About AP English Literature & Composition

The AP English Literature and Composition course focuses on reading, analyzing, and writing about imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from various periods. Students engage in close reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature to deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism. Writing assignments include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays that require students to analyze and interpret literary works.

Skills You'll Learn

• Read a text closely and draw conclusions from details

• Identify the techniques used by an author and their effects

• Develop an interpretation of a text

• Present your interpretation and make an argument for it in writing