AP English Language Course Overview and Exam Structure

AP English Language Course Overview and Exam Structure

AP English Language and Composition focuses on developing students' skills in evidence-based writing and rhetorical analysis. The course aligns with introductory college-level curricula, emphasizing argumentative essays and the analysis of nonfiction texts. Students engage in various writing forms, including narrative and analytical essays, while also honing their research skills. The exam assesses students' abilities through multiple-choice questions and free-response essays, covering synthesis, rhetorical analysis, and argumentation. Ideal for high school students preparing for the AP exam, this course equips them with essential skills for college-level writing.

Key Points

  • Focuses on evidence-based writing and rhetorical analysis in nonfiction texts.
  • Includes multiple-choice questions and three essay prompts in the AP exam.
  • Students develop skills in composing narrative, analytical, and argumentative essays.
  • Emphasizes the synthesis of information from multiple sources to support arguments.
, ,
  • newtopiccyclegrowin
313
/ 2
About the Advanced Placement Program
®
(AP
®
)
The Advanced Placement Program
®
has enabled millions of students to take college-level courses and earn college credit, advanced
placement, or both, while still in high school. AP Exams are given each year in May. Students who earn a qualifying score on an AP Exam
are typically eligible to receive college credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college. Every aspect of AP course and exam
development is the result of collaboration between AP teachers and college faculty. They work together to develop AP courses and exams, set
scoring standards, and score the exams. College faculty review every AP teacher’s course syllabus.
AP
®
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
AP English Program
The AP Program offers two courses in English studies, each
designed to provide high school students the opportunity to engage
with a typical introductory-level college English curriculum.
The AP English Language and Composition course focuses on
the development and revision of evidence-based analytic and
argumentative writing and the rhetorical analysis of nonfiction texts.
The AP English Literature and Composition course focuses on
reading, analyzing, and writing about imaginative literature (fiction,
poetry, drama) from various periods.
There is no prescribed sequence of study, and a school may offer
one or both courses.
AP English Language and Composition Course Overview
The AP English Language and Composition course aligns to
an introductory college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum,
which requires students to develop evidence-based analytic and
argumentative essays that proceed through several stages or drafts.
Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their
arguments. Throughout the course, students develop a personal
style by making appropriate grammatical choices. Additionally,
students read and analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects
in non-fiction texts, including graphic images as forms of text, from
many disciplines and historical periods.
PREREQUISITE
There are no prerequisite courses for AP English Language
and Composition.
Students should be able to read and comprehend college-level
texts and apply the conventions of Standard Written English in
their writing.
AP English Language and Composition Course Content
The AP English Language and Composition course is designed
to help students become skilled readers and writers through
engagement with the following course requirements:
• Composing in several forms (e.g., narrative, expository,
analytical, and argumentative essays) about a variety of subjects
• Writing that proceeds through several stages or drafts, with
revision aided by teacher and peers
• Writing informally (e.g., imitation exercises, journal keeping,
collaborative writing), which helps students become aware of
themselves as writers and the techniques employed by other
writers
• Writing expository, analytical, and argumentative compositions
based on readings representing a variety of prose styles
and genres
• Reading nonfiction (e.g., essays, journalism, science
writing, autobiographies, criticism) selected to give students
opportunities to identify and explain an author’s use of
rhetorical strategies and techniques
1
• Analyzing graphics and visual images both in relation to
written texts and as alternative forms of text themselves
• Developing research skills and the ability to evaluate, use, and
cite primary and secondary sources
• Conducting research and writing argument papers in which
students present an argument of their own that includes the
analysis and synthesis of ideas from an array of sources
• Citing sources using a recognized editorial style (e.g.,
Modern Language Association, The Chicago Manual of Style)
• Revising their work to develop
o A wide-ranging vocabulary used appropriately and
effectively;
o A variety of sentence structures, including appropriate
use of subordination and coordination;
o Logical organization, enhanced by techniques such as
repetition, transitions, and emphasis;
o A balance of generalization and specific, illustrative
detail; and
o An effective use of rhetoric, including tone, voice, diction,
and sentence structure.
1. The College Board does not mandate any particular authors or reading list, but representative authors are cited in the AP English Course Description.
00558-028 (Updated January 2017)© 2017 The College Board.
AP English Language and Composition Exam Structure
AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION EXAM:
3 HOURS 15 MINUTES
Assessment Overview
The AP English Language and Composition Exam employs
multiple-choice questions to test students’ skills in rhetorical
analysis of prose passages. Students are also required to write
three essays that demonstrate their skill in rhetorical analysis,
argumentation, and synthesis of information from multiple sources
to support the student’s own argument. Although the skills tested on
the exam remain essentially the same from year to year, there may
be some variation in format of the free-response (essay) questions.
Format of Assessment
Section I: Multiple Choice: 52–55 Questions | 1 Hour | 45% of Exam Score
• Includes excerpts from several non-fiction texts
• Each excerpt is accompanied by several multiple-choice
questions
Section II: Free Response: 3 Prompts | 2 Hours, 15 Minutes | 55% of Exam Score
• 15 minutes for reading source materials for the synthesis
prompt (in the free-response section)
• 2 hours to write essay responses to the three free-response
prompts
Prompt Types
Synthesis: Students read several texts about a topic and create an
argument that synthesizes at least three of the sources to support
their thesis.
Rhetorical Analysis: Students read a non-fiction text and analyze
how the writer’s language choices contribute to his or her purpose
and intended meaning for the text.
Argument: Students create an evidence-based argument that
responds to a given topic.
AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION SAMPLE EXAM QUESTIONS
Educators: apcentral.collegeboard.org/apenglishlanguage
Students: apstudent.collegeboard.org/apenglishlanguage
Sample Multiple-Choice Question
Students are given a passage of writing and asked to respond to a set of prompts and questions based on the passage.
Below is one example.
The primary rhetorical function of lines 14–22 is to
(A) provide support for a thesis supplied in lines 1–2
(B) provide evidence to contrast with that supplied in the first paragraph
(C) present a thesis that will be challenged in paragraph three
(D) introduce a series of generalizations that are supported in the last two paragraphs
(E) anticipate objections raised by the ideas presented in lines 12–14
Sample Free-Response Question
The following passage is from
Rights of Man
, a book written by the pamphleteer Thomas Paine in 1791. Born in England,
Paine was an intellectual, a revolutionary, and a supporter of American independence from England. Read the passage
carefully. Then write an essay that examines the extent to which Paine’s characterization of America holds true today.
Use appropriate evidence to support your argument.
If there is a country in the world, where concord, according to common calculation, would be least expected,
it is America. Made up, as it is, of people from different nations, accustomed to different forms and habits of
government, speaking different languages, and more different in their modes of worship, it would appear that the
union of such a people was impracticable; but by the simple operation of constructing government on the principles
of society and the rights of man, every difficulty retires, and all the parts are brought into cordial unison. There, the
poor are not oppressed, the rich are not privileged.... Their taxes are few, because their government is just; and as
there is nothing to render them wretched, there is nothing to engender riots and tumults.
/ 2
End of Document
313
You May Also Like

