Courses

Status

Open

Estimated Completion Time

2 segments / 32-36 weeks

Overview

This course provides high school students with college-level instruction in studying and writing various kinds of analytic or persuasive essays on literary and nonliterary topics in language, rhetoric, and expository writing. Students become skilled readers of prose written in various periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts. Both reading and writing should make students aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects as well as how writing conventions and language contribute to effectiveness in writing. This course will effectively prepare students for the AP Exam by enabling them to read, comprehend, and write about complex texts while developing further communication skills on a college level.

Note: content varies depending on course version. For currently enrolled students, please refer to the syllabus located in the course information area for curriculum specifics.

Course Requirements

AP Course & Exam Registration Requirements

College Board requires students to register for AP exams no later than November 13th (individual schools may set earlier deadlines).

All VLACS AP students are required to enroll in the “course only” section in My AP. Instructions for joining My AP will be posted on each VLACS course page and instructors are available to help with this process.

Students who plan to take the corresponding AP exam must arrange to take the exam at a local school that administers it. To register for an AP Exam, the local school will enroll the student in an “exam only” section in My AP. Students should follow these steps:

Search for a local test site through this resource of contact AP Services for Students at 888-225-5427 [email protected] That office can give you contact information for local AP coordinators who may be willing to test outside students. Students are then responsible for contacting coordinators on that list to see if one can arrange to test for you. You should do this no later than October 2nd. Note that schools may have their own local deadlines for receiving requests from outside students to test at their school so we recommend doing this as soon as possible
The AP coordinator who agrees to assist you must provide a join code for an “exam only” section in My AP. You’ll use the join code to join the section so that the AP coordinator can order your exam.

Please note that, if a school allows a student to register after the 11/13 deadline, there will be a $40 late exam fee. There will also be a $40 canceled/unused exam fee if a student registers and then cancels his/her exam or if the student does not show up on test day.

More information is available on the College Board’s website: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/

Major Topics and Concepts

Segment 1

AP Exam overview
MLA format
Rhetorical Devices
Early American writers
Tone Analysis
Figurative Language Analysis
Research and Synthesis
Persuasive Essay
Aphorisms
Style Analysis
Diction Analysis
American Romanticism
Transcendentalism
Synthesis essay
Introduction to Multiple Choice Questions
Denotation/Connotation
Imagery and Detail analysis
Inductive/Deductive Logic
Syllogism
Analysis of Theme
Causes and Effects of the Civil War
Humor/Satire

Segment 2

Political, Social, Economic changes after the Civil War
Analysis of personification
Realism
Regionalism
Naturalism
Euphemism
Comic Irony
Analysis of Irony
The Harlem Renaissance
Analysis of narrative structure
Jazz Influence
Toulmin Argument
Analysis of symbolism
Modern Writers
Science Fiction
Analysis of Drama
Rhetorical Appeals
Visual Literacy Analysis
Syntactical Analysis
Working through a Timed Essay

Credits 1.5

Competency Group Overview

Meets English graduation requirement

Competencies

Rhetorical Analysis
Students will demonstrate an understanding of rhetorical analysis by explaining the elements of rhetoric, describing the rhetorical strategies in a variety of texts, and analyzing the meaning of the texts.
Argumentative Writing
Students will demonstrate an understanding of argumentative writing by explaining argumentative structure, describing logical fallacies, analyzing arguments, and creating argumentative essays.
Developing Commentary
Students will demonstrate an understanding of developing commentary by analyzing the structure and diction of literary works and creating essays that critique the authors’ craft.
Author Style
Students will demonstrate an understanding of author style by describing the elements of style, creating a pastiche that imitates written style, analyzing speeches and spirituals, and creating an essay that critiques style.
Satire
Students will demonstrate an understanding of satire by describing the elements of satire and analyzing satirical works.
The Synthesis Essay
Students will demonstrate their understanding of the synthesis essay by describing the elements of a synthesis essay and creating a synthesis essay that incorporates information from provided sources.
Evaluating Rhetoric
Students will demonstrate an understanding of evaluating rhetoric by analyzing argumentative essays, critiquing the use of rhetoric in a memoir, creating an argumentative essay utilizing rhetorical devices, and creating a self-assessment of their argumentative essay.
Representations of American Culture in Nonfiction Writing
Students will demonstrate an understanding of representations of American culture in nonfiction writing by analyzing nonfiction works and creating a synthesis-style argumentative essay on a cultural issue in a nonfiction text.

Pre-Requisites

Successful completion of English 1 & 2. Student should have a willingness to learn and challenge self in college-level course.

Per College Board policy, students must be in high school to enroll in AP courses

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AP English Language and Composition