Pre-AP Language Arts/Communications: Syllabus
The Cutting Edge: Revolutions in Art 2010-11
1. Close Reading and Elements of Literature (3 weeks - September)
Introduce the skills necessary for advanced-level reading, writing, and critical thinking. Our first steps will include how to closely read text
and introduce the elements of literature analysis.
Essential Questions
What does it mean to engage in a close reading of a text?
How can one become an effective reader?
How do children’s stories reflect larger social or psychological concerns?
What are the tools of literary analysis?
Texts: “Shawl” by Albert Goldbarth, “Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins, from “Superman and Me” excerpt by Sherman Alexie,
“Learning to Read” by Franz Wright, “First Grade” by Ron Koertge, “The School Children” by Louise Glück, “Salvador Late or Early” by
Sandra Cisneros, “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein.
Writing/Assessment: Habits of Mind Activity, Experience/Analysis/Extension Journal, In-Class Poetry Analysis, Literary Device Entry, InClass Essay Practice Prompt, Critical Theory Presentation.
2. Of Mice and Men (6 weeks – October/November)
“It is a parable about commitment, loneliness, hope, loss, drawing its power from the fact that these universal truths are grounded in the
realistic contrast of friendship and shared dreams.” John Steinbeck
Essential Questions:
How does structure relate to meaning in literature?
How is the concept of motif explored in Of Mice and Men?
What relevance do the themes present in Of Mice and Men have to present day?
In what ways does social context research enhance the meaning of literature?
How do writers use literary devices to enhance meaning?
How does critical theory influence or change the way we interact with a text?
Text: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Companion Texts: “America and Americans - If the American Dream Even Possible?” essay by John Steinbeck, “Return to Odessa” essay
by H.G. Bissinger
Visual Texts: “A Raisin in the Sun” play by Lorraine Hansbury, “A Family” painting by Jacob Lawrence, “Mother” photograph by Dorothea
Lange, “Places in the Heart” film, excerpt from documentary “Hoop Dreams”
Writing/Assessment: Journal Writing, Close Reading Analysis Notes, Critical Theory Analysis, In-class Essay Prompt and novel test, Poetic
Expression, Literary Device Entries, Creative project, AP Scoring activity.
3. Rhetoric (4 weeks – November/December)
“We believe that through collaborative discussions of serious ideas we learn to understand and respect each other.”
from the Mission Statement of Touchstones Discussion Project
Rhetoric is the art of using words to persuade in writing or speaking. All types of writing seek to persuade, and rhetoricians study these
genres for their persuasive qualities. We will create an environment based on critical thinking, respect, thoughtful speaking, intellectual
responsibility, cooperation, leadership and active listening.
Essential Questions:
What is rhetoric?
How does a writer manipulate language in order to create purpose and strategy?
What is persuasive writing?
Texts: “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr., “Marine Corps Issue” by David McLean, “Not To Go With The Others”
by John Hersey, “Montgomery Boycott” by Coretta Scott King, “The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses” by Bessie Head, “The Censors” by Luisa
Valenzuela, Excerpt from “Farewell to Manzanar” by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston
Visual Texts: Compare and contrast excerpts from screenplay and film versions of “12 Angry Men”
Writing/Assessment: WASL writing prompt practice (persuasive and expository), Persuasive Writing (yes-buts, research based, annotated
bibliography, MLA), Presentation of arguments to class, Literary Device Entries, WASL scoring practice.
4. Poetry (4 weeks - January)
Careful reading, analysis and explication of poetry will be fostered and modeled to give students the exposure and practice with poetry they
will need in their future studies.
Essential Questions:
How can a reader comprehend the multiple meanings of poetry?
What circumstances give rise to a poem?
In what ways do poems speak from different perspectives?
In the study of literature, how important is it to consider what is not present to what is present?
What are some ways in which writers engage in social commentary?
Texts: “The Possessive” by Sharon Olds, “my son the man” by Sharon Olds, “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W.H. Auden, “Landscape with the
Fall of Icarus” by William Carlos Williams, “To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph” by Anne Sexton, “Flight 063” by Brian Aldiss,
“Degas’s Laundresses” by Eavan Boland, “Short Story on a Painting of Gustav Klimt” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, “Before the Birth of One of
Her Children” by Anne Bradstreet, “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes, “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, “Those Winter
Sundays” by Robert Hayden, “Voice of the Father” by Joe Wilkins, “The Powwow at the End of the World” by Sherman Alexie, “Last Kiss”
by Pearl Jam
Visual Texts: “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” by Pieter Brueghel, “The Laundress” by Edgar Degas, “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt, film
excerpts from “The Outsiders”
Writing/Assessments: Poetry Analysis, AP scoring activity, AP Timed Writing Prompt (Essay and Multiple Choice), Literary Device Entries,
“Ekphrases” Poetry Project and Presentation
5. To Kill a Mockingbird (6 weeks – February/March)
“Thus began our longest journey together…”
We will be exploring a novel study which presents characters encountering self-defining moments as they interact with events around them.
We will analyze Harper Lee’s coming of age novel using a variety of close reading strategies and investigating “voice” – not only your own,
but also those of others.
Essential Questions:
What impact can fictional texts that also function as social commentary have on culture?
