Lesson Plans

Assignment to have been completed: Students had no homework for today.

Objectives: To understand the strategies for approaching an in-class essay in the AP style

Activities:

• A. Return students’ literary analysis essays to them.
• B. Outline the two approaches to doing a compare/contrast analysis.
  • 1. The Divided Pattern
    • a. Start with a thesis that states what is significant about the similarities or differences between the points. Be specific. Reflect on the following examples.
  • 1. The first poem is very different from the second. [inappropriate]
  • 2. The first poem is very similar to the second. [inappropriate]
  • 3. The two poems are both alike and different. [inappropriate]
  • 4. Though both poems deal with (insert subject), the first poem takes a light- hearted approach while the second is utterly serious. [APPROPRIATE]
    • b. Divide your essay into two sections: the first (A) will discuss all aspects of the first poem; the second (B) will discuss all aspects of the second poem.
    • c. Each section should consist of at least 3 paragraphs: one each on diction, figurative language, structure, and/or tone.
    • d. The order in which the aspects are discussed in Section A should be repeated in Section B.
    • e. If you use this pattern, you may write a complete introduction or you may make your thesis the first sentence of the first paragraph, immediately followed by a topic sentence for that paragraph.
    • f. The same goes for the conclusion. Just make sure the conclusion – whether an entire paragraph or just a final sentence on the last body paragraph – brings the paper to a conclusion, not just an ending.
  • 2. The Alternating Pattern
    • a. Follow the same guidelines for thesis as those set down under the Divided Pattern.
    • b. Select one of the aspects of comparison/contrast and discuss how each functions in both the fist and the second poem.
    • c. Repeat this pattern in each body paragraph.
    • d. If you use this pattern, you will need to write about four different aspects in four distinct body paragraphs and include both an introduction and a conclusion—or you must present the thesis as the first sentence of the first paragraph and the conclusion as the last sentence of the last paragraph.
• C. Distribute Multiple-Choice & Free-Response Questions in Preparation for the AP English Literature and Composition Examination.
  • 1. Have students turn to page 253 and read the essay question there.
  • 2. Instruct the students to do their planning to respond to this essay. They should share their plans with the class or with a partner or small group.
  • 3. Instruct the students to read the scoring rubric on page 279. Wait while students accomplish this task.
  • 4. Ask the students to discuss the direction their essays would have taken – based on their plans and in light of the scoring rubric.

Assignment for next class meeting: Prepare for tomorrow’s timed writing.