Course Description
AP-ENGLISH-LITERATURE-APPLICATION
AP English Literature Syllabus
This live, online, graded AP English Literature and Composition course prepares homeschool students to score high on the AP English Lit exam. Our class is CollegeBoard and NCAA approved.
This class is intended for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who possess a love of story and energetic discussion. While this course is designed to prepare students to successfully take the Advanced Placement English Literature exam, the material is structured to encourage an ongoing love of writing and in-depth textual analysis. The ability to thoughtfully evaluate what we read is one of the best skills to develop in high school and beyond.
The pieces chosen for this course reflect a wide variety of themes and styles. There is something here for a lover of any genre and style, from classic drama to biting satire to realism and beyond. I have chosen classic works of fiction from a variety of time periods and backgrounds to help students explore a three-dimensional, vibrant scope of humanity. This class is also College Board-certified.
My goals in AP English Literature are to:
- Guide students as they master a wide breadth of literary analysis concepts, vocabulary, and devices such as figurative language, motif, symbolism, characterization, conflict, narrative perspective, tone, and more that help us to interpret and enjoy the narratives we read.
- Help students to master the ability to write concise, well-structured, specific essay responses.
- Encourage students to pursue knowledge in an active manner.
- Create an interactive community of rich discussion and exchange of ideas.
I work to achieve these goals through many activities, including but not limited to:
- Hosting optional live, interactive chats every week via the Zoom conferencing program. If you are not able to attend live meetings, you may listen to the recordings. Our live meetings include lecture material from me and interactive student discussion.
- Regular student interaction and discussion in our website forum on a weekly basis. Reading and responding to the insights of their peers is a great learning and social activity. We always have a thoughtful, vibrant student community in this course, and students have formed enjoyable study groups and lasting friendships.
- Providing in-depth written feedback on every essay assignment. Guiding students as they complete assignments that prepare them for each concept and section of the AP Exam, including fiction analysis, poetry analysis, drama analysis, free response, and multiple-choice questions. Students who complete all of the preparation assignments I assign feel prepared and ready for success. Please read the student reviews for detailed feedback from course participants.
- Providing optional creative writing assignments to help students get involved and enjoy writing. These assignments are fictional reflections from the point of view of a character we’ve encountered, poetry responses, and more. All creative exercises are optional; students may focus on essays alone if preferred.
- Moderating an interactive, week-long “Dinner Party” project each spring. This is a lively website forum discussion that involves students “interacting” as authors and characters we’ve encountered throughout the year. Students interact in character and discuss many issues that involve analysis and creativity. This is an excellent way for students to practice their research skills and develop their ability to see from the point of view of a fictional character or a classic writer. This exercise is a wonderful preparation for the AP Exam.
- Longer writing assignments, including a mandatory 6-10-page midterm literary analysis paper. This is excellent preparation for college-level writing, as I help to guide students through multiple checkpoints for this project and encourage original critical thinking and strong structural skills.
- Students are encouraged to consider participating in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and I offer guidance if desired. My background includes Creative Writing instruction, and my students (including all course and tutoring students) have won many Silver Keys and Gold Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. This class is designed to be rigorous and exciting, while still flexible.
Course Structure
Homework will be assigned/due weekly on our course website. Students may view the detailed syllabus at any point to see what is coming up next. I will also send out a weekly homework update email to both students and parents. Students will read regular handouts, posts, and activities on the website.
Weekly assignments may include:
- A weekly 50-minute live meeting.
- Interactive discussion of course texts and concepts in our website forum.
- Handouts and visual aids/presentations.
- Essays and multiple-choice quizzes in preparation for the AP exam in May. These assignments are designed to develop the specific skills your student needs.
- Reading assignments ranging from approx. 30-100 pages. These assignments may include major course texts and suggested resources.
- Optional bonus assignments and an in-depth, extra-credit vocabulary prompt of the week.
- Longer writing assignments, including a mandatory midterm paper. These assignments are typically completed over multiple weeks with detailed teacher feedback and check- in points.
Who should enroll?