What relevance do the themes present in To Kill a Mockingbird have on present day?
How does perspective influence story?
What does To Kill a Mockingbird have to say about racism, sexism, and poverty?
How does transforming the medium from text to film influence or change the message?
Can Atticus Finch be considered the iconic hero for the 20st century?
How do writers use literary devices to enhance meaning?
Text: Novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Companion Texts: “Mannahatta” by Walt Whitman, “Chicago” by Carl Sandburg, “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker
Visual Text: 1965 film version “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Writing/Assessment: Close Reading Analysis Notes, Literary Analysis Essay (MLA supported), Novel test, Soundtrack of Defining
Incidents, Letter to Character, Poetic Expression Activity, Literary Device Entries, AP Scoring activity
6. Coming of Age (6 weeks – March/April)
Introduce the “coming of age” motif to help clarify meaning and the author’s use of literary techniques in short fiction and poetry.
Essential Questions:
How does structure relate to meaning in literature?
How do our expectations influence what we encounter in literature?
In what ways can we accurately discern the motives of a character?
How is the concept of “coming of age” explored in literature?
Texts: “The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant” by W.D. Wetherell, “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros, “On the
Rainy River” by Tim O’Brien, “The Topic of Cancer” by Pete Fromm, novel excerpt from A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean,
“Oranges” by Gary Soto, “Touch Football” by Jack Driscoll, “Janet Waking” by John Crowe Ransom
Visual Texts: film “Smoke Signals” screenplay written by Sherman Alexie
Assessment: Letter to Character, Literary Device Entries, Creative response to character (poem, song, postcard), AP scoring practice, Write
an original short story.
7. A Separate Peace (6 weeks – May/June)
Essential Questions:
What does A Separate Peace have to say about war?
How do our choices in life define who and what we become?
What impact can fictional texts that also function as social commentary have on culture?
How does perspective influence story?
In what ways does social context research enhance the meaning of literature (WWII)?
How do the social and political themes in A Separate Peace have relevance to today?
Texts: novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Companion Texts: “Vigil strange I kept on the field one night” by Walt Whitman, “Sadiq” by Brian Turner, “Facing It” by Yusef
Komunyakaa, from “Boundaries” by Maya Lin, short story “The End of Something” by Ernest Hemingway
Visual Texts: photograph “Boy Fascist” New York Times 1932, photograph “Fallen Soldiers Arriving at Dover Air Force Base” Department
of Defense 2009
Writing/Assessments: Literary Device Entries, AP Timed essay test (culminating), Creative Project “menu”
Ongoing…
Independent Novel Study. Students will read one novel per semester independently and complete a reflective analysis project (on
website) on their own and turn in.
Semester 1 – Regional authors…
Sherman Alexie The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian (2007 National Book Award, 2008 PNBA Winner), War Dances (2010 Pen/Faulkner Award)
Reservation Blues, Indian Killer \ Kim Barnes In the Wilderness (1995 Pen/Jerard Award Winner, 1997 PNBA Award Winner) \ Claire Davis Winter Range (2001
PNBA Winner) \ Ivan Doig The Whistling Season, Work Song, This House Of Sky, Dancing At Rascal Fair (1988 PNBA Winner), Heart Earth (1994 PNBA
Winner), English Creek (1985 PNBA Winner) \ Ursula LeGuin \ Michael Dorris A Yellow Raft In Blue Water \ Karen Fisher A Sudden Country (2006 Finalist
Pen/Faulkner Award) \ Pete Fromm As Cool As I Am, How All This Started, Indian Creek Chronicles (all PNBA Winners) \ Molly Gloss Jump Off Creek (1990
PNBA Winner and Pen/Faulkner Award Winner) \ *David Guterson Snow Falling on Cedars (1995 Pen/Faulkner Award Winner), The Other \ *Stephanie Kallos
Broken for You \ *Ken Kesey One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Sometimes A Great Notion \ *Erik Larson Isaac’s Storm (2000 PNBA Winner), Devil in the White
City (National Book Award Finalist) \ Craig Lesley Burning Fence, Storm Riders, River Song, The Sky Fisherman, Winterkill (PNBA Winners) \ Anthony Swofford
Jarhead (2004 PNBA Winner) \ *James Welch Winter in the Blood, The Death of Jim Loney, Indian Lawyer (1991 PNBA Award Winner), Fools Crow (1986
American Book Award), Heartsong of Charging Elk (2001 PNBA Award Winner) \ *Tobias Wolff This Boy’s Life, Old School (2004 Pen/Faulkner Award)
*Authors have appeared on previous years’ AP Literature exams
Semester 2 – titles should be from the AP Suggested Reading list located on my website (all titles have are listed in
alphabetical order with have the year each was asked on the AP exam)
Close Reading Skills: Literary Devices, Reading Strategies (Levels of Questions, Critical Theory, Theme Chart, SIFT, SOAPSTone,
TWIST), Questioning (Connecting and Reflecting), TPCASTT (poetry analysis), OPTIC (analysis tool), Elements of Argumentation
(Purpose, Audience, Appeals), Logical Fallacies, Venn Diagram (compare and contrast),
Seminar/Socratic discussions
Literary Device Project