AP Literature Class Policies
Contact Information
Instructor: Rachel Burke
Phone: (702) 799-1450
Email: [email protected]
Course Overview
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Brief Description of AP® English Literature and Composition
The purpose of this course is twofold:
A Note About Content Students and parents should be aware that AP® English Literature and Composition is a college course with college-level content and expectations. This course is rigorous; the reading, challenging; the writing, frequent. Furthermore, the coursework requires an independent mind. Students are expected to prepare for each class by reading the assigned work alertly, curiously, and critically, generating meaningful questions and ideas about the reading, questions and ideas that students then bring to thoughtful discussion. Students must be committed to listening and learning from one other as well as reading literary works closely. It is especially in this sharing of ideas that students become better readers and writers, that students truly become educated. In May, students will take the AP® English Literature and Composition Exam, which measures the ability to answer multiple-choice questions about literary style and meaning, to write essays analyzing demanding prose and poetry, and to write open-ended essays on the close reading of literature from the United Kingdom, the United States, and various other countries from around the world. Consequently, students will engage in activities that develop their critical reading and composition skillsannotations of texts; reading passages and multiple-choice literary analysis questions from released past AP® tests; whole-class discussions; frequent timed, in-class, analytic, expository, argumentative essays based on past AP® test prompts; and out-of-class extended essays involving literary analysis, comparison/contrast, narration and description, exposition and definition, argumentation and persuasion, and research. Additionally, students will receive regular feedback on their analysis and compositions skills from both peers and instructor. Students scoring a 3 or above on this exam are granted college credit at many colleges and universities in the United States. |
AP English Literature and Composition
Course and Exam Description (The "Blue Book") |
College Board Description
AP English Language and Composition Course |
The AP English Literature and Composition course focuses on reading, analyzing, and writing about imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from various periods. Students engage in close reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature to deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism. Writing assignments include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays that require students to analyze and interpret literary works.
College Course Equivalent The AP English Literature and Composition course aligns to an introductory college-level literature and writing curriculum. Prerequisites are no prerequisite courses for AP English Literature and Composition. Students should be able to read and comprehend college-level texts and write grammatically correct, complete sentences. |
What AP Stands For
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Thousands of Advanced Placement teachers have contributed to the principles articulated here. These principles are not new; they are, rather, a reminder of how AP already works in classrooms nationwide. The following principles are designed to ensure that teachers’ expertise is respected, required course content is understood, and that students are academically challenged and free to make up their own minds.
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Course Scope and Goals
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Overall Student Learning Goals
All AP Literature courses will meet or exceed the Common Core State Standards for English 12. |
Student Responsibilities
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Texts and Textbooks
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Text Appropriateness and Controversial Subjects
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This course is intended to prepare senior students for further work at the college level, and in keeping with that level of academic sophistication, the texts -- essays, excerpts, written pieces, textbook examples, and other written work recommended or provided during the course -- are of a nature and quality appropriate to most college-bound seniors.
Frankly speaking, this means that from time to time our texts or discussions may address controversial issues, or may be chosen from controversial sources. If texts and issues of this nature might offend you or your family to the point where you feel you will not be able to read the texts fully, write about them, and discuss them with others, you and your family are urged to consult with me to find a mutually appropriate alternative. |
Supplies
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Students are expected to bring in all of the following all of the time:
For the most part, this is a pencil-free classroom. You are expected to turn in all written work in pen or typed. Students are expected to bring all notes, notebooks, necessary texts, and work with them on a daily basis. The notebook will contain homework, notes, returned work, and class handouts. In the event of a grade dispute, the student's graded work is proof that s/he has completed the work and received a grade. Without that proof, the student may be required to resubmit or redo an assignment. |
Tardiness
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION |
Tardiness is a serious disruption to the educational program. Every student is required to be in his/her seat when the tardy bell rings. With that in mind, the school tardy policy will be strictly enforced.
Please also be aware I may give bellwork quizzes, readiness points, or Do Nows that will need to be made up on your free time. |
Grades
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Grading Scale
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Standards of Preparation
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Default Format for Essays and Projects
Default Format for Informal Writing, Homework, Classwork
Work will not be accepted until it has met preparation guidelines. If you are here on a due date, but your work is not ready to be turned in, you very well might receive a “0” if I am assessing preparation points that day, and your work will be returned to you for revision. If there are serious extenuating circumstances (e.g., family emergency) that prevented you from being fully prepared, please have your parents contact me at [email protected], and I will be happy to speak to them. Grammar, usage, mechanics, spelling, clarity, and observance of MLA style will count on most assignments. |
Make-Up and Late Work
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Make-up Work/Late Work/Retakes:
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Attendance and Absence
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Attendance
A student is considered present/participating for an attendance day and course based on the following definitions:
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Classroom Behavior
During Class
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Essential Rules
Behavior Expected at the Beginning of Class
Behavior During Class
Procedure If Absent
Corridor and Bathroom Pass Procedure
Nurse Passes
Routine Behavior During Class
Ending Class
Care of School and Personal Property
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Electronic Devices
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Electronic Device Policy - IN-PERSON
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Consequences
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Consequences for a student’s choice to violate classroom or school rules will proceed according to CCSD and school policy.
