Mrs. Meg McLawhorn
mmclawhorn@madison.k12.al.us
Room 157 / Ext. 3157
Office Hours: Available by appointment
AP Literature and Composition
2012 - 2013
Course Description:
AP English Literature and Composition meets the requirement for the fourth required high school English
course for the college-bound student. The purpose of the course is to improve students’ writing, language
and literary analysis skills. This college-level course prepares students for the College Board’s AP
English Literature and Composition Exam and follows the guidelines and standards as set forth by the
College Board. It will encompass a survey of World Literature, with a primary focus on British texts.
Students will also work heavily on vocabulary, as well as practice correct usage of grammar and
mechanics.
“An AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical
analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their
understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As
they read, students consider a work’s structure, style and themes, as well as such smaller-scale elements as
the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone.” (The College Board 2010)
In preparation for the AP exam, students will practice writing both timed and take-home essays in this
course. Students will practice citing sources in their writing using MLA format. Homework in this class
will be regular and rigorous, specifically in reading with an occasional small writing assignment to
accompany reading.
Class Expectations:
#1) Be seated and working when the bell rings.
#2) Come to class prepared to work.
#3) Show respect for everyone in the room.
#4) No eating during class.
Needed Materials:
Coming to class prepared every day means that you have your handouts/ novel/textbook whenever
needed, and that you have a binder dedicated to this class. It is vital to your success in this course and on
the AP exam that you remain organized. Your binder should contain the following sections: AP Lit.
Handouts, Poetry, Prose, Vocabulary, Terms, Multiple Choice, & Graded Work
Grading Policy
The Buckhorn High School Grading Scale:
A= 90-100
B= 89-80
C= 79-70
D= 69-65
F= 0-64
In my class, your quarter grade will be calculated based on the following categoriesMajor Assignments = 40%
Quizzes = 30%
Homework / Classwork = 20%
Participation = 10%
Final Exam* = 20% of total semester grade.
*This exam is comprehensive and mandatory. No exemptions will be permitted.
What to Expect in AP Lit
1) Homework: The majority of your HW assignments will be to read from whatever novel/short
story we are currently working on. Often, you will be asked to complete some sort of small
writing assignment, also. It is imperative to your success in my class that you take these
assignments seriously. Relying on Sparknotes simply won’t cut it, I promise 
2) Vocabulary quizzes: We will quiz on a set of vocabulary words almost weekly. The words
come from the works we read, and the purpose of quizzing is to enhance your use of elevated
diction in your writing.
3) Essays: There are three types of essays that are on the AP Lit exam, and we will practice writing
these often. Most of the essays you write will be in class, but you will also spend time outside of
class drafting essays, as well.
4) Mock Exam and Saturday sessions: Like other AP classes you may have taken in the past that
are part of the A+ grant, you are required to attend all 3 study sessions for AP Lit. Currently the
dates have been set for October 13, January 12 (Mock Exam), and April 6.
5) Reading list: The main texts that we cover in AP Lit focus primarily on fiction. The reading list
that we will cover is below, and you will need to purchase your own copy of the novels. Failure
to have in class on the expected due date will result in a 0 for a HW grade. Please talk to me in
advance if you are having difficulty getting the novel on time due to financial reasons.
Book
ISBN
Hamlet
9780743477123
The
Metamorphosis
9780553213690
Heart of
Darkness
Lord of the
Flies
9780451531032
9780399501487
Date
Needed
Monday,
9/17
Monday,
10/15
Monday,
10/29
Monday,
11/26
Book
ISBN
Turn of the
Screw
Daisy Miller
9780451530677
Wuthering
Heights
The
Importance of
Being Earnest
9780451529251
9780451530677
Date
Needed
Monday,
2/11
Monday,
2/25
Monday,
3/11
**Read in class with novels
owned by the BHS English dept.
*It is very important that you purchase THIS particular edition of each book above. We will look at
passages on specific page numbers in class, and it is very complicated if everyone has different page
numbers in their books.
