ClassTools for AP English Language and Composition: Topic Outline

In AP English Language and Composition, students learn to understand and analyze complex styles of writing by reading works from a variety of authors. They'll explore the richness of language, including syntax, imitation, word choice, and tone. They'll also learn about their own composition style and process, starting with exploration, planning, and writing, and continuing through editing, peer review, rewriting, polishing, and applying what they learn to a breadth of academic, personal, and professional contexts. AP English Language and Composition prepares students for the AP Exam. The content aligns to the scope and sequence specified by the College Board and to widely used textbooks.

Unit 1: Getting Started

Lesson 1: Course Introduction

Practice: Beginning Skills Sheet
This skills sheet will include survival skills for the course and AP Exam, review the format of the AP Exam, and introduce a vocabulary sheet you will use throughout the course.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Introduce Yourself
Introduce yourself and discuss your high school writing experience, the strengths and weaknesses you have as a writer, and the kinds of reading and writing you like to do on your own.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Reading Nonfiction
Learn how to effectively read a non-fiction work. You will complete study questions based on an assigned reading and compare your work to an answer sheet.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Analyzing Writings
In this Book Club discussion you will be able to talk with your peers about the study questions that accompany your reading. You will have a chance to ask questions about the reading and study questions.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Analyze a Writing
Write a short essay in answer to a prompt derived from a non-fiction reading. Your instructor will use this writing sample to assess your current writing skills, and provide feedback to you.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Lesson 2: Language Basics

Discuss: What Is Language?
Discuss with your peers the nature of language and reasons we use language the ways we do.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Study: Language
Learn about the nature and history of the English language. Explore the differences between oral and written forms of language.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Noticing Trends
Read documents written at different time periods. Complete study questions that pertain to different characteristics of these written documents. Compare your work to a sample answer sheet.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Quiz: Investigating Old and New Writings
Read documents written at different time periods and complete study questions. Answer multiple-choice questions.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Adopt a Writing Style
Read about imitating a writing style. For this Assignment you will choose a document and rewrite it, adopting a style different from that of the document. The adopted style will be borrowed from another writing that's provided.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Lesson 3: Wrap-Up

Practice: Getting Started
Review vocabulary terms.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Review: Getting Started
Review the covered material in preparation for a test.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Test: Getting Started
Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60

Lesson 4: Diagnostic

Diagnostic: Getting Started
Test your understanding of key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 28

Unit 2: Reading Techniques

Lesson 1: Critical Reading

Study: Critical Reading
Learn the basic skills for critical reading. These include how to take notes on a text, how to ask questions of a text, and why rereading can be useful. The art of critical reading will be demonstrated for you in this tutorial.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Practice with Critical Reading
Read non-fiction work and complete study questions based on the reading. Compare your answers with a sample answer sheet. Then, read another non-fiction work and complete study questions based on the reading without a sample answer sheet.
Duration: 2hr 30min Scoring: 0

Quiz: Critical Questions, 1
Answer questions about your critical reading.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Discuss: Nonfiction Analysis
In this discussion you will have a chance to analyze a piece of non-fiction with your peers. You will learn the kinds of questions to ask when encountering a non-fiction work.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Modeling Inquiry
Learn to look for significant detail in non-fiction writing. This exploration will model the process of asking questions of a text.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Interrogate an Essay
Read a non-fiction work and complete study questions in which you practice asking questions of the text. Write an essay in which you answer one of your own questions.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25

Practice: Writing Lab: Self Assessment
Use your critical reading skills to self-assess your own writing. Learn how keeping a reading journal can be useful.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Lesson 2: Recognizing Rhetoric

Practice: Rhetoric Skill Sheet
Read a skill sheet that includes vocabulary and exercises about rhetorical devices. Read a non-fiction essay and identify these rhetorical devices. Answer multiple choice questions and compare your answers with a sample answer sheet.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: How Rhetoric Works
Discuss rhetorical devices and the effects they produce.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Study: Rhetoric
Learn about how different writing choices have particular consequences and effects. This Tutorial will include definitions of rhetorical techniques like parallelism, metaphor, irony, and more.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Lesson 3: Rhetoric, Part 2

