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AP English Literature and Composition

Course Overview with Philosophy

The AP English Literature and Composition course focuses on reading, analyzing, and writing about imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from various periods. Students engage in close reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature to deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism. Writing assignments include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays that require students to analyze and interpret literary works.

Expectations & Support

Successful AP students will have the dedication, self-discipline, and the desire to apply themselves as a college student, and will budget their time effectively to manage the workload. AP courses maintain a level of rigor and commensurate workload of a college-level course. This requires students to be organized and manage their time to support the demands of the class. Academic integrity is expected at all times, for students are given additional authority over their learning and as such are expected to conduct themselves accordingly.

Exams & Assessment

  • Multiple Choice and Essay Exams at the end of each of nine units

  • Course-specific classwork, including written analysis and organized discussion of novels, poems, and short stories

  • Class Presentation Analyzing a Poem (students work in groups)

  • Midterm and Final Papers

Materials & Resources

  • Johnson, Greg & Thomas H. Arp, Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound & Sense (13th Edition). Cengage Learning, 2018

  • AP Classroom

  • Additional novels, short stories, poems, and articles throughout the course

Time Commitment

AP Literature and Composition requires students to complete research as the basis of their writing. While time spent on these tasks may differ from student to student, on average a student can expect to spend about 3 hours of work outside of class per week to support either their individual or team research/reporting/presentation assessments.