AP English Language and Composition?

Question

Im taking AP English Language and Composition next year and i want to be prepared for that class.

what are things that you do in that class?

how can i preprare for that class?

Answer 1

In AP Lang & Comp., you do a lot of analysis of different aspects of literature such as word choice, language, tone, etc. We read Huck Finn along with 4 or so other novels and lots of short stories. There is also a lot of writing you have to do, analyzing what you read in terms of the author's craft items I mentioned. The AP test is made up of three essays along with several multiple choice reading passages.

Answer 2

It's great that you're eager to prepare for AP Language this early - being motivated is the key to success.  Today, I just got my results by phone, and I passed with a 5.  Here's my advice:

In AP Language, you study pieces of nonfiction and analyze them for rhetorical tools such as organization, diction, syntax, the appeals (pathos, logos, and ethos), tone, anaphora, audience, purpose, synecdoche, concrete vs. abstract detail, connotation vs. denotation, and argument techniques.  You read pieces critically and carefully, annotating as you proceed so that you can either (1) answer multiple choice questions, or (2) write response essays.

The exam consists of two portions:  an hour-long multiple choice part (45% of your grade) and three 40-minute essays (55% of your grade).  You will have one or two rhetorical analysis essays, one synthesis essay (essentially a miniature research paper; you are provided succinct sources and must compile an opinion), and perhaps one argumentative essay.  Class time is spent preparing how to write quickly and effectively while learning to identify and analyze rhetorical devices.  A large emphasis is placed on becoming a global thinker - looking beyond the scope of your personal life by becoming better informed as to the world around you.  You will go into the AP exam with outside knowledge that will enable you to develop structured and educated responses to the essay prompts provided.  The concept of ANSWERING THE PROMPT (what my teacher told me AP supposedly stands for... :-) ) will be emphasized, and you will need to critically ponder questions in relatively sparse amounts of time.  AP readers love essays that stand firmly near a position, use logic and examples to solidify points, and answer the questions "so what?" and "why?"  Essays are not supposed to be in the 5-paragraph style with a 3-point thesis; they are to be less elementary.

You can prepare by purchasing an AP Language prep book and beginning to memorize the rhetorical terms listed in the glossary.  While reading novels is always good, it will not be quite as beneficial for AP Language as it would be for AP Literature.  I would suggest delving into some modern satire or perhaps reading distinctly unique excerpts from fiction.  Famous historical documents and speeches are always beneficial ("I Have a Dream," "We Will Fight," "The Gettysburg Address," etc.).  When reading these, try to put yourself in the writer's shoes.  What makes them effective?  What are the audience and purpose?  How is credibility established?  If you practice these things, you will be far ahead of your classmates when the school year starts!

I wish you the best of luck in AP Language!  :-)

Answer 3

I just took that this past year in school. I would say that you just do what you are told. When you have to read parts of a book overnight, do it. As long as you are willing to discuss books after reading you will do great. Do not be afraid to ask the teacher questions either, especially when you write papers (which is quite frequently). Remember to READ! Trust me this is not a Sparknotes class. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 4

The AP Language Exam is actually quite difficult if English and writing are not your strong points.

I would recommend subscribing to the New Yorker and the Atlantic Weekly, because those are the types of passages that you will read on the exam. You will get used to complex wordings and styles and be able to think critically. Those magazines are not meant for the lay person, but for educated people with intellectual minds.

There's no universal curriculum for the AP exam. It's whatever your teacher comes up with. Make sure you read everything really well and know it, so you can write about it on the exam. Hope that helps!

Answer 5

you just write a lot of stupid essays and read some stupid books. you don't prepare, its pretty much a blow off class if you're ok at english. Just got my AP test score back and I got a 5, we "Read" about 7 books, which means everyone just used sparknotes

Answer 6

essay

literary terms

rhetoric

easy class depending on teacher:) i passed the test, thakfully.

Answer 7

everything is about rhetoric and literary terms pretty much