I'm really excited to put out this Skill Spotlight because it's on a topic that I love to talk about: contrasts! I love to discuss contrasts in theme, structure, topic, and especially character. Character contrasts can include a classic match-up between protagonist and antagonist, but can also be ...
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AP Lit Skill Spotlight: Character Relationships
If you're studying CHR 1.D of the AP® Lit CED, and you're studying them in the order suggested in that document, you've likely already gotten through many other skills. By now, you and your students should also understand that the concept of "complexity" just means two separate or contrasting things ...
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AP Skills: The Interstate, the Microscope, and the Compass
In a recent conversation with some other AP® Lit teachers (the likes of which I am humbled to be included), we began talking about the role that the AP® Lit skills play in our students’ approaches to education. We described the skills using three different symbols, and I began to think that it would ...
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My 10 Favorite Short Stories for AP Lit
After completing so many AP Lit Skill Spotlights, it's becoming clear to me that some texts are used more than others. Here's my list of the top 10 short stories for AP Lit, based on three criteria: 1) application of AP Lit skills; 2) interest and engagement for readers; 3) potential analysis of ...
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AP Lit Skill Spotlight: Narrator & Perspective
Enduring Understanding: A speaker's or narrator’s perspective controls the details and emphases that affect how readers experience and interpret a text.
Below are a variety of clips to get students thinking about a narrator’s perspective and how we as the audience are influenced by that ...
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AP Lit Skill Spotlight: Character and Setting
When you examine the AP® Lit CED, you notice a natural progression in the Setting skills. First, students are asked to identify elements of setting (2.A). Next, they analyze the function of setting in 2.B, such as how it contributes to a story's mood or theme. Finally, students should analyze the ...
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