This course "focuses on reading, analyzing, and writing about imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from various periods. Students engage in close reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature to deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism. Writing assignments include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays that require students to analyze and interpret literary works" (AP Literature and Composition Course and Exam Description). Additionally, "students devote themselves to the study of literary works written in—or translated into—English. Careful reading and critical analysis of such works of fiction, drama, and poetry, selected locally by responsible educators, provide rich opportunities for students to develop an appreciation of ways literature reflects and comments on a range of experiences, institutions, and social structures. Students will examine the choices literary writers make and the techniques they utilize to achieve purposes and generate meanings" (AP Literature and Composition Course and Exam Description).

Based on an accelerated and condensed version of my College Board-approved AP Lit syllabus, we will cover the following topics/stories/poems/longer works over the course of the semester:

Week 1 - Short Fiction 1: "Hills Like White Elephants"
Week 2 - Short Fiction 1: "A Rose for Emily"
Week 3 - Poetry 1: "How to Read a Poem: A Beginner's Manual" & "The World is Too Much With Us"
Week 4 - Poetry 1: "Ballad of Birmingham" & "We Wear the Mask"
Week 5 - Longer Fiction or Drama 1: Oedipus Rex (lines 1-996)
Week 6 - Longer Fiction or Drama 1: Oedipus Rex (lines 997-1684)
Week 7 - Short Fiction 2: "The Cask of Amontillado"
Week 8 - Short Fiction 2: "The Yellow Wallpaper"

***SPRING BREAK BETWEEN WEEKS 8 & 9 - NO ASSIGNMENTS THIS WEEK***
This is included as part of the 17 weeks listed for this class, but we will only do assignments for 16 of the 17 weeks

Week 9 - Poetry 2: "Echoes" & "Valediction: Forbidding Mourning"
Week 10 - Poetry 2: "Love is not All" & "Because I could not stop for Death-"
Week 11 - Longer Fiction or Drama 2: Heart of Darkness (Parts 1 & 2)
Week 12 - Longer Fiction or Drama 2: Heart of Darkness (Part 3)
Week 13 - Short Fiction 3: "The Lottery"
Week 14 - Short Fiction 3: "A Worn Path"
Week 15 - Poetry 3: "A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky" & "At The Border"
Week 16 - Poetry 3: "Those Winter Sundays" & "Birches"

*All readings will be provided via PDF so no books will need to be purchased

On Monday of each week, I will post a video at 8am EST. In this video, I will provide a short lesson and/or explanation related to what we will be doing that week. I will also verbally explain the assignments and requirements for the week. Lastly, I will go over the previous week's multiple choice questions (minus Week 1 since we will start this during Week 2). 

Additionally, on Mondays, I will put up the week's discussion post, which will be based on our reading assignment(s) for the week. In the comments on the post, we will discuss the literature above so that we can share our thoughts and analyses in a respectful manner. It is important to note that we all come from a variety of backgrounds and have a variety of life experiences, so respect for our peers is of the utmost importance, and disrespect for one's ideas will not be tolerated and can result in having one's comment deleted or removal from the class as a whole. However, we can use our differences to create a rich, multifaceted discussion each week. Students are expected to put up their own original comment on this discussion post by Thursday at 11:59pm your time and respond to at least one peer by Sunday at 11:59pm your time.

Students will also complete assignments that work on developing AP Lit's "big ideas." These "big ideas" are characters, setting, structure, narration, figurative language, and literary argumentation. These weekly assignments will consist of,
- Multiple-choice practice (based on released questions from previous exams to prepare for the multiple-choice section of the exam)
- Timed writing (students will write an essay based on a prompt within a 40-minute time frame to build writing stamina)
- Activities to understand how the big ideas play a role in each literary work
- "Milestones" related to projects/major writing assignments that will be completed over multiple weeks

Each week's homework assignments will be due by Sunday at 11:59pm on the week it is assigned. I will have the previous week's assignments graded by the following Sunday. Please note that since there are a number of assignments given each week, students should try to allot time each day to complete them. This will help meet time requirements for homeschoolers who want to use this class as part of their curriculum. Also, please feel free to complete as many of these assignments as you would like each week. Discussion posts are required for this class, but there is some leeway with these assignments. In the end, they are all designed to help students prepare and excel on the AP Literature and Composition Exam in May.

There are no prerequisites for this class, however, students should be mature and willing to put in the effort expected of an introductory college-level class. Also, students should have a basic understanding of literary devices and elements.

Please note: The USA-based 2023 AP English Literature and Composition exam will take place on Wednesday, May 3rd at 8 am local time. Parents will have to coordinate with a local school to sign their students up for the exam (students will have to take the exam at a local school). Unfortunately, this is not something I can do for you. However, I will provide resources and links that explain how to go about doing this. Additionally, I cannot guarantee that your student will receive at least a 3 on the exam, but I will do everything I can to help prepare them for success on the exam through our class discussions and feedback on multiple-choice practice and timed writings. With that being said, I have had many students receive 4s on the exam based on my above plans and curriculum.

If you are homeschooling and would like me to grade assignments and give a final progress report for your personal report card, please message me and let me know when you sign your student up for this class. AP GPA weighting is a whole point higher than that of a standard class (5.0 vs. 4.0). This means that a B in an AP class will still give a student a 4.0 for that class. I will also provide my College Board-approved syllabus upon class sign-up as well.