AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION

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In AP English Language and Composition, students learn to understand and analyze complex styles of writing by reading works from a variety of authors. They’ll explore the richness of language, including syntax, imitation, word choice, and tone. They’ll also learn about their own composition style and process, starting with exploration, planning, and writing, and continuing through editing, peer review, rewriting, polishing, and applying what they learn to a breadth of academic, personal, and professional contexts. The equivalent of an introductory college-level survey class, this course prepares students for the AP Exam and for further study in communications, creative writing, journalism, literature, and composition.

 

The content aligns to the scope and sequence specified by the College Board and to widely used textbooks.

 

Prerequisites: At least a B-grade in most recent English course

Recommended Grades: For qualified AP students

Length: Two semesters

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UNIT 1: GETTING STARTED

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LESSON 1: COURSE INTRODUCTION

Practice: Beginning Skills Sheet

This skills sheet will include survival skills for the course and AP Exam, review the format of the AP Exam, and introduce a vocabulary sheet you will use throughout the course.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Introduce Yourself

Introduce yourself and discuss your high school writing experience, the strengths and weaknesses you have as a writer, and the kinds of reading and writing you like to do on your own.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Reading Nonfiction

Learn how to effectively read a non-fiction work. You will complete study questions based on an assigned reading and compare your work to an answer sheet.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Analyzing Writings

In this Book Club discussion you will be able to talk with your peers about the study questions that accompany your reading. You will have a chance to ask questions about the reading and study questions.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Analyze a Writing

Write a short essay in answer to a prompt derived from a non-fiction reading. Your instructor will use this writing sample to assess your current writing skills, and provide feedback to you.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 1 points

 

LESSON 2: LANGUAGE BASICS

Discuss: What Is Language?

Discuss with your peers the nature of language and reasons we use language the ways we do.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Study: Language

Learn about the nature and history of the English language. Explore the differences between oral and written forms of language.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Noticing Trends

Read documents written at different time periods. Complete study questions that pertain to different characteristics of these written documents. Compare your work to a sample answer sheet.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Quiz: Investigating Old and New Writings

Read documents written at different time periods and complete study questions. Answer multiple-choice questions.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Adopt a Writing Style

Read about imitating a writing style. For this Assignment you will choose a document and rewrite it, adopting a style different from that of the document. The adopted style will be borrowed from another writing that's provided.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 3: WRAP-UP

Practice: Getting Started

Review vocabulary terms.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Review: Getting Started

Review the covered material in preparation for a test.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Test (TS): Getting Started

Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60 points

 

LESSON 4: DIAGNOSTIC

Diagnostic: Getting Started

Test your understanding of key concepts.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 28 points

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UNIT 2: READING TECHNIQUES

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LESSON 1: CRITICAL READING

Study: Critical Reading

Learn the basic skills for critical reading. These include how to take notes on a text, how to ask questions of a text, and why rereading can be useful. The art of critical reading will be demonstrated for you in this tutorial.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Practice with Critical Reading

Read non-fiction work and complete study questions based on the reading. Compare your answers with a sample answer sheet. Then, read another non-fiction work and complete study questions based on the reading without a sample answer sheet.

Duration: 2hr 30min

Quiz: Critical Questions, 1

Answer questions about your critical reading.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Discuss: Nonfiction Analysis

In this discussion you will have a chance to analyze a piece of non-fiction with your peers. You will learn the kinds of questions to ask when encountering a non-fiction work.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Modeling Inquiry

Learn to look for significant detail in non-fiction writing. This exploration will model the process of asking questions of a text.

Duration: 1hr

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Interrogate an Essay

Read a non-fiction work and complete study questions in which you practice asking questions of the text. Write an essay in which you answer one of your own questions.

Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25 points

Practice: Writing Lab: Self Assessment

Use your critical reading skills to self-assess your own writing. Learn how keeping a reading journal can be useful.

Duration: 1hr

 

LESSON 2: RECOGNIZING RHETORIC

Practice: Rhetoric Skill Sheet

Read a skill sheet that includes vocabulary and exercises about rhetorical devices. Read a non-fiction essay and identify these rhetorical devices. Answer multiple choice questions and compare your answers with a sample answer sheet.

