AP Language 1st Semester
Term 1
First Days
5 school days
SD 1
SD 5
Unit 1: Intro to Rhetoric
4 Weeks
Term 2
Unit 2: Argument & Style
5 Weeks
a wide-ranging vocabulary used appropriately and effectively
an effective use of rhetoric, including:
a. controlling tone
b. establishing and maintaining voice
c. achieving appropriate emphasis through
1. diction
2. sentence structure
SD 2
LANG 9 c
SD 2
SD 4
LANG 13
SD 3 a, b, c
SD 5 c
SD 5
Administrative issues
(school handbook,
syllabus, pre-tests,
DCSS Writing
Assessment, etc)
Rhetorical Triangle
audience
speaker/persona
subject
intent
genre
context
Tone
Diction
connotation
denotation
Appeals
logos
ethos
pathos
Evidence (general vs specific)
Visual Rhetoric
Grammar/Writing
LANG 1
LANG 2
LANG 4
LANG 5
LANG 6
Unit 4: Satire
3 Weeks
demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English
demonstrate stylistic maturity in writing
apply effective strategies and techniques in writing
write for a variety of purposes
move effectively through the stages of the writing process
LANG 3 a, b
LANG 9, c
LANG 10
LANG 13
Aristotelian Arrangement
exordium
narration
partition
confirmation
refutation
peroration
Rogerian Arrangement
Intro—problem to solve
Opposition/context
Your side/contexts
Concl—How does opp benefit
Visual Rhetoric
Claim, Support, Warrant
Jargon
Figurative language
Schemes/Tropes
(see p78-86 in text)
Grammar/Writing
Unit 3: Tone/Voice
5 Weeks
SD2
SD 3 a, b, c
LANG 3 a, b
LANG 9 a, b
Authentic voice
Diction
Connotation/Denotation
Syntax
Symbols
Images
Concrete/Abstract language
Slanting/Charged Language
Schemes/Tropes (78-86)
Grammar/Writing
Precis
Argumentative Essay
Rhetorical Analysis
parts of speech
phrases/clauses
subordination
coordination
comma rules
subject-verb agreement
sentence types & variety
loose/periodic
simple
compound
complex
parallelism
active & passive voice
introducing quotes
transitions
clarity & conciseness
comma rules
pronoun-antecedent
SD 3
SD 4
SD 5
LANG 9 a, b, c
Horatian Satire
Juvenilian Satire
Irony
Direct Satire
Indirect Satire
Visual Satire
Parody
Double entendre
Zeugma
Hyperbole
Litote
Allusion
Grammar/Writing
misplaced modifiers
grammar review
AP Language 2nd Semester
SD 1
SD 5
SD 2
SD 3
SD 4
Term 3
Unit 5: Logic & Fallacy
Unit 6: Researched Argument
5 Weeks
7 Weeks
a wide-ranging vocabulary used appropriately and effectively
an effective use of rhetoric, including:
a. controlling tone
b. establishing and maintaining voice
c. achieving appropriate emphasis through diction and sentence structure
LANG 3
SD 2
LANG 9 c
LANG 8
SD 3
LANG 10
LANG 9 b, c
SD 4
LANG 11
LANG 12
LANG 13
Focus Concepts
Syllogism
Enthymeme
Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Persuasive Words
Logical Fallacies
Ad Hominem
Ad Populum
Non Sequitur
Hasty Generalization
Stereotyping
Slippery Slope
Either-Or Reasoning
Circular Reasoning
False Analogy
Equivocation
Intent Signals
Focus Concepts
Anticipated objection
Paraphrase
Direct Quotation
Visual Rhetoric
Context
Thesis
Claim, Support, Warrant
Jargon
Figurative language
Schemes/Tropes
(see p78-86 in text)
Primary & secondary sources
Grammar/Writing
Grammar/Writing
Term 4
Unit 7: Reader-Writer
Relationship
Unit 8: Oral Argument
3 Weeks
LANG 1
LANG 2
LANG 4
LANG 5
LANG 6
SD 2
SD 3
SD 4
4 Weeks
demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English
demonstrate stylistic maturity in writing
apply effective strategies and techniques in writing
write for a variety of purposes
move effectively through the stages of the writing process
LANG 8
SD 3
LANG 7
LANG 9 a, b, c
SD 4
LANG 10
LANG 11
LANG 12
Focus Concepts
Figurative language
Argument
Symbol
Intention
Effect
Setting
Characters
Point of View
Aesthetic vs Efferent reading
*Review as Necessary for AP Test*
Grammar/Writing
Rhetorical Analysis
Argument
Synthesis
Timed Writing
subject-verb agreement
sentence types & variety
word choice
sentence combining
introducing quotes
grammar review
Focus Concepts
Works cited
Paraphrase
Primary & secondary sources
Declaiming
Pitch
Tone
Attention grabber
Organization
Delivery
Eye contact
Effective vocal pauses
Visual aid
Grammar/Writing
Speech Writing
AP Language and Composition Standards*
While the AP English Language and Composition course assumes that students already understand and use standard
English grammar, it also reflects the practice of reinforcing writing conventions at every level. Therefore, occasionally the
exam may contain multiple-choice questions on usage to reflect the link between grammar and style. The intense
concentration on language use in the course enhances students’ ability to use grammatical conventions appropriately and to
develop stylistic maturity in their prose.
Stylistic development is nurtured by emphasizing the following:
SD 1
a wide-ranging vocabulary used appropriately and effectively
SD 2
SD3
a variety of sentence structures, including appropriate use of subordination and coordination
logical organization, enhanced by specific techniques to increase coherence
a. repetition
b. transitions
c. emphasis
a balance of generalization and specific illustrative detail
SD 4
SD 5
an effective use of rhetoric, including:
a. controlling tone
b. establishing and maintaining voice
c. achieving appropriate emphasis through diction and sentence structure
Upon completing the AP English Language and Composition course, then, students should be able to:
LANG 1 demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English
LANG 2 demonstrate stylistic maturity in writing
LANG 3 analyze and interpret samples of good writing
a. identifying an author’s use of rhetorical techniques
b. explaining an author’s use of rhetorical strategies
LANG 4 apply effective strategies and techniques in writing
LANG 5 write for a variety of purposes
LANG 6 move effectively through the stages of the writing process
a. inquiry and research
b. drafting
c. revising
d. editing and review
LANG 7 write thoughtfully about their own process of composition
LANG 8 revise a work to make it suitable for a different audience
LANG 9 produce compositions that introduce a complex central idea and develop it with appropriate evidence drawn from primary
and/or secondary sources, cogent explanations and clear transitions
a. expository
b. analytical
c. argumentative
LANG 10 create and sustain arguments based on readings, research and/or personal experience
LANG 11 demonstrate understanding of the conventions of citing primary and secondary sources
LANG 12 evaluate and incorporate reference documents into researched papers
LANG 13 analyze image as text
*adapted from AP Language/Composition Course description