FAQs of AP English Language Course Overview and Exam Structure

What skills does the AP English Language course develop?
The AP English Language and Composition course develops critical writing and analytical skills essential for college success. Students learn to compose various types of essays, including argumentative and analytical pieces, while engaging with nonfiction texts. The course emphasizes the importance of evidence-based writing, allowing students to construct well-supported arguments. Additionally, students practice rhetorical analysis, evaluating how authors use language to achieve their purposes.
What is the structure of the AP English Language exam?
The AP English Language and Composition exam is structured into two main sections: multiple-choice and free-response. The multiple-choice section consists of 52-55 questions, testing students' skills in rhetorical analysis of prose passages. The free-response section includes three essay prompts, where students must demonstrate their ability to synthesize information, analyze rhetoric, and construct evidence-based arguments. Overall, the exam lasts 3 hours and 15 minutes, with the free-response section accounting for 55% of the total score.
What types of essays are included in the AP English Language exam?
The AP English Language exam includes three types of essays: synthesis, rhetorical analysis, and argument. In the synthesis essay, students read multiple texts on a given topic and create an argument that integrates at least three sources. The rhetorical analysis essay requires students to analyze how an author's language choices contribute to the text's meaning and purpose. Finally, the argument essay prompts students to develop their own evidence-based argument in response to a specific topic.
What topics are covered in the AP English Language course?
The AP English Language course covers a wide range of topics, including the analysis of nonfiction texts, the development of argumentative writing, and the exploration of rhetorical strategies. Students engage with various prose styles and genres, enhancing their understanding of how authors convey meaning. Additionally, the course emphasizes the importance of research skills, teaching students how to evaluate, use, and cite sources effectively. Overall, the curriculum is designed to prepare students for the demands of college-level writing.
How does the AP English Language course prepare students for college?
The AP English Language course prepares students for college by equipping them with essential writing and analytical skills. Through rigorous practice in composing essays and analyzing texts, students learn to articulate their ideas clearly and persuasively. The course also emphasizes critical thinking, enabling students to evaluate arguments and synthesize information from diverse sources. By engaging with college-level materials and expectations, students gain confidence in their abilities, making them better prepared for the challenges of higher education.

Related of AP English Language Course Overview and Exam Structure