Syllabus

AP English Literature and Composition

Melanie Reichwald

This course focuses on world literature from the sixteenth century onwards. It prepares you for liberal arts study at the university level and provides you with the necessary content and skills to sit the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition examination should you wish to do so. As the course is the culmination of the Woodstock Senior School English curriculum, the successful student will be able to effectively analyze literature, write creatively, and speak convincingly—all of which you will showcase in your final senior symposium presentation. In this course you will evaluate the ‘literary’ label, uncover the worldviews at play on the literary stage, identify the stylistic devices used to construct the stage itself, and assess the motivations, uses, and consequences of literature. You will demonstrate competency through analytical essay writing, creative response, and spoken word (public speaking, debate, and informal class discussion).

Essential Questions

What is literature? What language do we choose to value and why?

What does a work of literature have to say about the world? What does the world have to say in reply?

How does literature construct its meanings?

Why write? What are the motivations, uses, and consequences of literature?

Course Structure and Assessment

Every unit takes a thematic or textual focus. Within every unit, I will assess your understandings informally—through discussion, blog posts (or “one-pagers”), reading quizzes, and homework assignments—and formally—through major papers, speaking assignments, or projects. I will always provide you with an assignment sheet for formal assessments, with an indication of how I will determine your grade.

Talk to Me

Please feel free to meet with me outside of class throughout the semester. My door’s always open in the English Department Office (third floor of Media Centre). You can also email me at melaniereichwald@woodstock.ac.in as well.

Note that you can find all required assignments, texts, notes, etc. on this blog.

Class Contracts

AP12-1

The members of G12 AP English (Section 1) need the following things from Ms. Melanie to be successful in this class:

--help! – times when they can meet with her to discuss concepts, assignments, or whatever else they'd like 
--encouragement to push them to read and succeed
--constructive feedback on their work
--space to practice without grades before big assignments

--preparation for class
--FAITH in them, and respect

--food (baked goods/treats or tuck during class)

Ms. Melanie is happy to meet these demands, as long as the students in Section 1 offer the following in exchange:

--attention

--PARTICIPATION in full group and small group discussion

--preparation:

      -bringing materials (pen, notebook(s), book)

      -completing all homework before class begins -- especially reading homework

--respect: listening when others talk, speaking kindly, etc.
--occasional cheesecake! ;)

AP12-2

The members of G12 AP English (Section 2) need the following things from Ms. Melanie to be successful in this class:
--lots of discussion
--time to work in class, and time/space for ungraded practice
--opportunities for extra credit - thousands! :)

--some down-time
--flexibility in grading requirements (like word counts)

--preparation for class
--respect

Ms. Melanie is happy to meet these demands, as long as the students in Section 2 offer the following in exchange:

--engagement and productive participation

--preparation:

      -bringing materials (pen, notebook(s), book)

      -completing all homework before class begins -- especially reading homework
      -coming on time

--respect: listening when others talk, speaking kindly, etc.
--sleeping OUTSIDE OF class