Course Syllabus
Welcome
There are years that ask questions, and years that answer.
–Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
My hope for this class is that the year ahead will offer some of both. You may find that some of the stories (or books, or plays, or poems) we read this year will answer important questions for you. Others may raise more questions than they answer by inspiring you to think and to feel and to explore places within yourself and the world that you didn’t even know were waiting and wanting to be discovered.
In this class, we will pursue those questions vigorously, and we will examine how writers shape and capture the way we perceive and express the human experience.
At its core, literature is simply the stories we tell, but of course literature itself is not simple. It is rich and complex, and as varied and provocative as the humans who write it (and the humans who read it!). And that certainly makes it worthy of our time, exploration, study, and conversation, which is what this course is all about!
Course Overview
The fall semester of AP English is a 16-week course that consists of 10 Lessons, each lesson being one complete unit of study.
Literature selections within each lesson are designed to showcase the genre, literary kind, or literary elements that are the focus of the learning objectives for that lesson.
Each lesson will contain three graded assessments:
- one collaborative class participation component
- one objective quiz
- one writing assignment
Additional assessments include two proctored exams (a Midterm Exam that follows Lesson 5 and a Final Exam that follows Lesson 10) and a cumulative Semester Project.
Course Objectives
As an Advanced Placement® course, this class is designed to reflect the kinds of study you would find in a college freshman/survey-level literature and writing course, so the learning objectives of the course are centered in developing the skills of critical, interpretative reading of literature and accomplished, academic writing about literature.
An additional (but not required) objective of this course is to prepare you to take the College Board’s Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition Exam, and as such, this course is designed to build the critical reading and writing skills you would be expected to demonstrate on that exam.
You also will learn strategies for writing well in a variety of rhetorical situations, including narrative and informal writing, analysis and argument essays, and time-pressured essay writing for exams.
As you progress through the course, you will be guided to examine the layers of meaning within complex texts and to write with purpose and precision. But this is not a solely academic pursuit! The better you become at interpreting what you read and communicating what you know, the more meaningful and pleasurable reading and writing will be.
Whether or not you plan to take college English courses in the near future or to take The College Board’s Advanced Placement Exam, you will gain insights into yourself and the world around you. And if nothing else, you will get to experience some drama and intrigue, meet some fascinating characters, and experience writing that will engage (and sometimes challenge!) your perceptions and perspectives.
This course is demanding; students should expect to devote consistent time and effort to its completion to in order make the course both personally and academically rewarding.
PreRequisites
There are no prerequisite courses for AP English Literature and Composition.
Students should be able to read and comprehend college-level texts and apply the conventions of Standard Written English in their writing.
Required Materials
- Speakers or a pair of headphones (headphones preferred)
- You will be required to procure a copy of the novel The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison from your local library, a retailer of your choosing, or your preferred eReader. Any edition of the novel is acceptable.
Mature Content Warning: The Bluest Eye is a book for mature readers. It tackles issues of racial and gender oppression, and it depicts scenes of domestic and sexual violence. Discretion is advised. Please contact your instructor if you have concerns. |
Technical Requirements
The most up-to-date requirements can be found here:
- Computer Requirements
- Browser Requirements
- Proctoring Requirements
- Microphone (external or internal)
- Webcam
Additional requirements for the course are below:
- audio and video recording capabilities (e.g. smartphone, camera)
Quizzes & Assignments
You should submit all assigned work in sequence (Lesson 1, then Lesson 2, etc.) Assignments for the course are listed at the bottom of this syllabus.
Quizzes
Quizzes are taken online. After you submit them, you’ll quickly receive a report on how you did. Unlike exams, you may use any assigned readings, your notes, and other course-related materials to complete graded quizzes and assignments. Please note that graded quizzes cannot be retaken.
Assignments
Assignments may require you to submit your completed work in the form of a file (such as a text document, image, audio or video recording, or multimedia presentation) or a hyperlink for grading.
Reading and Using Feedback
After your work has been graded, you will receive a report that provides individualized feedback and comments on your work. Look carefully at what you missed and read any corresponding feedback. Then study the lesson materials to make certain that you can accomplish the associated learning objectives.
