WELCOME TO
AP English Literature
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WHY AP LIT?
 Challenges students. . . and
teachers
 Can result in college credit, which
saves time and money link
 Builds students’ confidence and
hones their close reading,
writing, and analytical skills
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WHAT IS AP LIT?
 Close reading and critical analysis of
imaginative literature, most written
originally in English (16th-21st centuries)
 Writing focused on critical analysis of
literature (expository, analytical, and
argumentative essays) plus some creative
writing
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AP LITERATURE CLASSES
TYPICALLY INCLUDE. . .
a balance of rhetorical strategies and
textual analysis
a focus on style analysis
close readings
timed writings
quick pacing
extensive use of subject area
vocabulary in analysis
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What about the AP Lit
exam in May?
Multiple-choice questions =
45% of exam
 4 or 5 passages: 2-3 poems
and 2-3 prose excerpts
 ~55 questions; one hour to
complete
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And the AP Lit exam?
Three essay questions =
55% of the exam
 Poetry analysis
 Prose analysis
 Open-ended question
 Two hours to complete; each
essay scored on a 1-9 scale
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SCORING THE ESSAYS
The three free-response essays are
scored by college professors and experienced
AP teachers at June readings.
College profs = 60% of readers
AP teachers = 40% of readers
link
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ESSAY COMPOSITE SCORE
(FROM EQUATION USING NET
MULTIPLE-CHOICE SCORE AND THREE
ESSAY SCORES)
5 – Extremely well qualified
4 – Well qualified
3 – Qualified
2 – Possibly qualified
1 – No recommendation
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BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER . . .
AP is a skills-based
program,
not just a test!
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THE AP EFFECT ON
STUDENTS
Students who complete AP courses are
better prepared academically
more likely to choose challenging majors
likely to complete more college-level work
likely to perform significantly better than students
who did not take AP courses
more likely to exercise leadership
more likely to graduate with a double major
twice as likely to go into advanced study
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BENEFITS OF THE AP
PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS
Possibility of college credit and/or
advanced standing at over 2,900 colleges
Keep an eye open for my
SCHOLARSHIP/ GRANT BOX at the
side of the room!!
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WELCOME TO AP LIT!
link
This class is separated into 4 parts:
1. Theme: Short Story Bootcamp
2. Theme: Identity The Invisible Man,
Frederick Douglass, Maya Angelou,
Langston Hughes, WEB DuBois, etc.
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3. Theme: What a novel idea!
Novel share: (choices: Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, A
Brave New World, Things Fall Apart, Pride and
Prejudice, Civil Disobedience)
End Unit 3: with Macbeth, The Color Purple
4. Research Paper/ Test Prep/ poetry focus
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LOOKING
AHEAD
I am your facilitator. You are
what makes this class work. Your
discussions are what make this
class interesting! I am here for
you!
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AP PASS WEBSITE
Link
Hank Green, the author of The Fault
in Our Stars has something to say
about “Why we read?”
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AP STUDY NOTES WEBSITE
Link
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NEXT CLASS
Bring your books. If they are located on
technology you must understand the following:
1. Permission for this usage is only for the time
the teacher specifies as start time and must be put
away for the rest of the day when the teacher
specifies stop time.
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2. You are responsible for lost and stolen items.
Chapel Hill High School, is not responsible for
this.
3. I have the right to check what browser you are
using. If you are found use a browser that is not
approved, your assignment will result in a 0.
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NEXT CLASS
4. This assignment will count as 25% of the
Summer Reading Assignment.
5. You may not have pre-typed notes or outlines
for this assignment.
6. Are there any questions at this time?
7. Have the following books next class: King Lear,
A Streetcar Named Desire, and Billy Budd.
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