Welcome to AP English Literature 12.
For perspective students looking to take AP English Literature 12 or who have signed up for the course and are waiting to get into it take a look at the Reading List tab above. Also check out the Advice from Previous years tab to see what students who have take the course say to those about to take the course.
For students currently taking AP Lit 12 please check out the AP Lit 12 Class Blog for current and past summaries of classes and assignments.
Schedule (Tentative for Sept 2025)
Week 1: Intro/Terms and Understanding/ Thesis Writing
Thesis statements assignment.
Week 2: Short Fiction Explored: Short stories looking at character, setting, and plot.
Stories Covered; “Girl” Jamaica Kincaid, “Hills Like White Elephants” Ernest Hemingway, “A Rose for Emily” William Falkner, “The Yellow Wallpaper” Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Week 3: Short Fiction Explored: Short stories looking at style, symbols and writing
Stories covered; “A&P” John Updike, “The Lottery” Shirley Jackson, “The Move” Gabrielle Roy, “Story of an Hour” Kate Chopin, In-Class Writing assignment.
Week 4: Short Fiction Explored: imagery and voice
Stories covered; what ever ones we did not get to from the last two weeks. Another in class writing assignment perhaps.
Week 5: Poetry Explored: Looking at Character and Setting, writing response
Various works. In-Class Writing Assignment
Week 6: Poetry Explored: Looking at Sound and Shape. Writing response
Various works.
Week 7: Poetry Explored: Looking at Imagery, Attitude, Metaphor and Symbolism
Various works. In-Class Writing Assignment
Week 8: Examining something you read and more on how to do that (threads). – merit, style, and close reading then writing.
The Things they Carried Tim O’Brien, or The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald, or Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte, or Other. In-Class Writing Assignment
Week 9: Essay work and writing workshops, plus follow up on extra novels.
Week 10: Novel Explored: Examining Frankenstein Mary Shelly.
Week 11: Novel Explored: Examining Frankenstein. Writing response
In-Class Writing Assignment
Week 12: Novel Explored: Examining Frankenstein Mary Shelly. Writing Response
Week 13: Drama explored: Examining Hamlet.
Week 14: Drama explored: Examining Hamlet. Writing response
In-Class Writing Assignment
Week 15: Drama explored: Examining Hamlet. Transition to Modern Drama
Week 16: Drama explored: Examining Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. In class writing.
Week 17: Persuasive focus, Creative response
Week 18: AP Exam preparation/ Reflecting/ Exit Interviews
Ongoing through out the course will be writing workshops and writers conferences, as well as historical context lessons and an overview of literary movements.
Course Objectives:
§ Students carefully read and analyze works of both British and North American writers as well as works written in several genres from the sixteenth century to contemporary times.
§ Student is able to speak upon and write an interpretation of a piece of literature that is based on a careful observation of textual details.
§ Students have frequent opportunities to write and rewrite formal, extended analyses and timed in-class responses. The course requires:
-Writing to Understand: Informal, exploratory writing activities
-Writing to Explain: Expository, analytical essays
-Writing to Evaluate: Analytical, argumentative essays
§ The AP teacher will provide instruction and feedback on students’ writing assignments, both before and after the students revise their work.
Required Texts and Materials:
· The Things They Carried -Tim O’Brien (pre-course reading)
· Jane Eyre-Charlotte Bronte (pre-course reading)
· The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald (pre-course reading)
· Frankenstein-Mary Shelley
· Hamlet-William Shakespeare
· In addition to the above readings, you will be reading several short stories, poems, and excerpts from larger works.
Discussion
Discussion will be a regular and weekly part of the class content and an excellent way to deepen understanding of the material. You will be expected to participate in the class discussions.
You will also be called upon once or twice to present material or lead discussion.
Technology
Students will be expected to follow my web site (https://sites.google.com/view/culbert-english?usp=sharing) and go to the AP pages for the daily blog and relevant information. As well as be a part of AP Class Room (see me for details) and occasionally check Teams for messages. Students are allowed to bring computers to complete writing assignments on. Using A.I. to complete writing tasks or engaging in any level of plagiarism will result in immediate and severe academic consequences.