NAME OF COURSE: Advanced Placement Literature and Composition (141)
INSTRUCTOR: Mark Cormier, office 133, (413) 565-4220, ext. 2390, mcormier@longmeadow.k12.ma.us
COURSE OVERVIEW
This full-year course features the study of World literature using advanced literary analysis. Taught at a college-level pace and with a particular emphasis on preparing for the AP exam, students study poetry, novels, short stories, drama, and nonfiction from a diverse group of writers, including those historically marginalized. Texts are chosen from various periods with appropriate consideration of historical and cultural contexts. Additionally, teacher-selected and student-choice works supplement the reading curriculum. Students must demonstrate intellectual independence, strong reading habits, and a mastery of critical writing skills. Writing, grammar, vocabulary, and research instruction focus on improving students' facility with language in both written and oral formats. All students enrolled in the course are encouraged to sit for the AP English Literature and Composition Exam.
Literature
Round 1 (September, October, November, December)
- Summer Reading
- Poetry
- Short Fiction
- Major Works: Homegoing, Gyasi, Antigone, Sophocles
- Outside Reading options:* Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston, The Picture of
Dorian Gray, Wilde, and Oedipus the King, Sophocles
Round 2 (January, February, March, April, May)
- Poetry (& Poetry Research Paper starts)
- Short Fiction
- Major Work: Hamlet, Shakespeare, In the Time of the Butterflies, Alvarez
- Final Test Preparation
- Outside Reading options:* The Underground Railroad, Whitehead, The Kite Runner, Hosseini, Jane Eyre,
C. Bronte, Wuthering Heights, E. Bronte, Oliver Twist, Dickens, Fences, Wilson
* May be adjusted at teacher’s discretion
All Year: AP Test Preparation: Handling the Challenges of the Exam
-some timed, in-class essays
-some practice multiple choice tests
-analysis of previously evaluated College Board essays
Composition
Primarily analytical
Anticipate 4-5 major essays/quarter (through quarters 1 and 2), then
One major research paper on a writer’s poetry or short fiction
Important Note on the Writing Process
Students are required to draft and submit typed written work on Google Docs. This stipulation
allows for me to see the live-time drafting process with time stamps in order to ensure that the student's submission is their own work.
TEXTBOOKS/SOFTWARE
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, 8th Ed., Kennedy and Gioia; The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition, Fowler and Aaron; Sound and Sense, ed. Perrine; The Underground Railroad, Whitehead; The Things They Carried, O’Brien; Jane Eyre, Bronte; Wuthering Heights, Bronte; Homegoing, Gyasi; Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston; Death of a Salesman, Miller; The Tempest, Shakespeare; Twelfth Night, Shakespeare, Others TBD
CLASS WEBSITE & GMAIL
Students will be required to join Google Classroom, where class announcements, homework, and handouts will be posted. It should be consulted regularly, especially when a student has missed class. Students are also expected to check their school-issued gmail regularly.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
1) Assigned texts and handouts, 2) pens, 3) notebook, 4) Chromebook
GRADING
Each homework assignment, test, quiz, essay, project, etc. will be assigned a point value (e.g. major test: 120 points, vocabulary quiz: 25 points, essay: 50 points, homework: 10 points). At the end of the marking period, the total number of points that you have earned will be divided by the total number of points available during that quarter. Point totals for each quarter do vary, but students should expect the opportunity to earn approximately 500 points each marking period (essays: 400 points; quizzes: 100 points).
ATTENDANCE
It matters. English classes are largely conversation based. Frequent absences truly deny you the experience that makes the class most valuable: learning through purposeful conversations with your peers.
SUBMITTING WORK LATE DUE TO ABSENCE & MAKE-UPS
If you cut a class, you receive a zero for any work due in or done during that class. In addition, you will receive a 10-point penalty on your quarter average.
