English Department

Language and Composition:

The AP English Language and Composition course is designed to help students become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of rhetorical contexts and to become skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their writing and their reading should make students aware of the interactions among a writer's purposes, audience expectations, and subjects as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing.

Literature and Composition:

The AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and understanding for the reader. As they read, students consider many elements of literature like structure, style and themes.

Area of Study	Reading to Prepare for Each Class	# of Hours to Study/Prepare for Each Class	Tests, Essays, Papers	Major Projects	Summer Assignments	Comments
AP English Language and Composition	Often the student is reading out of class long works while working with texts in class.	Varies according to the assignment and the depth of study Estimate: 4-6 hours per week.	This is a class measured by your analysis and depth of understanding communicated through your written expression. You can expect in class timed essays, major analysis outside of class and often redrafts and second revisions.	These are interpretive expecting the student to express literary analysis through audio and visual media	Read three essays online (links provided below), and obtain and read your own copy of George Orwell’s novel, 1984.. During the first week of school, you will be tested on your literal understanding of the essays and the novel.	It is often the case that multiple assignments are assigned with varying due dates; therefore it is imperative that the student in this class have a sense of responsibility. It is a college level class, and we expect college level responsibility
AP English Literature and Composition	The student is given a reading schedule for the novels and expected to adhere to it. Reading averages 25 pages per night or 50 pages between class meetings. Students work with the text in class meetings.	Varies according to the assignment and student’s reading ability. Estimate: 3-6 hours per week	This is a class measured by your analysis and depth of understanding communicated through your written expression. You can expect in-class timed essays, quizzes over assigned reading and major unit tests.	These are interpretive expecting the student to express rhetorical analysis through audio and visual media	How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines by Thomas C. Foster. AND • ONE of these three novels in a print edition a. The Road by Cormac McCarthy b. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines c. Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini	It is often the case that multiple assignments are assigned with varying due dates; therefore, it is imperative students in this class have a sense of responsibility. It is a college level class, and we expect college level responsibility.
English Honors 9-12	Honors level students are expected to take responsibility and accomplish the out of class assigned reading whether it is short fiction or long works like novels and plays.	Varies according to the assignment and the depth of study. Estimate: 4-6 hours per week.	The Honors Level class requires students to learn the various modes of discourse and take first drafts through to completion, editing, and revisions.	The Honors class has a variety of major projects and products which are a significant portion of the quarter grades. It is imperative for the student to understand that these works must be on time and original.	A summer reading assignment will be required in every grade level and will be measured at the beginning of the fall semester.	It is often the case that multiple assignments are assigned with varying due dates; therefore it is imperative that the student in this class have a sense of responsibility. These Honors level classes prepare the student to be successful in a post high school educational setting; therefore rigor and strength of study are paramount.

Area of Study

Reading to Prepare for Each Class

# of Hours to Study/Prepare for Each Class

Tests, Essays, Papers

Major Projects

Summer Assignments

Comments

AP English Language and Composition

Often the student is reading out of class long works while working with texts in class.

Varies according to the assignment and the depth of study

Estimate: 4-6 hours per week.

This is a class measured by your analysis and depth of understanding communicated through your written expression. You can expect in class timed essays, major analysis outside of class and often redrafts and second revisions.

These are interpretive expecting the student to express literary analysis through audio and visual media

Read three essays online (links provided below), and obtain and read your own copy of George Orwell’s novel, 1984.. During the first week of school, you will be tested on your literal understanding of the essays and the novel.

It is often the case that multiple assignments are assigned with varying due dates; therefore it is imperative that the student in this class have a sense of responsibility. It is a college level class, and we expect college level responsibility

AP English Literature and Composition

The student is given a reading schedule for the novels and expected to adhere to it. Reading averages 25 pages per night or 50 pages between class meetings. Students work with the text in class meetings.

Varies according to the assignment and student’s reading ability.

Estimate: 3-6 hours per week

This is a class measured by your analysis and depth of understanding communicated through your written expression. You can expect

in-class timed essays, quizzes over assigned reading and major unit tests.

These are interpretive expecting the student to express rhetorical analysis through audio and visual media

How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines by Thomas C. Foster.

AND • ONE of these three novels in a print edition

a. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

b. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

c. Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

It is often the case that multiple assignments are assigned with varying due dates; therefore, it is imperative students in this class have a sense of responsibility. It is a college level class, and we expect college level responsibility.

English Honors 9-12

Honors level students are expected to take responsibility and accomplish the out of class assigned reading whether it is short fiction or long works like novels and plays.

Varies according to the assignment and the depth of study.

Estimate: 4-6 hours per week.

The Honors Level class requires students to learn the various modes of discourse and take first drafts through to completion, editing, and revisions.

The Honors class has a variety of major projects and products which are a significant portion of the quarter grades. It is imperative for the student to understand that these works must be on time and original.

A summer reading assignment will be required in every grade level and will be measured at the beginning of the fall semester.

It is often the case that multiple assignments are assigned with varying due dates; therefore it is imperative that the student in this class have a sense of responsibility. These Honors level classes prepare the student to be successful in a post high school educational setting; therefore rigor and strength of study are paramount.

Printable PDF of English Department - Academic Expectations for AP Classes

Search

FCPS

English Department

Language and Composition:

Literature and Composition: