AP Lang. Writing: For Students and Teachers

Book Synopsis: This book condenses thorough research, my experience as an AP Reader, and my own classroom practice, into a guide that provides practical and ready-to-use information, which is organized systematically and comprehensively, and is accompanied by a variety of student essay samples, as well as scored student essays – all to show, simply, how one teacher teaches his AP English Language and Composition class. This concise instructional manual can be used by either the instructor of the class or by those who have the time and interest in instructing themselves.

The sections of this text are designed for students looking for condensed information that will clarify their classwork or pacify their concerns about course material. The curriculum advice and materials herein, such as handouts and worksheets, can also be used by those new to AP LANG or those veteran instructors who are searching for new ideas to re-structure their class or want to freshen up their pedagogy for the upcoming year. To both, the teacher and the student, this guide will save you time and effort.

After publishing the first edition of the book, titled, “AP Lang. for Students and Their Teachers,” I decided to use it in my own class, as a way of pacing my own instruction and as a test of the book’s efficacy. The result of the experiment was this second edition. While I had initially only intended to give this edition a facelift, the process of rewriting, rewording and revising resulted in the addition of new sections, with fresher and altogether clearer material. The bulk of the information is otherwise unchanged, but the explanations and examples are sharper, the new scoring guidelines are simplified and meticulously illustrated, and the content, I can now proudly say, has stood the test of classroom instruction.

My experience as an AP Reader for the English Language and Composition exam has helped me get a feel for the pulse of Lang. classes around the country and has furthered my understanding of what many teachers and students are doing in the classroom. With this new perspective, my new edition better captures the expectations of the class and more effectively instructs students to become better writers and better thinkers.