If you are absent and miss a class, consult Google Classroom for classwork and homework. See me the following day, whether or not your class meets. If homework was not collected through Google Classroom, be prepared to submit it. If you missed a quiz, test, or in-class essay, be ready to make it up, unless we mutually agree upon another day.
If you miss class, but are in school any part of the day (for example, doctors’ appointments, field trips, etc.), assignments must be submitted on time. You also must see me that day to make arrangements to take any quiz or exam missed that day.
If you are absent more than one day consecutively, keep up with class and homework as best you can. See me as soon as possible when you return so that a reasonable schedule can be set up for missed work.
If you know beforehand that you will be absent from class or school, check in with me so that we can set up reasonable expectations for submitting work early or when you get back.
Due dates for major papers, tests, or presentations will be announced approximately one week in advance.
EXTRA HELP
I am available most days after school in room 133 until 3:15 PM. Students are encouraged to make appointments when possible.
COURSE AND CLASSROOM POLICIES
GENERAL PREPARATION: Students are expected to arrive to each class, in-person or remotely, prepared with appropriate texts and materials. Failing to do so will result in a 10-point deduction from a student’s quarterly point total (explained above).
GENERAL BEHAVIOR: Students are expected to treat one another with respect, as they should expect to be treated.
CLASS DISCUSSION: Students are strongly encouraged to participate in class discussion. Essential to the learning process, purposeful conversations give students the opportunity to articulate their ideas and consider those of their classmates and teacher. In other matters regarding classroom behavior, students are expected to adhere to the regulations outlined in the Student Handbook.
MATURE TOPICS: We remind students and parents/guardians that literature, both classic and contemporary, often includes mature topics. While authors portray these difficult situations to truthfully explore human experience, we are cognizant that these topics may also evoke strong emotions. We believe strongly that the high school classroom is a safe and appropriate place to encounter and responsibly discuss these topics, and encourage further discussion between parents/guardians and students outside of the classroom.
TECHNOLOGY: Cell phones and Chromebooks may only be used when specifically permitted by the teacher. Students will be assigned a numbered pocket in the phone “hotel” that is near the door of the classroom; they are expected to get in the habit of placing their phone in that pocket as they enter the classroom.
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM: Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will be assigned a zero for that particular assignment. Additionally, plagiarized work will result in a referral to the school administration as well as a conference with the student’s parents/guardians. Work that is plagiarized mocks the learning process and calls into doubt the integrity of the student.
In particular,
Use of artificial intelligence/large language models for any stage of the work process constitutes plagiarism, unless your teacher has explicitly provided guidance and direction for its use on an individual assignment or assessment.
Copying another student’s homework or completing work as a group (unless directed to do so) constitutes
cheating.
Students will be required to submit writing to Turnitin.com, which is equipped with an originality report and AI detector.
TESTS/QUIZZES: Students should expect quizzes that are both announced and unannounced on a regular basis. All tests will be announced at least one week in advance.
LATE WORK: Submitting work (primarily essays) after the due date is strongly discouraged, unless unusual circumstances exist. Students will be penalized one letter grade per day for three days. No work will be accepted after three days, unless circumstances dictate otherwise (illness, family or personal situations) NOTE: Homework may be submitted one day late, ONLY if the assignment was not addressed in class the day that it was due.
EXTRA-CREDIT: Generally, there will be no extra-credit work assigned (except in December!). Occasionally an essay contest or something similar may be provided as an extra-credit opportunity.
12th GRADE EXAM EXEMPTION: Students must meet the following two expectations in order to be eligible for exemption on the final exam: 1) Per school policy, students must have an 83 yearly average, and 2) Per English Department policy,
students must also maintain a fourth quarter average of 83. NOTE: Per school policy, final exam exemptions are at individual teacher’s discretion, regardless of Y1 and Q4 averages.
In the interest of fairness, students who choose not to sit for the AP Literature and Composition exam must sit for a final exam, regardless of their yearly or quarter average.