What is AP English Language and Composition? Course Introduction

Course Description This course is the equivalent of the first year of college English Composition class. Its intent is to “help students become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of disciplines and rhetorical contexts, and become skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes, aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects.” (AP Central –“English Language and Composition Course Requirements” May 2007). Students will develop skills that evaluate, use and cite source material as they compose essays in several forms.

Skills developed in AP Lang Reading: Analyzing non-fiction and fiction for the effect of Analyzing non-fiction and fiction for the effect of rhetorical strategies used to organize each text rhetorical strategies used to organize each text devices of language incorporated within those strategies devices of language incorporated within those strategies to develop the argument (position of the writer) and to develop the argument (position of the writer) and to support the points made to prove the argument. to support the points made to prove the argument. Persuasive argumentation, text analysis, and text synthesis are the three main components of the course. Persuasive argumentation, text analysis, and text synthesis are the three main components of the course.

Skills developed in AP Lang Composition: using rhetorical strategies and devices of language to develop pieces that adequately support your position regarding both prose and visual texts. using rhetorical strategies and devices of language to develop pieces that adequately support your position regarding both prose and visual texts.

English Language & Composition Goal for Course: become a better writer and analyzer of texts. Language Test: a test of your thinking. You use language to explain how writers create meaning. Course will include many strategies and techniques to increase your chance of scoring a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Lang Exam. Course requires: critical readers critical writers

AP Language vs. AP Literature AP Lang (11 th grade): AP Lang (11 th grade): Focus is on informational, non-fiction text Focus is on informational, non-fiction text Measures your ability to deconstruct and analyze language to show how authors create meaning Measures your ability to deconstruct and analyze language to show how authors create meaning AP graders want you to personalize your writing by including personal experiences in your analysis AP graders want you to personalize your writing by including personal experiences in your analysis AP Lit (12 th grade) Complete focus on fiction; specifically, classic literature Measures your ability to discern themes, elements of fiction, and context within the time period and culture. AP graders want your personal thoughts to be absent from your essays

The AP Language Exam 2014 data: Cost to take the test was $40 Free and reduced lunch students were $14 Exam is typically in early May Students receive scores in July AP exam is voluntary

STRUCTURE OF AP LANGUAGE EXAM: AP Exam is scored on a 1-5 scale, with a 5 being the top grade AP Exam is scored on a 1-5 scale, with a 5 being the top grade A score of 3, 4, or 5 is considered a passing score and will earn you college credit at most colleges A score of 3, 4, or 5 is considered a passing score and will earn you college credit at most colleges Exam is divided into two parts: Exam is divided into two parts: Part 1 – MULTIPLE CHOICE Part 1 – MULTIPLE CHOICE 1 hour 1 hour 45% of test 45% of test Part 2 – FREE RESPONSE (ESSAYS) Part 2 – FREE RESPONSE (ESSAYS) 2 hours + 15 minutes reading 2 hours + 15 minutes reading 55% of test 55% of test

STRUCTURE OF AP LANGUAGE EXAM: Part 1 – MULTIPLE CHOICE 1 hour 45% of test 55 questions 55 questions 4-5 complicated passages 4-5 complicated passages Prose Prose Personal narratives / Autobiographies Personal narratives / Autobiographies Speeches / Essays Speeches / Essays Famous writers / obscure text Famous writers / obscure text (you’ve probably never seen) Social Critics Social Critics Essay Writers Essay Writers Journalists Journalists Politicians Politicians

STRUCTURE OF AP LANGUAGE EXAM: Part 2 – FREE RESPONSE (ESSAYS) 2 hours + 15 minutes 55% of test 15 minutes at start of Part 2 for reading prompts and material 15 minutes at start of Part 2 for reading prompts and material Approx. 40 min to answer each question (120 minutes total) Approx. 40 min to answer each question (120 minutes total) Informed when each 40 min has passed Informed when each 40 min has passed No limited time per essay No limited time per essay May go ahead and back to any essay May go ahead and back to any essay

STRUCTURE OF AP LANGUAGE EXAM: 1 synthesis 1 synthesis mini research paper using 6-7 texts (some visual) mini research paper using 6-7 texts (some visual) create argument using at least 3 sources, attribute sources create argument using at least 3 sources, attribute sources e.g. What must museum curators consider when deciding what goes in a museum? e.g. What must museum curators consider when deciding what goes in a museum? 1 analysis 1 analysis non-fiction: analyze how writer creates meaning in text (closest to a literary analysis essay) non-fiction: analyze how writer creates meaning in text (closest to a literary analysis essay) What does it mean & how do I know? What does it mean & how do I know? 1 argument 1 argument DCQ: Defend, challenge or qualify a quote (or short passage) DCQ: Defend, challenge or qualify a quote (or short passage) You are required to qualify (avoids mere summary w/o original thought which would lower score to 2) You are required to qualify (avoids mere summary w/o original thought which would lower score to 2) uses your own knowledge uses your own knowledge must support w/evidence must support w/evidence

Scoring 1-9 per essay 1-9 per essay Combined w/MC, Translated to 1-5 overall score Combined w/MC, Translated to 1-5 overall score A 3 is considered a “qualifying” score (passing) A 3 is considered a “qualifying” score (passing) YearAttemptedPassed# of 5s# of 4s# of 3s

Values and advantages of the Language and Comp Course  Students “enter the conversation”  Examine and write about civic issues: use the mind (analysis rather than creativeness of literary writing)  How to read/write in all academic disciplines (see similarities in all texts -- Why did the writer craft this piece of writing this way?) -- and write intelligently about them.

Values and advantages of the Language and Comp Course  Practical for every student: a real-world application of content  Teaches how to construct an argument: write persuasively  Teaches the process of writing (with research and close reading analysis)  Skill-focused rather than content focused (apply your knowledge rather than being tested over definitions or recall of text content).

Incentives $100 to student for passing score $100 to student for passing score Mock exam, usually around April, analyzed w/ feedback Mock exam, usually around April, analyzed w/ feedback SSS – Student study sessions SSS – Student study sessions Extra study sessions in the spring to help you prepare just before the exam Extra study sessions in the spring to help you prepare just before the exam

Will you RISK it? You have the chance to train yourself to become a more analytical and persuasive writer. Are you up to the challenge?

Will you support your teammates… … in this endeavor that will change the rest of your life?

You can do it! Michael Phelps iconic image of 2008 Olympic games

You can do it!