This course is intended for 10th-12th graders who (in general) have completed at least 1 year of high-school level English. Submitting an application is required.
Technology Requirements
- High speed, broadband Internet
- Web cam, sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
All homework will be submitted and critiqued via the website; I provide detailed critiques on all essays and respond to course discussion responses personally. My goal is to provide detailed essay critiques within 1 week of the essay’s due date. For lengthier assignments such as term papers, response time may be longer. Students receive all critiques well before the next writing assignment is due so that they may steadily develop and improve their work with each assignment.
I provide regular instruction and feedback in areas such as depth of analysis, organization and structure, balance of generalization and specific detail, effective use of literary elements, correct syntax and grammar, and correct use of a wide-ranging vocabulary and diction. My essay critiques are geared to help students hone in on challenge areas and improve their essay scores.
Communication
An application is required for this course. Once a student has been accepted and is registered, I will contact families within 1-2 business days of registration. I believe strongly in keeping parents in the loop at all times; I send weekly class update emails to parents and students. Parents also have the ability to view their child’s progress via an Observer Canvas account.
Christi J. –
Thank you so much for teaching Joey this year. He has learned so much from you and enjoyed having you as a teacher. I am excited he will have you again next year for AP Language. I hope he will be able to attend your live classes. I listened to a number of your classes and appreciate your enthusiasm, knowledge and sharing your gift of teaching!
Hope Tsai –
I loved this class!
Mrs. Serbicki taught me how to analyze literature without once being discouraging, and she is always quick to answer any questions I might have. The coursework and discussions every week were extremely helpful in honing my abilities, and all directions are clear and concise; the first timed essay is not included in your final grade, which really takes off the pressure. Also, her critiques are incredibly helpful! You know just what to expect going into the class, as she has a detailed syllabus that you can save for college applications. With Mrs. Serbicki, I got 5s on both the AP English Language exam and the AP English Literature exam, and I definitely could not have done that without her!
Christine Johnson –
Mrs. Serbicki provides outstanding instruction and critique in both of her AP English courses. She is flexible and always willing to provide as much feedback as you need, answers all questions promptly, and never leaves room for ambiguity in what she expects from her students. She makes English enjoyable and has fostered enormous growth and creativity in the way I think, learn, and write! Mrs. Serbicki gives excellent preparation materials for the AP exams and teaches exactly what is needed to succeed. She is incredibly organized, provides an in-depth syllabus at the start of class (which includes all course texts and assignments), and does not stray from it. Mrs. Serbicki even wrote me letters of recommendation for my college applications! Excellent teacher, excellent courses–I have so much to thank Mrs. Serbicki for!
Isabelle Cushman –
AP Literature was a fantastic class. I was very impressed by how organized it was and with Mrs. Serbicki’s engagement with her students. We were given clear handouts to make reviewing important ideas easier, as well as plenty of feedback on any written work we did. We could always send her an email to ask for extra help or clarification if we needed it, and this kind of accessibility is so important in an online class.
If you take advantage of this wonderful class and Mrs. Serbicki’s teaching, you will be able to turn any fear of the AP exam into excitement- it’s a challenge you will have been well prepared to tackle.
Jennifer Weakland –
This class was impeccably organized and effectively prepared me for the exam. There were plenty of MCQ practice assignments that assisted in honing test-taking skills, as well as plenty of timed essay practice. I felt confident taking the exam because of this preparation. The coursework itself was interesting, and I especially liked that most assignments allowed for an element of creativity and flexibility.
Mrs. Serbicki always made her expectations completely clear and answered questions promptly. Her support makes it easy to do your best in this class. I most appreciate her directness and attention to detail when grading assignments; I always knew exactly what to work on and what my strong suits were following her dedicated and methodical grading of my papers. Mrs. Serbicki’s organization, support, and succinctness in helping her students grow as writers not only make success in this class achievable, but also enjoyable.
