Thom Wade
English Literature (Experienced)
Session Outline
This weeklong institute will provide participants with an overview of various approaches to teaching an AP* English Literature and Composition course. The underlying assumption is that a successful AP* English course involves providing students opportunities to examine challenging literature in classroom environments where interpretation and effective communication are elemental. The framework for designing a syllabus for the AP* Course Audit will be an underlying principle for the week's activities. Participants will be engaged in a variety of activities designed to stimulate their thinking about the design of a rigorous AP* curriculum and to generate materials ready to use in their classrooms next year. Morning sessions will cover a wide range of curricula including a unit of literature focusing on Africa, a unit of literature focusing on protagonists searching for personal identity, and a poetry approach that stresses building student confidence in interpreting a variety of types of poetry. While each of these units will examine particular titles, they will be presented in the broader context of unit design for success in AP*. Participants will be provided materials supporting these units and demonstrating successful practices in improving student performance. The emphasis will be on considering elements of unit design that build on the essential elements of successful AP* English courses and participants will be encouraged to share experiences from their own classroom settings. In addition, participants will examine methods for encouraging incisive interpretation and engaging class discussion. Suggestions for designing the course and material to assist students in their college admissions process will also be provided. Online and print resources will be explored and participants will have the opportunity to share their own successful classroom practices. Some discussion will focus on the complex issues that face AP* English teachers in particular such as managing the work load, providing inclusive opportunities for students from a variety of educational backgrounds and maintaining the intellectual rigor for a successful program. Afternoon sessions will focus on the expectations of the AP* Literature and Composition exam, examining each of the three essay types on the exam and working with the structure and intent of the multiple choice section of the exam. Participants will experience a mock up of an AP* scoring session with examples from each question from the 2007 exam. Other prompts and sample essays will also be provided. Participants will have an opportunity to construct and critique their own essay prompts and multiple-choice questions. Each session will conclude with a question and answer opportunity to accommodate individual concerns.
Participants are encouraged to bring a copy or copies of successful lessons in both poetry and prose used in their AP* English classes. Additionally, participants will be encouraged to share successful practices with other participants as we build curricula that is effective and efficient in meeting the standards established by the College Board in the AP*.
I can be reached via email at thomw@fix.net or twade@lmusd.org.
Tentative Schedule
English Literature - Experienced
Monday - AM
Monday - PM
- Deconstructing the Prompt – Pt 1
- 2007 exam
- other prompts
Tuesday - AM
- Terms
- Sequence
- Exercises
Tuesday - PM
- Deconstructing the Prompt – Pt 2
- 2007 exam
- Single Poem Prompts
- Dual Poem Prompts
Wednesday - AM
- Heart of Darkness (primary focus)
- Things Fall Apart
- Cry, the Beloved Country
- Other activities
- Moments with:
- Fences (primary focus)
- Tess of the D’Urbervilles
- A Doll’s House
- The Awakening
- Their Eyes Were Watching God
Wednesday - PM
- 2007 exam
- other prompts
Thursday - AM
Thursday - PM
Friday - AM
