AP English Literature and Composition ~ IB Language A: English Syllabus (subject to change)
Instructor: Ms. Powers Location: Room 6 Contact: [email protected]
Hours: If you need to schedule a meeting with me to discuss or make up anything, you must sign up for a time before or after school on an available day on the green sheet on the FIGHTING TIGERS board.
Course Description
This course is designed to provide students with a detailed study of multiple kinds of texts drawn from a number of different cultures, times, and genres. For the junior year, students will not only be taking the AP English Literature and Composition course, but they will also be working through their first year of the two year higher level IB Language A course. The expectations, standards, and assessments for both courses have similar features, which makes them compatible.
During this first year of IB Language A, the students will be completing Part 4 and Part 1 of the course in this order. Part 4 is free choice; therefore, the three works selected for the first semester were picked because not only do they all share a theme of identity, but they are also works that will aid the students in their efforts to succeed during the AP exam. Part 1 is works in translation (this is where AP and IB differentiate. This will be explained shortly). Three works have been selected from the IB prescribed translated list. These works not only fulfill the world literature requirement for IB, but these are also works students can use in their endeavor to succeed during the AP exam.
Here are the similarities and differences between the IB and AP expectations, standards, and assessments. Both consist of critical analytical written responses that not only identify themes, motifs, and literary devices, but explain and describe both their effects and contributions to the work. However, IB has a variety of assessments besides written assignments that determines the students IB grade and their IB diploma. Also, with IB being an international program, students are required to read world literature from a variety of cultures. AP English Literature and Composition focuses on British and American literature ranging from 16th century England to contemporary American literature. The selected texts are compatible for both courses. Course Objectives
- Developing the students’ power of expression
- Encouraging a personal appreciation of literature and understanding of the techniques involved in literary study as an artistic act and achievement
- Providing students with the opportunity to study literary classics and modern writing in different genres, styles, culture, and contexts
- Considering different ways of approaching and studying literature, engaging in close, detailed, and critical examination of a written text
- Enhance students’ attentiveness to details in order to notice patterns in ways that students can speak and write about each work as an artistic whole providing ample evidence from across the text in support of general claim they formulate and assert
- An increased awareness of possible bows towards the meaning of living, the role of nature, the possibilities in human relationships and designs of social order
- Increasing awareness of recurring elements which appear to promote and/or erode experience in the world
- Building their ability to not only consider the thematic implications of texts, but also the structural choices authors incorporate into their works as effective methods of conveying theme and constructing works of art
- Develop abilities to read critically in order to describe, explain, and interpret text
To these ends, students will be invited to read both deeply and broadly, to write and speak in various, standard, logical ways, and to write and speak in a variety of exploratory, creative ways.
Course Overview
First Semester
- Begin analytical preparation by studying How to Read Literature Like a Professor.
- Begin fulfilling IB Language A Part 4 requirements. Part 4 is free choice. The works that have been chosen are connected by a similar theme: identity. These works have also been chosen for the students to use for the AP English Literature and Composition free response in the writing section. The works are: The Poisonwood Bible, Othello, and Maus (we will be reading both volumes).
Second Semester ~ Part 1 for IB Language A
- Complete the 10-15 individual oral presentation to fulfill the internal assessment from Part 4. - Being fulfilling IB Language A Part 1 requirements. Part 1 is works in translation. The works have been selected from the IB prescribed list of translations. These works were also selected for students to use for AP exam. The works are: A Doll’s House, Antigone, and Persepolis (we will be reading both volumes). After each work, the students will complete three assessment components for Part 1: the individual oral assessment; the reflective statement; and the supervised writing.
- Segue into the poetry unit to prepare students for the AP exam.
- Review for the AP exam.
- Take the AP English Literature and Composition exam May 6th
- Complete the IB Written Assignment by May 29th
~ There will be a series of AP multiple choice practice tests, writing responses, and presentations (which are to prepare you for an IB assessment) over the course of the year. Expect one AP practice test each quarter, at least one AP written response each quarter, and one presentation at the end of each unit. Also, expect vocabulary tests over the course of year, which consist of literary devices you will use for the AP exam and IB assessments. I do not have concrete dates available yet. This will be update over time and once I have our class page and calendar set up.
Course Assessment Component
Homework 10% Classwork/Participation 15% Presentation/Performance/Project 20% Tests and Quizzes 25% (test are planned, pop quizzes are surprises) Writing 30%
Extra Credit Opportunity: During each quarter, students will complete an AP English Literature and Composition practice exam over a series of stages. The multiple choice section will be divided up and spread out during the quarter, as will the writing section. The multiple choice section will receive practice scores. The three writing responses will be graded. These scores will be combined to determine your mock AP exam score. This score will be awarded to your quarter grade as extra credit.
Other opportunities may arise depending on scholarly behavior and academic achievement.
Required Materials
- Pencils -Blue or black pens -Notebook paper -Folder/binder - 3 dividers. One for handouts (such as your syllabus, rubrics, etc), one for vocabulary/grammar, and one for notes.
