McCurnin-AP-Literature-Composition - Course Description, Coursework, Grading, Materials

Sep 20, 2026

Advanced Placement AP Literature & Composition course overview for students, detailing the focus on reading and analyzing poetry, short stories, plays, and novels from around the world, including visual arts like painting and film. Explains that success depends on engaged reading, critical thinking, and high-quality written expression, with AP exam credit available in May. Describes reading and writing coursework, typical assignment expectations, grading split of summative versus formative work, daily materials requirements, classroom behavior expectations, and student responsibility for tracking assignments in GC Stream and StudentVue.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Course Description

Coursework

Grading

Materials needed daily

Classroom Expectations

About Me

| David Douglas High School | 2025-26
AP Literature & Composition
Oliver McCurnin
[oliver_mccurnin@ddsd40.org](oliver_mccurnin@ddsd40.org) (best way to reach me)
(503) 262-4477 | | | --- | --- | | Course Description | | --- | | This Advanced Placement course, open to all motivated students, focuses on the reading and analysis of poetry, short stories, plays and novels from around the world, along with other artistic forms such as painting and ﬁlm. We seek through individual analysis and class discussion to answer two essential questions about literary art: What is the author trying to say and how do they say it? Success in this class requires students to develop engaged reading practices, critical thinking skills, and commitment to quality written expression – three skills that are the foundational traits of all successful college students, no matter their major. College credit at all institutions nationwide can be earned on the AP Literature & Composition Exam each student takes in May. | | Coursework | | --- | | 1. Reading Novels & Plays (2-4 per semester): Hamlet, Exit West, White Noise, Lord of the Flies, Death of a Salesman, Things Fall Apart, Siddhartha, The Kite Runner, Ceremony, Beloved, Waiting for Godot, Invisible Man, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Slaughterhouse-5, Brave New World.
2. Reading Short Stories & Poetry: This list is too vast to reproduce and constantly evolving, but we will read texts from all over the world and from multiple historical periods…everything from 12th Century Japanese Zen poetry to works published last month in Literary Journals.
3. Reading assignments average around 25 pages for each class period (that is 12.5 pages a day). If that seems undoable for you, this is probably not the class you want to take.
4. We do a lot of writing, but the vast majority of it is shorter, focused timed write style rather than extended essays.
5. Preparation for the AP Test.
6. We also create a year long journal of all kinds of writing. | | Grading | | --- | | ● 70% Summative Assessment (proﬁciency of learning standards)
● 30% Formative Assessment (practice , daily tasks)
● Typical assignments include reading quizzes, timed writes, polished paragraphs and essays.
● Assignments are noted daily on GC Stream (NOT under the Classwork tab). Some assignments will be digital, others will be handwritten on paper. Not every assignment we do will be graded.
● It is the responsibility of each student to check the GC Stream for missed work and their StudentVue for graded assignments.
● Late work is accepted without penalty until the last full day of class before Progress Reports and/or end of grading period. Please communicate with your teacher for details. | | Materials needed daily | | --- | | ● Charged chromebook. Current novel or play. Writing utensils. Notebook/composition book. Folder. | | Classroom Expectations | | --- | | ● Treatment Agreements will be decided together within the ﬁrst month of school.
● Be cool with me and I will be cool with you. It really is that simple.
● No phones, kids. Really. No earbuds either. Really. | | About Me | | --- | | ● Teacher @ DDHS since 2004.
● Hobbies & Recreation: guitar playing, song and poetry writing, mushroom hunting, skiing, photography, camping, hiking, cooking, carpentry, gardening, ﬁshing. |

FAQs

What texts will students read in AP Literature & Composition?

Students read novels and plays (2–4 per semester) including works such as Hamlet, Exit West, White Noise, and Lord of the Flies, plus a broad selection of short stories, poetry, and texts from many historical periods and countries.

How is grading handled in the course?

Grading uses 70% summative assessment and 30% formative assessment. Typical tasks include reading quizzes, timed writes, polished paragraphs, and essays, and students check GC Stream and StudentVue for assignment status.

What materials are required daily?

Students need a charged Chromebook, their current novel or play, writing utensils, a notebook/composition book, and a folder.

Sep 20, 2026

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