Weeks of April 23 and 30
Literary Terms/Allusion Information:
Throughout the semester we will be reviewing the most common literary terms you will see on the AP exam in May. As we read short stories and novels we will apply those terms to the reading, but you should be familiar with all of them! It sounds silly, but I highly recommend using flash cards to keep up. I will be giving you literary terms quizzes along the way to be sure you understand the terms. The quizzes will have both matching and application questions. The first 15 will be quiz #1, quiz #2 will cover terms 16-30 and so on. Be sure you are reviewing the older terms as well they could appear on quizzes again. We will also work on allusions which should help with both writing essays and the multiple choice section of the AP test. You should get a pack of 5x8 index cards to complete these activities. The first allusion workshop card was on the myth Daedalus and Icarus. The second allusion card should was on Dante's Inferno. We will also be discussing archetypes - please keep up with the archetype handout as you will need it to complete the archetype activity that goes along with ... wait for it ... the movie SHREK! You will be watching the movie in class and completing the viewing guide but you will need the archetype handout to do so. I left that activity in Microsoft Word in case you would like to type your answers later. You should read the "Archetypes and the Unconscious in Harry Potter" while we are watching the movie to help you understand the assignment a little better. Be sure you print out the reading of the critical lens through Red Riding Hood article and bring it to class to help you complete the last page of the assignment. THE FINAL LITERARY TERMS BIG TEST WILL BE ON ON THURSDAY (5/3) OR FRIDAY (5/4). THIS WILL COVER ALL THE TERMS FROM THIS YEAR!
Literary Terms Master List Allusion Workshop Directions Common Biblical Allusions
Archetype and Symbol Handout Red Riding Hood - Critical Lens Archetypes in Harry Potter Article
General Writing Information:
Recently we have been working on creating solid thesis statements in our essays by completing a thesis examination worksheet. In addition, we will work with the AP Released Prompts packet in class. Please don't lose this; we will reference it throughout the course! We also discussed the common writing vocabulary and did a quick exercise about cohesive essays in order to improve our writing. We also worked on the timed essay where you will have 20 minutes to complete a response to a quote. This should help you understand the importance of quality over quantity. We also worked on imagery essay practice and you should have completed this essay outside of class. Next we completed the style essay - you will be looking at two different excerpts of writing and comparing and contrasting the author's style (found below). Next we focused on diction - this didn't require an essay, but asked you to complete some diction thesis statements. We will complete a sentence combining activity on Goldilocks and the Three Bears to help determine what is actually the most important information needed and work on transitions. This week we worked on Fuzzy Pronouns and about making sure our pronouns and antecedents are very clear. The fuzzy pronoun annihilation sheet is due on Friday 4/13 for A day and Wednesday 4/19 for B day.
Theses - An Examination WS Timed Essay Rubric/Sample Breaking Down the AP Prompt Imagery Essay Practice
Style Essay Directions Diction Handout The Fun Side of Quote Analysis Goldilocks Writing Activity
Fuzzy Pronoun PowerPoint Fuzzy Pronoun Handout
Short Stories and Poetry:
Along with the novels we will work on short stories, poetry, and other literary elements. Many of these will require you to complete a literary analysis essay (prose) or a poetry explication (directions below). We went through the format of the AP test and some helpful tips for answering prose and poetry questions (you can reference the powerpoint below for review). Most of the short stories can be found in your textbook ("The Yellow Wallpaper", "A Good Man is Hard to Find", ""Paul's Case", "Life After High School", "The Lottery" and "The Rocking Horse Winner" thus far) but most of the poems are on handouts so you are able to annotate them. We went through the first poetry packet and discussed the response assignment that was due before exams. Next we discussed Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach" - the discussion questions can be completed with partners but everyone should have turned in his or her own paper.
