AP English Literature: Unit 1 Frankenstein
August 13-16, 2019
In this first week of class, students will be introduced to classroom protocols and expectations, and also their responsibilities throughout the semester, including Google Classroom and www.quizlet.com. Also, students will be asked about the format, style and substance of AP literary analysis.
In this first week of class, students will be introduced to classroom protocols and expectations, and also their responsibilities throughout the semester, including Google Classroom and www.quizlet.com. Also, students will be asked about the format, style and substance of AP literary analysis.
August 19-23, 20
This week, students will continue to explore 'doing a lot with a little' through a deep and thorough analysis of the opening scene of Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible. They will experiment with alternative written expressions and familiarize themselves with Dante's Four Levels of Exegesis. Also, bell ringers and Quizlet tasks will be introduced.
This week, students will continue to explore 'doing a lot with a little' through a deep and thorough analysis of the opening scene of Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible. They will experiment with alternative written expressions and familiarize themselves with Dante's Four Levels of Exegesis. Also, bell ringers and Quizlet tasks will be introduced.
August 26-30, 2019
Students will complete their first analytical essays, and begin reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein!
Students will complete their first analytical essays, and begin reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein!
September 2-6, 2019
Students will continue reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and discuss setting, Gothic horror elements and Shelley's influences in the writing of this 'Science Fiction' novel. Quizlet vocabulary words (taken from the novel) are due, as always, at the end of the week.
Students will continue reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and discuss setting, Gothic horror elements and Shelley's influences in the writing of this 'Science Fiction' novel. Quizlet vocabulary words (taken from the novel) are due, as always, at the end of the week.
September 9-13, 2019
Students will continue reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and discuss characterization, thematic elements and the AP exam. Lessons will involve small group discussions and individual timed writing responses. Quizlet vocabulary words (taken from the novel) are due, as always, at the end of the week.
Students will continue reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and discuss characterization, thematic elements and the AP exam. Lessons will involve small group discussions and individual timed writing responses. Quizlet vocabulary words (taken from the novel) are due, as always, at the end of the week.
September 16-20, 2019
Students will read the rising action of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as well as critical analyses of its emerging themes, including revenge, justice and fate. Quizlet vocabulary words (taken from the novel) are due, as always, at the end of the week.
Students will read the rising action of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as well as critical analyses of its emerging themes, including revenge, justice and fate. Quizlet vocabulary words (taken from the novel) are due, as always, at the end of the week.
September 23-27, 2019
Students will complete Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and respond to a formal AP exam prompt. In groups, they will also peer edit their responses to WWI poetry. Quizlet vocabulary words, this week tone words are due, as always, at the end of the week.
Students will complete Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and respond to a formal AP exam prompt. In groups, they will also peer edit their responses to WWI poetry. Quizlet vocabulary words, this week tone words are due, as always, at the end of the week.
September 30-October 4, 2019
For the next two weeks, students will be completing a group project regarding a Gothic horror movie. In class, beyond the filming and editing of their movies, students will learn about poetry analysis and complete an AP prompt.
For the next two weeks, students will be completing a group project regarding a Gothic horror movie. In class, beyond the filming and editing of their movies, students will learn about poetry analysis and complete an AP prompt.
October 7-11, 2019
Students will publish their movies and complete the Multiple Choice section of the AP Literature Exam.
Students will publish their movies and complete the Multiple Choice section of the AP Literature Exam.
October 14-18, 2019
This transitional week, students will be completing a "Continuum of Mastery" reflection of the necessary AP skills. They will also learn the context and background to Shakespeare and Hamlet. Quizlet sets from now until December will utilize Shakespearean vocabulary mostly taken from Hamlet.
This transitional week, students will be completing a "Continuum of Mastery" reflection of the necessary AP skills. They will also learn the context and background to Shakespeare and Hamlet. Quizlet sets from now until December will utilize Shakespearean vocabulary mostly taken from Hamlet.
October 21-25, 2019
Students will take another AP Exam prompt, over the poetry of Wilfred Owen. Then, after reflection, they will begin Act I of Hamlet noting characterization, setting and plot developments, as well as Shakespeare's style and use of triples for effect. For homework, they will read the first six chapters of Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner.
