AP English Literature and Composition, Semester A

Course Description

Advanced Placement® (AP) Literature and Composition A is the first semester in a two-semester series that engages students in the close reading and critical analysis of the structure, themes, figurative language, and literary devices of imaginative literature to deepen their understanding of how writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. In AP English Literature and Composition A, students will employ critical thinking to explore major life events presented from unique perspectives. During the first semester of this two-semester course, students are introduced to the AP writing format but focus more on the literary analysis that helps them master the AP Multiple Choice portion of the exam. 

About AP® Courses 

Advanced Placement (AP®) courses are equivalent to college-level courses. We highly recommend that you review the AP English Literature and Composition Course Information page before beginning this course. Students are required to take the UTHS final exam for each semester course to earn high school credit. Students wanting to earn college credit may take the AP® exam offered by the College Board after completing the semester B course; however, it is not required to receive credit for the course from UT High School.

Semester Topics

• Unit 1: Laying the Foundation
• Unit 2A: Exploring Identity and Culture
• Unit 2B: Exploring Identity and Culture
• Unit 3: Exploring Conformity and Rebellion
• Unit 4: Exploring Courage and Heroism
• Unit 5: Crossing the Finish Line

Course Objectives

Upon completing this course, you will be able to—

• apply a wide-ranging vocabulary appropriately and effectively; 
• use a variety of sentence structures, including appropriate use of subordination and coordination; 
• create a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature; 
• incorporate sophisticated commentary that establishes and explains the relationship between evidence, reasoning, and thesis;  
• identify character traits, including physical, speech, actions, relationships, motivation, growth or lack thereof, and role, such as foil; 
• identify setting, including what the details reveal, the function, and the relationship between character and setting; 
• understand the impact of word choice, imagery/symbols, including literal/figurative, function of specific words, symbols, and imagery on meaning; 
• identify the function of comparisons, including functions of simile, metaphor, personification and allusion. 

Required Course Materials

Please visit the Computer Requirements page to view minimum device, internet, and application requirements for all UT High School courses. Generally, a desktop or laptop device five (5) years or newer with access to an office suite, such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, will be adequate to participate in most UTHS courses.

Unless otherwise noted, students are responsible for purchasing or securing all the following course materials:

• Textbook: Literature & Composition: Essential Voices, Essential Skills by Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Lawrence Scanlon, Katherine E. Cordes, Carlso Escobar, and Carol Jago
  • Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2022
  • ISBN#: 9781319281144
• Novel(s):
  • A Raisin in the Sun by Loraine Hansberry
  • Macbeth by Shakespeare
• Interactive Notebook: A paper or digital composition book is acceptable. For paper composition books, please also have the following items on hand: 
  • Pens or Pencils
  • Tape or Glue

Course Organization

Students must complete the course in sequence: You will not be able to access the next unit until all work in the preceding unit is completed. You may take your final exam only after completing all units and submitting all graded assignments.  

• Units: Each unit includes multiple lessons and graded assignments as well as ungraded practice quizzes to help you check your understanding of the material.
  
  
• Summative Assessments: Each course includes two online, virtually proctored summative assessments testing your understanding of the material presented in the preceding 2-3 Units.
  • Format: Online, Multiple-choice
  • Time Allowed: 1 hr 30 min
    
    
• Final Exam: Each course includes an online, virtually proctored final exam testing your knowledge of all material presented in the course.
  • Format: Online, Multiple-choice and free response
  • Time Allowed: 3 hrs 20 min

Course Grade Weighting

Your final course grade is calculated by weighting the three assignment groups displayed in the table below:

Online Proctored Exams

All course exams, including both summative assessments and the final exam, must be completed online. Students must test online with Proctorio and are required to add the Proctorio extension to either their Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browser—installation instructions are provided in the student's course. Proctorio uses a student's computer, web camera, and microphone to record video of both the student and their desktop during the exam. Then, UTHS instructors review the student's exam video data collected by Proctorio. Only authorized UTHS staff and instructors can view the exam recordings. Student data is not shared with any persons or organizations outside of UTHS and are deleted after one year. We encourage you to visit Proctorio's Data Security and Privacy site pages to learn more about how we protect student date.