English Literature & Composition (experienced)

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition

Pat Whyte -- Consultant

Our session starts with a full review and analysis of the AP English Literature and Composition Examination.  We will discuss strategies students will need to prepare for all facets of it, with an emphasis on skill development.  As a group, we will review past examinations with attention to multiple choice questions as well as essay prompts and student responses to them. Individually, participants will create a multi-genre unit developed aground a major work of literature they have NOT taught before. Time to work on this unit will be interwoven into the Institute. These will be used to prepare effective classroom lessons designed to promote close critical reading and analytical writing.

First:

  • Introductions
  • Student selection processes: who is in your class and how did they get there?
  • The College Board policy of equity and access and some strategies to meet those ends
  • A review of the AP Literature Course and expectations for both students and teachers
  • Goal setting for the Institute

Second:

  • The nitty gritty: literary terms, Biblical and literary allusions, grammar and syntax
  • Pathways to literary analysis: schemes for annotating and color marking
  • A look at the multiple choice poetry sections

Third:

  • Poetry, the key to analysis
  • A series of poems with various onramps for students
  • Poetry questions from past exams with sample student responses

Fourth:

  • The same as above with prose: multiple choice and free response practice

Fifth:

  • The open question, what works of literature may be best for your students as they prepare for the exam?

Throughout – time for planning a multi-genre unit based on a full-length work NEW to the participant

Last, but definitely not least:

  • Sharing ideas and successes
  • Wrap-up and evaluation

 

NOTE: plans may change or times may be adjusted for individual needs throughout the Institute

Materials to bring:

  • Piece (or pieces) of fiction new to you which be used to construct a unit
  • Textbook, if you use one
  • List of major works which you use or potentially may use this school year
  • Laptop with Dropbox downloaded