Duration: 2hr

Discuss: How Rhetoric Works

Discuss rhetorical devices and the effects they produce.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Study: Rhetoric

Learn about how different writing choices have particular consequences and effects. This Tutorial will include definitions of rhetorical techniques like parallelism, metaphor, irony, and more.

Duration: 1hr

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 3: RHETORIC, PART 2

Practice: Rhetorical Patterns

Read about figurative language patterns such as imagery, analogy, metaphor, synecdoche, and hyperbole. Answer study questions.

Duration: 1hr

Quiz: Figurative Language

Read and answer questions about figurative language and its effects.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Irony

This Independent Study concentrates on irony, a particular kind of rhetorical device. You will read examples where irony is used as a technique and will answer questions about irony.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Practice: Satire

This Independent Study concentrates on satire, a particular kind of rhetorical device. You will read examples where satire is used as a technique and will answer questions about satire.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Function of Rhetoric

In this Independent Study you will write about the purpose and effectiveness of rhetoric.

Duration: 0hr 45min

Practice: Being Rhetorical

Write a series of short answers in which you use different rhetorical techniques. Each answer you write will concentrate on one rhetorical technique.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points

Practice: Writing Lab: Assess Yourself

In this Independent Study you will assess the effectiveness of your own writing.

Duration: 0hr 45min

Discuss: Discussing Rhetoric

In this discussion you and your peers will assess the strengths and weaknesses of your writing, with a special eye on your use of rhetoric.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Analyzing Rhetoric

Examine rhetorical techniques and their effects as you complete a reading. Submit answers to study questions.

Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25 points

 

LESSON 4: WRAP-UP

Practice: Reading Techniques

Review vocabulary terms.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Review: Reading Techniques

Review the covered material in preparation for a test.

Duration: 4hr

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Test (TS): Reading Techniques

Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60 points

LESSON 5: DIAGNOSTIC

Diagnostic: Reading Techniques

Test your understanding of key concepts.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 30 points

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UNIT 3: WRITING TECHNIQUES

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LESSON 1: COLLEGE WRITING

Study: College Writing

Learn about the general characteristics of writing at the college level. These include such components as thesis, transitions, logic, awareness of audience, diction, and more.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: College Writing Skill Sheet

In this Independent Study you will read and answer questions about college level writing components.

Duration: 2hr

Discuss: What Is College Writing?

Discuss with your peers the differences between writing at the college level and writing for high school.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review

Learn about peer reviewing. Then peer review a sample essay with your classmates.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 2: WRITING MECHANICS, DOCUMENTATION, AND CITATION

Study: Writing Mechanics

This tutorial will concentrate on sentence-level techniques for good writing.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Grammar Basics Skill Sheet

In this Independent Study you will be reminded of common grammatical issues that arise when writing.

Duration: 1hr

Quiz: Identifying Grammar Errors

Answer multiple-choice questions in which you identify grammar errors.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Writing Well

Write short answers to prompts. Your answers will be evaluated for clarity and grammatical precision.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25 points

Study: Documentation, Citation, and Plagiarism

An overview of how to document and cite sources and how to avoid plagiarism.

Duration: 1hr

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your understanding of documentation, citation, and plagiarism issues

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 3: WRITING FUNDAMENTALS

Study: The Thesis and the Paragraph

Learn about thesis and its component parts and about how to write coherent paragraphs.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Theses and Paragraphs

Read and practice thesis construction and paragraph construction.

Duration: 1hr 45min

Practice: Creating Theses, Constructing Paragraphs

In this assignment you will create a thesis, choose evidence to support it, and construct a series of coherent paragraphs.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25 points

Practice: Assessing Your Paragraphs

Answer questions and perform a self-assessment of your writing.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Discuss: Reviewing Paragraphs

Discuss your thesis and paragraphs with your peers. You will post your self-assessment and critique the work of other students.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 4: THE WRITING PROCESS

Discuss: How Do You Write?