Each lesson provides step-by-step instructions on how to submit your work. Be sure to check submitted work carefully for errors (e.g. spelling, grammar, and punctuation) as they may result in points being deducted.
Exams
You are required to take two proctored exams for this course.
See the "About Exams" in the policies section for additional information on exams at Mizzou Academy.
Grades
Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on assignments and exams.
The following grading scale applies only to students who meet this standard:
Grade | Percentage |
---|---|
A | 90–100 |
B | 80–89 |
C | 70–79 |
D | 60–69 |
F | 0–59 |
After completing the course, unofficial transcripts will be available in the Tiger Portal. See this page for information on requesting official transcripts.
Getting Started Resources (Canvas and Other Resources)
View the content below to learn more about each of these elements and how they work in your Mizzou Academy Canvas course.
Academic Integrity
Our academic integrity policy at Mizzou Academy is based on our values of ethical behavior, learning, and giving all stakeholders the benefit of the doubt. Collaboration, research, and technical literacy are vital 21st-century skills when combined with academic integrity.
Definitions
Mizzou Academy's academic integrity policy is aligned with the University of Missouri’s academic integrity policy. The definitions of what constitutes "cheating" and "plagiarism"are posted on the Provost’s Advising Council’s webpage which can be found here: https://advising.missouri.edu/policies/academic-integrity.
Issues Involving Violations of Academic Integrity
If, when completing any of your assignments or exams for this course, you are found to have demonstrated cheating or plagiarism as defined above, this is a violation of academic integrity. At your teacher's discretion, violations of academic integrity may be subject to either or both of the following actions:
- receiving a zero for the assignment or exam
- receiving an F for the course
Accessibility
If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please contact Mizzou Academy.
About Exams at Mizzou Academy*
*This section describes the policies of exams at Mizzou Academy. This section only applies if you have exams in your course. See the section above to see if you have exams.
ABOUT EXAMS
Your exams are online. It is your responsibility to schedule your exams.
During exams, unless otherwise noted, you are not allowed to navigate away from the exam or use any other resources. If you deviate from the exam guidelines without proper prior permission, it is considered cheating on an exam.
SCHEDULING EXAMS
Global Courses
Mizzou Academy values fair testing and assessment to determine that students master essential course concepts and skills. During a proctored exam, tests are supervised by an impartial individual (a proctor) to help ensure that all exams maintain academic integrity. You will need to use a Mizzou Academy approved proctor. Please see the Exam Proctoring webpage for more information.
- Choose a proctor and make arrangements for taking the exam.
- At least 2 weeks prior to taking your exam, submit your proctor information to Mizzou Academy
- You will be sent an email notice indicating if your chosen proctor has been approved or denied.
- Arrive at your proctor’s testing site at the scheduled time with a photo ID. At testing time, you will log into your Mizzou Academy account and select the exam for your proctor to access and administer.
Global Classroom Courses
If you are taking a global classroom course, work with your local teacher to identify your date of the exam and how you will be proctored. You do not need to request an exam date with the above form.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAMS
- Complete and review all assignments.
- Review the learning objectives; make sure you can accomplish them.
- Be prepared to explain any key terms and concepts.
- Review all the lessons, exercises, and study questions.
- Review any feedback and/or comments on your assignments and previous exams; look up answers to any questions you missed.
Additional Course Policies and links
**Not applicable to World Language courses.
Canvas and Technical Support
Canvas is where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.
- courses.mizzouk12.missouri.edu
- This course is mobile-friendly. Download the mobile apps on your iOS, Android device.
- Getting Started with Canvas
- View the Getting Started Canvas Guides.
- For Canvas, Passwords, or any other computer-related technical support create a ticket in Canvas or contact Mizzou Academy Support.
- How to Get Help in Canvas
- Mizzou AcademySupport Phone: +1 855 256-4975
- Tiger Portal login - https://education.missouri.edu/mizzou-academy/
- Mizzou Academy Email - MizzouAcademy@missouri.edu
Course Summary:
Date | Details | Due |
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