AP English Literature and Composition

AP English Literature and Composition
source
Name	AP English Literature and Composition
Description	Advanced Placement course in English literature and composition
Developer	College Board
Grade level	11, 12
Prerequisites	AP English Language and Composition or equivalent

AP English Literature and Composition is a challenging course that enables students to develop critical thinking and analytical skills, as demonstrated by William Shakespeare's works, such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, and Jane Austen's novels, including Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. The course is designed to prepare students for the demands of college-level coursework, as seen in the writings of Toni Morrison, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Edgar Allan Poe. By studying the works of renowned authors like J.K. Rowling, John Steinbeck, and Harper Lee, students develop a deeper understanding of literary devices, themes, and historical contexts, including the American Renaissance and the Harlem Renaissance. The course also explores the works of Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Maya Angelou, among others.

Introduction to AP English Literature and Composition

The AP English Literature and Composition course is designed to engage students in the careful reading and critical analysis of literary works, including those by Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Mark Twain. Through the study of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, students develop a deeper understanding of the literary canon and the historical contexts in which these works were written, such as the Roaring Twenties and the Civil Rights Movement. The course also explores the works of Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and T.S. Eliot, among others, and their contributions to American literature and Modernism. Additionally, students examine the works of Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and William Faulkner, and their connections to the Lost Generation and Southern Renaissance.

Course Overview and Objectives

The AP English Literature and Composition course is a year-long program that aims to develop students' critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills, as demonstrated by the works of George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and Ray Bradbury. The course objectives include the ability to analyze and interpret complex literary texts, such as The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer and The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, and to develop well-supported arguments in writing, as seen in the essays of George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde. Students also explore the historical and cultural contexts of literary works, including the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Industrial Revolution, and their connections to the works of Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, and Joseph Conrad. Furthermore, the course covers the works of Edith Wharton, Theodore Dreiser, and Ernest Hemingway, and their relationships to the Gilded Age and the Jazz Age.

Exam Format and Content

The AP English Literature and Composition exam is a three-hour test that consists of two sections: multiple-choice questions and free-response essays, which may include questions on the works of William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Lord Byron. The multiple-choice section tests students' ability to analyze and interpret literary texts, such as The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer, and The Aeneid by Virgil. The free-response section requires students to write essays in response to prompts, which may include questions on the works of Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, and H.G. Wells. The exam content includes a range of literary works, including those by African American authors like W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, and Langston Hughes, and their connections to the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement.

Preparation and Study Materials

To prepare for the AP English Literature and Composition exam, students can use a variety of study materials, including textbooks, online resources, and study guides, such as those published by Barron's Educational Series and The Princeton Review. Students can also read and analyze literary works, such as The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, and participate in online forums and discussion groups, like those hosted by Khan Academy and Coursera. Additionally, students can take practice exams and review sample questions, which may include questions on the works of Jane Austen, The Brontë sisters, and Charles Dickens, to assess their knowledge and skills. Furthermore, students can explore the works of Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Maya Angelou, and their connections to the African American literary tradition and the Feminist movement.

Scoring and Grade Distribution

The AP English Literature and Composition exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score, as determined by the College Board. The grade distribution is based on the student's performance on the multiple-choice and free-response sections, which may include questions on the works of William Shakespeare, John Milton, and Alexander Pope. Students who score a 3 or higher are generally considered to be qualified to receive college credit or advanced placement, as recognized by institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and Yale University. The scoring and grade distribution are designed to reflect the student's mastery of the course objectives, including the ability to analyze and interpret complex literary texts, such as The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot and Ulysses by James Joyce.

Teaching and Instructional Methods

AP English Literature and Composition teachers use a variety of instructional methods to engage students and promote learning, including lectures, discussions, and writing workshops, as inspired by the teachings of Dorothy Parker and Ernest Hemingway. Teachers may also use technology, such as online resources and multimedia presentations, to enhance instruction and provide students with additional support, as seen in the online courses offered by MIT OpenCourseWare and edX. The course is designed to be flexible and adaptable to different teaching styles and student needs, and teachers may incorporate a range of literary works and authors into the curriculum, including those by Latin American authors like Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende, and their connections to the Magical Realism movement. Additionally, teachers may explore the works of Asian American authors like Maxine Hong Kingston and Amy Tan, and their relationships to the Asian American literary tradition and the Immigrant experience.