Parent Newsletter

AP English Literature Update

Thursday April 3

Good morning parents,

I hope this update finds you well! This week we are reading the play Macbeth by Shakespeare, and taking reading notes that will help students prepare for the AP English Literature exam in May. 

During Unit 8 we will study poetry, including sonnets, and we will annotate and analyze literary techniques and themes in poetry. We will hone our skills in close reading and literary interpretation using AP-style assessments Students will also apply literary techniques in to develop complexity in their own original poems, and they will practice writing a poetry interpretation essay.

In Unit 9, we will review the skills and concepts we have learned throughout the year, and we will prepare our own writing for publication. Students will have the opportunity to publish their work in a literary magazine or to even develop their own book!  

Please feel free to email me with questions, comments or concerns. Thank you for supporting your students' success, and I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend! 

Sincerely,

Ms. Ntoso

Last month in class we...

• Practiced writing AP Literature exam essays

• Read and discussed literary techniques and character development the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare

• Completed a full-length practice AP exam including multiple choice questions and free-response essays

Assignments due this month:

• 8.3 Unit 5 Progress Check MCQ (in class Thursday 4/10)

• 8.X Unit 7 Progress Check MCQ (in class Wednesday 4/16) 

• 8.X Unit 5 Progress Check FRQ (in class Thursday 4/17) 

• 8.X Poem Draft (in class Tuesday 4/22)

• 8.X Poem Revision & Commentary (due in class Friday 4/25)

• 9.X Literary Magazine Submission (due in class Tuesday 4/29)

• 9.X Literary Podcast Discussion (due in class Friday 5/2)

• 9.X Manuscript First Draft (due in class Friday 5/9)

Supporting success:

• Please review the Tips for Success webpage with your student. These are helpful tips not only for this AP Literature course, but also for most college-level courses.

• If your student will be absent, please have them email me. I am happy to send information about what we are doing in class, and students can often submit assignments online or via email.

• Please do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions, concerns or feedback. It is a joy to work with each of your students, and I look forward to hearing from you!

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AP English Literature Update

Friday October 11

Good morning parents,

I hope this update finds you well! In class we have finished Unit 1, which introduced students to the fundamentals of literary practice as part of an intellectual community, and we examined the elements of narrative writing. We practiced using mentor texts to expand our writing skills, analyzed characterization and narration in short fiction stories, and started writing our own literary narratives. Not only does our literary practice support creativity and critical thinking, but it also builds community, as students have been sharing their work in class and giving detailed feedback to one another.

During Unit 2 we will study poems from We Borrowed Gentleness, a collection by contemporary Houston poet J. Estanislao Lopez. We will annotate and analyze literary techniques and themes in a poem. Students will also apply literary techniques in writing their own original poems, and we will end the unit with an open mic "poetry café" celebrating all of the intellectual creativity in our classroom community!

In Unit 3, we will study a novel and write a novel of our own! Students are excited about the challenge of writing a book, and I encourage you to talk with your student regularly about their literary work. Parents, if you are interested in writing a book, please consider joining us in this November challenge! Feel free to email me at antoso@cristoreyjesuit.org or send a Remind message--I am happy to provide resources and support! 

In preparation for Unit 3, students will need to purchase a copy of one of the following novels by Friday October 18: 

• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

• 1984 by George Orwell

• The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

I also recommend purchasing page flags. These are incredibly helpful, and they make it much easier for students to find the quotes and passages they would like to use for writing assignments.

Please reach out to me via email or Remind message if purchasing the book will be a financial burden for your family. I can find funds to purchase on your behalf, but I need to know asap!

Please feel free to email me with questions, comments or concerns. Thank you for supporting your students' success, and I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend! 

Sincerely,

Ms. Ntoso

This month in class we...

• Annotated and analyzed a short fiction story

• Wrote a character sketch using imagery and indirect characterization

• Discussed connections between highly specific details and universal and profound themes in literature

• Practiced writing literary interpretation paragraphs 

• Practiced AP format multiple choice questions

• Shared specific positive constructive feedback  on classmates' writing 

Assignments due this month:

• 2.3 Poetry Annotation (in class Tuesday 10/15)

• 2.4 Poem Draft (in class 10/16)

• 2.5 Unit 2 Progress Check MCQ (in class Friday 10/18)

• 2.6 Line of Reasoning & Thesis (in class Tuesday 10/22)

• 3.1 Historical, Social, Cultural Literary Context Notes (in class 10/24)

• 3.2 Dialectical Journal / Reading Notes (in class 10/25)

• 3.3 Reading & Vocabulary Quiz #1  (in class Tuesday 10/29)

Lessons, readings, resources and assignments for Unit 2 can be found on the course website. 

Supporting success:

• Please review the Tips for Success webpage with your student. These are helpful tips not only for this AP Literature course, but also for most college-level courses.

• If your student will be absent, please have them email me. I am happy to send information about what we are doing in class, and students can often submit assignments online or via email.

• Please do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions, concerns or feedback. It is a joy to work with each of your students, and I look forward to hearing from you!

_______________________________________________________

Welcome to AP English Literature
with Ms. Ntoso!

Thursday August 29

Welcome parents! My name is Abena Ntoso, and I will be your student's AP English Literature teacher this year. You can learn more about me here, and you can learn more about the AP English Literature course here.

AP English Literature is an exciting exploration of poetry, fiction, and drama from around the world. We will approach the study of literature as scholars and as authors, discussing and writing about literature and writing our own poetry and fiction. 

Every few weeks I will update this parent newsletter with a short summary of what we are doing in class, assignments due, and ideas for supporting your student's success. Lessons, readings, resources and assignments will be updated and available on the course website at the start of each week. 

Please feel free to email me with questions, comments or concerns. I look forward to a great year of learning and growing! 

This month in class we...

• Created and shared digital writing portfolios

• Experimented with narrator point of view (POV) in our writing

• Learned about mentor texts, the stages of the writing process, and the difference between reflexive and extensive writing 

• Used imagery and concrete details in our writing

• Analyzed characterization, setting, and context in two short fiction stories

• Wrote a character sketch for a short fiction story

• Wrote analytical feedback using literary terminology

Assignments due in August & September:

• 1.2 Author Bio & Reflection (due Friday 8/16)

• 1.8 Characterization & Setting Notes (due Monday 8/26)

• 1.9 Intro to Literary Practice Terminology Quiz (in class Wednesday 8/28)

• Character Sketch (due today, Friday 8/29)

• 1.10 Character Sketch & Feedback (in class Tuesday 9/3) 

• 1.12-1.15 Short Fiction Annotations & Notes (due in class Friday 9/13)

• 1.16 Narration Analysis (in class Thursday 9/12 & Friday 9/13)

• 1.17 Fiction Terminology Quiz (in class Tuesday 9/17)

• 1.18 Unit 1 Progress Check MCQ (in class Tuesday 9/17)

• 1.22 Author's Commentary (in class Friday 9/20)

• 1.23 Feedback Letter (in class Tuesday 9/24 & Wednesday 9/25)

Lessons, readings, resources and assignments for Unit 1 can be found on the course website. 

Supporting success:

• Please remind your student to bring their laptop to school each day, fully charged. Many of our course readings and resources are online.

• If your student will be absent, please have them email me. I am happy to send information about what we are doing in class, and students can often submit assignments online or via email.

• Please do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions, concerns or feedback. I look forward to getting to know you and your student!

_______________________________________________________