Discuss with your peers what you do when you sit down to write.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Study: The Writing Process

This Tutorial will introduce the basic steps of the writing process, including prewriting, writing, and revising.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Writing Process Skill Sheet

Read tips on the writing process and work through some sample problems with answers.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Practice: Brainstorming and Prewriting

Read a pair of essays, answer study questions, brainstorm about how you'll answer the essay question, and begin prewriting your essay.

Duration: 2hr

Discuss: Developing a Thesis and Evidence

After developing a thesis and evidence for the essay question (offline), post yours to receive feedback from other students.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Responding in Writing

Write a well-developed and supported one- to two-page essay, completing the process of brainstorming, prewriting, and developing a thesis and evidence.

Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25 points

Discuss: Writing Lab: Self and Peer Review

Evaluate your writing, send it on to another student for a peer review, and peer review the essay of another student.

Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 5: WRAP-UP

Practice: Writing Techniques

Review vocabulary terms.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Review: Writing Techniques

Review the covered material in preparation for a test.

Duration: 2hr 45min

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Test (TS): Writing Techniques

Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60 points

 

LESSON 6: DIAGNOSTIC

Diagnostic: Writing Techniques

Test your understanding of key concepts.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 30 points

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UNIT 4: FORMS OF PROSE

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LESSON 1: PERSONAL AND REFLECTIVE WRITING

Discuss: Characteristics of Personal and Reflective Writing

Discuss characteristics of personal and reflective writing after reading two examples.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Reflecting, 1

Write a short personal piece in answer to a prompt.

Duration: 1hr

Study: Personal and Reflective Writing

Learn the basic characteristics of personal and reflective writing.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Personal and Reflective Writing

Read some pieces of personal and reflective writing and answer questions ( sample answers provided). Then, read a pair of personal and reflective writings and answer study questions with no sample answers.

Duration: 1hr 45min

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Reflecting, 2

Write a personal essay on a self-chosen topic. This may be a college essay, but doesn't have to be.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Writing Lab: Self Assessment

Evaluate a piece of your own personal and reflective writing.

Duration: 1hr

 

LESSON 2: EXPOSITORY WRITING

Study: Expository Writing

Learn the basic characteristics of expository writing, including writings that compare, contrast, classify, divide, define, analyze, explain a process, and show a causal relation.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Expository Writing Skill Sheet

Read a skill sheet on exposition and different modes with sample questions and answers.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Expository Styles

Write one paragraph in each of the following expository styles: definition, description, narration, analogy, compare, contrast, classify, divide, process analysis, cause and effect analysis.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Effects and Uses of Expository Writing

Choose an expository mode and write an essay, using that mode, on the topic of your choice.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points

Discuss: Writing Lab: Self and Peer Review

Evaluate your writing, send your writing on to another student for a peer review, and peer review the essay of another student.

Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 3: ANALYTICAL WRITING

Study: Analytical Writing

Learn the basics of analytical writing, which is writing about literature. This includes an introduction to close reading.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Close Reading Skill Sheet

Read a skill sheet on close reading and answer sample questions with answers.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Discuss: Discussing Literature, 1

Discuss a piece of literature with your peers using some sample questions and answers.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Constructing a Close Reading

Explore a literary passage as you build your close reading skills.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Discussing Literature, 2

Discuss a piece of literature with your peers.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

Study: The Synthesis Essay

Learn to write a synthesis essay.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Writing a Synthesis Essay

Write a synthesis essay on democracy.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points

Discuss: Writing Lab: Self and Peer Review

Evaluate your writing, send your writing on to another student for a peer review, and peer review the essay of another student.

Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 4: PERSUASIVE WRITING

Discuss: How Do We Persuade?

Have a discussion with your peers in which you try to answer the question "How do we persuade?"

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Study: Persuasive Writing

Learn the basic characteristics of persuasive writing.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Persuasive Writing Skill Sheet

Read a skills sheet on persuasive writing and persuasive writing techniques, with questions and sample answers.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Discuss: Discussing Persuasion, 1

Read two essays, answer discussion questions, post a response, and discuss it with your peers.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Discuss: Discussing Persuasion, 2

Read some essays (with no study questions or sample answers), and then have a discussion with your peers about that reading.

