1. AP Literature second semester
Welcome back. I am glad you’re here 

2. My observations: Writing continues to improve
Check list seems to help
Some take it to heart and make noticeable changes
Writing needs to become more driven by personal goal setting
If I had to pick a few general issues: vocab. choices, wordiness- need to cut the fat!, sentence construction problems (commas), observational topic sentences/thesis statements
Need to be specific in your focus. Remember the Mad Libs Assignment?

3. My desires:
I’d like to see more diversity in interactions with one another You know who you are.
I’d like to see more active participation. Your questions / concerns need to be addressed, not only my agenda!
I’d like to see more connection beyond the book. What is learned about the human experience?
I’d like you to build go-to’s for yourself.

4. Let’s touch base on a few things these first few weeks:
Source titles—what do you do with them?
You need to know and consistently apply that knowledge
MLA citations and Works Cited pages– it needs to become second nature and flawlessly executed
Sentencing:
Semicolons, commas and colons—we are using them haphazardly and shouldn’t be
Comma-only use when there is a rule calling for its use
Tracking sources for AP test—let’s start making this a priority, so we don’t need to scramble in the end

5. The line up for Semester 2:
Overarching theme: Man’s Search for Meaning; Existentialism
More small group discussion on reading
Bi-monthly AP practice test (M.C. and Timed Prompt)

6. The line up for Semester 2:
The Metamorphosis
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Independent novel of choice (oppression related; Non-Western Literature)
Research process (primary/secondary sources/ MLA review)
Oppression Essay (12-15 page research paper)
The Stranger (Albert Camus)
The Myth of Sisyphus (essay by Camus)
A Clean Well-Lighted Place (short story by Ernest Hemingway)
“The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock” (poem by T.S. Eliot)
The Truman Show (movie)

7. The line up for Semester 2:
Poetry unit #2 (various poems plus specifically Robert Browning)
Timed writing on dramatic monologues (prompt 1 focus)
Short Story and excerpted fiction unit (prompt 2 focus)
Novel= Crime and Punishment
Prep and review for AP Exam (8am Thursday, May 8)
Modern novel independent reading (time permitting)
Existentialism final project*
Vocabulary: Tone Words

8. Excused Absences:
If you are absent or if you need copies of work previously distributed, you are expected to visit my website: and click on the appropriate Course Calendar in the menu on the left side of the screen. A new screen will contain a calendar on which you can see each day’s activities and download materials provided in class (unless otherwise noted).

9. For Today:
Student Information Sheet
One Unique Thing