How to prepare for the AP Language and AP Literature courses?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
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Hello,

I am a sophomore that will become a junior in fall 2015. I am taking regular English (English 3) but I want to take both AP English courses in my senior year. I want to take both AP English courses because I want to improve my writing and reading skills. I want develop the same skills and have the same skill level as those who will take both AP English courses when I finish Junior year. Since regular English is not as rigorous as English honors, I would like to know how to prepare for the AP Language and Literature courses in my Junior year so that I can get at least an A- in both courses in my Senior year. So the following questions are about taking the AP English courses:

  1. What books should I read in my Junior year?
  2. How do I practice writing persuasive essays? How do I know that my persuasive essays are in the correct format, use good writing skills, and are persuasive?
  3. How much should I read?
  4. What other tips do you have on preparing for the AP English courses?

Thanks,
CCicebeast

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http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/jason.laviolette/persuasive-essay-outline

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As for reading: read everything you possibly can! First you need to be able to comprehend difficult literature (shakespeare, invisible man, bronte etc), but beyond that, you need to go past surface analysis and dig deeper. I suggest looking at college board released AP lit prompts for the free choice book free response and reading some of the “suggested books” they include with the prompts