AP Test Tips and Info PP Poetry Response Assignment Poetry Packet #1 Dover Beach PP Dover Beach Questions
Helpful Poetry Terms How to Explicate a Poem Handout
Macbeth:
Our current reading is Shakespeare's Macbeth. I know Shakespeare isn't everyone's favorite thing to read, but I think this play is good and will go pretty quickly. We will do an introduction powerpoint of Friday/Monday. Be sure you review the notes (especially if you weren't here) since the tragic hero/tragedy parts will be on the final test. For each Act you should thoroughly read the act, and if you are having a hard time comprehending then you may go to an online source (ie No Fear Shakespeare) to help you but that should not replace the reading itself. Each act will have some guided questions and quote analysis for you to complete along with the reading. Act I and quotes is due on Tuesday 4/17 or Wednesday 4/18. In class on Thursday or Friday, we will do the Acts II and III review/paragraph assignment. If you don't finish in class, then you would need to do it at home, but it isn't meant to take too long. You should read Act IV in class on Monday or Tuesday and Act V will be due on Wednesday 4/25 or Thursday 4/26. The unit test on Macbeth was on Friday 4/27 for A day or Monday 4/30 B day.
Introduction PowerPoint Act I Quotes Act II Quotes Act III Quotes Act IV Quotes Act V Quotes
Acts II and III Review
Test Prep Materials and Handouts:
Below you will find some of the material we have used in class to help prepare for the test. Some of the material I have given you is not available electronically so if you think you are missing something please ask! Believe it or not, it is that time of year to start thinking about reviewing for the AP exam that you will take in early May. There are a lot of test prep sites out there, so I suggest you peruse through them and do a few practice tests in a timed atmosphere. One way to be prepared for the third essay (the open ended one) is to have a couple of books you know really well! The Review of a Major Literary Work mini-project will help do just that! You should review one work that we have read this year (or use your summer reading) to complete this activity. You will turn this in before you go home for Spring Break (March 27 or 28 depending on your class). This week we will review for the exam on May 9 - it is almost here. You should complete the literary reduction assignment on any 10 books (6 from our class and 4 of your choice). Be creative with this - you can set it up anyway you like. This needs to be turned in no later than May 9th (both classes). In addition, we will review some test strategies and some titles that can be used on the open ended essay on the test.
AP Lit Review of a Major Literary Work What AP Readers Long to See Nuts and Bolts of the AP Lit exam
Literary Reduction Assignment Literary Reduction Sample Template AP Test Review PowerPoint
Graduation Project:
One of the biggest undertakings this semester will be the remainder of the Graduation Project you began during English III. This semester you will take the information from the research you gathered for your paper and create a presentation and product. You will present your projects to the judges on either November 15 or 16. You will get to sign up for the day you prefer closer to the presentation date. If you have specific questions about GP be sure to see the Graduation Project link at the top of this page. You should print the GP timeline from the link above and have it in the front of your binder at all times. All due dates are final and you should be prepared to turn in all work on time. Remember, you may not print in the classroom but the computer lab is open each morning and the Media Center at lunch.
The fist assignment was the resume. Be sure you are following the directions and formatting for the resume regardless of any other resume you may have. The rough draft of the resume was due September 26th or 27th. Be sure you make any necessary corrections to the rough draft and place your final copy in your portfolio. Be sure to keep the rough draft as well. The second assignment was the letter to the Review Board. This is extremely important since it is the first thing the judges will read before you present so be sure your letter is thoughtful and precise. The rough draft was due Monday October 2nd or Tuesday October 3rd. The next assignment was the outline of your speech. You should use this worksheet/template to set up your outline. You will need to be specific in the outline, tell the judges what you plan on doing - the rough draft of the outline was due Monday October 16 (A day) and Tuesday October 17 (B day). Those were handed back and you should make the necessary changes to make sure you are ready for your speech. The final part of the GP portfolio will be the final reflection. Like the one done in your junior year, this does not require a rough draft. Be sure you are doing what it says - REFLECTING on the entire process of the GP. You don't need to answer all 12 of the questions on the guideline sheet, just be sure you reflect in one to two pages. This is a great way to show the judges growth which is part of the rubric.
It is over! You did it! Doesn't it feel great to be finished?? All grades/rubrics were handed back either Friday or Monday - those have been entered into PowerSchool and count 20% of your 2nd quarter grade, but it may not calculate correctly until the end of the quarter.