Practice: Rhetorical Patterns
Read about figurative language patterns such as imagery, analogy, metaphor, synecdoche, and hyperbole. Answer study questions.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Quiz: Figurative Language
Read and answer questions about figurative language and its effects.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Irony
This Independent Study concentrates on irony, a particular kind of rhetorical device. You will read examples where irony is used as a technique and will answer questions about irony.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Practice: Satire
This Independent Study concentrates on satire, a particular kind of rhetorical device. You will read examples where satire is used as a technique and will answer questions about satire.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Function of Rhetoric
In this Independent Study you will write about the purpose and effectiveness of rhetoric.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 0

Practice: Being Rhetorical
Write a series of short answers in which you use different rhetorical techniques. Each answer you write will concentrate on one rhetorical technique.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25

Practice: Writing Lab: Assess Yourself
In this Independent Study you will assess the effectiveness of your own writing.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discussing Rhetoric
In this discussion you and your peers will assess the strengths and weaknesses of your writing, with a special eye on your use of rhetoric.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Practice: Analyzing Rhetoric
Examine rhetorical techniques and their effects as you complete a reading. Submit answers to study questions.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25

Lesson 4: Wrap-Up

Practice: Reading Techniques
Review vocabulary terms.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Review: Reading Techniques
Review the covered material in preparation for a test.
Duration: 4hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Test: Reading Techniques
Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60

Lesson 5: Diagnostic

Diagnostic: Reading Techniques
Test your understanding of key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 30

Unit 3: Writing Techniques

Lesson 1: College Writing

Study: College Writing
Learn about the general characteristics of writing at the college level. These include such components as thesis, transitions, logic, awareness of audience, diction, and more.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: College Writing Skill Sheet
In this Independent Study you will read and answer questions about college level writing components.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: What Is College Writing?
Discuss with your peers the differences between writing at the college level and writing for high school.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review
Learn about peer reviewing. Then peer review a sample essay with your classmates.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Lesson 2: Writing Mechanics

Study: Writing Mechanics
This tutorial will concentrate on sentence-level techniques for good writing.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Grammar Basics Skill Sheet
In this Independent Study you will be reminded of common grammatical issues that arise when writing.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Quiz: Identifying Grammar Errors
Answer multiple-choice questions in which you identify grammar errors.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Writing Well
Write short answers to prompts. Your answers will be evaluated for clarity and grammatical precision.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25

Lesson 3: Writing Fundamentals

Study: The Thesis and the Paragraph
Learn about thesis and its component parts and about how to write coherent paragraphs.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Theses and Paragraphs
Read and practice thesis construction and paragraph construction.
Duration: 1hr 45min Scoring: 0

Practice: Creating Theses, Constructing Paragraphs
In this assignment you will create a thesis, choose evidence to support it, and construct a series of coherent paragraphs.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25

Practice: Assessing Your Paragraphs
Answer questions and perform a self-assessment of your writing.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Reviewing Paragraphs
Discuss your thesis and paragraphs with your peers. You will post your self-assessment and critique the work of other students.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Lesson 4: The Writing Process

Discuss: How Do You Write?
Discuss with your peers what you do when you sit down to write.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Study: The Writing Process
This Tutorial will introduce the basic steps of the writing process, including prewriting, writing, and revising.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Writing Process Skill Sheet
Read tips on the writing process and work through some sample problems with answers.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Practice: Brainstorming and Prewriting
Read a pair of essays, answer study questions, brainstorm about how you?ll answer the essay question, and begin prewriting your essay.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Developing a Thesis and Evidence
After developing a thesis and evidence for the essay question (offline), post yours to receive feedback from other students.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Responding in Writing
Write a well-developed and supported one- to two-page essay, completing the process of brainstorming, prewriting, and developing a thesis and evidence.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25

