Course Description: This four-day course is designed to benefit both the new and experienced AP English Literature and Composition teacher. As such much of our time together will be used to refine our current practices and leverage the expertise in the room. Using contemporary and classic literature, we will explore instructional strategies and assessments. We will work on planning the year as well as tweaking and/or constructing lesson plans and units. The workshop will be largely hands-on and differentiated to the degree needed.
I am looking forward to working with you. In the coming weeks I will send you more introductory information. It is my hope to get to know you and for you to get to know your fellow participants before the workshop begins.
In the interim feel free to contact me with any questions that you might have: beckymcfarlan@gmail.com
Topics will include the following: The College Board Course and Exam Description, Course and Syllabus Design, Audit, AP Classroom, Pacing, Formative and Summative Assessment, AP Exam Structure, Seminar Approaches, Strategies for Teaching Poetry, Short Works of Fiction, Major Works of Fiction (novels and drama), Grammar/Syntax, and Writing.
Key Take-Aways:
- Understanding the Course
- Planning the Course
- Teaching the Course
- Assessing Student Progress and Understanding
- Becoming a Member of the AP Community
Resources: College Board resources will be provided. I will have hard copies of handouts and will post downloadable copies for your future use. In preparation for the week, you might consider lessons that you want to tweak for next year. This is an opportunity to get expert help from your colleagues.
Course Syllabus
June 24-27, 2025
AP English Literature and Composition
Course Description: This four-day course is designed to benefit both the inexperienced and experienced AP English Literature and Composition teacher. Using contemporary and classic literature, we will explore instructional strategies and assessments. We will work on planning the year as well as tweaking and/or constructing lesson plans and units. The workshop will be largely hands-on and differentiated to the degree needed.
I am looking forward to working with you. In the coming weeks I will send you more introductory information. It is my hope to get to know you and for you to get to know your fellow participants before the workshop begins.
In the interim feel free to contact me with any questions that you might have: beckymcfarlan@gmail.com
Topics will include the following: The College Board Course and Exam Description, Course and Syllabus Design, Audit, AP Classroom, Pacing, Formative and Summative Assessment, AP Exam Structure, Seminar Approaches, Strategies for Teaching Poetry, Short Works of Fiction, Major Works of Fiction (novels and drama), Grammar/Syntax, and Writing.
Key Take-Aways:
- Understanding the Course
- Planning the Course
- Teaching the Course
- Assessing Student Progress and Understanding
- Becoming a Member of the AP Community
Resources: College Board resources will be provided. I will have hard copies of handouts and will post downloadable copies for your future use. In preparation for the week, you might consider lessons that you want to tweak for next year. This is an opportunity to get expert help from your colleagues.
Tuesday, June 24
- APSI Welcome, Introductions, Overview of Week, Goals
- Deep Dive into the Course and Exam Binder
- The Audit
- Access and Equity – Profile of an AP Student
- Levels of Questions – Reading/Writing/Thinking Strategy
- Spiraling Skills – Short Fiction (Units 1, 4, 7)
- Rubrics and Writing – 2025 FRQ #2
- Begin creating a short fiction unit or other overall plan for the year
- Read and evaluate student samples 2025 FRQ 2
Wednesday, June 25
- Download and Share
- Review and calibrate 2025 FRQ 2 student samples
- Reading Strategy – Says/Does/How
- Reading Strategies and Multiple Choice
- AP Classroom
- Share Resources
- Favorite Works and Unit Planning (Units 3, 6, 9)
- Begin creating a longer fiction unit or other overall plan for the year
- Read and evaluate student samples 2025 FRQ3
Thursday, June 26
- Download and Share
- Review and calibrate 2025 FRQ 3 student samples
- Personal Progress Checks and Assessment
- Seminar Strategies
- Thesis Writing
- Poetry Lessons and Strategies
- Develop a writing plan for the year
- Begin creating a poetry unit to share
Friday, June 27
- Download and Share
- Spiraling Skills – Poetry (Units 2, 5, 8)
- Retrofitting Old AP Prompts for New Units
- Read and evaluate student samples 2025 FRQ1
- Vocabulary and Discrete Skills
- Continue working on units and overall plan for the year
- Download and share
