AP English Literature
Instructor: Mrs. Jill Lax
Contact Information:
Tel.: 436-6136 ext. 6215
e-mail:
Welcome to my class! This 12th Grade AP English Literature course is a college-level, stimulating, fast-paced, extensive and intensive survey of literature. The syllabus explores the function and importance of literature as a tool for self-actualization and human expression. Assignments are designed to inspire, challenge, and prepare students for college-level English courses, as well as for the College Board AP Literature Exam, which all students are expected to take on Thursday, May 6, 2010.
Syllabus
WRITING
This college-level course requires that students demonstrate their skills in a variety of ways. Students will:
Edit and evaluate their own and their peers’ writing.
Make intelligent use of peer and instructor feedback, in order to become more sophisticated writers, thinkers, and communicators.
Write several timed and formal essays based upon a critical, in-depth study and discussion of literature.
Utilize strategies of textual analysis in order to interpret texts.
Write several AP Literature practice tests to prepare for the upcoming AP Literature test on May 6th.
Write personal and other formal “process” pieces, including college essays (personal statements) for submission to the colleges of their choice.
READING
The texts for study in AP 12 are diverse, challenging, thought-provoking and enjoyable to read. Because this is a college-level course, the reading pace is obviously highly accelerated. Students will:
Expand upon their already expected repertoire of reading techniques, strategies, and tools for understanding.
Use stylistic analysis as a way to glean meaning and to enhance their appreciation of literature so that they can become more confident, comfortable readers (and writers) of several sophisticated texts.
Come prepared and ready to contribute to daily in-depth discussions of literature and nonfiction texts.
Annotate their texts thoroughly. It is highly advisable, though not mandatory, that students purchase copies of as many texts as possible. Please consult the separate sheet that contains a list of texts that we will study. In addition to the texts listed on the sheet, students will also read Arp, Thomas R (ed): Perrine’s Sound and Sense - An Introduction to Poetry and Jokela, Arne. H: A.P.Lit. Owner’s Manual - A Non-Pedant’s guide to Analyzing Literature. (Both texts to be checked out from the school textbook room.)
“Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write...” — William Faulkner
Classroom Atmosphere and Class Discussions
This literature course requires extensive, mature, focused discussion and study. Students should be prepared to:
Work independently, take initiative, and be proactive in planning and organizing their time.
Ask relevant, provocative questions and contribute readily and actively to class discussions.
Collaborate in small group discussions with their peers.
Assume responsibility for their own learning and help the class community to function effectively, so that the
atmosphere in the class is conducive to such discussion and critical thinking - free from ridicule, but abundant
with constructive criticism. In short, students should help foster a relaxed, “adult” learning environment.
Expectations
AP students should be serious about their learning, but also anticipate enjoying their learning. There is a lasting pleasure that comes from true engagement in the class and the material being studied. I expect that students are:
Committed, enthusiastic students who show up for class - every time, on time.
Respectful, polite, honest (which includes not pretending that one has read material or written something when one hasn’t) and kind students who treat everyone accordingly.
Interested scholars who read the literature and complete all assignments by or before the due dates.
Class participants who are willing to engage in meaningful, mature discussions.
Creative, excited learners who look forward to giving their opinions and to listening to others.
Hard workers who willingly accept challenges and who are intrinsically motivated to do their best for more than just the grade … and who want to be in this AP class.
Dedicated students who will take the College Board AP Literature test on May 6th (Even if they took and passed the AP Language test last year.)
Scholars who appreciate that learning endures and that class time is vital beyond the AP exam on May 6th.
Focused students who do NOT listen to their I-pods in class, unless expressly given permission to do so by the instructor at the time.
Responsible, mature students who leave their cell phones OFF for the duration of the class period. “Vibration” mode is also unacceptable, as are receiving or sending text messages.
Any instructor should be committed to ensuring that students experience success it the course. Students can expect that I will be:
Committed, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic.
Responsive to the energy and output from students.
Fair and honest, treating all students with respect and as responsible adults.
Dedicated to helping students work at their highest level so that they can enjoy the class and achieve success.
Passionate about the coursework, inspiring students to want to work.
Passionate about my students’ success and interested in their progress and well-being.
Tardies, absences, grades, and missed work
Class time, class work, and homework are all vital components for passing this AP Literature course. The syllabus has been carefully designed to respond to the needs of the typical AP student. Students should be aware that:
Absences should be kept to an absolute minimum and should be cleared with the instructor upon returning to school the following day (not the next class period, which is a few days later).
Students will not receive credit for late homework unless they have an excused absence and their work is handed in on their first day back to school.
Students should return to class with the work due when they were absent AND the work due on the day that they returned. Quite obviously, students need to communicate with peers to find out what work they missed before returning to class.
All assignments are due on or before the due date. Students will lose points (or receive no credit) for late work. (Full grade deduction each time.) Extenuating circumstances may be discussed ahead of time, if absolutely necessary, at the instructor’s discretion.
Students’ class work and class participation will be assessed. (Timed writings, especially, cannot easily be made up.) Absences are detrimental to peers, the learning process, one’s grade, and hence, to graduating.
Motivation should be intrinsic. Students will receive credit for some pieces, and earn a grade for others. Be careful: grades can “slide” easily. This course does NOT take into account an extra credit system.
As seniors especially, they are expected to stay on top of their grades and to manage their time wisely.
They should be resourceful and acquire the materials that they need.
I do not assign “busy” work. I believe my students’ time is as valuable as my own.
Required Materials
A 3-ring binder with dividers for keeping all work.
Lined paper (lots of it) to bring every day.
A spiral bound notebook to keep journal notes, AP notes, lecture notes, etc.
Pens, pencils, highlighters (for annotations).
Several post-it-notes.
Several index cards.
A calendar to keep track of due dates.
Access to a computer and printer (All major papers need to be typed).
Signed acknowledgement of this contract to be returned to school the next English class period.
I look forward to a year of provocative thinking! - Mrs. Lax.
"Theories and goals of education don't matter a whit if you do not consider your students to be human beings." -- Lou Ann Walker
------
Contract:
I, (student’s name) ______have read and understood the expectations of Mrs. Lax’s AP Literature course. By signing below, I agree to conduct myself in a manner consistent with the designs of the course.
______
Student’s signature Date
I have shared this letter with a parent / guardian, who by signing here, acknowledges receipt thereof:
______
Parent / Guardian’s signature Date
Feel free to use the space below for any further comments or information that can help to ensure a successful year for us all.
------
“Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life; they feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It's like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can't stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship.”
— Anne Lamott