Hint Hint! Tomorrow's In-Class Essay Prompt:

The poetry question for the 1999 AP exam in English Literature and Composition

"Read the following poem carefully, paying particular attention to the physical intensity of the language.  Then right a well organized essay in which you explain how the poet conveys not just a literal description of picking blackberries but a deeper understanding of the whole experience.  You may wish to include analysis of such elements as diction, imagery, metaphor, rhyme, and form."


This essay will be on "Blackberry-Picking" by Seamus Heaney.

Exciting B.O.L.M. news!

As you all know, question 3 on the AP Lit. exam is always on the BOLM. While I would love to believe that you are all reading your BOLMs in a dedicated manner and examining the Big 5 in all of them, I know that some of you won't really take in a great work of literature until we formally study it in class.

Well... for those folks... *yet another drumroll*... our books are almost here! I ordered a few class sets of BOLMs including my personal favorite book, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I actually wrote my question 3 essay on this particular text when I was in school. Hopefully we'll get our texts before the week ends so that we can start digging in very soon. This lack of novels is kind of ruining the AP Lit. rotation schedule that I'd envisioned.

Fingers Crossed!

High Scores = Amazing Incentives!

AP Apollos,

We've come to an exciting point in the semester .... *drumroll*....

It's time to figure out what our passing incentive will be next summer! I know you're probably wondering why I'm asking you so early, but I need time to come up with fabulous fundraisers to pay for our fabulous gift.

Here's how it works: You need to receive a composite 3 to pass the AP Literature exam. To drive our achievement, I agree to some class incentive for all of the passing students (no matter how large the number). Keep in mind, your scores do not return until late June/early July. Whatever you choose will have to be something that you're okay with getting that late.

Leave your ideas in the comment section!

Hi Smarty-Pants!

I started this blog to keep you updated on assignments that are due and to offer additional resources for those of you who are interested. Feel free to ask questions in the comments section. Eventually, we will hold a graded, online discussion here. :-)

Feel free to leave feedback on what additional resources you would like me to provide here.

Look at this AWESOME list!

I used my Google superpowers to track down a list of aaaaall of the books of literary merit that have ever appeared on the AP exam list. Read it, preview books online (google books or amazon), and finally pin down the one that you want to attack for the rest of semester one. 

Here ya' go: http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/AP/APtitles.html 

Try not to get too excited!

-Ms. Lightfoot