AP English Language and Composition

Description

AP English Language Syllabus

As an AP English Language and Composition teacher for over two decades, I have witnessed firsthand how the careful study of language empowers students—not just academically, but also personally, professionally, and socially. Our College Board–approved, live online course is crafted with that understanding at its core.

Language is one of the most vital tools we possess. We live in it, we think in it, and we navigate our world through it. This course is built around the art of rhetoric and the power of composition, helping students develop both a critical understanding of language and a confident, purposeful writing voice of their own. We engage in careful reading, precise analysis, and thoughtful writing, always with an eye toward the real-world application of the skills we cultivate.

This course has been fully vetted and approved by the College Board through the AP Course Audit, which ensures that the syllabus and instruction meet rigorous national standards. Students will have access to and utilize AP Classroom for AP Language and Composition.

Throughout the year, students learn to read actively and write purposefully, refining their rhetorical and analytical skills that extend beyond the classroom. We examine a range of nonfiction texts, media, essays, speeches, and even advertisements through a rhetorical lens—teaching students to engage with the world around them in a new and discerning way. The course is organized thematically and strategically, with each unit designed to strengthen students’ command of diction, syntax, grammar, and rhetorical fluency. Through close reading, written response, and peer interaction, students are expected to develop:

• A rich and precise vocabulary used effectively in context
• Varied and purposeful sentence structure development for written content
• Familiarity with the rhetorical modes: expository, descriptive, narrative, and argumentative
• Clear, logical organization and development of ideas
• Effective rhetorical control of tone, diction, and voice
  • Especially in writing
  • Relevant, purposeful use of AI
• For each core reading, we analyze:
  • Central themes, theses, and authorial purpose
• Stylistic elements, including diction, syntax, and figurative language
• Rhetorical strategies and rhetorical appeals
• SPACECAT (Speaker, Purpose, Audience, Context, Exigence, Choices, Appeals, Tone)

In this course, we approach language not just as an academic subject, but as a lifelong skill—one that empowers students to understand, influence, and participate in the world around them with clarity and confidence.

Course Structure

📅 Weekly Live Meetings

Our class meets live weekly via Zoom. These sessions combine direct instruction, interactive discussions, and Q&A with classmates and me. While attendance is encouraged, all live meetings are optional and recorded for students who prefer or need to work asynchronously. Flexibility is a hallmark of this course.

🏠 Homework and Coursework Logistics

Assignments are posted weekly to our class Canvas page. Classwork includes, but is not limited to:

• One 50-minute live or recorded class session (weekly)
• Forum discussions related to current readings and/or rhetorical concepts
• Readings
• Kahoot
• Edpuzzles
• AP Classroom assignments and videos on the College Board website
• Essays
• Exit Tickets
• Supplemental resources
• Multiple-choice quizzes aligned with the AP exam format
• Various essays, short responses, and a mandatory argumentative research paper

Expect to devote 6–8 hours per week, depending on the depth of personal engagement.

Fall Semester: Focus on foundational analysis and argument, primarily through essays, to build skills.

Spring Semester: We enter an AP Exam “Boot Camp” mode with emphasis on timed writing and real AP prompts.

Students complete:

• Multiple practice essays across all three AP categories: Rhetorical Analysis, Argument, and Synthesis
• Several short multiple-choice practice quizzes
• At least two full-length AP practice multiple-choice exams
• Quizzes, readings, and essay assignments are all designed to mirror the structure and rigor of the official AP Exam

💬 Web-Based Discussion

Our ongoing forum discussions serve as a vital extension of class. This space fosters collaborative learning and helps students practice the more informal, conversational tone often found in real-world writing. It also prepares students for our formal essay assignments by deepening their analytical thinking and rhetorical awareness.

Who should enroll?

This class is ideal for the motivated, college-bound student who enjoys reading, discussing ideas, and crafting arguments. Through a blend of engaging online discussion, structured reading, AP Classroom, Edpuzzles, and individualized writing assignments, students deepen their understanding of rhetorical strategy, structure, and style. While our primary academic objective is preparation for the AP English Language and Composition Exam, our broader mission is to inspire intellectual curiosity, sharpen critical thinking, and nurture a lasting appreciation for language and the written word using predominantly non-fiction texts and media.

Prerequisite

This course is intended for 10th to 12th-graders who have completed at least one year of high school-level English. Submitting an application is required.

Technology Requirements

• High-speed, broadband Internet
• Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
• Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
• Headphones with a mic may also be helpful

Evaluation and Feedback

All homework will be submitted through Canvas and evaluated directly on the platform. I provide thoughtful and detailed feedback on each essay and personally respond to student posts in course discussions when necessary.

I aim to return essay critiques within one week of the due date, ensuring students receive timely guidance before their next writing assignment is due. My hope is that this ongoing feedback cycle supports consistent growth and improvement in each student’s writing.

Throughout this year-long course, students will engage with a variety of writing genres, including analytical, argumentative, narrative, and research-based compositions. Rubric criteria may vary depending on the assignment’s focus.

Feedback may address the following areas, among others:

• Structure and organization
• Content (e.g., choice of examples, depth of analysis, specificity, and strength of argument when applicable)
• Diction, grammar, and syntax
• Overall clarity and effectiveness of communication

Communication

Enrollment in this course requires an application. I am committed to maintaining strong communication with families throughout the year. Parents are encouraged to track their child’s progress at any time through the Observer account on Canvas.