Advance Placement Literature and Composition – Grade 12

Course Description and Expectations

 

Teacher:    Mrs. Kelly Castillo

        (919)773-3838

        kcastillo@wcpss.net

 

Course Description

This course is designed to instruct students in analyzing and writing about literature (literary fiction and poetry). Also, this course will prepare students for taking the Advanced Placement exam in English Literature and Composition to earn college credit. The AP Literature and Composition exam consists of 3 timed writing prompts (prose, poetry, and open) and 60 multiple choice questions based on prose and poetry passages.

 

 

To achieve the goals and objectives set by the College Board and state curriculum, this course will be split into 2 major sections; poetry and short stories. However, novels will be read at home throughout the course. The novels we will focus on this semester include:

 

1. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austin

 

1. Hamlet – William Shakespeare

 

1. Frankenstein – Mary Shelley

 

1. 1984 – George Orwell

 

1. A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens

 

Supplies Needed:

​

• Three ring binder with loose leaf paper

• Notebook dividers

• A multi-pack of highlighters (multiple colors)

• Blue or black pen

• Pencils

• AP Literature and Composition Exam Review Book

 

Grading

Class work/Homework – 20%

Multiple Choice – 30%

Timed Writing – 40 %

Research projects – 10%

(Grading scale may be adjusted at teacher’s discretion to accommodate assignments.)

    

 

Class Expectations

Please know ahead of time that I expect a great deal from each of you. I know you are prepared for a challenge and you have high expectations for yourself and your future. I do not take these expectations lightly – it is my job to prepare you for whatever may come next. You will have homework each night in my class, and sometimes you will be working on two novels or projects at once. Life does not wait for you to complete one thing before throwing you another; I want you to be ready.

 

Required Standards of Work and Writing

1. All out of class essays must be typed in 12pt., Times New Roman Font and doubled spaced.

2. Late work is NOT accepted. However, I assign a grade of 40 to an out of class assignment not completed. The grade of zero is given when an in-class assignment is refused and in instances of plagiarism.

3. Each student is responsible for his/her own make-up assignments due to an absence. Arrangements must be made with the teacher to obtain and complete all make-up assignments.

4. A missed test, quiz, timed writing, and/ question set must be made up within 2 days of returning to class.

5. Assigned books must be brought to class DAILY.

6. Each student is expected to be on time. The MCHS tardy policy will be followed.

7. Plagiarism of any kind will receive a zero and the parent will be contacted.

8. This is a college level course; therefore, each student is expected to maintain a much higher level of work and standard than in a normal high school course.

9. Each student is expected to take the national AP exam.