<p>Hey guys. Today was my first day of school. Everything went pretty well except for AP English Lang. My teacher really stressed how hard the essays and tests were going to be and now I'm kinda stressed. Is this course really that difficult. She said that kids that are used to getting 90s and 100s will start off with 60s and 70s on their essays! Did you guys do anything different on language essays that proved to be successful? Also she said that we were required to buy a Barron's AP English Lang book but I heard Cliffs is the best. Should I just go out and purchase both?</p>
<p>Sorry for the ramble, but I'm kinda frightened of this class now, lol :(</p>
<p>In my school AP English language is a very demanding class, but very manageable. I took it junior year. The AP test on the other hand is not very difficult. We barely spent any time preparing for it in class. If you write well and can form clear concise arguments for your essays, you will be fine. I got a 5 and many of my friends did as well.</p>
<p>I just did some tests off of CliffsAP and read sample essays on the CB website so I knew how to write it. The exam is not “easy,” but it is not as hard as people tout it to be. I got a 5.</p>
<p>I can’t speak to the test yet, but the class is probably a joke. Teachers say things like that because they want to scare off less-serious students and reduce their class sizes. Expect her to be harsh on your first essay just to underscore the point.</p>
<p>Teachers often grade a lot harder on essays than they should just to keep you trying harder. It’s probably so you’ll do better on the exam though, so just try and do your best. You’ll get better with more practice. The class is usually a lot more work than you need to have for being prepared for the exam, and that is why many do well on the exam. And yeah, Cliffs is the best.</p>
<p>AP English is a joke compared to the exam…well in my school. I will say however that the course load calms down 2nd semester. MAKE SURE YOU READ THE LITERATURE!! Do not just skim through it!!</p>
<p>One of the most important things in your writing is going to be incorporating rhetorical devices such as tropes and schemes. A rhetorical trope has artful diction (metaphor, archaic diction, alliteration, consonance, etc.), while a rhetorical scheme has artful syntax (juxtaposition, epistrophe, rhetorical question). Using devices builds contrast, which creates emphasis.</p>
<p>Make sure that your essays aren’t too wordy.</p>
<p>Urgh. My teacher is giving us a practice previous ap essay out of the blue tomorrow and now I’m freaking out. It’s the type that’s sorta like the SAT essay.</p>
<p>AP English Language is a very rigorous course at my school. It is taken junior year and is considered by many to be much harder than AP Eng Lit. I didn’t think that my class was all that bad, even though I am not a fan of English. We did work our butts off though and I was rewarded with a much better writing style and a 5 on the AP Exam. I’d say a pretty good trade-off.</p>
<p>yes, for our school, ap lang is GODLY. the teachers teach very well and it is a great class to take. All the seniors and graduates have said you learn a LOT despite the fact 3/4 of the class get B’s and C’s. I guess it is worth it (currently enrolled in the class and have an F lol)</p>