The AP English Language and Composition Course Description that the College Board publishes proclaims that this course intends to engage students "in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts, and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes.” I like to think of this class as asking focusing on HOW? and WHY? It’s based on the assumption that each text, both written and visual, has a purpose and reason as their creators seek to obtain something, argue a point, or influence people and that we can analyze HOW someone does it as well as WHY the person does it before applying it to our own writing. Doing so helps us read critically and write more proficiently.
This is taught as a college level class to non-college students and will require hard work from you. Though I expect all students to take the AP test at the end of the year, this is NOT a test-prep class but a college class that has a test students use to assess their learning. We will take practice tests and in-class essays, but the focus on the skills of analysis, writing, and rhetoric throughout the year are the best preparation.
Students must purchase a copy of 50 Essays, A Portable Anthology, FIFTH EDITION edited by Samuel Cohen (ISBN ##978-1319043728). Note: You may buy a used copy, but please make sure you purchase the FIFTH EDITION; earlier editions are different and WILL NOT work! Last year's AP Lang classes used the fourth edition--we are updating this year! Don't use last year's text. Any other copies of essays will be available online or handed out.
Additionally, students need a copy of 1984 by George Orwell (Any edition as long as it's not abridged. The one I use has ISBN 0-452-26293-3 if you care, but you can use any edition.)