English IV AP
Literature and Composition
Mrs. Beard
1st Nine Weeks
Course Objectives: To provide students with the critical thinking skills required to understand the themes and the
relevance of major works of literature, including selections from the major literary genres of long and short fiction,
poetry and drama. The AP course introduction states that the “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 readers. As they read, students consider the work’s structure, style, and themes as well as such
smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone.”
Unit One:
Discuss writing: purpose, audience, organization, voice, tone, structure.
Discuss writing process and strategies.
Develop accurate and appropriate thesis and organizational skills
Review grammar and mechanics.
Recognize the various literary approaches to a text.
Analyze a text by implementing rhetorical and literary strategies
Engage in various strategies in preparation for the AP Literature and Composition Test
Engage in discussions exploring Sophocles’s Theban Trilogy and Euripides’s Medea
Texts: Oedipus the King, Medea (Philip Vellacott translation), and The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius
August 27-31
*Senior Picture Day this week!
Mon: Explain and discuss AP Program; class expectations; distribute student questionnaire. Set-up writing folders and
discuss Friday’s assessment over The Theban Trilogy, Discuss unit syllabus
HW: prepare for reading check over the plays
Tues: Discuss class/teacher philosophy—What do you hope to gain from this class?; start notes for Greek Theatre.
Wed and Thurs: Notes: Origins of drama/Greek Theatre; review AP Lit prompts from the May 2012 exam and address timed
writing expectations (time permitting)
HW: Review The Theban Trilogy, Read Bernard Knox essay (excerpt) and respond to questions
Fri: Reading check over The Theban Trilogy (double formative).
***If a student is absent for any reading check quiz/test, the student must take the makeup quiz/test immediately upon
his/her return to class. The makeup will be a written test.
HW: Review tips for responding to the AP Open-ended prompts
September 3-7
(Students must bring required text daily: this is a non-negotiable expectation)
Mon: Labor Day: Student holiday 
HW: Review Oedipus the King; Medea vocabulary
Tues: Continue notes; begin discussion of Oedipus the King; Assign Oedipus essay
Wed/Thurs: Medea Vocabulary Quiz (formative); Diagnostic—Multiple Choice Practice; Continue discussion of Oedipus
with emphasis on Knox essay
Fri: Timed Writing: Open-ended prompt for which you will use Oedipus the King or Antigone (summative)
HW: Read Medea; Medea Vocabulary
September 10-14
Mon: Notes—What is a thesis? (review MLA formatting); Oedipus
Tues: Greek Background quiz (formative); continue discussion of Oedipus
HW: Read Medea
Wed/Thurs: Writing workshop: Bring two typed, properly formatted copies of your intro w/thesis statement)
Fri: Notes on Medea; review results from multiple-choice practice
HW: Work on Oedipus paper, continue reading Medea
September 17-21
Mon: Notes: What is a topic sentence?; continue discussion of Medea;
Tues: Reading Check over Medea--formative (entire play); discuss play
Wed/Thurs: Writing workshop: Revised Intro/thesis statements AND topic sentences (3) for Oedipus paper (bring TWO
copies) HW: Assign The Consolation of Philosophy (Boethius)
Fri: continue discussion of Medea
September 24-28
***see me during tutorials this week for help with your essay
Mon: Review for test (Oedipus, Medea, all notes); Q &A regarding upcoming essay.
HW: Boethius
Tues: Vocab. Quiz—Unit 1 (formative); Intro to The Consolation of Philosophy
Wed/Thurs: Summative assessment—Oedipus, Medea, all notes; Any extra time will be given to you to read Boethius—
Bring your book!
Fri: Discussion of Boethius: Fate vs. Divine Foreknowledge—understanding Boethius’ argument.
HW: Continue Boethius
October 1-5
Mon: Continue Boethius; Oedipus Essay Due!!! All late work will be subject to the late work policy ( 1day-25, 2 days-40, 3days-50) On-time submission is determined by uploading the essay to turnitin.com by 4 pm on the due date. Paper copies
are to be submitted in class, with works cited, on the due date or immediately upon your return to campus. If you will not
be in class on the day your essay is due, you are still required to upload to TII in order to avoid late penalties. There are no
exceptions to this policy.
Tues: continue Boethius
Wed/Thurs: The Consolation of Philosophy Quiz—formative (notes and all books); Round-table discussions of The
Consolation of Philosophy (You must have your book and notes!)
Fri: wrap-up Boethius; assign Hamlet and sonnets
HW: Read Shakespeare’s sonnets
Unit Two: Texts: Hamlet and the Sonnet form (various sonnets from Shakespeare, Millay, Browning, etc.)
October 8-12
Mon: Student holiday 
Tues: Unit 2 Vocabulary quiz—formative; Notes on the Sonnet
HW: Read Browning/Millay sonnets; Using the notes from today’s class, reread the sonnets and annotate to
prepare for discussion
Wed: Deconstructing the Poetry Prompt: students will practice writing on a poetry prompt and score final product using the
rubric/range finders. Random samples will be selected for whole class instruction.
Fri: continue discussion of sonnets
HW: Read Hamlet, Act I
October 15-19
Mon: continue discussion of sonnets
HW: Hamlet, Act II
Tues: Review for test (The Consolation of Philosophy, Sonnets); Notes on Hamlet
HW: Hamlet, Act II
Wed/Thurs: Summative Assessment: Sonnets/Boethius; bring Hamlet as you may have time to read after the test.
Fri: Review Oedipus essays, discuss strengths/weaknesses, common errors; complete writing reflection
HW: Prepare for quiz over Acts I and II on Monday!
Tutoring: room 1204: Mondays, 2:45-3:15, and Thursdays 2:45-3:15. Other times by appointment only.
Make-ups: If you need to make up a quiz or test, please see me and we will make an appointment during my scheduled
tutorial times. Students have one week to make up a test or quiz. However, if a student misses a reading check,
the makeup must be taken the day the student returns to class.
Absences: If a student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to make up the work within the allotted time. Failure to make up
a quiz or a test within the allotted time will result in a zero. Furthermore, absences do not postpone upcoming
assignments. You are required to keep up with the reading/writing expectations of the course regardless of
whether or not you attend the previous class.
Grades: 75% summative (tests and essays); 25% formative (quizzes, reading checks and other grades)
Summatives:
AP Timed Writing
Oedipus Process Piece
Oedipus/Medea test
Sonnets/Boethius test
Formatives:
Summer Reading check (will appear as two grades)
Vocab. Quizzes (3)
Medea reading check
Boethius Reading Check
Writing workshop (2)
Greek Background quiz
Grammar resources/Helpful websites:
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_fowler_ibh_10/
The Little, Brown Book is a reliable and relevant source of information regarding grammar and writing. The website
contains lessons and practice quizzes.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
This extremely thorough compilation of grammar topics is easy to navigate: choose grammar lessons from the
word/sentence or paragraph level, and practice your skills with interactive quizzes.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
The go-to resource for teachers and students, OWL at Purdue is a highly regarded grammar and writing website. Grammar
lessons are clear and concise, and the website offers many practice quizzes and worksheets.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/plague.htm
Grammar “plague” lists such as these are always an interesting read and provide invaluable information on how to write
more clearly.