Jacob Stone Thompson –
“Highly recommended! This course has been a very effective way to prepare for the AP exam. I, though I had never taken any AP class/test before, felt completely ready and able to give my best on exam day. The assigned reading was intriguing and diverse, introducing me to several genres I had never read before. Mrs. Serbicki’s insight and clear analysis of each work we read really helped me to fully comprehend not just the definition but the application and effect of each literary device we discussed. Her critiques on discussion responses and essays, while always remaining positive and uplifting, were very detailed and specific. She made it very clear what I was doing well and what I needed to work on which really helped me to improve my essay writing and analysis ability. Discussion questions were fun and thought-provoking, lectures were fascinating and extremely helpful, and the AP practice was thorough and well-done. We were eased into the world of writing 40 minute essays incrementally, but we were still pushed a little further each time. (Essays moved from untimed in the first semester, to 90, 70, and finally 40 minutes in the second semester.) There were plenty of MCQ (multiple choice questions) and vocabulary support and practice and there were also plenty of extra activities for those who wanted more practice in a particular area. I even got a couple of chances to delve into creative writing assignments, and the course as a whole, with its deep focus on literary devices and plot structure, has really helped me to improve my own skills as a writer.” – Student, 2015-2016
Gorilla Web –
“I want to thank you too! I can already feel that my essay skills have improved from how they were at the beginning of the class, and the worksheets and everything you give us (lots of feedback!) have helped me feel so much more confident.” AP Lit student, 2015-2016
Gorilla Web –
“I just wanted to let you know that the AP exam went VERY well for me yesterday! I felt so prepared for every aspect of the test. In fact, because of all the practice quizzes you walked us through during the second semester, the multiple choice section simply felt like another “review activity”! The essay section, too, was very predictable, and with the time-management strategies you taught us, I was able to effectively analyze, plan, and complete my response to each prompt well within the 2 hour limit. Because of how comfortable and confident I was with the exam format, I could truly relax and focus on doing my best…Thank you for so carefully providing me with the opportunities I needed beforehand so that I could have this pleasure…I have learned more than I ever anticipated this year about literature, about writing, and about myself. It has been a joy to be your student!” – Student, 2013-2014
Debra Bell –
“I absolutely loved Mrs. Serbicki’s AP English Literature course. It was such an amazing class, and I enjoyed it so much. Mrs. Serbicki is always very helpful and willing to answer questions. This course prepared me extremely well for the AP exam. Mrs. Serbicki teaches everything you need to know to score well. I received my score last month, and got a 5. Everything I used to prepare for the exam was from this class. If you take this course, you will be prepared for the exam. On average, I spent about 1-1.5 hours a day on this class. The workload was not overwhelming and I enjoyed doing it. I loved the novels we read and Mrs. Serbicki is great at leading discussions about them.” – Student, 2013-2014 “I just wanted to let you know that the AP exam went VERY well for me yesterday! I felt so prepared for every aspect of the test. In fact, because of all the practice quizzes you walked us through during the second semester, the multiple choice section simply felt like another “review activity”! The essay section, too, was very predictable, and with the time-management strategies you taught us, I was able to effectively analyze, plan, and complete my response to each prompt well within the 2 hour limit. Because of how comfortable and confident I was with the exam format, I could truly relax and focus on doing my best…Thank you for so carefully providing me with the opportunities I needed beforehand so that I could have this pleasure!“My favorite assignments in this class were fiction responses. There was an extra credit opportunity to write from a minor character’s point of view, which I loved so much I completed it three times. I also chose to rewrite a scene from Macbeth instead of writing an essay. Personally, I find fiction to be more difficult to write than an essay because there is not set formula; however, I love the creativity of fiction and how much power you feel while writing it. The other students in my class were wonderful. A variety of opinions and ideas came out of our discussions. I had a blast reading their work and debating with them. They forced me to defend and expand my analysis of the various works we read. They all helped me grow both as a reader and as a writer. I wish I was going to take English with all of them again next year. “ – Student, 2012-2013
You have been such a wonderful teacher. I remember, during the first week of class, feeling very overwhelmed and worried that I would not be able to do this “AP thing.” 🙂 However, my fears were rapidly allayed by your wonderful encouragement…I have learned more than I ever anticipated this year about literature, about writing, and about myself. It has been a joy to be your student!” – Student, 2013-2014