Duration: 1hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Being Persuasive

In this Assignment, you'll reply to a reading with short answers about the persuasive techniques and create your own persuasive piece.

Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25 points

Discuss: Writing Lab: Self and Peer Review

Evaluate your own writing, send your writing on to another student for a peer review, and peer review the essay of another student.

Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 5: WRAP-UP

Practice: Forms of Prose

Review vocabulary terms.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Review: Forms of Prose

Review the covered material in preparation for a test.

Duration: 4hr

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

Test (TS): Forms of Prose

Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60 points

 

LESSON 6: DIAGNOSTIC

Diagnostic: Forms of Prose

Test your understanding of key concepts.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 40 points

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UNIT 5: REVIEW AND EXAM

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LESSON 1: AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION

Review: AP English Language and Composition

This review walks you through what you've learned this semester and gives you some specific strategies on preparing for the test.

Duration: 5hr

Practice: Free Response Preparation, 1

Read about answering free-response questions for the Semester and AP Exams, and then practice by writing a free-response answer.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Free Response Preparation, 2

Prepare three free response essays.

Duration: 3hr Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Multiple Choice Preparation, 1

This activity is a series of 20 multiple-choice questions that cover content from the entire first semester of the course.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 20 points

Quiz: Multiple Choice Preparation, 2

This activity is a series of 20 multiple-choice questions that cover content from the entire first semester of the course.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 20 points

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Exam: AP English Language and Composition

Take a test that assesses your mastery of the objectives from the entire first semester.

Duration: 3hr 15min Scoring: 120 points

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UNIT 6: HISTORY AND NARRATIVE

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LESSON 1: AUTOBIOGRAPHIES AND BIOGRAPHIES

Discuss: What is Old, What is New

Discuss your experience in semester 1 of this course, and predict what semester 2 will be like.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Study: Autobiographies and Biographies

View the history and conventions of autobiography and biography, and learn the importance of characterization and narrative voice. Explore the relationship of storytelling to identity and the difference between autobiography and life.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Analyzing Biography and Autobiography

Read excerpts from The Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln and The Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane, and then answer questions about them.

Duration: 1hr 15min

Practice: Preparing to Write About Biography and Autobiography

Write the rough draft of a synthesis essay on Malcolm X

Duration: 2hr

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review

Post your rough draft essay and get feedback from other students.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Writing About Biography and Autobiography

Polish your rough draft into final form, using peer responses.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 2: HISTORY

Discuss: What Is History?

Discuss what you think of when you hear the word history.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Study: Writing About History

View the progression and conventions of historical writing and learn about recent changes in the teaching of history and how to write about history.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: News as History

Describe the historical writing aspects of a news story from a newspaper or TV.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Reading Historical Essays

Read and answer questions about "The Ghosts of Mrs. Ghandi" and "'This is the End of the World': The Black Death."

Duration: 1hr 30min

Practice: Preparing to Write About History

Write the first draft of a synthesis essay based on web resources concerning the Vietnam War.

Duration: 2hr

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review

Post your rough draft and get feedback from other students.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Writing About History

Polish your rough draft into final form, using peer responses.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 3: WRAP-UP

Practice: History and Narrative

Review vocabulary terms.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Review: History and Narrative

Review the covered material in preparation for a test.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Test (TS): History and Narrative

Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60 points

 

LESSON 4: DIAGNOSTIC

Diagnostic: History and Narrative

Test your understanding of key concepts.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 27 points

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UNIT 7: THE READING PUBLIC

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LESSON 1: ESSAYS THROUGH TIME

Study: Essays Through Time

View the development of the essay through time, beginning with the Greeks and ending with modern essays on the Internet.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Writers Who Shaped the Essay

Read essays by Montaigne, Bacon, and Twain. Answer questions about how each represents a different approach to essay writing.

Duration: 2hr

Discuss: Discuss Important Essay Writers

Discuss questions on Montaigne, Bacon, and Twain.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Contrasting Essays Across Time

Read and answer questions about a series of older and newer essays.

Duration: 2hr

Practice: Writing About Essays

Write an essay analyzing Ivins' "Get a Knife," and Smith's "The Watch and the Watch-Maker."