Discuss: Writing Lab: Self and Peer Review
Evaluate your writing, send it on to another student for a peer review, and peer review the essay of another student.
Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Lesson 5: Wrap-Up

Practice: Writing Techniques
Review vocabulary terms.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Review: Writing Techniques
Review the covered material in preparation for a test.
Duration: 2hr 45min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Test: Writing Techniques
Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60

Lesson 6: Diagnostic

Diagnostic: Writing Techniques
Test your understanding of key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 27

Unit 4: Forms of Prose

Lesson 1: Personal and Reflective Writing

Discuss: Characteristics of Personal and Reflective Writing
Discuss characteristics of personal and reflective writing after reading two examples.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Practice: Reflecting, 1
Write a short personal piece in answer to a prompt.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Study: Personal and Reflective Writing
Learn the basic characteristics of personal and reflective writing.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Personal and Reflective Writing
Read some pieces of personal and reflective writing and answer questions ( sample answers provided). Then, read a pair of personal and reflective writings and answer study questions with no sample answers.
Duration: 1hr 45min Scoring: 0

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Practice: Effects of Personal/Reflective Writing
Read an essay and answer questions to explain the effects of personal and reflective writing.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25

Practice: Reflecting, 2
Write a personal essay on a self-chosen topic. This may be a college essay, but doesn't have to be.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Writing Lab: Self Assessment
Evaluate a piece of your own personal and reflective writing.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Lesson 2: Expository Writing

Study: Expository Writing
Learn the basic characteristics of expository writing, including writings that compare, contrast, classify, divide, define, analyze, explain a process, and show a causal relation.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Expository Writing Skill Sheet
Read a skill sheet on exposition and different modes with sample questions and answers.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Expository Styles
Write one paragraph in each of the following expository styles: definition, description, narration, analogy, compare, contrast, classify, divide, process analysis, cause and effect analysis.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Effects and Uses of Expository Writing
Choose an expository mode and write an essay, using that mode, on the topic of your choice.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25

Discuss: Writing Lab: Self and Peer Review
Evaluate your writing, send your writing on to another student for a peer review, and peer review the essay of another student.
Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10

Lesson 3: Analytical Writing

Study: Analytical Writing
Learn the basics of analytical writing, which is writing about literature. This includes an introduction to close reading.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Close Reading Skill Sheet
Read a skill sheet on close reading and answer sample questions with answers.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discussing Literature, 1
Discuss a piece of literature with your peers using some sample questions and answers.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Constructing a Close Reading
Explore a literary passage as you build your close reading skills.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discussing Literature, 2
Discuss a piece of literature with your peers.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Practice: Performing Close Reading
Do a close reading of a literary text.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25

Discuss: Writing Lab: Self and Peer Review
Evaluate your writing, send your writing on to another student for a peer review, and peer review the essay of another student.
Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10

Lesson 4: Persuasive Writing

Discuss: How Do We Persuade?
Have a discussion with your peers in which you try to answer the question ?How do we persuade??
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Study: Persuasive Writing
Learn the basic characteristics of persuasive writing.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Persuasive Writing Skill Sheet
Read a skills sheet on persuasive writing and persuasive writing techniques, with questions and sample answers.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discussing Persuasion, 1
Read two essays, answer discussion questions, post a response, and discuss it with your peers.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 10

Discuss: Discussing Persuasion, 2
Read some essays (with no study questions or sample answers), and then have a discussion with your peers about that reading.
Duration: 1hr 45min Scoring: 10

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Practice: Being Persuasive
In this Assignment, you?ll reply to a reading with short answers about the persuasive techniques and create your own persuasive piece.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25

Discuss: Writing Lab: Self and Peer Review
Evaluate your own writing, send your writing on to another student for a peer review, and peer review the essay of another student.
Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10

