/email: vgerk@sheboygan.k12.wi.us
SAT Essay Scorer
2006-2007
AP Literature Reader
2003-2004
M.A. in English Literature UWEC 1978
Post Graduate Credits
English Literature UW Madison Ph.D Program
English Literature UW Milwaukee Ph.D. Program
AP Lit Instructor
1995-2005 South High School
1984-1995 Sheboygan Falls High School
CAPP Composition
1984-1994 UW Green Bay at Sheboygan Falls High
Literary Works
“The Japanese Quince” by John Galsworthy
“A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor
“The Jockey” by Carson McCullers
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
The Trojan Women by Euripides
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger or
Tartuffe by Moliere
Poetry Selections
Nonfiction Selections
Evaluation – Note: I do not average the quarter grades. You will have a running
semester grade. This is to your advantage.
20% Quizzes
20% Daily Work
(Handouts, presentations, discussion, participation, AP practice tests)
Please Note -- unexcused absences/and/or unexcused tardies will result in loss of
points in this category. Other off task behaviors which may impact your Daily
Work grade include working on other homework during literary discussion or
presentation time, sleeping, chatting, cell phone texting, etc.)
25% Objective Tests
25% Essays (Both in class and prepared)
10% Final Exam Creative Project and Presentation
Grading Scale
93-100
90-92
88–89
83-87
80-82
78-79
73-77
70-72
68-69
63-67
60-62
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
D-
Presentation and Essay Policy
In class essays are due at end of the hour. Take home essays should be turned in on the day due,
with some exceptions. Post graded rewrites for a higher score are always available. If you have
an unexcused absence when your group presents, you cannot earn the points for that assignment.
If your absence is excused, you may make up your presentation after school or before school in
order to earn those points.(Room 251)
Plagiarism/Cheating Policy
Do your own work. Write your own papers. Everyone can rewrite and revise his/her in
class essays within a certain time frame. This is how you will learn. Any assignments
plagiarized will result in a “0” for that assignment in accordance with North High policy
in your planner. Subsequent papers will be suspect. One small notecard, front and back,
is allowed for objective tests. Each student must use own notecard.
AP LIT SCHEDULE
Week 1
Activity
Handout 1
Handout 2
Handout 3
AP Practice Test and Short Story Analysis
Week 2
Short Story Analysis
Handout 4
Handout 5
Handout 6
Handout 7
Paper
Writing the Analytical Paper
Turning in/Turning Out – Deconstruction /New Historicism
Elements of Fiction and the Short Story
The Japanese Quince/Analyzing Conflict for Theme
The Jockey
Examples of Analysis
Quizzes
Symbolism in A Good Man is Hard to Find
2-3 pages typed
Elements of Fiction and Short Stories
Week 3
Dramatic Analysis
Handout 28
Embodiment of Greek Thought and the Tragic Hero
in Oedipus Rex/Read Oedipus Rex
Tragic hero elements
Week 4
Dramatic Analysis
Handout 28
Objective Test
The Trojan Women
Reading and Video
Embodiment of Greek Thought in The Trojan Women
In class essay on Greek Tragedy
Greek Thought/Hero/Structure/Both Plays
Week 5
Novel Analysis
Handouts 35, 36
Handouts 37, 38
Handout 39
Quizzes
History of the Novel
Types of Novels
Point of View
Sound and the Fury: Appendix plus Benji’s Section
Paper
Week 6
Novel Analysis
Handout 39
Quizzes
Point of View and Stream of Consciousness Technique
The Sound and the Fury: Quentin’s Section
The Sound and the Fury: Jason’s Section
In class essay on selected Quentin passage.
Week 7
Novel Analysis
Handout 42
Test
The Sound and the Fury: Jason’s Section
The Sound and the Fury: Dilsey’s Section
The Sound and the Fury
Week 8
More Practice on AP Lit Practice
Week 9
Major Works/Prep for Open Essay
Turn of the Screw
Handouts 74, 75, 76
Quizzes
Week 10
Essay
Week 11
Turn of the Screw
Purposeful Ambiguity
Reading schedules
Turn of the Screw
Major Works/Prep for Open Essay
In class essay on Illusion/Reality in Turn of the
Screw
11/13-11/17
Major Works/Prep for Open Essay
Handouts 49, 50
Human Aspirations in Literature
Heart of Darkness
Week 12
Major Works/Prep for Open Essay
11/20-11/22
Essay
Week 13
Handout 8
Handout 9
Handout 10
In class essay on human aspiration and
Heart of Darkness
11/27-12/1
Poetry Analysis
Four Poems
Identifying Tools of Poetic Analysis
Poetic Terminology
Unlocking a Poem
Autumn Refrain
Week 14
12/4-12/8
Handouts 11, 12
Handout 14
Week 15
12/11-12/15
Poetry Analysis
Experiencing the Analytic Process
Group/Individual Poetic Analysis
Sonnet 146 Shakespeare
Developing an analytical paper on a poem
Poetry Analysis
Handouts 15, 16
Paper
Analytical paper on a poem
Due 12/15 1-2 pages
Week 16
Nonfiction Analysis
12/17-12/22
Handouts 17, 18
Handout 19
Handout 20
Handout 21
Handout 22
Week 17
1/2-1/5
Prose Analysis
Stylistic Analysis
The Crack Up
Multiple Choice
Excerpt Ideals as Goals
Multiple Choice
Major Works/Prep for Open Essay
Illusion and Reality
Catcher in the Rye
Week 18
Major Works/Prep for Open Essay
1/8-1/12
Illusion and Reality
Symbolism
Catcher in the Rye
Week 19
Review of Major Works
1/15-1/19
Major Works Sheet
Final Exam Projects
Spring AP Test
Prepare worksheets for each major work.
Performance Project during Exam Time
April—Workshop /Review