AP English Literature and Comp Unit 7

Reading and Writing Workshop

Lesson Plans

Unit 7 FRQs

Unit Plan

Argumentation and Synthesis

Activities

Teaching with E.L.O.N.  (Enriched Learning Opportunity Nexus) that seamlessly integrates AI 

Unit 
Focus: Writing literary arguments that incorporate multiple sources and perspectives.
Skills Developed:

• Structuring clear, concise, and persuasive arguments.
• Synthesizing diverse textual evidence to support a central claim.
• Analyzing and incorporating perspectives from literary and critical texts.
• Refining voice and style in argumentative writing.

Texts: Students will engage with a variety of texts, including:

• Primary literary texts (e.g., novels, plays, poetry, and short stories) such as The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, or works by Emily Dickinson.
• Critical essays and excerpts from literary theorists and scholars.
• Contemporary essays and commentaries relevant to themes in the primary texts.

Unit Overview:
Week 1: Foundations of Argumentation in Literature

• Objective: Understand the fundamentals of literary argumentation and synthesis.
• Activities:
  • Analyze sample AP Free Response Questions (FRQs) to identify expectations and scoring criteria.
  • Introduce the synthesis essay structure and strategies for incorporating multiple perspectives.
  • Practice crafting thesis statements with multiple sources.

Week 2: Developing Arguments with Textual Evidence

• Objective: Learn how to effectively use textual evidence to support claims.
• Activities:
  • Close reading and annotation of selected primary texts and critical essays.
  • Mini-lesson: How to integrate quotes and paraphrases seamlessly.
  • Write and revise a short argument (one body paragraph) incorporating at least two sources.

Week 3: Synthesis Essay Practice

• Objective: Draft and revise synthesis essays using multiple sources.
• Activities:
  • Assign a synthesis prompt related to a central theme (e.g., identity, morality, power).
  • Workshop essay outlines with peers.
  • Draft full essays in class and revise based on teacher and peer feedback.

Week 4: Peer Reviews and Refinement

• Objective: Enhance writing through peer and teacher feedback.
• Activities:
  • Conduct structured peer reviews focusing on thesis clarity, evidence use, and argument organization.
  • Revise essays based on feedback.
  • Participate in a Socratic seminar to discuss varied interpretations of the text and refine arguments collaboratively.

Assessment:

• Formative Assessments:
  • Annotated texts and written reflections.
  • In-class writing assignments and short response essays.
• Summative Assessments:
  • A completed synthesis essay incorporating three to four sources.
  • AP-style FRQ responses scored using the College Board rubric.
  • Participation in peer reviews and Socratic seminars.

Key Assignments:

1. AP Free Response Practice: Respond to a literary analysis FRQ, incorporating at least one critical essay.
2. Synthesis Essay: Write a synthesis essay analyzing a central theme in Hamlet or The Great Gatsby, using both primary and secondary sources.
3. Peer Review and Revision: Collaboratively refine an essay, with a focus on improving argument clarity and textual evidence.

Extensions:

• Creative Option: Write a "missing scene" for a primary text and argue its thematic relevance in an analytical reflection.
• Research Project: Investigate a critical lens (e.g., feminism, Marxism, or psychoanalysis) and apply it to a text studied in class.

​The following activities include AI tools that enhance student engagement, provide data-driven insights, and facilitate personalized learning. 
1. Practicing AP Free Response Questions (FRQs)
Objective: Develop skills in analyzing prompts, structuring arguments, and synthesizing multiple perspectives.
Activity Steps:

• AI-Assisted Prompt Analysis:
  • Students upload FRQ prompts to an AI tool (like ChatGPT or similar) to generate brainstorming questions and outline key ideas.
  • Example: For a prompt on Hamlet, ask the AI to suggest themes, character motivations, and textual evidence related to the question.
• Collaborative Drafting with AI:
  • Students write an initial response using AI to assist with phrasing, textual evidence retrieval, or integrating scholarly perspectives.
  • Encourage students to critically evaluate AI suggestions and refine their arguments independently.
• Reflection and Revision:
  • After drafting, students use AI tools to highlight areas where arguments could be strengthened (e.g., coherence, evidence integration).
  • Students revise their essays based on AI feedback and teacher comments.

2. Peer Reviews of Literary Analyses
Objective: Improve analytical writing through collaborative critique and revision.
Activity Steps:

• AI-Guided Peer Review Training:
  • Students practice giving constructive feedback using AI prompts for examples.
  • Example: Input an essay excerpt and ask the AI to identify strengths and weaknesses in argumentation and evidence use.
• Peer Review Sessions:
  • Students exchange drafts of their essays.
  • Use an AI rubric generator to create customized rubrics for evaluating literary arguments (criteria could include thesis clarity, evidence support, integration of perspectives, and originality).
• AI for Feedback Synthesis:
  • After peer reviews, students summarize feedback with AI assistance.
  • Example: Input peer comments into an AI tool and ask for a synthesized list of actionable revision steps.

3. Integrating Multiple Sources and Perspectives
Objective: Teach students to synthesize literary and critical texts effectively.
Activity Steps:

• AI-Assisted Research:
  • Provide a list of critical texts and themes.
  • Students use AI to generate summaries of critical perspectives or identify relevant quotations.
• Synthesis Workshops:
  • Students practice integrating multiple viewpoints into their arguments.
  • Use AI to rephrase or refine synthesis statements for clarity and fluency.
• Debate-Style Argumentation:
  • Assign students opposing perspectives from critical texts.
  • Use AI to help students anticipate counterarguments and strengthen rebuttals.

Culminating Assessment: Literary Argument Essay

• Students choose a literary work and write a full argumentative essay synthesizing multiple critical perspectives.
• AI tools are used for:
  • Outline generation: Brainstorm thesis and evidence.
  • Feedback loops: Suggest edits for clarity and coherence.
  • Self-assessment: AI rubrics for evaluating their final draft.

Reflection and Feedback

• Students reflect on how AI influenced their writing process (e.g., clarity, evidence integration, efficiency).

Discuss ethical use of AI in academic writing