IGCSE, A-Level & AP IGCSE, A-Level & AP Sheet preview
Subjects

AP English Language and Composition

Tips

AP English Language and Composition is a course in rhetoric: how writers use language to act on a reader. Its required content is a set of skills, grouped under four big ideas - the rhetorical situation, claims and evidence, reasoning and organisation, and style.

Every skill comes in a reading half and a writing half. You learn to explain how another writer built an argument, and then to build one yourself using the same move. The two halves are taught together on purpose.

The rhetorical situation is the foundation. Exigence, audience, writer, purpose, context and message explain *why* a text makes the choices it makes - and "the writer uses this device" earns nothing until you say what it does for that audience.

Texts are mostly non-fiction - essays, speeches, letters, journalism. Because teachers choose their own texts and themes, the units are defined by the skills they develop rather than by set books.

The notes below follow the College Board framework unit by unit, with each skill and the essential knowledge behind it.

Train all vocabulary
Past Papers
  • 1

    Claims, Evidence, and the Rhetorical Situation

    Watch lesson
    Open this topic on its own page
    • 1.1 The Rhetorical Situation
    • 1.2 Identifying Claims and Evidence
    • 1.3 Developing a Paragraph with Claim and Evidence
    • 1.3 What the Exam Actually Asks
    • 1.3 Practice
    • 1.3 Model answers
    • 1.3 Exam tips
  • 2

    Audience, Thesis, and Supporting Evidence

    Watch lesson
    Open this topic on its own page
    • 2.1 Understanding an Audience's Beliefs and Needs
    • 2.2 Writing for an Audience's Beliefs and Needs
    • 2.3 Identifying Claims and Evidence
    • 2.4 Developing a Paragraph with Claim and Evidence
    • 2.5 Identifying the Overarching Thesis
    • 2.6 Writing a Thesis Statement
    • 2.6 Practice
    • 2.6 Model answers
    • 2.6 Exam tips
  • 3

    Line of Reasoning and Methods of Development

    Watch lesson
    Open this topic on its own page
    • 3.1 Identifying Claims and Evidence
    • 3.2 Developing a Paragraph with Claim and Evidence
    • 3.3 Describing the Line of Reasoning
    • 3.4 Developing a Line of Reasoning and Commentary
    • 3.5 Recognizing Methods of Development
    • 3.6 Using Methods of Development
    • 3.6 Practice
    • 3.6 Model answers
    • 3.6 Exam tips
  • 4

    Introductions, Conclusions, and Development

    Watch lesson
    Open this topic on its own page
    • 4.1 Introductions and Conclusions in a Text
    • 4.2 Writing Introductions and Conclusions
    • 4.3 Identifying the Overarching Thesis
    • 4.4 Writing a Thesis Statement
    • 4.5 Recognizing Methods of Development
    • 4.6 Using Methods of Development
    • 4.6 Practice
    • 4.6 Model answers
    • 4.6 Exam tips
  • 5

    Organization, Coherence, and Style

    Watch lesson
    Open this topic on its own page
    • 5.1 Describing the Line of Reasoning
    • 5.2 Developing a Line of Reasoning and Commentary
    • 5.3 Organization, Unity, and Coherence
    • 5.4 Using Transitional Elements
    • 5.5 Word Choice, Comparisons, and Syntax
    • 5.6 Using Words and Syntax for Tone and Style
    • 5.6 Practice
    • 5.6 Model answers
    • 5.6 Exam tips
  • 6

    Evidence, Thesis, and Stylistic Choices

    Watch lesson
    Open this topic on its own page
    • 6.1 Identifying Claims and Evidence
    • 6.2 Developing a Paragraph with Claim and Evidence
    • 6.3 Identifying the Overarching Thesis
    • 6.4 Writing a Thesis Statement
    • 6.5 Word Choice, Comparisons, and Syntax
    • 6.6 Using Words and Syntax for Tone and Style
    • 6.6 Practice
    • 6.6 Model answers
    • 6.6 Exam tips
  • 7

    Qualifying Arguments, Syntax, and Conventions

    Watch lesson
    Open this topic on its own page
    • 7.1 Introductions and Conclusions Revisited
    • 7.2 Writing Introductions and Conclusions
    • 7.3 How Claims Are Qualified
    • 7.4 Qualifying a Claim
    • 7.5 Clauses and Relationships Between Ideas
    • 7.6 Writing Clear Sentences
    • 7.7 Grammar, Mechanics, and Clarity
    • 7.8 Conventions of Grammar and Mechanics
    • 7.8 Practice
    • 7.8 Model answers
    • 7.8 Exam tips
  • 8

    Audience, Tone, and Sentence Craft

    Watch lesson
    Open this topic on its own page
    • 8.1 Understanding an Audience's Beliefs and Needs
    • 8.2 Writing for an Audience's Beliefs and Needs
    • 8.3 Word Choice, Comparisons, and Syntax
    • 8.4 Using Words and Syntax for Tone and Style
    • 8.5 Clauses and Relationships Between Ideas
    • 8.6 Writing Clear Sentences
    • 8.6 Practice
    • 8.6 Model answers
    • 8.6 Exam tips
  • 9

    Refining Qualified Arguments

    Watch lesson
    Open this topic on its own page
    • 9.1 How Claims Are Qualified
    • 9.2 Qualifying a Claim
    • 9.2 Words that qualify
    • 9.2 Practice
    • 9.2 Answers
    • 9.2 Exam tips

Log in or create account

IGCSE, A-Level & AP