Lesson 5: Wrap-Up

Practice: Forms of Prose
Review vocabulary terms.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Review: Forms of Prose
Review the covered material in preparation for a test.
Duration: 4hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Test: Forms of Prose
Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60

Lesson 6: Diagnostic

Diagnostic: Forms of Prose
Test your understanding of key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 37

Unit 5: Review and Exam

Lesson 1: AP English Language and Composition

Review: AP English Language and Composition
This review walks you through what you've learned this semester and gives you some specific strategies on preparing for the test.
Duration: 5hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Free Response Preparation, 1
Read about answering free-response questions for the Semester and AP Exams, and then practice by writing a free-response answer.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Free Response Preparation, 2
Prepare three free response essays.
Duration: 3hr Scoring: 25

Quiz: Multiple Choice Preparation, 1
This activity is a series of 20 multiple-choice questions that cover content from the entire first semester of the course.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 20

Quiz: Multiple Choice Preparation, 2
This activity is a series of 20 multiple-choice questions that cover content from the entire first semester of the course.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 20

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Exam: AP English Language and Composition
Take a test that assesses your mastery of the objectives from the entire first semester.
Duration: 3hr Scoring: 120

Unit 6: History and Narrative

Lesson 1: Autobiographies and Biographies

Discuss: What is Old, What is New
Discuss your experience in semester 1 of this course, and predict what semester 2 will be like.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Study: Autobiographies and Biographies
View the history and conventions of autobiography and biography, and learn the importance of characterization and narrative voice. Explore the relationship of storytelling to identity and the difference between autobiography and life.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Analyzing Biography and Autobiography
Read excerpts from ?The Boys? Life of Abraham Lincoln? and ?The Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane?, and then answer questions about them.
Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 0

Practice: Preparing to Write About Biography and Autobiography
Write the rough draft of an essay comparing ?The Boys? Life of Abraham Lincoln? and ?The Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane?.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review
Post your rough draft essay and get feedback from other students.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Writing About Biography and Autobiography
Polish your rough draft into final form, using peer responses.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Lesson 2: History

Discuss: What Is History?
Discuss what you think of when you hear the word ?history?.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Study: Writing About History
View the progression and conventions of historical writing and learn about recent changes in the teaching of history and how to write about history.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: News as History
Describe the historical writing aspects of a news story from a newspaper or TV.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Reading Historical Essays
Read and answer questions about ?The Ghosts of Mrs. Ghandi? and ??This is the End of the World?: The Black Death.?
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Practice: Preparing to Write About Historical Essays
Write the first draft of an essay comparing Amitav Ghosh's ?The Ghosts of Mrs. Ghandi? or Barbara Tuchman's ??This Is the End of the World?: The Black Death.?
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review
Post your rough draft and get feedback from other students.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Writing About Historical Essays
Polish your rough draft into final form, using peer responses.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Lesson 3: Wrap-Up

Practice: History and Narrative
Review vocabulary terms.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Review: History and Narrative
Review the covered material in preparation for a test.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Test: History and Narrative
Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60

Lesson 4: Diagnostic

Diagnostic: History and Narrative
Test your understanding of key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 27

Unit 7: The Reading Public

Lesson 1: Essays Through Time

Study: Essays Through Time
View the development of the essay through time, beginning with the Greeks and ending with modern essays on the Internet.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Writers Who Shaped the Essay
Read essays by Montaigne, Bacon, and Twain. Answer questions about how each represents a different approach to essay writing.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discuss Important Essay Writers
Discuss questions on Montaigne, Bacon, and Twain.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Contrasting Essays Across Time
Read and answer questions about a series of older and newer essays.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Writing About Essays
Write an essay analyzing Ivins? ?Get a Knife,? and Smith's ?The Watch and the Watch-Maker.?
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Lesson 2: Media Analysis

