In the AP® English Lit CED, NAR 4.D tells students to "explain how a narrator's reliability affects a narrative." This skill is a tricky one because we introduce skepticism to our students when it comes to our narrator. Later, students sometimes wonder how we spot an unreliable narrator. Some even ...
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My 10 NEW Favorite Poems to Teach in AP Lit
This is part two of a previous post, where I list my 10 favorite poems to teach in AP® Lit. While I haven't replaced all of these poems, I have added quite a few new titles to my repertoire since I wrote it, so I thought it was time for a Part 2 version! So, without further ado, here are 10 more ...
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AP Lit Skill Spotlight: Contrasting Characters
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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