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 2: MEDIA ANALYSIS

Practice: Introduction to Media Analysis

Read Kakutani's "Portrait of the Artist as a Focus Group", and answer questions as an introduction to media analysis.

Duration: 1hr

Study: Media in Our Culture

Look at the role and influence of the media. See how to write about film, TV, and the Internet.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Ethics and the Media

Read and answer questions about "The Media and the Ethics of Cloning," by Leigh Turner.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: You and the Media

Discuss what you know about the media and how it affects your life.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Reading About Film

Read and answer study questions about "A Century of Cinema," by Susan Sontag and "The Tyranny of the Visual," by Michael Arlen. Write a thesis about one of the author's arguments.

Duration: 2hr

Practice: Effective Reading of Advertising and Editorials

Learn about advertising and editorials and write the first draft of an essay.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review

Post your rough draft and get feedback from other students.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Writing about Film, Advertising, and Editorials

Polish your rough draft into final form, using peer responses.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 3: POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Study: Politics and Government

Look at the role of writing in Government. See how to write about politics and political writing.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Governmental Writing

Read and answer study questions about two versions of the Declaration of Independence. Analyze and develop a thesis about the purpose and rhetorical strategies of the two versions.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Politics Today

Discuss issues related to politics and political writing.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Political Writing and Political Movements

Read and answer study questions about "Letter From Birmingham Jail." Develop a thesis for an essay prompt about King's purpose and rhetorical strategies.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review

Post your two theses and get feedback.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Preparing to Write About Politics and Government

Choose a thesis (one about the Declaration of Independence or about Martin Luther King) and write the rough draft of an essay that analyzes the purpose and rhetorical strategies of either text.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review

Post your rough draft and get feedback from other students.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Writing About Politics and Government

Polish your rough draft into final form, using peer responses.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Answer questions about reading and writing about political issues.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 4: CULTURAL CRITICISM

Study: Cultural Criticism

Explore the questions: What is culture? How do people critique culture? See how to write about culture and cultural criticism.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Gender

Read and answer study questions about "In Harness: The Male Condition," by Herb Goldberg, and "The Good News is: These Are Not the Best Years of Your Life," by Gloria Steinem.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Practice: Culture

Read and answer questions about Pico Iyer's "The Contagion of Innocence."

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Discuss Culture

Discuss questions and issues on the Iyer reading.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Writing About Culture

Timed writing on the Iyer reading.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 25 points

Practice: Cultural Phenomena

Read and answer study questions about Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s "In the Kitchen." Choose an artifact of some sort (thing, specific phenomenon) from a culture you are a part of and brainstorm how it illuminates your culture.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Cultural Artifacts

Post your cultural artifact and discuss the significance of those of your peers.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Writing About a Cultural Artifact

Write an essay along the lines of Gates's "In the Kitchen" about your cultural artifact.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 5: WRAP-UP

Practice: The Reading Public

Review vocabulary terms.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Review: The Reading Public

Review the covered material in preparation for a test.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Test (TS): The Reading Public

Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60 points

 

LESSON 6: DIAGNOSTIC

Diagnostic: The Reading Public

Test your understanding of key concepts.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 28 points

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UNIT 8: THE WORLD AROUND US

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LESSON 1: SCIENCE AND NATURE

Study: Science and Nature

View the elements of science and nature writing.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: What Makes Writing Scientific?

Read Rachel Carson's "Tides" and answer questions about it.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Discuss Scientific Writing

Discuss questions about Carson's "Tides."

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Scientific Knowledge

Read Jacob Bronowski's "The Nature of Scientific Reasoning" and answer questions about it.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Discuss Scientific Knowledge

Discuss how scientific knowledge is important in the non-scientific world.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Analyzing Scientific and Non-Scientific Writing

Write a stylistic/rhetorical analysis comparing a sample of scientific writing with non-scientific prose on a similar topic.

Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25 points

Discuss: Discuss Scientific and Non-Scientific Writing

Read two articles, one scientific and one non-scientific, about the same topic, then discuss.

Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Writing About Scientific Rhetoric

Timed writing on an essay that shows elements of the scientific.