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
- Persepolis volume 1 and 2 by Marjane Satrapi
- Othello by William Shakespeare (Dover thrift edition)
- A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
- Antigone by Sophocles (Fitts and Fitzgerald translated edition)
- Maus by Art Spiegleman
- Note cards
- Sticky notes
- High lighters
- Laptop or tablet if you have one
- I highly recommend the following: a flash drive, whiteout, mini-stapler, tape, colored pencils, and paperclips
IB Assessment Component
This IB Language A course is a higher level course, meaning the students will be taking this class over the span of two years. During these two years, the students will complete a variety of internal and external assessments. Internal assessments are scored by the teacher and moderated by IB. External assessments are sent off to IB to be scored. The assessments’ scores are added together to determine the IB grade and in turn affect if the student will earn his or her IB diploma.
External Assessments Score Written Assignment: 25
1,200-1,500 word essay on one work from Part 1 with its corresponding reflective statement. Done during your second semester junior year. The final product will be sent off during your second semester of senior year. Paper One: 20
Completed during your last semester of senior year. Paper Two: 25
Same as above. Internal Assessment Score Individual Oral Presentation 15
This is done during your junior year for Part 4. This will also count as your second semester exam. Individual Oral Commentary 15
This is done during the first semester of your senior year for Part 2.
IB will add all of your scores together. This will Example: determine your IB grade for this IB course, which in turn affects whether or not you earn your IB diploma. Written assignment 15/25 Paper one 15/20 Paper two 20/25 Oral assessments 20/30 (presentation score and commentary score are combined) 70/100=6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0-13 14-29 30-41 42-54 55-67 68-79 80-100
*From November 2012
AP Assessment Component
To better understand expectations of the AP English Literature and Composition, I have provided a breakdown of the exam.
There are two components to the AP exam: the multiple choice section and the written section.
You have sixty minutes to complete the first section. Normally, it consists of five passages with either fifty-four, fifty-five, or fifty-six questions to answer.
You have one hundred and twenty minutes to complete the second section. The second section consists of three prompts. The first two prompts include a poem and a passage from a work which you must analyze. The third prompt will include a list of novels and plays, one of which you must choose to use your analytical response. You can choose another work of literary merit that is not on the list if it does fit the prompt. The written responses are scored from 1-9, with 5 being the passing score.
Determining your score for section one (multiple-choice)
Step A: number of correct answers _28_ Step B: multiply the figure in Step A by 1.2272 to find your score (do not round) _34.5888_
Determining your score for section two (essay/written response)
Step A: Enter each score for each section- essay one- _5_, essay two-_5_, essay three-_5_
Step B: Add these three figures (15) and multiply by 3.0556 (do not round) _45.834_
Add the two section scores together: 81.4228 then round to the nearest whole: 81
Composite Score AP Grade 114-150 5 98-113 4 81-97 3 *you need a 3 at least to pass 53-80 2 0-52 1
School Policies
-Cell phones: they may be powered on, but must remain silent or on vibrate. During tests, they must be on silent. They are only to be to in use when instructed for class activities. You will receive a warning if you are using your phone outside of this instructed time and/or if you are using for purposes other than the activity at hand. If you do not listen to and following instructions, you will be sent to the dean’s office.
- No food or gum in the classroom. Only water may be consumed and it must be in a sealable container.
-Students have three days to get an absence excused.
-If you have an unexcused absence or suspension, you are allowed to make up the work, but cannot receive higher than 80% until the absence is excused. You must go to the absentee basket to collect any missed work. The amount of days you were out is the amount of days you have to make up your work.
-Any sort of technological problems does not excuse late work as per county policy.
-PHS is enforcing a no pass policy; therefore, bathroom passes are given only for emergencies; no more than five minutes. You must wear the vest when in the hall. When going to the nurse, you must wear the vest and have a pass.
-Tardy policy. The student receives a verbal warning for being late. 2. A tardy letter is sent home to the parent to be signed and returned. This is to let the parent be aware that if this occurs again the student will receive a referral. 3. The student will receive a referral.
IB Policy
Academic Probation Cheating Policy Lack of Effort Policy
Classroom Rules 1. Arrive to class on time with completed assignments, required materials, and a readiness to participate.
2. Listen to and follow directions the first time they are given.
3. During discussions, WE THINK: Well timed, Engaging, Truthful, Helpful, Insightful, Necessary, Knowledgeable
4. Be: Respectful, Polite, Well-mannered, Mature, Accountable, Responsible, Honest, and Positive.
5. Cell phones must be on silent or on vibrate. They be used for instructional purposes when permission is granted by me the instructor.
As per the PHS policy, these are the consequences for breaking rules: 1. You and I talk 2. Your parents and I talk 3. Detention 4. You and the dean talk
Classroom Procedures
Absence:
- Students have 3 days to get their absence excused.
- If your absence is unexcused or it is a suspension day, then the highest grade you can earn is an 80. Once your absence is excused, then your grade can be raised if you earned higher than an 80
- All make up work must be made up before/after school. The number of days you were out is the number of days you have to make up work.
- If you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain notes from a classmate, and to check the absentee basket for work. I
- If a student knows they will be missing school, they need to make arrangements to complete work ahead of time.
- I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE WORK! Students will not pass this course if their work is consistently late. I will not track you down to receive complete work.
Turning in assignments: work is submitted to the student’s period tray at the end of the class period.
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