<p>so basically i took english language last year and got a 4. I am currently taking a syracuse sponsored course at my high school (it's basically their freshman intro writing course), and want to take the english lit ap because i can place out of more classes next year. How is the lit exam different than the language exam? i asked my teacher today and she essentially said there's no difference, which probably is not the case....</p>
<p>English Lit focuses on analyzing fiction. There's no "DBQ" thing like there was on Eng Lang, but there is MC (similar to SAT 2 Lit really) and Lit DOES include poetry.</p>
<p>There is still emphasis on rhetorical devices in the passage based essays; however, the open ended essays are literary analyses where you use famous books to support your thesis and not anything. </p>
<p>English Lit requires I suppose more "knowledge" of classic books since you'll need to be familiar with / have read a decent number to answer any essay question. Many can be done with many different books, though; don't worry!</p>
<p>I think that's essentially it.</p>
<p>I can't speak on AP Lang, but I took Lit in Junior year and got a 5. The test is easy, I would definitely recommend taking it.</p>
<p>Definitely know some classic books (there might be a list of them somewhere...?). Be able to analyze and understand the meanings of prose and poetry. With difficult passages, make sure you can understand the "overall meaning" and also the meaning of specific words/lines.</p>
<p>I don't really know much about the AP Lang test, so I can't really compare it though.</p>
<p>The difference is that Literature is more about finding the meaning of poetry and prose, and Language is about finding rhetorical devices and stuff like that from speeches and different document type stuff.</p>
<p>They both suck :)</p>
<p>thanks guys</p>
<p>my english class did no classics whatsoever this year, so it sounds like id get screwed if i took lit.</p>
<p>You could probably do it with whatever you've done in the past, since you probably have a couple of books "up your sleeve" that you know really well (Scarlet Letter, Graet Gatsby, 1984, anything by Shakespeare)</p>
<p>I'm not using a prep book because I'm taking the class, but you can get some decent stuff on Amazon USED (their FINE) for like 4 bucks or less. </p>
<p>If you want to put in the extra elbow grease, you can do it! :)</p>
<p>Be sure to check with whatever college you're going to (I'm guessing you're a senior) and see what score you need for credit and most importantly if you even need credit. </p>
<p>If you are taking it, tell someone NOW, since AP exams should have been ordered. I think there's still a chance for you to register for it though.</p>
<p>I don't see much of a difference in the analytical aspects of the two classes, i.e. you have to determine meaning and apply rhetorical devices in both versions. You'll read classical works in both classes and the difference is largely fiction/nonfiction. Taking lang first definitely helps imo, since it is always applicable to analyzing poetry in lit.</p>
<p>The only work you ever need to study is The Great Gatsby.</p>