Students will take another AP Exam prompt, over the poetry of Wilfred Owen. Then, after reflection, they will begin Act I of Hamlet noting characterization, setting and plot developments, as well as Shakespeare's style and use of triples for effect. For homework, they will read the first six chapters of Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner.
October 28 - November 1, 2019
Students will continue their study of Act II of Hamlet using both the original script and the RSC movie with David Tennant. The focus will be on plot complications, Hamlet's madness and Shakespeare's use of advanced syntactical repetition. For homework, they will read Chapters 7-10 of Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner.
Students will continue their study of Act II of Hamlet using both the original script and the RSC movie with David Tennant. The focus will be on plot complications, Hamlet's madness and Shakespeare's use of advanced syntactical repetition. For homework, they will read Chapters 7-10 of Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner.
November 4-8, 2019
Students will discuss Act III of Hamlet using both the original script and the RSC movie with David Tennant. The focus will be on Dante's Fourfold analysis and the wheel of Fate and tragedy. For homework, they will read Chapters 11-13 of The Kite Runner.
Students will discuss Act III of Hamlet using both the original script and the RSC movie with David Tennant. The focus will be on Dante's Fourfold analysis and the wheel of Fate and tragedy. For homework, they will read Chapters 11-13 of The Kite Runner.
November 11-15, 2019
Students will complete Acts IV and V of Hamlet using both the original script and the RSC movie with David Tennant. The focus will be on Dante's Fourfold analysis and the nature of existence and the elements of Greek tragedy. For homework, they will read the remaining chapters of The Kite Runner.
Students will complete Acts IV and V of Hamlet using both the original script and the RSC movie with David Tennant. The focus will be on Dante's Fourfold analysis and the nature of existence and the elements of Greek tragedy. For homework, they will read the remaining chapters of The Kite Runner.
November 25-29, 2019
After reading the remaining chapters of The Kite Runner, students will complete a group close reading of the four most powerful scenes in the novel, looking for the resources of language most used in the AP exam. A culminating assignment will be a released AP exam essay, timed for 40 minutes.
After reading the remaining chapters of The Kite Runner, students will complete a group close reading of the four most powerful scenes in the novel, looking for the resources of language most used in the AP exam. A culminating assignment will be a released AP exam essay, timed for 40 minutes.
December 2-13, 2019
For these final two weeks, students will analyze Hamlet for thematic elements, and explore Shakespeare's craft in composition by examining a single scene for 27 AP elements of poetry and prose, including poetic rhythms, figures of speech, word play and syntactical repetition.
For these final two weeks, students will analyze Hamlet for thematic elements, and explore Shakespeare's craft in composition by examining a single scene for 27 AP elements of poetry and prose, including poetic rhythms, figures of speech, word play and syntactical repetition.
NB: The Xmas exam will be an AP Multiple Choice exam - a one-hour test of poetry and prose.
January 2-30, 2019 COLD MOUNTAIN - HERO'S JOURNEY UNIT
Students will begin a unit on Transcendentalism and Existentialism through the reading and discussion of Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain. They will also be studying relevant poetry, and practice the MC section of the AP exam, with a mind to learn 'distractors' and annotation skills.
Students will begin a unit on Transcendentalism and Existentialism through the reading and discussion of Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain. They will also be studying relevant poetry, and practice the MC section of the AP exam, with a mind to learn 'distractors' and annotation skills.
February 4-8, 2019
Students will continue the unit on Transcendentalism and Existentialism through Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain. They will learn close reading strategies, and also practice for the ACT exam - English and Reading section - to be taken at the month's end.
Students will continue the unit on Transcendentalism and Existentialism through Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain. They will learn close reading strategies, and also practice for the ACT exam - English and Reading section - to be taken at the month's end.
February 11-15, 2019
Students will complete Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain, and begin a series of formal debates of topics and themes taken from the novel. They will learn debate strategies, ethos, pathos and logos, and also practice for the ACT exam - English and Reading section - to be taken at the month's end.
Students will complete Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain, and begin a series of formal debates of topics and themes taken from the novel. They will learn debate strategies, ethos, pathos and logos, and also practice for the ACT exam - English and Reading section - to be taken at the month's end.