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Food, Drink, Candy, or Gum
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION |
Food, Drink, Candy, or Gum
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Substitute Teachers
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Substitute Teachers, Guest Teachers, Observers
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Care of School and Personal Property
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION |
Classroom Care
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Citizenship
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Citizenship Grades
Please be aware that the "S" (Satisfactory) is the default grade most students will receive. O = Outstanding
S= Satisfactory
U = Unsatisfactory
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Items Unique to This Classroom
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Evaluation of Written Work
Redone Work Redone or make-up work will be handled according to school and district policy.
Please be aware that I am happy at any time to go over a student’s paper with them n detail and explain issues or areas of improvement. Regrettably, it would not be possible for all errors or problems to be pointed out in writing during paper evaluation. If a student is unsure of how to fix a problem, they are eagerly encouraged to seek help after or before school or through email. |
Bias Prevention
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION |
In order to prevent potential positive or negative bias, much of your work (including but not restricted to papers, compositions, essays, tests, projects, or other work) will be submitted under classroom-appropriate pseudonyms of the student’s own invention. A grade will assigned before I am aware of the student’s true identity. Students are advised not to use the same pseudonym over and over or it stops being a pseudonym and becomes a nickname. Also, students are advised to please keep track of all pseudonym because if I don't know that a piece of writing was completed by a particular student, I have to mark the work as a "zero" in my grade book until the writing is claimed. Please be aware that your pseudonyms are to be classroom-appropriate. Use of profanity, innuendo, hate speech, racist/sexist/discriminatory/offensive language is prohibited at all times and may require intervention with parents, counselors, or administrators. |
Academic Honesty
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Plagiarism and Cheating
Academic dishonesty, also known as plagiarism, can be defined as taking credit for, presenting as one’s own, or putting into one’s own words the words, ideas, concepts, analyses, thought, creative products, or data of another person or organization without giving appropriate written credit to that person or organization in the form of both internal citation and a works cited list provided in one’s own document. Plagiarism also includes improper or incorrect citation. Cheating can be defined as a form of plagiarism (above) or as using the products of another person’s mind or an external source of data to provide answers on an examination, a written assignment, a project, or other coursework or activity. For a full definition of academic dishonesty, please see the CCSD Honor Code.
Honesty in Classwork, Tests, Homework Please presume that all work done for this class, unless clearly specified otherwise, is to be the product of an individual student's mind working alone. If you are not sure whether it would be okay to work with someone else or get help from someone, ASK ME. If you cannot ask me, then WORK ALONE. "Getting help" from another person to the point where the integrity of the student's own work comes under question is not advised in the least and may lead to the teacher's decision that the work violates the academic honesty policy. Copying, "borrowing," or "getting help" from another student when the work is expected to have been done individually may possibly result in consequences for academic dishonesty. I will almost never have group projects, group grades, or group products. Please do not assume that you should be working together on a graded piece of work, especially writing. |
Dear Parents: Please complete the following pages, remove them from the packet, and return the pages to school as soon as possible. I will also be happy to receive an email or text from you with this same information. Thank you for your help.
1. Film Permission Form
Dear Parents,
There may be times in which we show films during the course. Obviously, all films in class will follow the CCSD policy that no movies PG-13 or above will be shown; however, I would like to secure your permission to show films rated PG. Some examples of films that might be shown in class include the following:
- Sense and Sensibility (1995), starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet
- Pride and Prejudice (2005), starring Keira Knightley or the 1995 television version with Colin Firth
- Twelfth Night (1996), starring Helena Bonham Carter
- Die Zauberflote (1991), starring Kathleen Battle
- My Fair Lady, starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison
- Selected scenes from various productions of Shakespeare's Macbeth, including the Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Orson Welles, and Michael Fassbender versions.
- Selected scenes from various productions of Shakespeare's King Lear, including Ian Holm, Anthony Hopkins, and other performances.
- A Doll's House, with Anthony Hopkins and Claire Bloom
Please let me know if you would prefer to have your student exempted from these activities. She or he will be given alternative work and will not be penalized in any way for opting out of the film. If you would like to contact me to discuss this or other concerns, please feel free to do so at [email protected]
_____________ I give my permission for my child to watch PG films such as the ones listed above
_____________ I do NOT give permission for my child to watch PG films. Please give her or him an alternative assignment.
Parent signature:________________________________________ Parent of:_______________________
Printed name:_________________________________________________
2. Acknowledgement of Course Expectations
We have read and discussed the course description and expectations.
____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Student’s name [last, first] Student’s Signature
____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Parent Name Parent Signature
________________________________ ________________________________
Home phone Work/Cell phone
Email Address: __________________________________________________________
Thank you for being my students. I look forward to being your teacher.