Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition is a grade 12 course with an emphasis on literary analysis. It is a rigorous, college level course, in which students study the art of reading and writing about great literature. Throughout the course, students will be assessed on their ability to effectively and cogently communicate their ideas about what they read, both orally and in writing. Students will be given multiple opportunities to practice these skills before they take their AP Exam in May. Students who take this course are required to take both the AP Exam and the AP Practice Exam. Most highly competitive college and universities will award college credit for your successful completion of the examination. The most competitive schools require a score of 4 of 5. To help you accomplish your goal, we will cover a significant number of works thoroughly rather than a great number of works superficially and sharpen your skills in analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

This course is designed to comply with the curricular requirements described in the AP English Course Description. The AP Literature course will emphasize sophisticated analytical writing and speaking skills. In addition, all English 12 standards will be addressed, arming students with skills necessary for success in both college and the workplace. The primary objective of this course, however, is that students will become lifelong lovers and critics of literature. Through reading and writing, students get a chance to explore worlds and ideas outside of their own, enabling them to develop empathy for other genders, ethnicities, generations, nationalities, religions and cultures. Literature is intimately involved in our quest to understand humanity and the societies we create. In English 12 AP, students are given multiple opportunities to discover and confront issues and questions that exercise their minds and intellects. The course will focus on two overarching questions: Why do authors write? (Author’s purpose) and what is the “art” in their writing? (Author’s craft). The texts for the course are selected for their broad themes and international literary merit.

"This class is such a fun learning environment! We get to work in groups and learn all about literature. Although, it can be challenging at times, it is definitely worth all the hardwork!"