A Note About Content in AP Literature Readings
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Content in AP Readings
As part of the curriculum, and in accordance with NRS 6150, professional staff must choose texts “in a manner that is inclusive and responsive to the diversity of persons without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, creed/religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or age.” Therefore, it is in the best interest of both students and professional staff to read text in alignment with state standards. These texts will also enrich the common experience that students need as a base for higher education and civic responsibility. To those aims, the texts below have been chosen and may lay bare the sometimes uncomfortable truths about what it means to be human. As these are independently-chosen works, your student is NOT OBLIGATED to read only the works on this list and MAY, after consultation with the teacher prior to proceeding with the unit, choose a work that will appropriately challenge them for AP-level analysis. A list of the works that have appeared most often on the AP Language examination since 1971 can be found here. Please feel free to start with this list. The English department encourages you to read along with your student and have discussions about these topics. |
Procedure and Assessment
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What You Will Do
You will choose a work from the list below and become the master of that work. You're expected to read it, of course, but also to read ABOUT it. My strong advice is for you to start with Wikipedia and move outward from there. If there's a film version, then see the film. If it's in translation from another language you speak, read it in that language as well. Be familiar with current or common critical views of your work of literature by browsing articles or reviews or essays. They can often be helpful, even if you don't happen to agree with them. How You Will Be Assessed We will set aside some days for independent reading assessment. On that day, it's going to work a lot like it will on the exam: You'll come in with your brain and a pen and be prepared to respond in writing to a released AP free-response prompt which will be graded using the AP rubric. I will probably pick a question from this list.
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Preparing for Assessment
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How You Should Prepare
In addition to reading (obviously) and annotating (obviously), you should do some or all of the following:
ABSOLUTELY do the following:
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Frequently Asked Questions
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FAQs
Do I have to buy the book? No, although it's probably the simplest possible option. Amazon has books for very little money, as does Amber Unicorn (a local Vegas used bookstore). Many works are available online for free in the public domain or are free for downloading on Kindle or the Kindle app. If you do not wish to make a purchase, you may certainly check it out from the public library if you desire. What if I don't really read the book and just pretend I did? That's on you. I don't let you make up or redo the in-class essays using the same prompt. That will be a grade that you will live with, basically, and the AP has a tendency to expose superficial or incomplete understanding of a text. It would be a very unwise choice. Can I have the book with me during the test? No. Can I choose a book not on this list? Yes, but you MUST clear it with me IN ADVANCE. If you haven't cleared it with me, you will lose potentially all of the points for the in-class assessment, part of the purpose of which is to familiarize you with college- and AP-level works. How do I know this work doesn't contain passages, scenes, or themes that are objectionable to me? I can't tell you what you find objectionable. My strong advice is for you to read Amazon reviews, Goodbooks reviews, or visit Kidsinmind.org or similar sites to get a sense of issues that might be problematic. If you have a problem with all of the works, suggest one of similar literary quality and we'll discuss and see if we can come to a mutually satisfactory arrangement. Please remember that AP Literature is a college-level class and that many works on independent reading lists are geared toward a general adult audience and therefore deal with adult subject matter. Most Frequently Cited AP Texts See list here. |
Round 2 Authors and Works: Gothic and Horror Note: These works were written by adults for an general adult audience. Please preview these works and determine in advance if they are right for you |
Round 2 Authors and Works: Gothic and Horror
Books with an asterisk are generally acceptable to most audiences.
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