Duration: 1hr 15min

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 2: PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION

Study: Philosophy and Religion

Learn the elements of philosophical and religious writing.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Philosophical Texts

Read Plato's "The Allegory of the Cave," and answer questions about it with sample answers.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Discuss Philosophy

Discuss your thoughts about the Plato readings.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Religious Texts

Read and answer questions about selections from the Tao Te Ching and the New Testament.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Practice: Existentialism

Read and answer questions about Sartre's "Existentialism."

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Discuss Philosophical and Religious Texts

Discuss the philosophical and religious texts read in this lesson.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Writing About Philosophical Ideas

Write an essay agreeing with, disagreeing with, or qualifying a philosophical statement.

Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25 points

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review

Post your essay and give feedback to another student.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 3: WRAP-UP

Practice: The World Around Us

Review vocabulary terms.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Review: The World Around Us

Review the covered material in preparation for a test.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Test (TS): The World Around Us

Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60 points

 

LESSON 4: DIAGNOSTIC

Diagnostic: The World Around Us

Test your understanding of key concepts.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 31 points

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UNIT 9: LITERATURE

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LESSON 1: POETRY

Study: What Is Poetry?

View the conventions and definitions of the study of poetry, and see how to write about poetry.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Structures of Poetry

Read about meter, rhyme, figurative language, imagery, and other elements of poetic language.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Quiz: Structures of Poetry

Answer questions identifying poetry terms referring to meter, rhyme, figurative language, imagery, and other elements of poetic language.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Learning to Analyze Poetry

Read about analyzing poetry in terms of meaning, emotional content, narrative, and so on. Includes questions with sample answers.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Analyzing Poetry

Read and answer questions about a poem.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Discuss Poetry

Discuss a poem.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Preparing to Write About Poetry

Read and answer questions about a poem, write a thesis, and list evidence you could use in an essay.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Practice: Writing About Poetry

Write an essay from your thesis and evidence.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 2: SHORT FICTION

Study: What Is Short Fiction?

View the conventions and definitions relating to the study of short fiction. See how to write about short fiction.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: The Structure of Short Fiction

Read about narrative, character development, tone, and other elements of short fiction, as well as figurative language, imagery, and other elements of the language used in short fiction.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Quiz: The Structure of Short Fiction

Answer questions identifying short fiction terms.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Learning to Analyze Short Fiction

Read about analyzing short fiction in terms of character development, setting, dialogue, narrative, and so on. Includes questions with sample answers.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Analyzing Short Fiction

Read and answer questions about a piece of short fiction.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Discuss: Discuss Short Fiction

Discuss a piece of short fiction.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Practice: Preparing to Write About Short Fiction

Read and answer questions about a piece of short fiction, and then write a thesis and list evidence you could use in an essay.

Duration: 1hr 30min

Practice: Writing About Short Fiction

Write an essay from your thesis and evidence.

Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25 points

Quiz: Check-Up

Assess your mastery of the objectives.

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

 

LESSON 3: WRAP-UP

Practice: Literature

Review vocabulary terms.

Duration: 0hr 30min

Review: Literature

Review the covered material in preparation for a test.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Test (TS): Literature

Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.

Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60 points

 

LESSON 4: DIAGNOSTIC

Diagnostic: Literature

Test your understanding of key concepts.

Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 35 points

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UNIT 10: REVIEW AND EXAM

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LESSON 1: AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION

Practice: Study Tips and Strategies

Read specific tips and strategies to better prepare for the Final Exam.

Duration: 1hr

Review: AP English Language and Composition

Review what you've learned in this course and some specific strategies for preparing for the Final Exam.

Duration: 5hr

Practice: Multiple-Choice Practice

Prepare for the multiple-choice section of the Final Exam.

Duration: 1hr

Practice: Free-Response Practice

Prepare for the free-response essay section of the Final Exam.

Duration: 1hr

Discuss: Cram Session

Before taking the Final Exam, discuss any issues from both semesters with your fellow students: Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)

Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points

Final Exam: AP English Language and Composition

Take an exam that assesses your mastery of the objectives from the entire course.

Duration: 3hr 15min Scoring: 110 points

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