In AP Literature, students have spent the whole year reading novels, poems, and plays, from ancient Greek tragedies to early Modernist poems. However, most of the content on the AP Literature exam is from the 1600s to the early/mid 1900s. Therefore, students do not get to read much "modern" literature that often made them fall in love with books in the first place. My students read Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea, Beloved, Oedipus, Medea, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Heart of Darkness, Much Ado About Nothing, and a bunch of poetry from the 1600s-1950ish. I love to end the year with the "Modern Novel Unit." I give them a long list of novels published later in the 20th century and even in the 21st century that have won awards or received high levels of public interest. This unit appeals to students who may feel burnt out from literature. Last year, after this unit, a few students set their minds on adding English minors to their B.S. plans of study in college! For students that are already planning to major in English or the humanities, this unit gives them a chance to read modern literary criticism from academics and published authors, which inspires them to keep going on their Literary trajectories.
Giving students more options (more modern novels!) will increase motivation and commitment to their chosen book. They will feel a sense of ownership, and the mini-seminars will be more exciting, engaging, and DEEP! I want to help my students by providing more modern novels. So far, I can only offer students a few choices (Handmaid's Tale and The Road, for example) and if they aren't "vibing" with anything the school already has, they have to purchase the book themselves (which isn't feasible for everyone and makes the process more difficult).
About my class
In AP Literature, students have spent the whole year reading novels, poems, and plays, from ancient Greek tragedies to early Modernist poems. However, most of the content on the AP Literature exam is from the 1600s to the early/mid 1900s. Therefore, students do not get to read much "modern" literature that often made them fall in love with books in the first place. My students read Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea, Beloved, Oedipus, Medea, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Heart of Darkness, Much Ado About Nothing, and a bunch of poetry from the 1600s-1950ish. I love to end the year with the "Modern Novel Unit." I give them a long list of novels published later in the 20th century and even in the 21st century that have won awards or received high levels of public interest. This unit appeals to students who may feel burnt out from literature. Last year, after this unit, a few students set their minds on adding English minors to their B.S. plans of study in college! For students that are already planning to major in English or the humanities, this unit gives them a chance to read modern literary criticism from academics and published authors, which inspires them to keep going on their Literary trajectories.
Giving students more options (more modern novels!) will increase motivation and commitment to their chosen book. They will feel a sense of ownership, and the mini-seminars will be more exciting, engaging, and DEEP! I want to help my students by providing more modern novels. So far, I can only offer students a few choices (Handmaid's Tale and The Road, for example) and if they aren't "vibing" with anything the school already has, they have to purchase the book themselves (which isn't feasible for everyone and makes the process more difficult).
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