Practice: Introduction to Media Analysis
Read Kakutani's ?Portrait of the Artist as a Focus Group?, and answer questions as an introduction to media analysis.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Study: Media in Our Culture
Look at the role and influence of the media. See how to write about film, TV, and the Internet.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Ethics and the Media
Read and answer questions about ?The Media and the Ethics of Cloning,? by Leigh Turner.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: You and the Media
Discuss what you know about the media and how it affects your life.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Reading About Film
Read and answer study questions about ?A Century of Cinema,? by Susan Sontag and ?The Tyranny of the Visual,? by Michael Arlen. Write a thesis about one of the author's arguments.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Preparing to Write About Film
Write the first draft of your essay.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review
Post your rough draft and get feedback from other students.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Writing About Film
Polish your rough draft into final form, using peer responses.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Lesson 3: Politics and Government

Study: Politics and Government
Look at the role of writing in Government. See how to write about politics and political writing.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Governmental Writing
Read and answer study questions about two versions of the Declaration of Independence. Analyze and develop a thesis about the purpose and rhetorical strategies of the two versions.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Politics Today
Discuss issues related to politics and political writing.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Political Writing and Political Movements
Read and answer study questions about ?Letter From Birmingham Jail.? Develop a thesis for an essay prompt about King's purpose and rhetorical strategies.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review
Post your two theses and get feedback.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Preparing to Write About Politics and Government
Choose a thesis (one about the Declaration of Independence or about Martin Luther King) and write the rough draft of an essay that analyzes the purpose and rhetorical strategies of either text.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review
Post your rough draft and get feedback from other students.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Writing About Politics and Government
Polish your rough draft into final form, using peer responses.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25

Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions about reading and writing about political issues.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10

Lesson 4: Cultural Criticism

Study: Cultural Criticism
Explore the questions: What is culture? How do people critique culture? See how to write about culture and cultural criticism.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Gender
Read and answer study questions about ?In Harness: The Male Condition,? by Herb Goldberg, and ?The Good News is: These Are Not the Best Years of Your Life,? by Gloria Steinem.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Practice: Culture
Read and answer questions about Pico Iyer's ?The Contagion of Innocence.?
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discuss Culture
Discuss questions and issues on the Iyer reading.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Writing About Culture
Timed writing on the Iyer reading.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 25

Practice: Cultural Phenomena
Read and answer study questions about Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s ?In the Kitchen.? Choose an artifact of some sort (thing, specific phenomenon) from a culture you are a part of and brainstorm how it illuminates your culture.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cultural Artifacts
Post your cultural artifact and discuss the significance of those of your peers.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Practice: Writing About a Cultural Artifact
Write an essay along the lines of Gates? ?In the Kitchen? about your cultural artifact.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Lesson 5: Wrap-Up

Practice: The Reading Public
Review vocabulary terms.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Review: The Reading Public
Review the covered material in preparation for a test.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Test: The Reading Public
Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60

Lesson 6: Diagnostic

Diagnostic: The Reading Public
Test your understanding of key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 28

Unit 8: The World Around Us

Lesson 1: Science and Nature

Study: Science and Nature
View the elements of science and nature writing.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: What Makes Writing Scientific?
Read Rachel Carson's ?Tides? and answer questions about it.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discuss Scientific Writing
Discuss questions about Carson's ?Tides.?
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Scientific Knowledge
Read Jacob Bronowski's ?The Nature of Scientific Reasoning? and answer questions about it.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discuss Scientific Knowledge
Discuss how scientific knowledge is important in the non-scientific world.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Analyzing Scientific and Non-Scientific Writing
Write a stylistic/rhetorical analysis comparing a sample of scientific writing with non-scientific prose on a similar topic.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25

Discuss: Discuss Scientific and Non-Scientific Writing
Read two articles, one scientific and one non-scientific, about the same topic, then discuss.
Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 10

Practice: Writing About Scientific Rhetoric
Timed writing on an essay that shows elements of the scientific.
Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 0

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Lesson 2: Philosophy and Religion

