AP English Literature

AP English Literature What? Who? And... How? Why?

Why AP Lit? • Challenges students. . . and teachers • Can result in college credit, which saves time and money • Builds students’ confidence and hones their close reading, writing, and analytical skills

What is AP Lit? • Close reading and critical analysis of • imaginative literature, most written • originally in English (16th-21st centuries) • Writing focused on critical analysis of • literature (expository, analytical, and • argumentative essays) plus some creative • writing

AP Literature classes typically include. . . • a balance of rhetorical strategies and textual analysis • a focus on style analysis • close readings • timed writings • quick pacing • extensive use of subject area vocabulary in analysis

AP Literature classes typically include. . . • speaking and noise (Speaking and writing are related linguistic skills that do transfer in context.) • open-ended assignments with interpretational objectives • deep and sophisticated topics • F-U-N!

And the AP Lit exam? Multiple-choice questions = 45% of exam • 4 or 5 passages: 2-3 poems and 2-3 prose excerpts • ~55 questions; one hour to complete

And the AP Lit exam? Three essay questions = 55% of the exam • Poetry analysis • Prose analysis • Open-ended question • Two hours to complete; each essay scored on a 1-9 scale

Scoring the Essays The three free-response essays are scored by college professors and experienced AP teachers at June readings. College profs = 60% of readers AP teachers = 40% of readers

Exam Composite Score (from equation using net multiple-choice score and three essay scores) 5 –Extremely well qualified 4 – Well qualified 3 – Qualified 2 – Possibly qualified 1 – No recommendation

But always remember: AP is a skills-basedprogram, not just a test!

Who’s in an AP Lit class? Selective enrollment? OR Open enrollment?

AP Program’s Official Equity Policy The College Board and the Advanced Placement Program® encourage teachers, AP coordinators, and school administrators to make equitable access a guiding principle for their AP programs. The College Board is committed to the principle that all students deserve an opportunity to participate in rigorous and academically challenging courses. (continued)

AP Program’s Official Equity Policy (cont.) All students who are willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum should be given consideration for admission to AP courses.… Schools should make every effort to ensure that their AP classes reflect the diversity of their student populations.

The AP Effect on Students Students who complete AP courses are • better prepared academically • more likely to choose challenging majors • likely to complete more college-level work • likely to perform significantly better than students who did not take AP courses • more likely to exercise leadership • more likely to graduate with a double major • twice as likely to go into advanced study

The AP Effect on Students (cont.) Students who complete AP courses are • more likely to be prepared for and accepted to top-tier colleges • likely to have more confidence than other students to even apply to top-tier colleges

Benefits of the AP Program for Students • Possibility of college credit and/or advanced standing at over 2,900 colleges • College-level analytical, communication, and study skills • Possibility of state or national recognition

Benefits of the AP Program for Educators • Rewarding teaching experiences • Professional development opportunities—a variety of workshops and conferences, regional and national meetings, summer institutes • Networking opportunities • Additional resources

Benefits of the AP Program for Schools • Demonstrates a school’s commitment to high academic standards • Enhances a school’s overall academic reputation • Provides useful data to guide school reform

Are you beginning an AP program? • Communicate with everyone! • Select your major text and other works; include lots of poetry. • Decide about summer reading and curriculum. • Attend a one-week summer AP Lit conference and as many other AP workshops/conferences as you can.

Are you beginning an AP program? • Take good ideas from everyone and everywhere; adjust them for yourself and your students. • “Reward students for what they do well.” That will build their confidence as readers, writers, and interpreters of literature.

Other Things to Think About • Submitting a syllabus to be audited • Grading and late work policy • Writing (in class vs. at home) • Dealing with a student who isn’t • “making the grade” • Deciding about the amount of reading • Writing recommendation letters

Most importantly. . . enjoy the challenges and opportunities of working with some of the brightest and bravest students at your school!

AP English Literature