Course Syllabus

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Syllabus AP English Literature & Composition
First Semester

Mizzou Academy

Welcome

There are years that ask questions, and years that answer.
–Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God

Questions and answers will be the heart of our work together this year in AP Lit. We will read stories, poems, plays, and books that raise some of life's most important questions. You may find meaningful answers to some of those questions. You also may find that those answers often lead to even more questions!

In this class, we will pursue those questions vigorously, and we will think deeply about how storytellers capture and shape our understanding of the human experience.

At its core, literature is simply the stories we tell. But literature itself is not simple. It is rich and complex. It is diverse. It is as uniquely distinct as each human who writes it and each human who reads it. And that certainly makes it worthy of our time, exploration, study, and conversation, which is what this course is all about!

meet your teacher

Karen Scales: white woman age 53, brown hair, smiling, wearing glasses and a black shirt

Welcome, AP Scholars! My name is Karen Scales. I currently live in St. Charles, Missouri, with my family (including two amazing rescue dogs), but I love returning to the University of Missouri-Columbia campus for Mizzou football games as often as I can. (Go Tigers!)

I have been teaching AP English Lit with Mizzou Academy for 24 years, and what I love most about this class is that even though we may be separated by geography and time zones, this interactive online course allows me to get to know you I invite you to discuss and debate your interpretations of the literature will read together as you grow and nurture your academic voice because your voice matters! And I can't wait to hear what you think.

Please feel welcome and encouraged to contact me whenever you have questions or if you just want to talk through ideas and inspirations. I’m excited to get to know you and to begin our learning journey together. Let's make it a great year!    

Warmly,

Mrs. Scales

how to contact your teacher

 

  1. Canvas Inbox
  2. Canvas Help: select "Ask your teacher a question"
  3. Email: scaleska@missouri.edu 

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (CST)

      • Standard Response Time: within one business day 
      • Additional Communications: phone call or Zoom conference upon request

 

Course Overview

Semester Framework: 

  • AP Lit follows a set 16-week semester calendar. 
  • Coursework for the fall term begins in late August and closes in December. See the Course Calendar for more details.
  • Expect to meet all class participation and assessment deadlines and to complete the course by the semester closing date. 

Lesson Structure: 

  • The fall semester consists of 10 Lessons. Each lesson is a complete unit of study.
  • Modules within each lesson break down the instructional commentary, reading selections, and essential concepts and skills practice that will help you build toward the lesson assessments.
  • The suggested pacing guides that begin each lesson identify which modules are designed to be completed in one "sitting" or class period.
  • The stated learning objectives of each lesson identify the skills that will be evaluated in that lesson's assessments.

Lesson Assessments: 

  • You will submit three assessments in each lesson: 
    • one class discussion.
    • one quiz (multiple choice)
    • one writing assignment

Cumulative Assessments:

  • You will complete one cumulative assessment midway through the semester and two cumulative assessments at the end of the semester.
    • midterm exam (proctored)—covers Lessons 1-5
    • final exam (proctored)—covers Lessons 6-10
    • semester project (unproctored)—covers Lessons 1-10

 

course expectations 

Engagement and communication will be key to your success in this course.

Expectations include:

  • Check course announcements each Monday morning for important updates from your instructor.
  • Check your email and Canvas inboxes regularly and respond promptly to communications from Mizzou Academy and from your instructor.
  • Plan to devote about one hour to this class each weekday, just as you would if you were attending a class in your schoolbuilding. On average, allow one full week (5-6 clock hours) to complete all instructional modules within a lesson.
  • Meet deadlines for all class discussions, writing assignments, project work, and exams.
  • Review feedback and scoring comments on all graded assignments and exams. 
  • Schedule exams in advance. 
  • Ask questions! We are here to help.  

AP courses are demanding. Expect to devote consistent time and effort in order to make this course both personally and academically rewarding. But remember: You are not alone! Connect with your peers and your instructor in the spirit of conversation and collaboration. You are each other’s best resources for knowledge, skills support, and community. As we always say at Mizzou Academy: “Here, we are for each other.”


Course Objectives

As an Advanced Placement® course, this class is designed to reflect the kinds of study you would find in a freshman or survey-level college course.

By the end of this course, you will be able to

  1. use time management and pacing strategies to meet assignment and semester completion deadlines.
  2. apply writing process strategies to develop initial ideas into polished final products.
  3. use grading rubrics to self-assess the quality of your writing.  
  4. engage in meaningful conversation about literary themes and techniques of writing craft.
  5. demonstrate reading comprehension through objective (i.e. multiple choice) quizzes and exams.
  6. write with purpose and precision for a variety of rhetorical situations, including narrative, reflective, and other kinds of informal writing; formal analysis and argument essays; and timed exams. 
  7. express your original thoughts and conclusions with credibility, confidence, and clarity.
  8. synthesize multiple information sources and perspectives to inform your own positions.
  9. produce a three-part comprehensive semester project in response to Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye that demonstrates compelling original analysis, argumentation, and visual design.
  10. demonstrate mastery of course learning objectives on course exams and the College Board's AP English Literature and Composition Exam.

 

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: 

Additional requirements for the course are below: 

  • audio and video recording capabilities (e.g. smartphone, camera)

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.

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:

Grading Scale
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. 

Canvas and Technical Support

Canvas will be used as the primary platform for accessing course materials and assignments for this class.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due