*I do bulk orders for most of the novels from a local bookstore, and I will let you know when I’ve placed
the order so that you can go in and purchase the books. You can also order these books, new and used,
from amazon.com. They usually have good prices if you’re looking to save some money and buy used.
*Later in the semester, there will also be a novel that you will read outside of class and for which you will
complete assignments. You will choose from the list below.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Price of Tides by Pat Conroy
Classroom Policies
These classroom policies are essential for you to know and become familiar with. If you ask me a
question during class that is answered on this sheet I will simply direct you back to your syllabus.
Submitted Work
You are expected to take pride in your work. I will not accept work that is written illegibly or written on paper
that is torn, stained, or otherwise unprofessional. Homework is always due at the beginning of class and will be
considered LATE (half credit) after that time. Many times I will simply take a completion grade for your workbut this is a completion grade dependent on true effort. I do not expect you to always have the right answer, but I
do expect to see effort reflected in your work. Graded work will receive the following grades:
+ = 100 (work is complete and reflects effort)
 = 85 (work is mostly complete; may be rushed or missing portions)
 - = 50 (work is only about half complete)
0 = work is less than half complete
**Also, I do not take assignments emailed to me unless you and I have made prior arrangements. This means
that we have tested our email accounts prior to the date that a major assignment is due. Unless you and I have
talked and worked something out, I do not accept emailed essays or other major assignments.
Timely Work Policy
Late homework and classwork are accepted one day late for half credit. After one day, late HW and CW will
not be accepted. For major assignments, the penalty for late work is 10 points off each day, up to 5 class days
after the due date. After that time the student will receive a zero for the assignment. If there are extenuating
circumstances preventing any student from completing an assignment on time, I will take that into consideration
provided that the student talks to me before the due date.
Make-Up Work
Being a senior in high school means that you are responsible for many things in your life, and being absent from
school results in the responsibility of making up your work. When you are not in class, it is your responsibility
to check the “Miss-a-Day” Folder to see what you missed. This folder lives on the front table and is set up by
course with instructions on what went on in class and any handouts you may need. The first thing you should
do upon returning to class is check this binder before asking me what we did while you were gone.
**The amount of days you have to turn in make-up work is determined by the amount of days you were absent
from class. Because we are on an A/B schedule, you must get your make-up work on whatever day you return
to school, even if you do not have my class that day. If you are absent on the day of a VOCABULARY QUIZ
or TEST, you have one week to make up your quiz/test because I hand them back during class and go over the
correct answers. If you miss the deadline to make up a quiz or test, you will receive a zero. This is nonnegotiable. Making time in your schedule to make up work you miss in class must be a priority.
Cheating Policy
Cheating of any kind will NOT be tolerated in this class. Cheating extends from looking at someone’s paper
during a quiz to copying another person’s assignment and turning it in as your own. The idea of looking at
someone else’s work and changing ideas around is ALSO considered cheating. This could be a friend in class or
anything published online. Please note that duplicating someone else’s work will result in a zero for the
assignment for both you and the person who let you copy their work. It also doesn’t earn any cool points with
me, either.
A Note about AP
Please remember that my main goal for you in this course is to feel prepared to take the AP exam in the spring.
I hold each of you to high expectations, but I am also your biggest cheerleader. I want you to be successful in
this class, but I also want you to take responsibility for your learning. If at any point you feel behind or that you
don’t understand something, come talk to me. Don’t suffer silently and assume you’ll just catch up eventually.
FYI
*Join our Facebook group (search Meg Durham McLawhorn and send me a friend request) or follow
us on Twitter (@bhs_apLit) to get updates and reminders about class!
*My planning period rotates this year, and I’ve listed my schedule here so you’ll know where I’ll be if
you need to come make up work with me, discuss your grade, etc.
Monday/Wednesday
1 Block: AP Literature (1A)
2nd Block: Planning
3rd Block: English 12
4th Block: English 12
st
Tuesday/Thursday
1st Block: Planning
2nd Block: AP Literature (2B)
3rd Block: English 12
4th Block: English 12
Friday
1 A: AP Literature
1B: Planning
2A: Planning
2B: AP Literature
3rd Block: English 12
4th Block: English 12