I know this is a bit early, but I have already thought of the classes that I will likely take next year. However, one of them that I keep debating is taking AP Lang or AP Lit. I’ll let you know some stats.
I am horrible at reading (24 on SAT), but pretty good at writing (35 on SAT). For essays I wrote in my CP and Honors classes Sophomore and Junior year (so far), the average grade for me to get is an A or A+ (Not counting freshman year, as I was an extremely unmotivated student with the most notoriously hard English teacher out there). I am terrible at quizzes and tests on certain plot points of a book, but am extremely great at remembering vocabulary. I am pretty great at sentence structure, knowing how to create a powerful statement to the reader.
Pros of AP Lang:
Teacher is fantastic according to other students
Class is fun according to other students
Teacher knows a family member and they were one of his favorite students
Cons of AP Lang:
Ridiculous amount of work
High difficulty level
Never met the teacher before
Mainly a class that juniors take, not seniors, but can still do so
Pros of AP Lit:
Teacher knows me and am one of her favorites
Class isn’t extremely hard
Only seniors are allowed to take the class
Cons of AP Lit:
Teacher is not well liked by others who take this class apparently (Really liked the teacher when I had them for a class earlier so I find this surprising)
Class is painful and boring
A lot of analyzing of poems, which I am not a fan of
Pretty sure the teacher was not a big fan of the family member who took one of their classes (Still unsure)
Some may be shouting out how there is an obvious answer, but I am truly split.
From what you said, it seems like you may have a better experience in the Lang class. Are you only interested in lit because it’s easier and the teacher likes you? Lang has a lot of writing and, if you’re not crazy about reading, I’d go with Lang.
The point of an Advanced Placement course is to take the AP exam and score high enough that you don’t have to take the same course in college. With that in mind, the only English course typically required for all college majors is equivalent to AP Lang. So if you take AP Lang and do well on the exam, you just likely saved yourself having to take a similar course in college (universities vary in what they give credit for). That could save you tuition money and time later. With AP Lit, that may not be given any college credit, or if it is, it might just be elective credits that won’t save you any money or time in completing your degree. So my opinion is that you should either take AP Lang, or not take an AP English course at all and instead just take an on level literature course that won’t be too much work. Both of those AP courses are a ton of work, and with reading comprehension not being your strength, it could be especially grueling.
@mommyrocks
Like I said, I am absolutely fine with writing essays, whether it be a week before it is due or a day or two. I dropped an art credit second semester just to take another semester English class because I found more interest in it, despite me knowing I could easily get an A in the class that would be eligible for an art credit. People around my same level currently have a B+ or so in the class.
I’d recommend Lang. I took it my junior year, and it’s fairly simple (and honestly pretty fun) if you understand writing structures and can construct essays fairly quickly. It’s more writing based, whereas Lit is more reading based. If you are taking Lang, I’d start listening to podcasts/Ted Talks/reading news articles/brushing up on history now. This additional knowledge really helped me do so much better on essays, as you are always required to gather evidence from your own knowledge.
Sounds to me like language is more up your alley (but either class would be fine). If you take Language and know the workload is “ridiculous” be sure to create a well balanced senior year schedule so you are not overwhelmed.
I recommend looking at the AP credit transfers for some of the universities that you think you might be considering. For some both AP English courses will bump you out of the required college classes, other will only give you credit for one or the other. There are multiple scenarios. Look and see if it is even worth the effort to take the AP English courses as a senior.
Since you like writing more than reading, and AP Lit is really reading intensive v. AP Lang being writing intensive, I’d pick AP Lang. It sounds like the only reason you’d take AP Lit is that it sounds easy to you, but if you’re not into classical literature, it’s going to be a long year because you must read a lot of books, every day, and not easy books.