February 18-22, 2019
Students will continue the series of formal debates of topics and themes taken from the novel Cold Mountain. They will select their debate topics, and partner with like-minded students to build the strongest argument possible, using ethos, pathos and logos.
Students will continue the series of formal debates of topics and themes taken from the novel Cold Mountain. They will select their debate topics, and partner with like-minded students to build the strongest argument possible, using ethos, pathos and logos.
February 25-March 1, 2019
Students will continue the series of formal debates of topics and themes taken from the novel Cold Mountain. They will select their debate topics, and partner with like-minded students to build the strongest argument possible, using ethos, pathos and logos.
Students will continue the series of formal debates of topics and themes taken from the novel Cold Mountain. They will select their debate topics, and partner with like-minded students to build the strongest argument possible, using ethos, pathos and logos.
March 4-8, 2019
Students will continue the series of formal debates of topics and themes taken from the novel Cold Mountain. They will select their debate topics, and partner with like-minded students to build the strongest argument possible, using ethos, pathos and logos.
Students will continue the series of formal debates of topics and themes taken from the novel Cold Mountain. They will select their debate topics, and partner with like-minded students to build the strongest argument possible, using ethos, pathos and logos.
March 11-15, 2019 NO EXIT - EXISTENTIALISM UNIT
To prepare for the new unit on Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, students will conduct and present mini-research information on topics relevant to Existentialism.
To prepare for the new unit on Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, students will conduct and present mini-research information on topics relevant to Existentialism.
March 18-22, 2019
SPRING BREAK - No classes
SPRING BREAK - No classes
March 25-29, 2019
Students will act out Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, discussing setting, characterization and emerging themes relevant to Existentialist philosophy.
Students will act out Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, discussing setting, characterization and emerging themes relevant to Existentialist philosophy.
April 1-5, 2019
Students will continue to act out Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, discussing setting, characterization and emerging themes relevant to Existentialist philosophy. They will also complete an AP Literature MC Exam in preparation for May's true test.
Students will continue to act out Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, discussing setting, characterization and emerging themes relevant to Existentialist philosophy. They will also complete an AP Literature MC Exam in preparation for May's true test.
April 8-12, 2019
Students will complete an AP Free Response over Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, and relate the characters' dilemmas to those faced in their own lives. Also, writer's conferences will be conducted.
Students will complete an AP Free Response over Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, and relate the characters' dilemmas to those faced in their own lives. Also, writer's conferences will be conducted.
April 15-19, 2019
Students will review their AP Free Responses over Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, and reflect upon the characters' dilemmas. Also, writer's conferences will be further conducted.
Students will review their AP Free Responses over Jean Paul Sartre's play, No Exit, and reflect upon the characters' dilemmas. Also, writer's conferences will be further conducted.
April 22-26, 2019 LITERATURE CIRCLES UNIT
Students will self-select a classic play, and plan their reading schedules with other students reading the same play. Then, groups will read, discuss, question and analyze elements of plot, character and theme.
Students will self-select a classic play, and plan their reading schedules with other students reading the same play. Then, groups will read, discuss, question and analyze elements of plot, character and theme.
April 29-May 3, 2019
Students groups will continue to read, discuss, question and analyze elements of plot, character and themes of their self-selected play, and build a personalized 'Dante's Fourfold Analysis' sheet to prepare for the AP exam.
Students groups will continue to read, discuss, question and analyze elements of plot, character and themes of their self-selected play, and build a personalized 'Dante's Fourfold Analysis' sheet to prepare for the AP exam.
May 6-10 EXAM WEEK
Students will be free to review, explore, reflect and create anything that would clarify the AP Literature and Composition task ahead. They may work on groups or individually to build vocabulary, practice written essays, or take and review MC exams. EXAM DATE = MAY 8 (AM).
Students will be free to review, explore, reflect and create anything that would clarify the AP Literature and Composition task ahead. They may work on groups or individually to build vocabulary, practice written essays, or take and review MC exams. EXAM DATE = MAY 8 (AM).
May 13-17 AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION UNIT
To prepare for next year's AP class, students will explore a mini-unit modelling the texts, research and written tasks seen in the AP Language classroom.
To prepare for next year's AP class, students will explore a mini-unit modelling the texts, research and written tasks seen in the AP Language classroom.
May 20-24 SPRING SEMESTER EXAM WEEK