Topics Covered
AP English Language and Composition
A. Rhetorical Situation: Reading and Writing
1 Understanding rhetorical situation: speaker, audience, purpose, context, message
2 Analyzing tone, diction, and syntax in nonfiction texts
3 Identifying author's purpose and perspective
4 Writing thesis statements responding to rhetorical situations
5 Organizing ideas logically and clearly in writing
B. Claims and Evidence
1 Identifying claims in an argument (explicit and implicit)
2 Types of evidence: facts, anecdotes, statistics, examples
3 Analyzing how evidence supports claims
4 Integrating evidence smoothly into writing
5 Citing sources appropriately (avoiding plagiarism)
C. Reasoning and Organization
1 Recognizing line of reasoning and organization in arguments
2 Logical fallacies and weaknesses in arguments
3 Using transitions and logical sequencing in essays
4 Structuring essays clearly: introductions, body paragraphs, conclusions
5 Developing coherence and flow in writing
D. Style
1 How word choice and sentence structure affect meaning
2 Analyzing and using rhetorical devices (metaphor, repetition, parallelism, rhetorical questions)
3 Tone and mood in persuasive writing
4 Creating a personal writing style appropriate to audience and purpose
5 Editing for sentence variety, clarity, and correctness
E. Rhetorical Analysis Essay (RA Essay)
1 Understanding the RA essay prompt
2 Analyzing author's choices and their effects
3 Writing a defensible thesis focused on rhetorical strategies
4 Organizing body paragraphs around rhetorical techniques
5 Using specific, relevant textual evidence
6 Time management strategies for timed essay writing
F. Argument Essay
1 Understanding the Argument essay prompt
2 Generating your own argument in response to an issue
3 Developing strong, defensible claims with reasoning
4 Supporting arguments with logical evidence and examples
5 Addressing counterarguments and refutations effectively
G. Synthesis Essay
1 Understanding the Synthesis essay prompt
2 Reading, analyzing, and using multiple sources
3 Developing a thesis by integrating ideas from various texts
4 Quoting and paraphrasing sources correctly
5 Balancing your voice with source material
6 Organizing synthesis essays for clarity and depth
H. AP Exam Practice Skills
1 Multiple-choice strategies for nonfiction passages
2 Identifying rhetorical strategies quickly during the exam
3 Pacing strategies for 3 essay tasks (RA, Argument, Synthesis)
4 Annotating passages efficiently during the reading period
5 Self-scoring essays using AP rubrics (6-point rubrics)
6 Planning essays quickly under time constraints
