Difficulty of AP English Language and Composition?

<p>I'm a sophomore right now and filled out my application for AP English Language and Composition next year. What can I expect the workload to be like? I'm curious as to how much reading to expect every night, etc. What is the summer assignment like? Thanks for any help.</p>

<p>AP Lang & Comp is less focused on reading and more focused on writing, (whereas AP Lit and Comp is pretty much the opposite).</p>

<p>Expect to write a lot of essays (my class did about one a week). And since the course is all about the different strategies and modes of writing, expect to have to write a broad spectrum of papers: description, narrative, cause effect, process analysis, definition compare contrast, argument/persuasion - the works. My class typically did three or so of each type of paper. It's a chance to be a little creative.</p>

<p>It was easily my favorite class I've ever taken in high school.</p>

<p>LOL LET ME TELL YOU THIS! Our class simply read stories all year long and NEVER had homework or learned any specific definitions (some of us didn't even know what rhetoric was). Once I found out we had to know all of this the friday before the exam, I picked up a book and frantically memorized about 80 definitions and took two practice tests. I GOT A 3!!!!! So you see, the class isn't bad at all. If you study for it a month in advance, there is almost nothing stopping you from getting a 4 or 5. So go for it :) However, many people in our clas did get a 1 (about 7 kids).</p>

<p>Oh yeah. We did a lot of work in March/April with practice tests. By then, we had heard them so much, we could define most literary terms you could think of (which is a big deal). Got a 4 on my test. I think everyone in my school passed the exam (like 40 kids). Knowing terms is good for the MC, and it's helpful for the essays as well (since they're often about how the writer uses these devices to achieve his/her purpose).</p>

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AP Lang & Comp is less focused on reading and more focused on writing, (whereas AP Lit and Comp is pretty much the opposite).

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<p>Maybe at your school, but not at mine. I've done a lot more essay writing in AP Lit than I did in AP Lang. Guess it depends on the teacher.</p>

<p>My AP Lang class was so easy. I had over a 100 average in the class.</p>

<p>You don't do as much reading as you think, at least not in our class. We read like 1 book every month or 2, and write 2 major papers (or 1) ususally on each one. We do lots of timed writings, but not very focused on the MC, which I'm worried about more, now that I'm a good essay writer thanks to this class.</p>

<p>My teacher is hard, so in terms of difficulty it is hard, but it's so worth it if you apply the energy and enthusiasim to propel yourself. Super fun class.</p>

<p>AP Language is pretty hard IMO (probably because I'm Asian?)</p>

<p>Read - read - read - read - read - rinse - repeat</p>

<p>It sounds monotonous because it is. But its probably my problem anyway - I've never had the attention span to do hardcore reading for more than half an hour.</p>

<p>It really depends on your strength in writing and comprehension; I will be taking the test this year (self studying), and I haven't really studied for it , other than looking over some of the writing prompts and multiple choice questions. Maybe it's just me, but the test seems ridiculously easy. Sorry that I can't really help you on what the course will be like, but do keep in mind that AP courses are different in difficulty at every school.... certain APs may be slacker courses, but at other schools those very same AP classes could be the hardest courses.</p>

<p>You might be a good writer...or you dont know how hard to grade yourself because you're self-studying.</p>

<p>AP English Language, a lot of writing! A lot of work! But overall the class isn't too difficult.</p>

<p>AP Lang & Comp was what made me want to major in English in addition to Engineering. The whimsical me sees myself as an English teacher one day. The Asian science nerd scoffs.</p>

<p>I'm a good writer, even on bad days. Part of that may come from the fact that I go to a public school in TX, the TAKS test is hyped up to death to the point that it "determines" your future, so I know how to standardized test...especially in English. Aren't you from San Antonio, so you should know how much standardized testing impacts the public schools?</p>

<p>I looked over the essay parts in barrons today (and cliffs i think) and it seemed pretty easy (analysing tone, comparison stuff, figure of speech stuff, style, etc..) but the sample essays I read had heaps of background knowledge in them.. (like referencing julius caeser, shakespere, etc..)</p>

<p>I have absolutly zero knowledge on u.s and european history. Should I be reading more on history, umm arthistory, biography and other non fiction stuff? Because I'm reading classic novels right now but I dont think it's helping much with the essay..</p>

<p>I live in San Antonio also! LOL...We never do TAKS since "we're AP." Anyways, you really don't need history or literary examples for the essays. Just analyze the piece.</p>

<p>You'll do great as long as you're a good reader (able to interpret any passage in order to answer the multiple choice comprehension questions and to know what to write about for your essays). The Multiple Choice questions are VERY HARD though compared to SAT Verbal. Plus excellent creative writing skills count to for your essays!</p>

<p>I think you should do it. It'll be challenging, but will help with writing skills. Your essays, applications, will look very good your senior year. Buenas suerte!</p>

<p>I'm taking my school's equivalent of it next year, too (AP English at our school is a 2-year program, so the equivalent of AP Lit is first, and then AP Lang & Comp). I've heard some pretty horrifying things about it. There's an essay "boot camp" that one of the teachers puts his students through, and it's basically an in-class essay a day for a week or more. I had the same teacher in sophomore year, though, and he was really great, so I'm looking forward to this class.</p>

<p>essays, essays, more essays.</p>

<p>a very enjoyable class :) (its not sarcasm)</p>

<p>I love timed essays (now that I'm good at them). The more essays the better. I wish we'd look at MC now though!</p>

<p>I hope you NEVER look at MC. The point of AP is to learn the subject, not prep for the AP tests. Some schools are way too obsessed with having their students just get 5s on the AP exam. So pointless, so very pointless.</p>

<p>heheh but the thing is, teachers are graded based on the number of kids who pass the AP exam!</p>