Study: Philosophy and Religion
Learn the elements of philosophical and religious writing.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Philosophical Texts
Read Plato's ?The Allegory of the Cave,? and answer questions about it with sample answers.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discuss Philosophy
Discuss your thoughts about the Plato readings.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Religious Texts
Read and answer questions about selections from the Tao Te Ching and the New Testament.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Practice: Existentialism
Read and answer questions about Sartre's ?Existentialism.?
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discuss Philosophical and Religious Texts
Discuss the philosophical and religious texts read in this lesson.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Writing About Philosophical Ideas
Write an essay agreeing with, disagreeing with, or qualifying a philosophical statement.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25

Discuss: Writing Lab: Peer Review
Post your essay and give feedback to another student.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 10

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Lesson 3: Wrap-Up

Practice: The World Around Us
Review vocabulary terms.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Review: The World Around Us
Review the covered material in preparation for a test.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Test: The World Around Us
Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60

Lesson 4: Diagnostic

Diagnostic: The World Around Us
Test your understanding of key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 31

Unit 9: Literature

Lesson 1: Poetry

Study: What Is Poetry?
View the conventions and definitions of the study of poetry, and see how to write about poetry.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Structures of Poetry
Read about meter, rhyme, figurative language, imagery, and other elements of poetic language.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Quiz: Structures of Poetry
Answer questions identifying poetry terms referring to meter, rhyme, figurative language, imagery, and other elements of poetic language.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Learning to Analyze Poetry
Read about analyzing poetry in terms of meaning, emotional content, narrative, and so on. Includes questions with sample answers.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Analyzing Poetry
Read and answer questions about a poem.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discuss Poetry
Discuss a poem.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Preparing to Write About Poetry
Read and answer questions about a poem, write a thesis, and list evidence you could use in an essay.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Practice: Writing About Poetry
Write an essay from your thesis and evidence.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Lesson 2: Short Fiction

Study: What Is Short Fiction?
View the conventions and definitions relating to the study of short fiction. See how to write about short fiction.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: The Structure of Short Fiction
Read about narrative, character development, tone, and other elements of short fiction, as well as figurative language, imagery, and other elements of the language used in short fiction.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Quiz: The Structure of Short Fiction
Answer questions identifying short fiction terms.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Learning to Analyze Short Fiction
Read about analyzing short fiction in terms of character development, setting, dialogue, narrative, and so on. Includes questions with sample answers.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Analyzing Short Fiction
Read and answer questions about a piece of short fiction.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Discuss: Discuss Short Fiction
Discuss a piece of short fiction.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Practice: Preparing to Write About Short Fiction
Read and answer questions about a piece of short fiction, and then write a thesis and list evidence you could use in an essay.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 0

Practice: Writing About Short Fiction
Write an essay from your thesis and evidence.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25

Quiz: Check-Up
Assess your mastery of the objectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Lesson 3: Wrap-Up

Practice: Literature
Review vocabulary terms.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 0

Review: Literature
Review the covered material in preparation for a test.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the test, discuss any issues with your fellow students. Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Test: Literature
Take a test that assesses your mastery of the learning objectives.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 60

Lesson 4: Diagnostic

Diagnostic: Literature
Test your understanding of key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 35

Unit 10: Review and Exam

Lesson 1: AP English Language and Composition

Practice: Study Tips and Strategies
Read specific tips and strategies to better prepare for the Final Exam.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Review: AP English Language and Composition
Review what you've learned in this course and some specific strategies for preparing for the Final Exam.

Practice: Multiple-Choice Practice
Prepare for the multiple-choice section of the Final Exam.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Practice: Free-Response Practice
Prepare for the free-response essay section of the Final Exam.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 0

Discuss: Cram Session
Before taking the Final Exam, discuss any issues from both semesters with your fellow students: Is there something you still don't understand? Now's your chance to get help from other students (and help them too!)
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10

Final Exam: AP English Language and Composition
Take an exam that assesses your mastery of the objectives from the entire course.
Duration: 3hr Scoring: 110