Peergrade Code for Our Class

For those of you that haven't logged in already, the code for Peergrade is: KK92V4.


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Pushing Back the Dates

To be clear, our first drafts our due on Monday, March 16th, for Peergrade feedback.

We'll be conducting this class online.

Be sure that you've signed up for email updates, for when I update Litaculous.

Love Sonnet Printed for Next Class

For next class please bring your printed love sonnets.

Going to New York this summer? Richard II 4 FREE

I highly recommend checking out Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park. There´s nothing like it! A real NYer experience.


Details here.

Mini-lesson: introductions

You can read along here.

Mini-lesson: endings

You can read along here.

Author Study Paper (formative)

The first draft of your Author Study paper will be due on Wednesday March 11th.

Here is the rubric.

The paper should be 4-5 pages long in MLA format.

Close Reading Author Study (summative)

Please upload your paragraphs of close reading to Peergrade by our next class, Thursday, February 27th. The code for Peergrade is: KK92V4.

Here is the rubric I will use. 

Love Sonnet Rubric

For a four the sonnet should:
- match either an English or Italian sonnet rhyme scheme
AND
-  contain at least one "volta" or turn

For a three the sonnet should:
- match either an English or Italian sonnet rhyme scheme
OR
-  contain at least one "volta" or turn

For a two the sonnet:
- does not match either an English or Italian sonnet rhyme scheme
NOR
-  does it contain a "volta" or turn

For a one the sonnet:
- does not have fourteen lines



Due Thursday, February 27th.

Dangling Modifier Exercises

Complete the exercises here.

Dangling Modifier Video

Author Study Group-Led Discussion (summative)

Next Tuesday, you will all choose a short passage. Your group will make copies for every member of the class. Then you'll group will lead a discussion, just as we have had in the past, the only difference being that in this case I will be assessing how you lead the discussion (I also may participate). 

You can find the rubric here.

Reading Conference (summative)

This week we'll be assessing our volume of reading and our understanding in summative reading conferences. Here is the rubric.

Draft Thesis and Sonnet for Thursday

Please bring in your thesis statement (roughly) one sentence that outlines your approach to your author.

Also bring in your draft sonnets.

Love Poem Sonnet

I'm borrowing this prompt from Poetry Foundation:

Write a poem in which the speaker addresses someone else directly. Ask questions. Don’t answer them.

Bring these sonnets to class on Tuesday.
via GIPHY

What is a sonnet?

Draft Thesis

For next Thursday, bring your a draft of your thesis for your author study paper. You might want to keep it mind as you read.

Author Study Analytic Paper Exemplars

The papers are hyperlinked by the author that the student focused on. While reading them with a partner, try identify their thesis, and then decide how they link author's craft to meaning.


Korean-American Author Study

Chimanda Ngozi Adichie

Suki Kim

Edwidge Danticat

Octavia Butler

Kurt Vonnegut

Resources for "The Flea" by John Donne

Today we'll be discussing "The Flea" by John Donne. Here are some resources that we'll be using.

Here you can find a close reading of the poem.


Here you can find a copy of the poem and analysis.

Reading Conferences

Let's meet next week to discuss your latest author study book. Here is the rubric.

Author Study Sentence Archive

This weekend continue to harvest those unique sentences and paragraphs as we move further into our novels. If possible, try finishing by Monday, or better yet, start your third book. Remember we're really working on volume here. We won't read this much for the rest of the year.

The idea is that we're looking for sentences and patterns, be they in diction, imagery or -- as we'll discuss next week -- syntax.

We'll also be discussing this poem on Monday, so why not listen to the poet read it and talk about it's creation in this podcast. You can also find it on iTunes.

Make-up Day

Today please spend time completing whatever assignments you have have missed over the last week. This includes the Author Study discussion (formative). If there are any timed writing assignments you have missed you may work outside and complete the timed writing.

If finished, consider reading further as we should be roughly halfway through our second book by now.

I really enjoyed your discussion of Yeats. Using rhythm and rhyme to understand meaning is not easy, but will come in handy on the exam when dealing with formalist (traditional) poetry.

Poetry Discussion (summative)

Today you´ll discuss the poem ¨The Lake Isle of Innisfree¨ by W.B. Yeats.

First read and annotate the poem. Then, when finished, listen to this podcast (you can also find it wherever you get your podcasts normally under ¨PoemTalk¨ and ¨Yeats¨).

When finished I´d like you to record a discussion might like the ones we´ve had in class throughout the year. Have three speakers and one guest slot. Time yourselves (three minute rounds) and speak for four rounds. 

Have someone in the class record it on their iPhone and share it with me. I look forward to here what you make of Yeats. I thought this fit in that it´s not free verse, and like your poetry karaoke involves meter.

Poetry Karaoke Tip

For pairing your song to a poem, you might consider using the search engine at Poetry Foundation. You can find it here.

Author Study Discussion (formative) Instructions

Rather than write a literary letter, I'd you all to record your author study group conversation. This will replace our Reading Conferences.

While the rubric is for a video discussion, this can actually be an audio recording, and as the file is smaller should be easier to share with me when you are done.

You should only be discussing with someone who is reading the same book that you are.


Here is the rubric. Please share the file with me before the end of class, if possible.

Poetry Karaoke (formative)

I'm going to have someone pick up my AP Lit inbox at school on Monday, so should you want feedback on your scansion of a pop song, please leave it there. I'll give you comments and you can get it back by Wednesday.

Right now, I´m still reeling from emergency surgery. Basically I won´t be back until the beginning of Semester 2.

While we can´t do reading conferences as we had planned, I´ll leave plans for creating a literary letter.

And of course Poetry Karaoke.

For those of you that need to complete the timed writing, the copies of the exam and rubric are under the in/outbox. You can complete and submit them and I´ll probably get someone to bring them to me.

In the meantime, keep meeting your reading goals please, while reading outside of class.

I hope you found the irony in the poem I asked you analyze. I was reciting it to myself on the way to the ER.

Surgeons must be careful!

Multiple Choice Tasks to Complete

In my absence, I need you to complete these multiple choice units:

Unit 3
Unit 4

You can find them on AP Classroom. You have until tonight at midnight. These will be graded formatively.

Scoring Like an AP Reader

Within your group read each essay, score, but keep these scores private. Record your score on a post-it. When every member has finished scoring, share your scores.

Poetry Karaoke Instructions and Model

Choose one song that you will scan for meter. Print out that song and bring it to our next class.

Our next step will be finding a poem in that same meter. Then, all you need to do is practice synching your reading of the poem to the song.

Here is the rubric we'll use.