The AP English Language and Composition course examines a variety of texts, including speeches, essays, plays, and works of literature; however, nonfiction text is the main vehicle to study language and rhetoric. It provides an opportunity for advanced high school students to pursue and receive credit for college-level course work completed at the high school level. Accordingly, the rigors of the course are intended to be commensurate with introductory college-level rhetoric and composition courses. Students are trained to be excellent critical thinkers, readers, analysts of language, effective writers, and creative, cogent producers of argument. Students focus on the writing skills needed to be successful in the course, on the AP Language test in May, and in their later college work. Students write effectively for a range of audiences and a variety of purposes, demonstrate mastery of the conventions of standard written language, and use the steps of the writing process as needed.
